When you're feeling homesick, what's better than finding a little piece of home here on your doorstep? If you're missing Russia, Mister Bilingue has the best spots in Paris to make you feel right at home!
Will you be having some borscht with your pirojkis? If this sentence made any sense to you, it's probably because you're from Russia!
If you've recently left the motherland for Paris, we understand that you might be yearning for a little of the human warmth that is so dear to Russian culture. But what can you do when you're more than a thousand miles from home?
Well, we'll have you know that Paris' Russian community is larger than you might think, and there are plenty of good spots that will end up drawing you in with the smell of Pavlova and Slavic culture as you wander the streets of Paris!
On the menu for this top 10, Mister Bilingue brings together some of the best Russian restaurants showcasing flavors of the East, an exclusive VIP club, and one of the most secret churches in Paris!
Ready for a trip to Russia without ever leaving the City of Lights? Poyekhali!
Le 16ème sens
We're kicking off with a quick visit to Paris' 16th arrondissement and a treat for your taste buds at Le 16ème sens.
As you step into this cozy eatery with its distinctive red and green facade, you won't be able to help but notice just how freely the vodka flows in this establishment, with empty bottles lining the room. It's no surprise that this restaurant doubles up as a vodka bar… so don't say we didn't warn you!
Everything here is homemade, and you'll find all the classics of Russian cuisine on the menu, from beef stroganoff with pilaf rice to salmon coulibiac, right through to zakouski. And if you still have room for dessert at the end of your meal, give in to the temptation of vatruchka with berry coulis!
Between mouthfuls of smoked salmon topped with tarama, we recommend turning your attention to their list of vodkas from around the world, including a wide choice of more than fifty flavored vodkas. By the end of dinner, you'll feel like you're in Russia itself!
La cantine des Tsars
Would you like to know where you can find the best pelmenis in the capital? For a taste of these delectable meat-filled dumplings, there's only one stop on the list: La Cantine des Tsars, located in the heart of Paris!
Served with crème fraîche and a knob of butter, this Russian restaurant's pelmenis are lovingly handmade using fresh ingredients sourced from local producers. That means that everything that goes into these dumplings is fresh and of high quality, including the pork or lamb filling, seasoned with yellow onions and a little salt and pepper. Have we got your mouth watering yet?
For the vegetarians among you, it's also possible to order your pelmenis stuffed with mushrooms. And like any good self-respecting Russian restaurant, you will, of course, have the opportunity to taste the house borscht!
Please note: like many Russian restaurants, seating is limited and they don't take reservations. With that in mind, we suggest arriving early to make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to taste the best Russian dumplings in all of Paris!
Caviar Kaspia
We won't beat around the bush: Caviar Kaspia is a must-visit restaurant in Paris if it's top quality caviar and smoked fish you're looking for! And it's no surprise, seeing as the Maison Kaspia has been established in the French capital since 1927 and even helped to launch "caviar culture" in Parisian dinner society.
The restaurant is, as you would expect, very chic, both in décor and presentation of the dishes. But don't be intimidated: this place has a cozy and warm atmosphere that'll transport you all the way to Tsarist Russia.
Ossetra, produced by sturgeons reared in large lakes.
Beluga, considered the largest and rarest of all sturgeons.
You can, of course, enjoy all these fine dishes with a glug of vodka and a selection of different garnishes that match the famous quality of Kaspia's caviar!
Café Pouchkine
Staying within the world of splendor and luxury, let's head now to Café Pouchkine, located in Madeleine within Paris' 8th arrondissement!
Think aristocratic Russian cuisine and that's the inspiration behind Café Pouchkine, a luxurious eatery offering clientele a real taste experience, from first course right through to dessert.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., this restaurant offers a wide choice of appetizers, salads, fish and meats to delight all Russian-speaking foodies.
Here's a taster of some of the things you'll find on the menu:
A soft-boiled egg with a parsley and watercress emulsion, parmesan, black olives and seasonal mushrooms.
"Paris-Moscow" coulibiac.
Roasted yellow chicken supreme with celeriac confit, seasonal mushrooms and a chicken and hazelnut jus.
Pojarski cutlet and seasonal vegetables.
Café Pouchkine is finally, and most importantly, renowned as one of the best pastry shops in Paris, a hard-earned badge of honor in the capital of gastronomy! On the menu, you can choose from ten recipes as chic as they are sumptuous, made by the masterful hand of international pastry chef Patrick Pailler (former chef of the equally luxurious Fauchon).
So, there's no room for any doubt: if it's a fine dining getaway in Paris you're looking for, let the legendary Café Pouchkine be your destination!
The Gastronomie russe grocery store
Maybe you're the type to enjoy a spot of grocery shopping, but you just can't find your favourite tried and tested Russian products here in Paris? We have the solution: go and check out the Gastronomie russe grocery stores, located in Paris' 8th, 12th, 13th and 14th arrondissements!
Inside any one of the humble grocery stores in this small chain, you can find all the traditional Slavic products you could ever need, whether it be alcohol, preserves, cold meats, or even sweets from your childhood!
Our knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet may be a bit rusty here at Mister Bilingue, but we can assure you that the products you find here come straight from Russia and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic countries.
To put it short: if you're struggling to find the right ingredients for the beef stroganoff of your dreams at your local supermarket, you need to check out the Gastronomie russe!
Raspoutine
Nestled in the heart of Paris on the Champs Élysées, Raspoutine is a former brothel which, after serving as a Russian cabaret for many years, was finally transformed into one of the capital's trendiest clubs in 2010.
The décor, designed by Russian designer Erté, harks back to the club's cabaret years and has even earned its place on the list of historic monuments of France! Think blood red alcoves, plunging chandeliers and a wooden ceiling in relief, and you'll get a good idea of the kind of baroque, rococo vibes this place is serving!
At the start of the evening, a select crowd of the city's most exclusive guests gather to enjoy an authentic cabaret show, with knife throwers and burlesque drag queens thrown in for good measure!
It's only after 11 p.m. that the most popular DJs in the capital take to the decks. From then on, you can enjoy electro sounds, all while sipping on a cocktail concocted using the best Russian vodka and an extra ingredient that we refer to simply as... luxury.
Russian Center for Science and Culture in Paris (CRSC)
Located in Paris' 16th arrondissement, the main objective of the Russian Center for Science and Culture (CRSC) is to promote culture, science, and the teaching of the Russian language in France.
Head to the CRSC's Russian library to discover more than 18,000 works of Russian literature (classical and contemporary) in the original Russian, as well as several hundred books translated into French that you can borrow. Why not take a little Russian culture home with you?
The Librairie du Globe
Have you always dreamed of reading Dostoevsky and Tolstoy but never taken the time to delve into their tomes? Well, with the Librairie du Globe bookstore, now's your chance!
Founded in 1952, the Librairie du Globe is the only Russian-speaking bookstore in Paris and has been a symbol of the city's Slavic community since the Soviet era, when those seeking out news about current affairs in the USSR would gather to consult the Russian newspapers.
In this literary refuge, you can find over 7,000 Russian works (books, poems, short stories, guides, encyclopedias, etc.), both classic and contemporary. And there's something for everyone, from children's book to serious adult literature.
Many of the books are translated from the original Russian into French, and you can also find subtitled DVDs and audio books there, too.
But the Librairie du Globe is more than just a bookstore! It also doubles up as a meeting place for all kinds of events, from conferences, concerts and cinema sessions, to exhibitions and seminars. Many Russian authors (such as Boris Akounine, Vladimir Sorokine and Andreï Kourkov) have also visited this haven for lovers of all things Russian too, drawing in more and more curious visitors every day. So, when are you coming for a visit?
Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center
If you've ever walked along the banks of the Seine on the Quai Branly, you couldn't have missed the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral. It's the one topped with five striking onion turrets rendered in gold!
Inaugurated in 2016, this cathedral with distinctive Byzantine and Russian architecture exists to promote the historical, cultural and spiritual relations between France and Russia. Beyond its religious significance, the cathedral has three central branches:
A cultural center, organizing cultural events such as exhibitions and concerts.
An educational center, responsible for administering teaching in Russian language, Christian culture and orthodox theology to adults and children alike.
A family center, focusing on social and educational activities and working in particular with families in difficulty.
The Paroisse Saint-Serge
We might be sticking with the same religion, but this spot couldn't be more different in terms of architecture. Welcome to the Paroisse Saint-Serge, one of the most secret churches in all of Paris!
Located at the top of Saint-Serge hill in the 19th arrondissement, this little architectural gem will reward you for going a little out of your way with gorgeous murals dating to the 1920s!
The exterior architecture is distinctive for its intricately carved wooden staircases painted in red and green. Step inside and it's a different story, with magnificent religious artworks dedicated to saints, complemented by neo-Gothic stained-glass windows. The nave plays its part too, with a positive rainbow of colors from light brown to red and blue.
Turning your eyes up towards the ceiling, you'll be stunned by the Slavic beauty of the artwork painted by Stelletsky, who designed the church's architectural plans back in the 1920s!
If you want to visit this architectural wonder, it's best to go during one of the official visits that take place on Sundays. But, with a little luck, someone may well open the door for you on a weekday so you can enjoy this unique space in a truly heavenly moment of tranquility.
Can you feel the warm embrace of Russia in this article? We hope that this short article has given you a few new ideas for enjoying Paris and that you'll be staying here with us a little longer! It's not too shabby here, don't you think?
If you're looking for a job in Paris or anywhere else in France, make sure to check out our bilingual job offers!
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Author
Félix
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