Nevskiy Prospekt 18
Tel. 312 6057
Open: 11am- 11pm
Subway: Nevskiy Prospekt
Literary Cafe on Nevskiy Prospekt is famous for its role in history of Russian literature. It was a popular meeting place for Russians poets, writers and critiques and others in informal setting to socialize and discuss various subjects. Historic name of the Literary Cafe is Cafe Wulf et Beranger after its previous owner. The building itself was constructed in 1815 under supervision of the architect Vasiliy Stasov. Russia's great poet Alexander Pushkin frequented the area since he lived close by (Moika 12). It was here he met his sekundant (witness in the duel) Konstantin Danzas on the morning of a duel with French aristocrat Baron d'Anthes. Pushkin was mortally wounded at that duel and died later at home. However Literary Cafe didn't loose popularity. Fyodor Dostoevsky, poet Mikhail Lermontov, Nekrasov and many other authors visited this cafe. It is still a popular destination with fans of Russian literature, but keep in mind that the prices are unjustly high.
History of the Literary cafe
In 1812-1816, the
building, built in the middle of the XVIII century on Nevsky
Prospekt, 18 in St. Petersburg, was converted by K. B. Kotomin into
apartments for merchants. In this building was opened a
confectionery wolf and Beranger (S. Wolff & T. Beranget), which was
considered the best in St. Petersburg. In 1834, a cafe called
"Chinese cafe" (Le Café chinois) was also opened here, and the
pastry shop soon became a club frequented by writers such as
Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov, Taras Shevchenko and Fyodor
Dostoevsky.
In 1837, Pushkin met here with K. K. Danzas
before going to a duel. In 1840, Dostoevsky was introduced here to
Mikhail Petrashevsky, a utopian socialist.
In 1877, the
pastry shop was closed, and an elite restaurant was opened in its
place, which was often visited by musicians such as Pyotr
Tchaikovsky and Fyodor Chaliapin. It is said that Tchaikovsky
ordered a Cup of water here, contracted cholera and died.
Much later in 1983, the restaurant reopened as a "Literary cafe".
The literary cafe occupies two floors of the building, and numerous
portraits of Russian writers hang on its walls. At one table on the
top floor sits Pushkin in the form of a wax sculpture.