Gastronomic tours in Russia — holidays with taste

Gastrotourism is an exciting way to travel, in which drinks and food become the main characters of a vacation. Imagine that you are traveling to a new city, but instead of the standard sightseeing tours, you begin to explore the region through tastes and aromas.

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How to plan a food tour in Russia in 2025

• Select a region. Study the cuisine of different parts of the country and determine where it will be more interesting and delicious for you.
• Make a list of dishes. This way you will definitely not forget any of the specialties you are interested in.
• Learn in advance about the regional traditions and rules of the feast. You will feel confident even if you encounter something unusual.
• Find out about the gastronomic events. Perhaps your trip will coincide with a festival, harvest festival, or a season when local produce is especially delicious.
• Plan the program. It is better to book tables in good restaurants and excursions to factories or farms in advance in order to accurately get to the selected places.
• Find out if the cafes and restaurants in the region have fixed-menu gastronomic dinners. This is a great opportunity to explore the variety of local cuisine in one evening and even chat with the chef.
• Read reviews about establishments and recommendations from experienced travelers. You will understand what to expect from a particular gastronomic place.
• Choose a hotel and pay attention to the menu of its restaurant. Perhaps you can try some of the local cuisine right at the hotel.

Cities and regions popular for food tours

Moscow region

Gastrotourism in the Moscow region is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of nature and culinary delights. Visit eco-farms and cheese factories, enjoy fresh farm produce and relax in the bosom of nature.

Guests of the Moscow region can go to culinary workshops, tastings of craft cheeses, aromatic tea or honey. Local eco-products are of high quality and excellent taste, made according to unique recipes.

One of the most impressive points of the food tour may be the Pobeda chocolate factory. Arrange for yourself an exciting journey through the world of confectionery art. You will see how chocolate turns into familiar sweets, get acquainted with the history of the factory and get answers to all questions about the production process. Interesting workshops are organized here for children under 16 years of age.

It is most convenient to go on a gastronomic tour of the Moscow region from Moscow. You can also book one of the Accor Group hotels here. We offer comfortable and modern rooms that are suitable for large companies, couples and families with children.

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Far East

Gastronomic tours to this region are especially interesting for those who love seafood, Asian cuisine and want to discover new tastes. This Russian region is famous for its unique combination of cultures and culinary traditions.

From here you can bring home vivid impressions and delicious souvenirs. For example, the legendary Seaside candies, local sauces, or even fresh seafood. The main thing is to have time to visit all the interesting places and prepare a bigger suitcase.

The center of gastronomic tourism in the Far East is Vladivostok. People go to this city for the freshest crabs, scallops, oysters, shrimps and red caviar. These delicacies can be tasted here in restaurants or during excursions to farms and factories.

Other gastronomic "chips" of Vladivostok:

• There are whole festivals and fairs dedicated to some products and peculiarities of local cuisine. For example, Smelt and Co., the May Mussel Festival and the Far Eastern Taiga Festival. During these holidays, you can taste dishes prepared by the best chefs in the region.
• Due to its proximity to Asia, pan-Asian cuisine is widely represented here. On the streets you will find street food outlets with Korean pyanse pies, Japanese gyoza dumplings and ramen noodles. In summer, the Asian Night Market festival takes place in the city. Here you can plunge into the atmosphere of the Asian market and taste the dishes that are prepared right in front of you.
• You can combine a gastronomic tour with an active vacation. For example, go fishing with a professional guide. Taking a boat trip to the best fishing spots and then cooking a catch over a campfire is the best way to feel like a part of nature and enjoy the freshest seafood.

You can stay at Novotel Vladivostok. The four-star hotel is located near the historical center - it will be convenient to get to any activities. The hotel has a Japanese cuisine restaurant and a 24-hour bar.

Another interesting destination for gastrotourists in the Far East is Blagoveshchensk. This is a city right on the border with China.

Here you can get acquainted with the unique cuisine, which closely intertwines Russian and Chinese traditions. In local establishments, you will be treated to Peking duck, stewed beef with vegetables and tofu, and eggplant in Harbin style.

You can combine exotic dishes with something familiar in one lunch or dinner at the VOSTOK restaurant, which is located in the four-star hotel Mercure Blagoveshchensk. It serves European, Russian and Asian cuisine.

Krasnodar Region

Gastronomic tours to this region provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the rich culinary culture of the Russian south. Here, traditional Russian dishes are prepared according to recipes passed down from generation to generation.

In addition to delicious food, Krasnodar Krai is famous for its excellent wines. To taste different varieties of this drink, visit vineyards and wineries, come to the annual Black Sea Wine Week festival. It is held in different cities of the region in late September — early October and lasts a week.

In other months, go on a gastro trip to Krasnodar. Here you can taste the dishes that have become the hallmark of Kuban:

• Kuban borscht. It has a special golden color and rich taste. The borscht is served with fluffy pampushka buns and thick homemade sour cream.
• Solyanka in Cossack style. This is a hearty soup with meat, sausage, pickled cucumbers and potatoes, which is often supplemented with tomato paste for a brighter taste.
• Vareniki. Here they are prepared with unusual fillings. For example, with potatoes with pork rinds.
• Kuban strums. Rolls of dough and minced meat, which taste like dumplings, but are more spicy.

Traditional Kuban treats and European cuisine can be tasted at the ibis Kitchen restaurant in ibis Krasnodar Center. This is a four-star hotel located in the city center, which is suitable for family vacations or combining vacations with corporate events.

Besides Krasnodar, there are other interesting destinations for gastronomic tours in the south. For example, Anapa. Here you can enjoy the freshest shellfish at the oyster farm. Oysters are caught right in front of you, sparkling wine is served with the delicacy. Such a meal will be a real pleasure even for the most demanding gourmets.

The famous village of Abrau Durso is also located near Anapa. It can be reached in just an hour. Arrange a sparkling wine tasting, enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the gourmet restaurants. And all this with wonderful views of Lake Abrau.

We recommend staying in Anapa at Mövenpick Resort & SPA Anapa Miracleon. Here at the GRAPE restaurant you can complement the impressions you got at the oyster farm. The menu features seafood and meat dishes, as well as Mediterranean cuisine.

To taste homemade wines, chacha, Black Sea rapan, burdock and bamboo pickles, chestnut honey and aromatic cheeses, go to Sochi. This city is famous for its variety of local products, wineries and tea plantations.

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Kaliningrad Region

Gastronomic tours to the Kaliningrad region are an opportunity to immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of the westernmost region of Russia. Russian, German and Baltic influences mixed here.

Kaliningrad region is famous for its unique dishes, which can surprise even sophisticated gourmets. Gastronomic features of the region:

• Many restaurants offer authentic dishes in interiors that convey the atmosphere of Germany. Here you can taste knuckle and stewed cabbage, German sausages prepared according to traditional recipes. Klops deserve special attention on the menu — veal cutlets, which are often stuffed with fish and served with a thick sauce reminiscent of bechamel.
• The gastronomic symbol of the region is fish. The Baltic Sea provides residents and guests of the region with many delicacies: smoked eel, fresh mackerel and horse mackerel, pelamis stroganina (thin slices of frozen fish). In spring, be sure to try fried smelt and herring, and at any other time of the year — the famous Kaliningrad sprats, which are considered one of the best in Russia.
• Kaliningrad region is famous for sweets. Legendary marzipan candies are prepared here with special skill. They can be taken home as a delicious souvenir.
• Kaliningrad hosts large-scale gastronomic events every year. If you are planning a trip in late August or early September, visit the Kaliningrad Street Food city picnic. Here you can taste street food from all over the world and dishes prepared according to local family recipes. Around the same time, the Ostmark Fest festival, dedicated to food, drinks and music, takes place.

For a comfortable stay, book Accor Group hotels. One of them, Mercure Kaliningrad Center, has a Si.M.patio restaurant. Here you can order European cuisine and specialties prepared from local seafood and fish.

Irkutsk region

In this region, every dish is a story that connects people and natural resources. Gastronomic tours of the Irkutsk region provide an opportunity to immerse yourself in the amazing atmosphere of one of the most picturesque regions of Russia. Here you can enjoy the unique landscapes and a variety of traditional dishes that reflect the mixture of Russian and Buryat cultures.

Be sure to try:

• Omul. This is a fish that lives in Lake Baikal. Omul is served salted or smoked, and a fragrant soup is prepared from it. Another dish made from this fish is split fish. It is made from omul ice cream.
• Sagudai. This is a raw, freshly caught omul, marinated in onions, vinegar, oil and spices. Sometimes grated apple is added to the sagudai. There are variations of this dish made from salmon, trout, mackerel, whitefish and other fish.
• Pine nuts. They are served as an independent dish, added to pastries or salads.
• Buuzes and khushurs. Buuzes are traditional Buryat steamed pies resembling khinkali. And khushuri is a local analogue of the chebureks that are familiar to everyone. These dishes will definitely delight lovers of meat and hearty food.
• They were afraid. Pieces of dough fried in a large amount of butter, somewhat similar to brushwood. Side dishes are served with condensed milk, sour cream, powdered sugar or jam. This dessert will appeal to those with a sweet tooth and will be a wonderful end to a meal.
• Taiga tea. It is prepared on the basis of local herbs and berries: juniper, willow tea and hawthorn.

Enjoy local delicacies at the ibis Kitchen restaurant located at the ibis Irkutsk Center. You can relax between excursions and tastings in the cozy rooms of the hotel. They are suitable for business travelers, families with children, and solo vacationers.

Krasnoyarsk

It is the gastronomic capital of Siberia. Krasnoyarsk attracts tourists with its natural beauty and rich selection of traditional Siberian dishes. Gastronomic tours to this city are suitable for all connoisseurs of delicious and varied food.

The obligatory menu of a gastro traveler in Krasnoyarsk:

• Angarsk ear. It is prepared from three fish at once: burbot, sterlet and crucian carp. The fish soup is cooked over an open fire, which gives it a special taste, and the vodka dressing softens the aroma.
• Chylkan and stroganina. Chilkaan is boiled fish mixed with fresh berries. And stroganina is served with different sauces.
• Traditional dumplings. In Krasnoyarsk, they are prepared with a filling of three types of meat.: beef, lamb and pork. A familiar dish in this variation gives special pleasure to fans of hearty food.
• Venison carpaccio. For those who prefer delicacies. We recommend adding sweet and sour northern berries to the carpaccio.
• Traditional desserts. For a sweet treat, try blueberry pie or jam made from young pine cones. Pay special attention to taiga honey with a rich taste, which has coniferous notes and a slight bitterness.

For lovers of exoticism, restaurants in Krasnoyarsk offer kebabs from a bear, cutlets from an elk and other specialties. After trying them, you will feel the authentic spirit of Siberia. In some establishments, you can take cooking classes and learn how to cook traditional Siberian dishes yourself under the guidance of a chef.

You can recover your strength for new gastronomic achievements in Accor group hotels. You can select and book suitable rooms here.

Arkhangelsk

This city is famous for a variety of local pastries and a wealth of traditional dishes. Fish cakes, berry pies, and shangi, open pies with unsweetened fillings, are popular here. Local jam, Pomeranian herb balm and specially cooked mushrooms also deserve attention.

Due to the proximity of the White Sea, every resident of Arkhangelsk and the entire region has a love of fish since childhood. Salmon, halibut and cod constantly appear on the tables in different forms:

• Fish pies. This is the first thing that guests are treated to in Arkhangelsk. The filling of the pies consists of different types of fish mixed with onions and spices.
• The ear. A traditional soup made from freshly caught fish, potatoes, carrots, onions and spices. This rich taste will not leave anyone indifferent.

To feel the spirit of the Russian North, be sure to try dishes with the addition of local mushrooms and berries. For example, wickets are open pies with different fillings. Blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, bunches, redheads and much more are placed in the gates.

Another type of traditional Arkhangelsk pastry is roe deer. These are northern gingerbread cakes made from rye or wheat dough with the addition of honey and spices. They are baked in the form of animal or human figures and decorated with icing.

You can wash down the sweets with coffee in the Mezen style. It is cooked in a samovar, adding seasonings.

You can relax and unwind at Novotel Arkhangelsk. The hotel is located in the historical part of the city on the embankment of the Northern Dvina. It is convenient to reach all the attractions from here. The hotel offers comfortable rooms, a restaurant overlooking the river, a fitness center and a conference room.

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Conclusion

• Don't be afraid to experiment. Be prepared to try new flavor combinations, even if they seem unusual. Such dishes can be a real discovery. But experiment only in proven locations. Read reviews about cafes, restaurants, food courts, and markets.
• Try the local cuisine in all its diversity. Main dishes, snacks, drinks, homemade preparations — do not give up anything. This way you will definitely not miss the most interesting and delicious things.
• Take care of your health. Learn the ingredients of the dishes in advance, especially if you are allergic to certain foods or special eating habits. Not all regions are suitable for vegetarians and fasters.