Minsk In Your Pocket

Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps

MINSK 

"In Your Pocket: A cheeky, wellwritten series of guidebooks." The New York Times

2011

Inside A thoroughly researched, impartial scrutiny of the best  things Minsk has to offer  offer 

National   Art Museum An in-depth look at one of Belarus’ best cultural treasures

2011 www.inyourpocket.com

CONTENTS

Get In Your Pocket before you go

ESSENTIAL CITY GUIDES

The full In Your Pocket range is available to purchase online at:

Contents Arriving in Minsk

 www.inyourpocket.com/clickandbuy  Hotel s Restaurants Caf és Nig htl if  if e Sig htseeing  Ev ents M a ps

TIRANA 

BUCHAREST 

2006 - 2007

Hotels Restauran u rants CafésNightlifeSightseeingEvents n gEvents Maps

Hotel s Restaurants Caf és Nig htl if  if e Sig htseeing  Ev ents M a ps

 WARSAW

 April  -May2006

Hotel s Restaurants Caf és Nig htl if e Sig htseeing  Ev ents M a ps

PRAGUE

ST. PETERSBURG

 August-September2006

 April 2006

5

Are we there yet?

Basics Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightseeingEventsMaps n gEventsMaps

3

History

 Aug us ust - September2006

6

Essential information, from alcohol to visas 9

Some useful background information

Mail & phones

 A Ne wLook  We‘veneverlooked better: InYour Pocket  getsamakeover 

Bl ogg in ing  Buchar est Going  g tto the chapel  Karlštejn’srenovated  jewel

EasterGr eeting s Shoppingfever 

Eggbreaking& church walking…

 Wilanów

Tirana’sfirstmalls

ExplorethePolish Versailles

Facadeart N°40-8.00 lei www.inyourpocket.com

Poland‘stopspa town: Nałęczów

N ° 3 4 - 5 z (w (łwtym7%VAT) www.inyourpocket.com

VisitingtheBohemian Paradise

Thebest waysto discover  thelanguage

Cultur e &Ev ents

April 2006N°24 www.inyourpocket.com

NEW

ISSN 1641-5264

Let’srock 

RussianinRussia

Outoftown

Paintingthecity pink 

N°4-400lek www.inyourpocket.com

LOOK

SimpleMinds,t.A.T.u.& Cosmonaut’sDay 

!

N°34-100Kč www.inyourpocket.com

Culture & Events

Hotel s Restaurants Caf és Nig htl if e Sig htseeing  Ev ents M a ps

Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee i feSightseeingEventsMaps

TALLINN

KRAKÓW

COLOGNE

 August-September2006

13

A bed for all budgets

Hotels Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee i feSightseeingEventsMaps

BELFAST 

 April -May2006

 August-September2006

11

Galleries, theatres, events and more

Where to stay Hotels Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee i feSightseeingEventsMaps

10

Keeping in touch

Our guideto thebest  politicallyincorrect  commentonline

Dining & Nightlife

  June- July2006

Restaurants A roll call of recommended eateries

Footballevents Winor lose,thisis whereto party 

Rivertours Wineanddineonthe Rhine

15

TheGreat Outdoors

Cafés Where to find the best espresso

Cycling,skydivingand countrypursuits

GastroTourism Seafood,whiskeyand St.George’sMarket 

Tarnów

Touring Narva

ExplorethePearl of the Renaissance

GettingactiveinKraków

IYP getsa n e w ook  l ook 

N°47-35kr  www.inyourpocket.com

Theinside scooponthe newlook inside

ISSN 1508-2334

N°1 Complimentary copy www.inyourpocket.com

N°7 -Free copy www.inyourpocket.com

Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee l ifeSightseeingEventsMaps

Hotels Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee i feSightseeingEventsMaps

BERLIN

GDAŃSK 

Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee l ifeSightseeingEventsMaps

Hotels Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee i feSightseeingEventsMaps

RIGA 

Including 

Sightseeing

Hotels Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightseei i feSightseeing Events Maps

HAMB URG

ŁÓDŹ

SOPOT & GDYNIA   August-September2006

 August-November2006

 April-May2006

25

Nightlife 27 Drinking, dancing and other after-dark treats

Cool sightsat theEU‘s easternborder 

Leisure N ° 4 1 - 5 z (w (łwtym7%VAT) www.inyourpocket.com

The magnificent Orthodox Cathedral of the Hol y Spirit is one of Minsk’s most well known sights. Find it on p. 33 along with a whole host of other great places to visit.

  June- July2006

September-December2006

What to see Unmissable Minsk 

32

Getting around

37

When legs just aren’t enough

Shopping

Kashubia ExploringthePolish Alps

Hotspots 100museumsinone night 

Floating the boat

N°23-€1.75 www.inyourpocket.com

Take a day tripto theseasidetownsof  JūrmalaandLiepāja

N°60-1.20Ls www.inyourpocket.com

ISSN 1640-3592

FromPolanskitoMax Factor,readabout the  famousnatives.

N ° 2- 5 z ł (wtym7%VAT) www.inyourpocket.com

Directory

ISSN 1896-1169

N°1 Complimentary copy www.inyourpocket.com

Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightseei i feSightseeing Events Maps

Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee l ifeSightseeingEventsMaps

Hotels l s Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee l ifeSightseeingEventsMaps i ngEventsMaps

SKOPJE

FRANKF URT 

2006 - 2007

 August-September2006

PRISTINA 

2006 - 2007

46

Everything else you need to know

Hotels Restaurant r ants CafésNightlifeSightseeing Events Maps

SHKODRA 

43

Starsinyour  eyes

Footballevents Winor lose,thisis whereto party 

ExploreLatvia N°20 -5zł(wtym7%VAT) www.inyourpocket.com

Spreeriver tours

Poland‘scinemacity 

Downinthedocks

Everythingyouneedto knowabout IIHF World Championshi pinRiga

What you need to know

Hollyłódź

Harbourtours

HockeyFever 

TheBaltic’sBeaches

Museumnight

Hotels Restaurant u rants CafésNightlifeSightsee i feSightseeingEventsMaps

Sport & Leisure

KAISERSLA U TERN

2006 - 2007

51

Where to partake and observe

  June- July2006

Maps Footballevents Winor lose,thisis whereto party 

Skopje snapshots

Feature2- max  2lines

Shkodra snapshots

TheMarubiphoto collection

Short descriptionof the  feature.Shouldbemax. 3lines.

TheMarubiphoto collection

 Aroundtown

 Aroundtown

Daytripsto thelake, beachandmountains

Daytripsto thelake, beachandmountains

Beachbars

Footballevents Winor lose,thisis whereto party 

Cocktail inhand,toes insand

N°23-€1.75 www.inyourpocket.com

Strollingintheforest 

Sippingebbelwei onthe ciderexpress

N ° 1 -Complimentarycopy www.inyourpocket.com

N°1-€3 www.inyourpocket.com N°1 Complimentarycopy www.inyourpocket.com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Despite claiming a few outstanding historical sights representing the city’s rich and illustrious past, Minsk is best known as a living monument to the grandiose aspirations of Soviet architecture and urban planning. Famously destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, the Belarusian capital grew out  of the ashes of conflict to become a Socialist Realist  masterpiece complete with spacious avenues, lush green parks and a battalion of buildings dating from the 1940s and 1950s that simply have to be seen to be believed. Minsk really is a cit y like no other. Yet  beneath its clean and regimented exterior lies an underbelly of exuberance in the guise of exceptional restaurants, world-class bars, clubs to rival those in any major city around the world and a cultural life offering every thing from theatre to opera to experimental dance. The only thing missing in the past has been a comprehensive, English-language guidebook to the city, a situation now remedied by  the regularly updated publication of Minsk In Your  Pocket, produced by natives of the city and packed with everything a visitor needs from information on the best hotels to where to get your hair cut. Minsk In Your Pocket welcomes comments and suggestions on any subject related to the ci ty. Email us at [email protected] or join the conversation online at minsk.inyourpocket.com.

Cover story HotelsRestaurants CafésNightlife SightseeingEvents Maps

MINSK 

" In Your Pocket : A cheeky, wellwrittenseriesof guidebooks." TheNewYorkTimes

2011 201 20 01111

Inside

Athoroughlyresearched, impartialscrutiny of thebest  thingsMinskhastooffer 

National   Art Museum

Anin-depthlookatone ofBelarus’bestcultural treasures

2011 www.inyourpocket.com

The Belarusian National Opera & Ballet Theatre recently received a complete overhaul and is looking  better than ever. Worthy of a look without visiting  a performance (see p. 11), the building is the work of one of  Belarus’ most famous Sovietera architects, Joseph Langbard (1882-1951). ( 

ESSENTIAL CITY GUIDES Справочное издание Минск в твоем кармане Справочник На английском языке Составители : В.В. Мартынов , Е.А. Чудникова Фотограф А.П. Дрибас Ответственный за выпуск М.В. Чудников Редактор В.В. Мартынов Компьютерная верстка Е.В. Павлова Подписано в печать 15.04.2011. Формат 60x84 1 / 16 16 . Бумага мелованая. Гарнитура Pocket. Печать офсетная. Усл. печ. л. 3,5. Уч.-изд . л. 7,2. Тираж 25000 экз. Заказ № 189. Издатель и полиграфическое исполнение СООО “ТОППРИНТ” ЛИ № 02330/0131956 от 20.10.2006. ЛП № 02330/0494191 от 03.04.2009. Ул. Богдановича, 155-131, 220040, Минск.

ISBN 978-985-90160-3-5

Minsk In Your Po cket

2011

ARRIVING IN MINSK

FOREWORD

4

53 54 56 57

GoingPalatine

Dram tram

N ° 1 -Complimentarycopy www.inyourpocket.com

Archangel Michael dispatches the Devil in the form of a dragon in front of the Catholi c Church of Sts. Simon & Helena. Read the sad story behind its construction on p. 33.

Street index City centre map City map Country map

Europe In Your Pocket

Arriving in and getting around Minsk are fairly simple affairs once you understand the basics. Accordingly, travelling   further afield is relatively painless if you’re prepared prepared to do your research beforehand and use some sign language when using buses and trains. Car rental is relatively cheap by Western standards.

By bus

In Your Pocket has broken much new ground of  late, publishing new guides in the Netherlands ( Den Bosch, Utrecht), Austria ( Vienna Vienna), Croatia ( Brač Bra č and Senj), Slovenia ( Celje Celje), Serbia ( Niš Niš) and SwitZ Zurich urich Minsk zerland (  ). A new guide to in Belarus is the next  In Your Pocket to launch, the proof  of which you’re now holding in your hands. We’ve also started rolling out iPhone apps to all our cities and will be launching even more In Your Pocket guides as apps throughout the year. To find out  which cities we’ll be covering and to keep up to date with all In Your Pocket news and events, join In Your Pocket on Facebook ( facebook.com/  facebook.com/  inyourpocket) or follow us on Twitter ( twitter. twitter. com/inyourpocket).

Minsk In Your Pocket published by JLLC TopPRINT/  In Your Pocket. Belarus, 220040 Minsk, 155, ul. M.Bogdanovicha, 131  [email protected] tel./fax: (+375 17) 331 34 52, www.inyourpocket.com Editorial Editor Sco Contributors Andrew Quested, Tim Orr  Researchers Victor Martynov, Elena Chudnikova Photos Anatoly Dribas General Manager Vadim Martynov Layout & Design Elena Pavlova L Distribution (+375 17) 334 87 23

Copyright notice Text and photos copyright JLLC TopPRINT 1992-2011. Maps copyright JLLC TopPRINT. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except brief  extracts for the purpose of review, without  written permission from the publisher and copyright.

Editor’s note The editorial content of In Your Pocket  guides is independent from paid-for  advertising. Sponsored listings are clearly  marked as such. We welcome all readers‘ comments and suggestions. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy  of the information at the time of going to press and assume no responsibility for  changes and errors. © СООО “ТОППРИНТ”, составление, оформление, 2011  © А.П. Дрибас, фото, 2011  © Государственный комитет по имуществу  Республики Беларусь, картоснова, 2011 

minsk inyourpo cket com

The conveniently located Central Bus Station is closed   for reconstruction until the end of 2011, leaving the far  less convenient Vostochny (Eastern) and Moscovsky  (Moscow) bus stations to deal with international buses. Both stations have lockers for luggage and other basic   faculties including pay toilets, cafés, currency exchange and numerous kiosks. Getting to town Ta Taking king a bus to the cit y centre is complicated and involves multiple stops so a taxi is the best bet.

By car  Driving in Belarus is generally much bet ter than it used to be, and certainly l ess fraught with danger than in some of  its EU neighbours. There’s a risk of receiving on-the-spot  ‘fines’ from traffic police, so stay within the speed limits. Road signs are in Belarusian only with the exception of the M1 (E30) Brest-Minsk highway. highway. At the border it’s necessary  to fill out a declaration on your car and buy Belarusian vehicle insurance which is cheap, but be sure you have the money  in cash (Russian roubles, US dollars and euros only). T here may not be controls at the border coming in from Russia, but there could be sporadic checks. You’ll have to pay a small toll for using th e Brest-Minsk highway, again payable only in Russian roubles, US dollars and euros. In the event  of a breakdown trouble, call tel. 116.

customs torture, you end up at the arrivals hall on the first   floor. The currency exchange, directly opposite, usually operates when flights arrive. Otherwise, head to the larger one on the second floor (Open 09:00 - 13:00, 13:30 - 20:00). An ATM is located on the third floor, next to departure gate N°1. For public telephones, long distance calls, Internet and post, head to the post office on the third floor. Getting to town Taxis can be found parked outside gates N°5 and 6. If you’re quoted more than €25 for a ride into the city centre you’re literally ly and metaphorica metaphorically lly being taken for  a ride. Bus N°300 goes to both bus stations in the city. Pay  the driver, currently about 6,000BYR. Buses run between around 04:15 and 01:00.

By train Minsk’s gleaming train station is a tribute to the modernity  of Belarus, and proof that no matter how much money you spend you can still come up with something just as chaotic as the old train station. It does have the welcoming look of a shopping mall though, and if you follow the pictographi c signs you shouldn’t get lost. Currency exchange can be found at the top of the escalator. Find public telephones accepting chip cards on the ground floor and in the basement. The basemen t  also contains public toilets (currently 800BYR) and a large, 24hr left luggage room. Getting to Town The station is in the centre of cit y, so walking  ng  might be an option. Otherwise, head to the basement level and follow the underground passage, which eventually leads to the entrance of the Ploschad Nezavismosti Metro station (see Public transport). Other wise, take one of the taxis parked in the immedia te area (see Taxis). To be safe, go for one of the yellow, state-run taxis or a private one with 135, 157, 158 or  181 displayed on the car. Be sure they turn on the meter.

By plane Minsk has two airports, the tiny and hardly used Minsk-1 in the city centre and the larger Minsk-2, where the majority of  internationall flights arrive and depart. internationa Minsk-1 A classic Socialist Realist buildin g not dissimilar to the façade of the nearby airport in Vilnius, Minsk-1, some 3km south of  the centre, hardly qualifies as an airport at all. A currency  exchange exchang e and café are the only services. Getting to town Bus N°100 goes to the city centre and runs along Nezavisimosti. Buy a ticket on board for 850BYR. Taxis outside may or may not be reliable. See Taxis for  details on how to spot which is which. Minsk-2 The city’s main international airport, Minsk-2, is located 42km north-east of the city. Once you go through the usual

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Minsk-2 International Airport 

2011

5

ARRIVING IN MINSK

FOREWORD

4

Despite claiming a few outstanding historical sights representing the city’s rich and illustrious past, Minsk is best known as a living monument to the grandiose aspirations of Soviet architecture and urban planning. Famously destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, the Belarusian capital grew out  of the ashes of conflict to become a Socialist Realist  masterpiece complete with spacious avenues, lush green parks and a battalion of buildings dating from the 1940s and 1950s that simply have to be seen to be believed. Minsk really is a cit y like no other. Yet  beneath its clean and regimented exterior lies an underbelly of exuberance in the guise of exceptional restaurants, world-class bars, clubs to rival those in any major city around the world and a cultural life offering every thing from theatre to opera to experimental dance. The only thing missing in the past has been a comprehensive, English-language guidebook to the city, a situation now remedied by  the regularly updated publication of Minsk In Your  Pocket, produced by natives of the city and packed with everything a visitor needs from information on the best hotels to where to get your hair cut. Minsk In Your Pocket welcomes comments and suggestions on any subject related to the ci ty. Email us at [email protected] or join the conversation online at minsk.inyourpocket.com.

Cover story HotelsRestaurants CafésNightlife SightseeingEvents Maps

MINSK 

" In Your Pocket : A cheeky, wellwrittenseriesof guidebooks." TheNewYorkTimes

2011 201 20 01111

Inside

Athoroughlyresearched, impartialscrutiny of thebest  thingsMinskhastooffer 

National   Art Museum

Anin-depthlookatone ofBelarus’bestcultural treasures

2011 www.inyourpocket.com

The Belarusian National Opera & Ballet Theatre recently received a complete overhaul and is looking  better than ever. Worthy of a look without visiting  a performance (see p. 11), the building is the work of one of  Belarus’ most famous Sovietera architects, Joseph Langbard (1882-1951). ( 

ESSENTIAL CITY GUIDES Справочное издание Минск в твоем кармане Справочник На английском языке Составители : В.В. Мартынов , Е.А. Чудникова Фотограф А.П. Дрибас Ответственный за выпуск М.В. Чудников Редактор В.В. Мартынов Компьютерная верстка Е.В. Павлова Подписано в печать 15.04.2011. Формат 60x84 1 / 16 16 . Бумага мелованая. Гарнитура Pocket. Печать офсетная. Усл. печ. л. 3,5. Уч.-изд . л. 7,2. Тираж 25000 экз. Заказ № 189. Издатель и полиграфическое исполнение СООО “ТОППРИНТ” ЛИ № 02330/0131956 от 20.10.2006. ЛП № 02330/0494191 от 03.04.2009. Ул. Богдановича, 155-131, 220040, Минск.

ISBN 978-985-90160-3-5

Europe In Your Pocket

Arriving in and getting around Minsk are fairly simple affairs once you understand the basics. Accordingly, travelling   further afield is relatively painless if you’re prepared prepared to do your research beforehand and use some sign language when using buses and trains. Car rental is relatively cheap by Western standards.

By bus

In Your Pocket has broken much new ground of  late, publishing new guides in the Netherlands ( Den Bosch, Utrecht), Austria ( Vienna Vienna), Croatia ( Brač Bra č and Senj), Slovenia ( Celje Celje), Serbia ( Niš Niš) and SwitZ Zurich urich Minsk zerland (  ). A new guide to in Belarus is the next  In Your Pocket to launch, the proof  of which you’re now holding in your hands. We’ve also started rolling out iPhone apps to all our cities and will be launching even more In Your Pocket guides as apps throughout the year. To find out  which cities we’ll be covering and to keep up to date with all In Your Pocket news and events, join In Your Pocket on Facebook ( facebook.com/  facebook.com/  inyourpocket) or follow us on Twitter ( twitter. twitter. com/inyourpocket).

Minsk In Your Pocket published by JLLC TopPRINT/  In Your Pocket. Belarus, 220040 Minsk, 155, ul. M.Bogdanovicha, 131  [email protected] tel./fax: (+375 17) 331 34 52, www.inyourpocket.com Editorial Editor Sco Contributors Andrew Quested, Tim Orr  Researchers Victor Martynov, Elena Chudnikova Photos Anatoly Dribas General Manager Vadim Martynov Layout & Design Elena Pavlova L Distribution (+375 17) 334 87 23

Copyright notice Text and photos copyright JLLC TopPRINT 1992-2011. Maps copyright JLLC TopPRINT. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except brief  extracts for the purpose of review, without  written permission from the publisher and copyright.

Editor’s note The editorial content of In Your Pocket  guides is independent from paid-for  advertising. Sponsored listings are clearly  marked as such. We welcome all readers‘ comments and suggestions. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy  of the information at the time of going to press and assume no responsibility for  changes and errors. © СООО “ТОППРИНТ”, составление, оформление, 2011  © А.П. Дрибас, фото, 2011  © Государственный комитет по имуществу  Республики Беларусь, картоснова, 2011 

Minsk In Your Po cket

6

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

The conveniently located Central Bus Station is closed   for reconstruction until the end of 2011, leaving the far  less convenient Vostochny (Eastern) and Moscovsky  (Moscow) bus stations to deal with international buses. Both stations have lockers for luggage and other basic   faculties including pay toilets, cafés, currency exchange and numerous kiosks. Getting to town Ta Taking king a bus to the cit y centre is complicated and involves multiple stops so a taxi is the best bet.

By car  Driving in Belarus is generally much bet ter than it used to be, and certainly l ess fraught with danger than in some of  its EU neighbours. There’s a risk of receiving on-the-spot  ‘fines’ from traffic police, so stay within the speed limits. Road signs are in Belarusian only with the exception of the M1 (E30) Brest-Minsk highway. highway. At the border it’s necessary  to fill out a declaration on your car and buy Belarusian vehicle insurance which is cheap, but be sure you have the money  in cash (Russian roubles, US dollars and euros only). T here may not be controls at the border coming in from Russia, but there could be sporadic checks. You’ll have to pay a small toll for using th e Brest-Minsk highway, again payable only in Russian roubles, US dollars and euros. In the event  of a breakdown trouble, call tel. 116.

customs torture, you end up at the arrivals hall on the first   floor. The currency exchange, directly opposite, usually operates when flights arrive. Otherwise, head to the larger one on the second floor (Open 09:00 - 13:00, 13:30 - 20:00). An ATM is located on the third floor, next to departure gate N°1. For public telephones, long distance calls, Internet and post, head to the post office on the third floor. Getting to town Taxis can be found parked outside gates N°5 and 6. If you’re quoted more than €25 for a ride into the city centre you’re literally ly and metaphorica metaphorically lly being taken for  a ride. Bus N°300 goes to both bus stations in the city. Pay  the driver, currently about 6,000BYR. Buses run between around 04:15 and 01:00.

By train Minsk’s gleaming train station is a tribute to the modernity  of Belarus, and proof that no matter how much money you spend you can still come up with something just as chaotic as the old train station. It does have the welcoming look of a shopping mall though, and if you follow the pictographi c signs you shouldn’t get lost. Currency exchange can be found at the top of the escalator. Find public telephones accepting chip cards on the ground floor and in the basement. The basemen t  also contains public toilets (currently 800BYR) and a large, 24hr left luggage room. Getting to Town The station is in the centre of cit y, so walking  ng  might be an option. Otherwise, head to the basement level and follow the underground passage, which eventually leads to the entrance of the Ploschad Nezavismosti Metro station (see Public transport). Other wise, take one of the taxis parked in the immedia te area (see Taxis). To be safe, go for one of the yellow, state-run taxis or a private one with 135, 157, 158 or  181 displayed on the car. Be sure they turn on the meter.

By plane Minsk has two airports, the tiny and hardly used Minsk-1 in the city centre and the larger Minsk-2, where the majority of  internationall flights arrive and depart. internationa Minsk-1 A classic Socialist Realist buildin g not dissimilar to the façade of the nearby airport in Vilnius, Minsk-1, some 3km south of  the centre, hardly qualifies as an airport at all. A currency  exchange exchang e and café are the only services. Getting to town Bus N°100 goes to the city centre and runs along Nezavisimosti. Buy a ticket on board for 850BYR. Taxis outside may or may not be reliable. See Taxis for  details on how to spot which is which. Minsk-2 The city’s main international airport, Minsk-2, is located 42km north-east of the city. Once you go through the usual

Minsk-2 International Airport 

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

BASICS Alcohol As one would expect to find in this part of the world, vodka is essentially the Belarusian national drink. Local brands are inexpensive and generally very good. Three to watch out for  are Minsk Kristal ( Минск Минск Кристалл), Belalco ( Белалко Белалко) Бульбашъ ). For men, knocking back i ce-cold and Bulbash ( Бульбашъ shots in one is considered the correct way to drink. Mixing  vodka is looked on as being somewhat unmanly. Belarusian beer comes in all shapes and sizes from the mass-produced mass-produced Криница) to the more interesting  brands such as Krinica ( Криница ales such as the live Beaver Dark ( Бивер Темное ) and the Лидское Белое). Minsk has one or two light Lidskoye Beloye ( Лидское microbreweries worth investigating. See the Nightlife section of this guide for more information. The choice of imported beers, wines and spirits is fairly good, although prices are high, especially so for imported wines.

Communism Politics and business aside, like its neighbour Russia, Belarus is still very much visually as it was during Soviet times. Statues, hammers and sickles and many other remnants of  Soviet art and architecture are in abundance, especially so in the capital. Minsk was almost entirely destroyed during  WWII and was rebuilt along strict Socialist-Realist lines. Visitors looking for the ultimate Soviet-era ostalgie experience won’t be disappointed.

Crime & Safety  The streets of Minsk are among some of the safest in Europe, although that shouldn’t stop visitors from exercising caution as they would in any other large large metropolis. The city is police d by an armed militia who effectively do the work of an ordinary  police force and who, when we’ve needed them, have been the epitome of courtesy. Having said that, people should be careful around any public demonstrations. The best option in such circumstances is to stay well away.

Customs The rules governing what you can bring in and out of Belarus get increasingly complicated the more pe ople you ask. To the best of our kn owledge, the current situation is that nonresidents can import, tax free and und eclared, a maximum of US$10,000 (about €7,250) in cash, one litre of distilled

Good Cops One thing you’ll notice immediately up on arrival in Minsk is that there’s rather a lot of people wearing uniforms and carrying guns and sticks. Police and military personnel seem to be everywhere all the time. This can be a bit disconcerting  at first, but don’t worry, they’re probably not going to shoot  you. The most exciting authority action that you’re likely to experience is that you’ll be approached and asked to show your documents. Passport, driver’s license, Mickey Mouse Club membership card, pretty much anything slightly  official-looking with a name and photograph will do. The police will understand that you may have le ft your passport  with the hotel for registration purposes. Unless you’ve been doing something very mischievous, the police are only likely  to approach you from utter boredom. They’ll look at your ID, inwardly chuckle at how foolish you look in the photograph, and wander off to find someone else to annoy. Let them have their fun. They’ve already sorted out all the crime and, well, there’s just not much lef t to do.

Minsk In Your Po cket

5

BASICS Basic data

Travel talk

Population

E ng ng lili sh sh

Belarus 9,503,800 Minsk 1,850,000

Ethnic composition (Belarus, 2009) Belarusians 83.7% Russians 8.3% Poles 3.1% Ukrainians 1.7% Others 3.2%

Territory 207,595 square kilometres. Predominantly flat, landlocked country. Fertile lowland with around 11,000 lakes. Slightly smaller than Great Britain. Britain.

Borders Latvia 143 km Lithuania 462 km Poland 399 km Russia 990 km Ukraine 975 km.

Longest river Dnieper (Belarusian, Dnyapro). One of the longest  rivers in Europe, the Dnieper rises in the Valdai Hills of Russia and flows south 2,201 km through Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea.

Largest lake Naroch 79.6 square kilometres

Highest point гора Дзержинская) 345 m Dzerzhinskaya gora ( гора

alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 200g of tobacco, five pieces of   jewellery, one watch, one video-recording or vid eo-playing  device, three items of leather or fur clothing and four tyres (surplus to the ones attached to your car if you’re arriving  by road, we assume). When leaving, you can take out up to 500g of gold and 5kg of silver. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that you should avoid trying to take out icons, antiques or any works of art without the correct paper work. For more information see the State Customs Committee website at www.gtk.gov.by.

Disabled travellers There’s a long way to go before Minsk and the rest of Belarus is equipped to deal with disabled travellers. All new and renovated buildings must incorporate wheelchair-access into their  design, and the capital’s newer buses and trolleybuses have low entries for wheelchair users.

Electricity  Belarusian electricity flows out of standard European two-pin sockets at 220v AC, 50Hz. Adaptors are not easy to find, and bringing your own is advisable.

Floors Like the citizens of the United States, the Belarusians consider the floor at street level to be the first floor, and so on.

minsk inyourpo cket com

Language Belarusian is an East Slavic language similar to Russian, is written using the Belarusian Cyrillic alphabet and is spoken by less than 40% of the country’s population. Both Belarusian and Russian enjoy equal official status in Belarus, although Russian is by far the dominant of the two. Street signs and metro stations are almost without exception written in Belarusian. Outside of Minsk, Belarusian is more widely spoken, with Polish also used further to the west. Staff in many bars, hotels and restaurants speak at least a little English, although many menus in town remain in Russian only.

B el el ar ar us us ia ia n R us us si si an an

Russian pronunciation To v / k  у  / да в / к з / ад из / от From iz / ot  цягнiк поезд Train poiezd zheleznodo´  чыгуначны железноTrain дорожный Station rozhnyi вакзал vok´zal вокзал av´tobus аў то тобу бус с авто ав тобу бус с Bus автовокзал зал avtovok´zal Bus Station аў тавакзал автовок Ticket  bi´let  бi лет билет Taxi ta´ksi такс i такси Today  se´vodnia сёння сегодня Tomorrow заў т ра ´zaftra ра з ав авт ра ра Monday  Панядзелак Понедельник pone´del’nik  Tuesday   f´tornik  Аў то тора рак к Втор Вт орни ник к Wednesday  С ер sre´da ер ад ад а С ре ре да да Thursday  Ча chet´verg  Чацв цвер ер Четв Че твер ергг Пятнiц а П ят ят ни ни ца ца Friday  ´piatnitsa уб от от а С уб уб бо бо та та Saturday  С уб su´bota Нядзеля Няд зеля Воскре Вос кресен сенье ье voskre´sen’ie Sunday  ранiца у тро Morning  ´utro вечар вечер Evening  ´vecher 

Local time

Religion

Belarus is in the Eastern European Time (EET) zone at  GMT+2hrs. When it’s 12:00 in Minsk it’s 05:00 in New York, 10:00 in London, 11:00 in Warsaw, 13:00 in Moscow and 19:00 in Tokyo. Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, GMT+3hrs) falls between the last Sundays of March and October respectively.

The majority of believers in Belarus belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, with smaller communities of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims also existing. Women should cover  their heads when entering a Russian Orthodox Church.

Money & Costs

Belarus doesn’t disappoint when it comes to indifferent  service, especially among public se ctor workers. workers. As a rule, privately-owned privately-ow ned business are much friendlier although the sort of polished service one expects to find in the sophisticated capital cities of western Europe is generally lacking  here. Tipping, if deserved, is fairly common, with 10% or a rounding up of the bill considered the norm.

The Belarusian rouble (BYR) comes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000. Be careful not to confuse them during cash transactions. Currency exchange offices and ATMs can be  found throughout Minsk. Outside the capital and the larger  towns and cities, cash should always be carried. Minsk is  far from being the cheap city it used to be. Choosing where to eat and drink can save considerable amounts of money, although finding a budget place to stay is almost impossible. A good night ou t for two in Minsk including a meal in a posh restaurant followed by drinks in a bar and a club to  finish off won’t leave you with much change, i f any change at all, from €100.

Numbers English 1  2 3 4 5 6 7  8 9 10 More Less

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Service

Smoking  Smoking is permitted in bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels and most public spaces although many restaurants provide a no-smoking section. Locally-produced Western brand cigarettes are available and are considerably cheaper than in the West.

National holidays Russian pr pronunciation od’in dva tri che‘tyre p’iat’ shest’ sem’ ’vosem’ ’deviat’ ’desiat’ ’bol'she ’men'she

January 1 January 7 March 8 March 15 May 1 May 9 July 3 October 16 November 1-2 November 7 December 25

New Year’s Day  Orthodox Christmas International Women’s Day  Constitution Day  Labour Day  Victory Day  Independence Day  Mother’s Day (2011) Dzyady (Remembrance Day) Revolution Day  Catholic & Protestant Christmas

2011

7

6

BASICS Alcohol As one would expect to find in this part of the world, vodka is essentially the Belarusian national drink. Local brands are inexpensive and generally very good. Three to watch out for  are Minsk Kristal ( Минск Минск Кристалл), Belalco ( Белалко Белалко) Бульбашъ ). For men, knocking back i ce-cold and Bulbash ( Бульбашъ shots in one is considered the correct way to drink. Mixing  vodka is looked on as being somewhat unmanly. Belarusian beer comes in all shapes and sizes from the mass-produced mass-produced Криница) to the more interesting  brands such as Krinica ( Криница ales such as the live Beaver Dark ( Бивер Темное ) and the Лидское Белое). Minsk has one or two light Lidskoye Beloye ( Лидское microbreweries worth investigating. See the Nightlife section of this guide for more information. The choice of imported beers, wines and spirits is fairly good, although prices are high, especially so for imported wines.

Communism Politics and business aside, like its neighbour Russia, Belarus is still very much visually as it was during Soviet times. Statues, hammers and sickles and many other remnants of  Soviet art and architecture are in abundance, especially so in the capital. Minsk was almost entirely destroyed during  WWII and was rebuilt along strict Socialist-Realist lines. Visitors looking for the ultimate Soviet-era ostalgie experience won’t be disappointed.

Crime & Safety  The streets of Minsk are among some of the safest in Europe, although that shouldn’t stop visitors from exercising caution as they would in any other large large metropolis. The city is police d by an armed militia who effectively do the work of an ordinary  police force and who, when we’ve needed them, have been the epitome of courtesy. Having said that, people should be careful around any public demonstrations. The best option in such circumstances is to stay well away.

Customs The rules governing what you can bring in and out of Belarus get increasingly complicated the more pe ople you ask. To the best of our kn owledge, the current situation is that nonresidents can import, tax free and und eclared, a maximum of US$10,000 (about €7,250) in cash, one litre of distilled

Good Cops One thing you’ll notice immediately up on arrival in Minsk is that there’s rather a lot of people wearing uniforms and carrying guns and sticks. Police and military personnel seem to be everywhere all the time. This can be a bit disconcerting  at first, but don’t worry, they’re probably not going to shoot  you. The most exciting authority action that you’re likely to experience is that you’ll be approached and asked to show your documents. Passport, driver’s license, Mickey Mouse Club membership card, pretty much anything slightly  official-looking with a name and photograph will do. The police will understand that you may have le ft your passport  with the hotel for registration purposes. Unless you’ve been doing something very mischievous, the police are only likely  to approach you from utter boredom. They’ll look at your ID, inwardly chuckle at how foolish you look in the photograph, and wander off to find someone else to annoy. Let them have their fun. They’ve already sorted out all the crime and, well, there’s just not much lef t to do.

Minsk In Your Po cket

8

BASICS Basic data

Travel talk

Population

E ng ng lili sh sh

Belarus 9,503,800 Minsk 1,850,000

Ethnic composition (Belarus, 2009) Belarusians 83.7% Russians 8.3% Poles 3.1% Ukrainians 1.7% Others 3.2%

Territory 207,595 square kilometres. Predominantly flat, landlocked country. Fertile lowland with around 11,000 lakes. Slightly smaller than Great Britain. Britain.

Borders Latvia 143 km Lithuania 462 km Poland 399 km Russia 990 km Ukraine 975 km.

Longest river Dnieper (Belarusian, Dnyapro). One of the longest  rivers in Europe, the Dnieper rises in the Valdai Hills of Russia and flows south 2,201 km through Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea.

Largest lake Naroch 79.6 square kilometres

Highest point гора Дзержинская) 345 m Dzerzhinskaya gora ( гора

alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 200g of tobacco, five pieces of   jewellery, one watch, one video-recording or vid eo-playing  device, three items of leather or fur clothing and four tyres (surplus to the ones attached to your car if you’re arriving  by road, we assume). When leaving, you can take out up to 500g of gold and 5kg of silver. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that you should avoid trying to take out icons, antiques or any works of art without the correct paper work. For more information see the State Customs Committee website at www.gtk.gov.by.

Disabled travellers There’s a long way to go before Minsk and the rest of Belarus is equipped to deal with disabled travellers. All new and renovated buildings must incorporate wheelchair-access into their  design, and the capital’s newer buses and trolleybuses have low entries for wheelchair users.

Electricity  Belarusian electricity flows out of standard European two-pin sockets at 220v AC, 50Hz. Adaptors are not easy to find, and bringing your own is advisable.

Floors Like the citizens of the United States, the Belarusians consider the floor at street level to be the first floor, and so on.

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Language Belarusian is an East Slavic language similar to Russian, is written using the Belarusian Cyrillic alphabet and is spoken by less than 40% of the country’s population. Both Belarusian and Russian enjoy equal official status in Belarus, although Russian is by far the dominant of the two. Street signs and metro stations are almost without exception written in Belarusian. Outside of Minsk, Belarusian is more widely spoken, with Polish also used further to the west. Staff in many bars, hotels and restaurants speak at least a little English, although many menus in town remain in Russian only.

B el el ar ar us us ia ia n R us us si si an an

Russian pronunciation To v / k  у  / да в / к з / ад из / от From iz / ot  цягнiк поезд Train poiezd zheleznodo´  чыгуначны железноTrain дорожный Station rozhnyi вакзал vok´zal вокзал av´tobus аў то тобу бус с авто ав тобу бус с Bus автовокзал зал avtovok´zal Bus Station аў тавакзал автовок Ticket  bi´let  бi лет билет Taxi ta´ksi такс i такси Today  se´vodnia сёння сегодня Tomorrow заў т ра ´zaftra ра з ав авт ра ра Monday  Панядзелак Понедельник pone´del’nik  Tuesday   f´tornik  Аў то тора рак к Втор Вт орни ник к Wednesday  С ер sre´da ер ад ад а С ре ре да да Thursday  Ча chet´verg  Чацв цвер ер Четв Че твер ергг Пятнiц а П ят ят ни ни ца ца Friday  ´piatnitsa уб от от а С уб уб бо бо та та Saturday  С уб su´bota Нядзеля Няд зеля Воскре Вос кресен сенье ье voskre´sen’ie Sunday  ранiца у тро Morning  ´utro вечар вечер Evening  ´vecher 

Local time

Religion

Belarus is in the Eastern European Time (EET) zone at  GMT+2hrs. When it’s 12:00 in Minsk it’s 05:00 in New York, 10:00 in London, 11:00 in Warsaw, 13:00 in Moscow and 19:00 in Tokyo. Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, GMT+3hrs) falls between the last Sundays of March and October respectively.

The majority of believers in Belarus belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, with smaller communities of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims also existing. Women should cover  their heads when entering a Russian Orthodox Church.

Money & Costs

Belarus doesn’t disappoint when it comes to indifferent  service, especially among public se ctor workers. workers. As a rule, privately-owned privately-ow ned business are much friendlier although the sort of polished service one expects to find in the sophisticated capital cities of western Europe is generally lacking  here. Tipping, if deserved, is fairly common, with 10% or a rounding up of the bill considered the norm.

The Belarusian rouble (BYR) comes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000. Be careful not to confuse them during cash transactions. Currency exchange offices and ATMs can be  found throughout Minsk. Outside the capital and the larger  towns and cities, cash should always be carried. Minsk is  far from being the cheap city it used to be. Choosing where to eat and drink can save considerable amounts of money, although finding a budget place to stay is almost impossible. A good night ou t for two in Minsk including a meal in a posh restaurant followed by drinks in a bar and a club to  finish off won’t leave you with much change, i f any change at all, from €100.

Numbers English 1  2 3 4 5 6 7  8 9 10 More Less

Service

Smoking  Smoking is permitted in bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels and most public spaces although many restaurants provide a no-smoking section. Locally-produced Western brand cigarettes are available and are considerably cheaper than in the West.

National holidays Russian pr pronunciation od’in dva tri che‘tyre p’iat’ shest’ sem’ ’vosem’ ’deviat’ ’desiat’ ’bol'she ’men'she

January 1 January 7 March 8 March 15 May 1 May 9 July 3 October 16 November 1-2 November 7 December 25

minsk.inyourpocket.com

HISTORY Human history in the region now known as Belarus dates back to the Stone Age. Belarusian identity began somewhat  later with the migration of the East Slavs between the 6th and 8th centuries AD.

The residents of Minsk are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever come across. All you have to do is stand on a street corner and look confused an d some affable local will probably come to your aid. Try to enter a shop through its window, and someone will promptly be on hand to suggest  that you should use the door. Many younger people speak  English and will be happy to give directions, read signs, take photographs, help you use the Metro and so on. While few restaurant and bar staff speak English, they’re generally  very obliging. If there’s a place in town with grumpy peopl e and bad service, we just couldn’t find it. Even the once infamous border crossing is less hostile. As for socialising, it’s very easy in Minsk. Many locals are still delighted to meet and interested to talk to foreigners.

10th century 980AD Rogvold, Prince of Polotsk, controls a region that now makes up part of northern Belarus. The first written record of the Belarusian state. 11th century Менескъ) and the ac1067 The first written record of Minsk ( Менескъ cepted year of the founding of the cit y. Minsk rapidly develops into a major regional centre of trade. 12th century Belarus is incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. 16th century The foundation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów) in 1569 effectively writes Belarus out of existence as a national entity.

Toilets Public toilets and those in restaurants, bars etc are getting  better all the time, although there’s still a long way to go in many establishments. Don’t automatically expe ct toilet paper. In general, M marks the Gents and Ж the Ladies.

18th century Belarus is incorporated into the Russian Empire after the third partition of Poland in 1795. Minsk becomes a regional capital.

Visas

19th century Intensified Russification between 1840 and 1850 leads to Nicholas I banning the Belarusian language and outlawing  the use of the word Belarusia/Belarus. The region becomes known as the Northwestern Territory.

With the exception of citizens of a small number of countries, all visitors to Belarus must have a valid visa. Visas can be obtained from any Belarusian consulate abroad or in some cases through a travel agency. Visas are also available at  Minsk-2 airport around the clock, although just who’s entitled to one is unclear. If there was a possibility to acquire a visa before you travelled you might possibly be refused entry. Visas issued at Minsk-2 must be paid for in cash. Visitors also require medical insurance valid for the duration of the time spent in Belarus. On arriving in Belarus, visitors are given an immigration card, which must be filled in twice. Half is subsequently taken away and the other half must be presented when leaving the country. A Belarusian immigration card is also valid for Russia if travelling onwards. There is no border control between Russia and Belarus. For more information, see the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.mfa.gov.by.

20th century In the wake of the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918 the short-lived Belarusian People’s Republic is declared three weeks later on March 25. By  February 1919 Belarus finds itself in the middle of the Polish-Soviet War. The obscure Lithuanian-Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic survives for several months in Belarus and eastern Lithuania before a Polish victory sees the country split in two after the Riga Peace Treaty of  March 18, 1921. The western half  goes to the Poles and, in December 1922, the eastern half  including Minsk becomes a founding member of the Soviet  Union. The German invasion of the Soviet Union that starts on June 22, 1941 in Belarus and that becomes the Great  Patriotic War leaves over 30% of the population dead and nine out of 10 buildings in the capital destroyed. The Minsk  Ghetto holds some 100,000 Jews of whom nearly all perish during the Holocaust. On July 3, 1944 Minsk is liberated by  the Red Army as it begins its slow advance on Berlin. Belarus becomes a founding member of the United Nations in 1945. In 1961 Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of US President  John F. Kennedy, lives in Minsk. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, 17-year-old Olga Korbut from Grodno raises several storms with her revolutionary gymnastic performances that  see her winning a total of one silver and three gold medals. Minsk is awarded the title of Hero City on June 16, 1974. A  series of explosions and a resulting fire at reactor four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the then Ukrainian Soviet  Socialist Republic send a plume of radioacti ve smoke into the atmosphere on April 26, 1986. The worst nuclear accident  ever sees Belarus receive 70% of the radioactivity.

Independence & Beyond 1990 National sovereignty sovereignty is declared on July 27.

Minsk, Nemiga street 

Minsk In Your Po cket

New Year’s Day  Orthodox Christmas International Women’s Day  Constitution Day  Labour Day  Victory Day  Independence Day  Mother’s Day (2011) Dzyady (Remembrance Day) Revolution Day  Catholic & Protestant Christmas

2011

BASICS The people

minsk inyourpo cket com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

7

Victory Square 1991 Independence is officially declared after the collapse of the hard-line putsch in Moscow on August 25. On December 8 the leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine sign an agreemen t  bringing into existence the Commonwealth of Independent  States (CIS). (CIS). Minsk becomes the administrative centre. The Soviet Union is officially disestablished on December 26. 1992 Belarus introduces its own coupons to replace the Soviet  rouble on May 20, leaving the rouble zone on June 1. 1994 On March 15 the Supreme Soviet adopts a new constitution. In the first free presidentia presidentiall elections on June 23 Alexander  Lukashenko is elected president, taking office officially on July 20. 1995 In a national referendum on May 14 over 75% of the electorate says Yes to Russian becoming an official state language alongside Belarusian and the return of the old Belarusian Soviet insignia including the Soviet-looking flag without the hammer and sickle. 1996 President Lukashenko and Boris Yeltsin sign a treaty calling   for a political union between Russia and Belarus on April 2. On May 24 Belarus and Russia sign a new unification deal ensuring freedom of the press and free activi ties for political parties. The treaty goes into effect on June 11, 1997. 2000 On January 26 Belarus ratifies a treaty on the formation of  the Union State of Belarus and Russia 2001 President Lukashenko is elected for a second term on September 9. 2006 President Lukashenko is elected for a third term on March 19. The new Belarusian National Library building opens its doors to the public on June 16. 2010 President Lukashenko is elec ted for a fourth term on December 19. On December 21 the Belarusian Parliament ratifies documents forming the legal basis for a single economic area comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

2011 011

9

HISTORY

BASICS

8

Human history in the region now known as Belarus dates back to the Stone Age. Belarusian identity began somewhat  later with the migration of the East Slavs between the 6th and 8th centuries AD.

The people The residents of Minsk are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever come across. All you have to do is stand on a street corner and look confused an d some affable local will probably come to your aid. Try to enter a shop through its window, and someone will promptly be on hand to suggest  that you should use the door. Many younger people speak  English and will be happy to give directions, read signs, take photographs, help you use the Metro and so on. While few restaurant and bar staff speak English, they’re generally  very obliging. If there’s a place in town with grumpy peopl e and bad service, we just couldn’t find it. Even the once infamous border crossing is less hostile. As for socialising, it’s very easy in Minsk. Many locals are still delighted to meet and interested to talk to foreigners.

10th century 980AD Rogvold, Prince of Polotsk, controls a region that now makes up part of northern Belarus. The first written record of the Belarusian state. 11th century Менескъ) and the ac1067 The first written record of Minsk ( Менескъ cepted year of the founding of the cit y. Minsk rapidly develops into a major regional centre of trade. 12th century Belarus is incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. 16th century The foundation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów) in 1569 effectively writes Belarus out of existence as a national entity.

Toilets Public toilets and those in restaurants, bars etc are getting  better all the time, although there’s still a long way to go in many establishments. Don’t automatically expe ct toilet paper. In general, M marks the Gents and Ж the Ladies.

18th century Belarus is incorporated into the Russian Empire after the third partition of Poland in 1795. Minsk becomes a regional capital.

Visas

19th century Intensified Russification between 1840 and 1850 leads to Nicholas I banning the Belarusian language and outlawing  the use of the word Belarusia/Belarus. The region becomes known as the Northwestern Territory.

With the exception of citizens of a small number of countries, all visitors to Belarus must have a valid visa. Visas can be obtained from any Belarusian consulate abroad or in some cases through a travel agency. Visas are also available at  Minsk-2 airport around the clock, although just who’s entitled to one is unclear. If there was a possibility to acquire a visa before you travelled you might possibly be refused entry. Visas issued at Minsk-2 must be paid for in cash. Visitors also require medical insurance valid for the duration of the time spent in Belarus. On arriving in Belarus, visitors are given an immigration card, which must be filled in twice. Half is subsequently taken away and the other half must be presented when leaving the country. A Belarusian immigration card is also valid for Russia if travelling onwards. There is no border control between Russia and Belarus. For more information, see the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.mfa.gov.by.

20th century In the wake of the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918 the short-lived Belarusian People’s Republic is declared three weeks later on March 25. By  February 1919 Belarus finds itself in the middle of the Polish-Soviet War. The obscure Lithuanian-Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic survives for several months in Belarus and eastern Lithuania before a Polish victory sees the country split in two after the Riga Peace Treaty of  March 18, 1921. The western half  goes to the Poles and, in December 1922, the eastern half  including Minsk becomes a founding member of the Soviet  Union. The German invasion of the Soviet Union that starts on June 22, 1941 in Belarus and that becomes the Great  Patriotic War leaves over 30% of the population dead and nine out of 10 buildings in the capital destroyed. The Minsk  Ghetto holds some 100,000 Jews of whom nearly all perish during the Holocaust. On July 3, 1944 Minsk is liberated by  the Red Army as it begins its slow advance on Berlin. Belarus becomes a founding member of the United Nations in 1945. In 1961 Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of US President  John F. Kennedy, lives in Minsk. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, 17-year-old Olga Korbut from Grodno raises several storms with her revolutionary gymnastic performances that  see her winning a total of one silver and three gold medals. Minsk is awarded the title of Hero City on June 16, 1974. A  series of explosions and a resulting fire at reactor four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the then Ukrainian Soviet  Socialist Republic send a plume of radioacti ve smoke into the atmosphere on April 26, 1986. The worst nuclear accident  ever sees Belarus receive 70% of the radioactivity.

1990 National sovereignty sovereignty is declared on July 27.

Minsk, Nemiga street 

Minsk In Your Po cket

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Like the rest of the world, Belarus has come a long way in the last decade when it comes to communications. Most  hotels now boast some kind of Internet connection and many  cafés and bars around the city provide free wireless Internet  connections. The postal system and telephones, including  mobile networks, work just fine.

Post  Независимости, 10), tel. (+375) 226 06 82, www. Независимости, belpost.by. Head straight through to the main hall in the back  to send letters, buy postcards and make photocopies. For  For  telephone and telegraph services, head to the Peregov Peregovorny  orny  Punkt in Hall 1, on the left (Open 07:00 - 23:00). Also on the left is the Internet centre, where people queue to use 12 terminals. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

UPS C-4, Muzykalny per. 3 (Музыкальный ( Музыкальный пер пер.3), .3), tel. (+375 17) 328 55 80, ww w.ups.com. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Mobile phones BelCel C-5, ul. Zolotaya Gorka 5 ( ул ( ул . Золотая Горка, 5), tel. (+375 17) 282 00 18, belcel@belcel. Горка, by, www.belcel.by. “Diallog” service providers. Also at  Nezavisimosti 18, Nezavisimosti 42, Lenina 4. QOpen 09:00 21:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00. армейская, 24), tel. (+375 17) 321 20 54. Turkish армейская, - Belarusian GSM company. Also at Nezavisimosti 18, Pobediteley 1, Yakuba Kolasa 35, National airport Minsk-2.

Much more than screaming cocktail bars, nostalgic Soviet  sights and girls in miniskirts, Minsk is also remarkably well endowed in the culture department. Concerts are of an exceptionally high quality and cost next to nothing to attend, cinemas screen everything from underground classics to the latest Hollywood blockbuster and there’s a number of  very good galleries around too. If you’re in town and you need a dose of serious culture, you won’t be disappointed. Also check the Sightseeing section of this guide for more museums and galleries.

Cinemas Autocinema (Авто (Авто кинотеатр кинотеатр)) ul. Menkovsky Tract 2, Ozertso ( ул ( ул.. Меньковский Меньковскийтракт тракт,, 2,Озерцо 2, Озерцо). ). The only drive-in cinema in Minsk, complete with a 144 square-meter square-met er screen.

DHL ul. Brestskaya 18 (Head Office) ( ул  ул.. Брестская Брестская,,

Velcom C-3, ul. Melnikaite 14 (Head office)

Победителей,, 13), tel. (+375 17) 203 14 48. Победителей

18), tel. (+375 17) 278 11 08, www.dhl.by. Also they  have express centres at Pobediteley 5, tel. 289 30 68, and XXI Vek Business Centre, Nezavisimosti 169, tel. 228 73 60, both open 09:00 - 13:00, 14:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun; and at Central Post Office, Nezavisimosti 10, tel. 227 25 33. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun.

( ул  ул.. Мельникайте Мельникайте,, 14), tel. (+375 17) 222 49 01, [email protected], www.velcom.by. The first GSM provider  in Belarus with a very informative website. The information number is 222 49 01 for all offices, or just 411 from mobiles. Also at Kalvariyskaya 4, Nezavisimosty 60, Nezavisimosty  105, Partizansky 12, Varvasheni 73, Masherova 19, Internatsionalnaya 3. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00.

10), tel. (+375 17) 222 65 11/(+375 17) 227 85 12, www.belpost.by. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

FedEx (M&M Militzer & Münch) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 (просп (просп.. Pobediteley, 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 99 09, [email protected], www.mum.by. QOpen 08:00 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun.

TNT C-6, ul. Platonova 10 ( ул ( ул.. Платонова Платонова,, 10), tel. (+375 17) 294 80 00/(+375 17) 284 90 44, [email protected] y, www.tnt.by. TNT at Minsk-2 airport tel. 279 11 86. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun.

Belarusian Telephone Codes Barano Bar anovich vichii

(+375) (+3 75) 163

M ya ya del

B ob ob ru ru ys ys k

( +3 +3 75 75) 22 22 5

Naro ch

(+37 5) 1797  

Bor is ov ov

(+375) 17 77 77  

N es esvi zh zh

(+37 5) 5) 1770

Br as asla v

(+375) 2153

Novogru Nov ogrudok dok

(+375) (+37 5) 159 1597  7 

Brest

(+375) 162

Novopo Nov opolots lotskk

(+375) (+3 75) 214 214

Gomel

(+375) 232

Orsh a

(+37 5) 21 216

Grodno

(+375) 15 152

Pin sk

(+37 5) 165

Ko bri n

(+375) 16 1642

Pol o tsk

(+3 75) 214

Li d a

(+375) 1561  

Shkl ov

(+3 75) 22 2239

Minsk

(+375) 17

Sl on onim

(+37 5) 1562

Mi or y

(+375) 2152

S ol ol ig igo rs rs k

( +3 +3 75 75) 1 7  

Mo gi gil ev ev

(+375) 222

Viteb sk sk

(+375) 21 212

Molodech Molo dechno no

(+375) (+3 75) 176

Z hl obin

(+37 5) 23 2334

Moz y r

(+375) 2351  

Z ho ho di dino

(+37 5) 5) 1775

Minsk In Your Po cket

(+37 5) 1797  

1995 In a national referendum on May 14 over 75% of the electorate says Yes to Russian becoming an official state language alongside Belarusian and the return of the old Belarusian Soviet insignia including the Soviet-looking flag without the hammer and sickle. 1996 President Lukashenko and Boris Yeltsin sign a treaty calling   for a political union between Russia and Belarus on April 2. On May 24 Belarus and Russia sign a new unification deal ensuring freedom of the press and free activi ties for political parties. The treaty goes into effect on June 11, 1997. 2000 On January 26 Belarus ratifies a treaty on the formation of  the Union State of Belarus and Russia 2001 President Lukashenko is elected for a second term on September 9. 2006 President Lukashenko is elected for a third term on March 19. The new Belarusian National Library building opens its doors to the public on June 16.

Opera & Ballet Belarusian National Opera & Ballet Theatre (Национальный академический Большой театр оперыи оперы и балета балета)) C-4, Parizhskoy Kommuny pl. 1 (пл пл.. Парижской Коммуны Коммуны,, 1), tel. (+375 17) 334 10 41, www.belarusopera.by. The Belarusian Opera & Ballet Theatre began performances in 1933 although this building dates from considerably later. The repertoire is extensive and includes many classics.

MTS Nezavisimosti pr. 95 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 95), Belarus (Беларусь (Беларусь)) C-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 28 ( ул  ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 29), MFrunzenskaya

EMS D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 10 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,,

1994 On March 15 the Supreme Soviet adopts a new constitution. In the first free presidentia presidentiall elections on June 23 Alexander  Lukashenko is elected president, taking office officially on July 20.

2011 011

tel. (+375 17) 237 98 98, [email protected], www.mts.by. Russian-Belarusian GSM company, operating in Belarus and covering a rather nice part of it. Also at Revoliutsionnaya 24b, Kalvariyskaya 60, Nezavisimosti, 6, Karla Marksa, 26. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00.

Express mail

1992 Belarus introduces its own coupons to replace the Soviet  rouble on May 20, leaving the rouble zone on June 1.

CULTURE & EVENTS

Life D-4, ul. Krasnoarmeyskaya 24 ( ул ( ул.. Красно Красно--

Central Post Office D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 10 (просп (просп..

1991 Independence is officially declared after the collapse of the hard-line putsch in Moscow on August 25. On December 8 the leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine sign an agreemen t  bringing into existence the Commonwealth of Independent  States (CIS). (CIS). Minsk becomes the administrative centre. The Soviet Union is officially disestablished on December 26.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

MAIL & PHONES  The Minsk  telephone code is +375 17 

Victory Square

2010 President Lukashenko is elec ted for a fourth term on December 19. On December 21 the Belarusian Parliament ratifies documents forming the legal basis for a single economic area comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Independence & Beyond

10

9

Internet cafés

(Фрунзенская Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 40 34. Minsk’s first  multiplex. Five halls.

Moskva (Москва (Москва)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 13 (просп ( просп.. Oktyabr (Октябрь (Октябрь)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 73 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 73), MAkademiya Nauk (Академия Независимости (Академия

Wireless Several restaurants, cafés and bars around the city provide  free wireless Internet services. Alternatively keep an eye out   for the countrywide paid ser vice available from the Belarusian telecoms provider, Beltelecom. Cards for this service can be bought from any Beltelecom outlet or post office. Dialup The Belarusian telecoms provider Beltelecom also offers a simple dialup dialup service, useful when no other means of logging  on is available. Using a scratch card system with several dif ferent time limits, limits, cards can be bought from any Beltelecom outlet, Belsoyuzpechat kiosk or post office in the city.

Cultural centres Goethe Institut Minsk ( Институт имени Гете в Минске Минске)) B-4, ul. Very Khoruzhey 25/3 ( ул ( ул.. Веры

Интернациональная, 20), tel. (+375 17) 203 77 66. One Интернациональная, of the city’s oldest surviving cinemas specialising in serious cinema. Seasons include screenings of works by international directors as well as films from one specific country.

Tsentralny (Центральный (Центральный)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 13

Beltelecom D-4, ul. Engelsa 6, ( ул ( ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 6), tel. (+375 17) 217 10 05, www.beltelecom.by. National telecoms provider Beltelecom are the people to contact if  you need a telephone line. They also provide a number of  Internet services.

minsk inyourpo cket com

Хоружей, 25/3), (+375 17) 237 71 19, (+375 17) 237 46 Хоружей, 79, ww w.goethe.de/min w.goethe.de/minsk. sk. In Belarus since 1993, the Goethe

Institut in Minsk offers the same educational and cultural services they do in cities all over the world. QOpen 09.00 - 21.00.

(просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 13), tel. (+375 17) 200 34 16.

Galleries

Video Complex Centre (Центр (Центр-- видео видео)) E-3,

Modern Arts Gallery Y (Галерея (Галерея современного искусства Ў) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 37a ( просп просп..

Ploschad Nezavisimosti, Shopping Centre Stolitsa (Торговый центр “Столица Столица”), ”), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 01 75. Films in 3D, plus shaking seats etc.

Belarusian State Music Theatre (Белорусский (Белорусский государственный академический музыкаль музыкаль-ный театр театр)) D-3, ul. Myasnikova 44 ( ул  ул.. Мясникова Мясникова,, 44), tel. (+375 17) 200 81 26. Established in 1970, the extensive repertoire includes operettas, musicals, comic opera and more from home and abroad.

Belarusian State Philharmonic (Белорусская (Белорусская государственная филармония филармония)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 50 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 50), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 ng three separate concert halls, 17) 333 16 17. Comprising the Belarusian State Philharmonic hosts international festivals and contests alongside its own repertoire.

Minsk-Arena (Минск (Минск--Арена Арена)) Pobediteley pr. 111

Telephone

kaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 216 22 44, www. palace.by. A wide range of concerts and performances. Other facilities include cafés, bars, billiards and a restaurant  that puts on shows during the evenings. Q JLK

Pobeda (Победа (Победа)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 20 ( ул  ул..

Concert halls

Laptop login

Palace of the Republic (Дворец (Дворец Республики Республики)) D-4, Oktyabrskaya pl. 1 (Октябрьская (Октябрьская пл пл.. 1), MOktyabrs-

Наук), Наук ), tel. (+375 17) 292 94 26.

Soyuz Online (Союз (Союз онлайн онлайн)) D-4, ul. Krasnoarmeiskaya 3, in the Central House of Officers( ул  ул.. Красноармейская,, 3), tel. (+375 17) 226 02 79, Info@ Красноармейская soyuzonline.by, www.soyuzonline.by. Wow! It’s open 24 hours, they speak English, serve pizza and even let you pay  by credit card! What more do you need? Th e granddaddy of  Minsk Internet cafés has around 60 terminals, including a VIP hall. Rates depend on the time of day, but are still cheap. A sure place to bump into people from every corner of Europe. QOpen 08:00 - 07:00. A

(+375 17) 328 66 38. A large, 1,300-seater for mostly pop and rock music concerts.

(просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 111), tel. (+375 17) 254 77 36. When it’s not putting on major sporting events the 15,000capacity Minsk-Arena hosts live music concerts.

Minsk Concert Hall (Концертный (Концертный зал Минск Минск)) E-4, ul. Oktyabrskaya 5 ( ул ( ул.. Октябрьская , 5), tel.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Независимости , 37 37а а), tel. (+375 17) 284 53 99. A small space inside the same building as the recommended Moloko bar, exhibitions are temporary and very con temporary. Despite the address, find this place hidden away through a gap in the buildings well away from the main street.

Theatres Belarusian Republican Young Spectator Theatre (Белорусский БелорусскийРеспубликанский Республиканский театр юного зрителя)) D-4, ul. Engelsa 26 ( ул зрителя ( ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 26), tel. (+375 17) 227 09 34, www.beltuz.by. With its origins in the early 1930s, this recommended theatre gives a space to young writers and performers. The theatre company also travels extensively.

Belarusian State Puppet Theatre (Белорусский (Белорусский государственный театр кукол кукол)) D-4, ul. Engelsa 20 ( ул  ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 20), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 05 32. A marvellous institution staging  performances of all kinds for children and adults alike.

Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre (Национальный академический театр им им.. Янки Купалы Купалы)) D-4, ul. Engelsa 7 ( ул ( ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 7), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 60 81. An established theatre company staging classics  from home and abroad. Language: Belarusian.

2011

11

MAIL & PHONES

10

 The Minsk  telephone code is +375 17  Like the rest of the world, Belarus has come a long way in the last decade when it comes to communications. Most  hotels now boast some kind of Internet connection and many  cafés and bars around the city provide free wireless Internet  connections. The postal system and telephones, including  mobile networks, work just fine.

Post 

CULTURE & EVENTS UPS C-4, Muzykalny per. 3 (Музыкальный ( Музыкальный пер пер.3), .3), tel. (+375 17) 328 55 80, ww w.ups.com. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Mobile phones BelCel C-5, ul. Zolotaya Gorka 5 ( ул ( ул . Золотая Горка, 5), tel. (+375 17) 282 00 18, belcel@belcel. Горка, by, www.belcel.by. “Diallog” service providers. Also at  Nezavisimosti 18, Nezavisimosti 42, Lenina 4. QOpen 09:00 21:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00.

Life D-4, ul. Krasnoarmeyskaya 24 ( ул ( ул.. Красно Красно--

Central Post Office D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 10 (просп (просп.. Независимости, 10), tel. (+375) 226 06 82, www. Независимости, belpost.by. Head straight through to the main hall in the back  to send letters, buy postcards and make photocopies. For  For  telephone and telegraph services, head to the Peregov Peregovorny  orny  Punkt in Hall 1, on the left (Open 07:00 - 23:00). Also on the left is the Internet centre, where people queue to use 12 terminals. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

армейская, 24), tel. (+375 17) 321 20 54. Turkish армейская, - Belarusian GSM company. Also at Nezavisimosti 18, Pobediteley 1, Yakuba Kolasa 35, National airport Minsk-2.

Much more than screaming cocktail bars, nostalgic Soviet  sights and girls in miniskirts, Minsk is also remarkably well endowed in the culture department. Concerts are of an exceptionally high quality and cost next to nothing to attend, cinemas screen everything from underground classics to the latest Hollywood blockbuster and there’s a number of  very good galleries around too. If you’re in town and you need a dose of serious culture, you won’t be disappointed. Also check the Sightseeing section of this guide for more museums and galleries.

Cinemas Autocinema (Авто (Авто кинотеатр кинотеатр)) ul. Menkovsky Tract 2, Ozertso ( ул ( ул.. Меньковский Меньковскийтракт тракт,, 2,Озерцо 2, Озерцо). ). The only drive-in cinema in Minsk, complete with a 144 square-meter square-met er screen.

Belarus (Беларусь (Беларусь)) C-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 28 ( ул  ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 29), MFrunzenskaya

DHL ul. Brestskaya 18 (Head Office) ( ул  ул.. Брестская Брестская,,

Velcom C-3, ul. Melnikaite 14 (Head office)

Победителей,, 13), tel. (+375 17) 203 14 48. Победителей

18), tel. (+375 17) 278 11 08, www.dhl.by. Also they  have express centres at Pobediteley 5, tel. 289 30 68, and XXI Vek Business Centre, Nezavisimosti 169, tel. 228 73 60, both open 09:00 - 13:00, 14:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun; and at Central Post Office, Nezavisimosti 10, tel. 227 25 33. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun.

( ул  ул.. Мельникайте Мельникайте,, 14), tel. (+375 17) 222 49 01, [email protected], www.velcom.by. The first GSM provider  in Belarus with a very informative website. The information number is 222 49 01 for all offices, or just 411 from mobiles. Also at Kalvariyskaya 4, Nezavisimosty 60, Nezavisimosty  105, Partizansky 12, Varvasheni 73, Masherova 19, Internatsionalnaya 3. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00.

EMS D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 10 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 10), tel. (+375 17) 222 65 11/(+375 17) 227 85 12, www.belpost.by. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

FedEx (M&M Militzer & Münch) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 (просп (просп.. Pobediteley, 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 99 09, [email protected], www.mum.by. QOpen 08:00 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun.

TNT C-6, ul. Platonova 10 ( ул ( ул.. Платонова Платонова,, 10), tel. (+375 17) 294 80 00/(+375 17) 284 90 44, [email protected] y, www.tnt.by. TNT at Minsk-2 airport tel. 279 11 86. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun.

Belarusian Telephone Codes Barano Bar anovich vichii

(+375) (+3 75) 163

M ya ya del

(+37 5) 1797  

B ob ob ru ru ys ys k

( +3 +3 75 75) 22 22 5

Naro ch

(+37 5) 1797  

Bor is ov ov

(+375) 17 77 77  

N es esvi zh zh

(+37 5) 5) 1770

Br as asla v

(+375) 2153

Novogru Nov ogrudok dok

(+375) (+37 5) 159 1597  7 

Brest

(+375) 162

Novopo Nov opolots lotskk

(+375) (+3 75) 214 214

Gomel

(+375) 232

Orsh a

(+37 5) 21 216

Grodno

(+375) 15 152

Pin sk

(+37 5) 165

Ko bri n

(+375) 16 1642

Pol o tsk

(+3 75) 214

Li d a

(+375) 1561  

Shkl ov

(+3 75) 22 2239

Minsk

(+375) 17

Sl on onim

(+37 5) 1562

Mi or y

(+375) 2152

S ol ol ig igo rs rs k

( +3 +3 75 75) 1 7  

Mo gi gil ev ev

(+375) 222

Viteb sk sk

(+375) 21 212

Molodech Molo dechno no

(+375) (+3 75) 176

Z hl obin

(+37 5) 23 2334

Moz y r

(+375) 2351  

Z ho ho di dino

(+37 5) 5) 1775

Internet cafés

(Фрунзенская Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 40 34. Minsk’s first  multiplex. Five halls.

Moskva (Москва (Москва)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 13 (просп ( просп.. Oktyabr (Октябрь (Октябрь)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 73 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 73), MAkademiya Nauk (Академия Независимости (Академия

armeiskaya 3, in the Central House of Officers( ул  ул.. Красноармейская,, 3), tel. (+375 17) 226 02 79, Info@ Красноармейская soyuzonline.by, www.soyuzonline.by. Wow! It’s open 24 hours, they speak English, serve pizza and even let you pay  by credit card! What more do you need? Th e granddaddy of  Minsk Internet cafés has around 60 terminals, including a VIP hall. Rates depend on the time of day, but are still cheap. A sure place to bump into people from every corner of Europe. QOpen 08:00 - 07:00. A

Wireless Several restaurants, cafés and bars around the city provide  free wireless Internet services. Alternatively keep an eye out   for the countrywide paid ser vice available from the Belarusian telecoms provider, Beltelecom. Cards for this service can be bought from any Beltelecom outlet or post office. Dialup The Belarusian telecoms provider Beltelecom also offers a simple dialup dialup service, useful when no other means of logging  on is available. Using a scratch card system with several dif ferent time limits, limits, cards can be bought from any Beltelecom outlet, Belsoyuzpechat kiosk or post office in the city.

Beltelecom D-4, ul. Engelsa 6, ( ул ( ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 6), tel. (+375 17) 217 10 05, www.beltelecom.by. National telecoms provider Beltelecom are the people to contact if  you need a telephone line. They also provide a number of  Internet services.

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Ballet in two acts by Adolphe Adam. Libretto - Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Théophile Gautier, Jean Coralli. Premiere May 10, 1987 QStarts at 19:00

03.06 Friday Nabucco  Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto - Temistocle Solera. Language: Italian. Production was staged in 2010 QStarts at 19:00

08.06 Wednesday Iolanta  Opera in two acts b y Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky. Libretto - Mod est  Tchaikovsky. Language: Russian. First night of the new sta ge version - February 5, 2004 QStarts at 19:00

09.06 Thursday Carmen  Opera in three acts by George Bizet. Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Language: French. French. First night February 24, 2005. QStarts at 19:00

10.06 Friday Creation of The World  Ballet in two acts by An drey Petrov. Libretto - Natalia KasatKasatkina, Vladimir Vasiliev. QStarts at 19:00

13.06 Monday Premiere

14.06 Tuesday The Nutcracker Suite  Ballet in 2 acts by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Libretto - Marius Petipa. Premiere - April 15, 1982. QStarts at 19:00

15.06 Wednesday Premiere

The Snow Maiden  Opera in two Acts with Prologue by Nic olay Rimsky-Korsakov. Libretto - Nicolay Rimsky-Korsakov. Language: Russian. Premiere - January 28, 2011. QStarts at 19:00

17.06 Friday The Fountain Of Bakhchisarai  Ballet in three acts by Boris Asafjev. Libretto - Nikolay Volkov. Premiere - September 28, 2007. QStarts at 19:00

21.06 Tuesday Paquita  Ballet in one act by Ludwig Minkus. Choreography - Marius Petipa. Premiere - May 12, 2008. QStarts at 19:00

23.06 Wednesday/ 24.06 Thursday Premiere

Tsentralny (Центральный (Центральный)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 13

Хоружей, 25/3), (+375 17) 237 71 19, (+375 17) 237 46 Хоружей, 79, ww w.goethe.de/min w.goethe.de/minsk. sk. In Belarus since 1993, the Goethe

Institut in Minsk offers the same educational and cultural services they do in cities all over the world. QOpen 09.00 - 21.00.

(просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 13), tel. (+375 17) 200 34 16.

Galleries

Video Complex Centre (Центр (Центр-- видео видео)) E-3,

Modern Arts Gallery Y (Галерея (Галерея современного искусства Ў) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 37a ( просп просп..

Ploschad Nezavisimosti, Shopping Centre Stolitsa (Торговый центр “Столица Столица”), ”), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 01 75. Films in 3D, plus shaking seats etc.

Belarusian State Music Theatre (Белорусский (Белорусский государственный академический музыкаль музыкаль-ный театр театр)) D-3, ul. Myasnikova 44 ( ул  ул.. Мясникова Мясникова,, 44), tel. (+375 17) 200 81 26. Established in 1970, the extensive repertoire includes operettas, musicals, comic opera and more from home and abroad.

Belarusian State Philharmonic (Белорусская (Белорусская государственная филармония филармония)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 50 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 50), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 ng three separate concert halls, 17) 333 16 17. Comprising the Belarusian State Philharmonic hosts international festivals and contests alongside its own repertoire. (просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 111), tel. (+375 17) 254 77 36. When it’s not putting on major sporting events the 15,000capacity Minsk-Arena hosts live music concerts.

Minsk Concert Hall (Концертный (Концертный зал Минск Минск)) E-4, ul. Oktyabrskaya 5 ( ул ( ул.. Октябрьская , 5), tel.

Независимости , 37 37а а), tel. (+375 17) 284 53 99. A small space inside the same building as the recommended Moloko bar, exhibitions are temporary and very con temporary. Despite the address, find this place hidden away through a gap in the buildings well away from the main street.

Theatres Belarusian Republican Young Spectator Theatre (Белорусский БелорусскийРеспубликанский Республиканский театр юного зрителя)) D-4, ul. Engelsa 26 ( ул зрителя ( ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 26), tel. (+375 17) 227 09 34, www.beltuz.by. With its origins in the early 1930s, this recommended theatre gives a space to young writers and performers. The theatre company also travels extensively.

Belarusian State Puppet Theatre (Белорусский (Белорусский государственный театр кукол кукол)) D-4, ul. Engelsa 20 ( ул  ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 20), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 05 32. A marvellous institution staging  performances of all kinds for children and adults alike.

Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre (Национальный академический театр им им.. Янки Купалы Купалы)) D-4, ul. Engelsa 7 ( ул ( ул.. Энгельса Энгельса,, 7), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 60 81. An established theatre company staging classics  from home and abroad. Language: Belarusian.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

Accommodation is usually the biggest expense in what’s otherwise a relatively good value city. Luckily things are changing, and if you shop around a bit you can often find a reasonable deal on a decent room. The cheaper places tend to be out of the centre, although taxis remain cheap. Almost  without exception, Minsk’s hotels are state run. Registration is included in the price of the room.

13

Symbol key P Air conditioning 

A Credit cards accepted

O Casino

H Conference facilities

T Child friendly 

U Facilities for the disabled

F Fitness centre

L Guarded parking 

La Sylphide 

Cream of the crop

R LAN connection

G Non-smoking rooms

Romantic ballet in two acts by Herman Lovenskiold. Libretto - Adolphe Nourrit and Filippo Taglioni. Taglioni. Premiere - March 18, 2011. QStarts at 19:00

Crowne Plaza Minsk (Краун (Краун Плаза Минск Минск)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 13), MPloschad Lenina

K Restaurant 

J Central location

D Sauna

C Swimming pool

I Fireplace

W Wireless Internet access

Concerts 17.05 Tuesday Bruno Pelletier  C-3, Sport Palace, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4). Tel. (+375 17) 203 27 33. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

(Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 218 34 00, fax (+375 17) 200 80 60, www.cpminsk.com. Minsk’s  first international chain hotel sets new standards which will have some of its rivals seething with envy. The two-floor  Presidential Suite, with its private lift and sauna, is the last  word in luxury and will no doubt put up many a visiting head of state and megalomaniacal pop star. Standard rooms are also well furnished and equipped and come quite reasonably  priced by Western standards. The Crowne Plaza’s convenient  central location and outstanding facilities, which include a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, business centre and glitzy nightclub, should ensure it’s regularly booked out. Q

19.05 Thursday Shakira  Minsk-Arena, Pobediteley pr. 111 (просп ( просп . Победителей,, 111). Tel. (+375 17) 253 53 61. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

POJHAFLKCWhhhhh

Europe (Европа (Европа)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 28 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 28), M Oktyabrskaya

D-4, Big Hall of the Palace of the Republic, O k t y a b r s k a y a p l . 1 (О ( О к т я б р ь с к а я пл . 1) MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская ). Tel. (+375 17) 216 22 99. QStarts at 19:00

(Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 229 83 39, fax (+375 17) 229 83 34, [email protected], www.hoteleurope.by. The superbly located five-star Europe is one of Minsk’s   finest hotels. The lovely, atrium-like lobby includes a towering painting of Minsk in a quasi-historic style. The level of  service is excellent, while the impressive facilities include a well equipped fitness centre and swimming pool, business centre, underground parking and five bars in which to unwind. The Europe also boasts some of the best views to be had in Minsk. Q 67 rooms: 13 singles €265, 11 doubles   €310, 7 twins €353, 25 deluxe rooms €465, 9 suites   €526, 1 apartment €588, 1 presedential suite €1150.

25.05 Wednesday Thomas Anders 

Upmarket 

22.05 Sunday Chris de Bourg with the Belarusian President’s  President’s  Orchestra 

C-3, Sport Palace, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4). Tel. (+375 17) 203 27 33. Победителей QStarts at 19:00

26.05 Thursday Korn  C-3, Sport Palace, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4). Tel. (+375 17) 203 27 33. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

PJHAFLKCWhhhhh

Juravinka (Журавинка (Журавинка)) C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 00, fax (+375 17) 227 55 42, [email protected], www.juravinka.by.Spoiled, decadent Westerners welcome! For luxury and comfort, this small but smart central hotel attached to the Juravink Juravinka a business and recreation complex is a tough one to beat. Its single and double rooms are comfortable affairs, and even come with adjustable climate

X Smoking section control. If you’ve got money to burn you can dip into the realm of the surreal by booking the Presidential Suite, which has its own glass-covered swimming pool. Q 18 rooms (13 singles US$190, 4 doubles US$270, 1 suite US$1200).

PJAFLKhhhh

M i n s k (М (Минск) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 90 78, fax (+375 17) 209 91 11, [email protected], www. hotelminsk.by. Are we still in Minsk? This grand hotel with stylish subdued marble in the foyer and classy coffee-andcream decor in all the rooms could have you believing that  you are in any western city. Until you step out the door. Some rooms have views of the adjacent Independence Square, but all have satellite television, minibar, air conditioning and nice firm beds. Th e ‘superior’ rooms are worth considering for having even larger beds. Other facilities include a fitness and sauna centre (weights, cardio, green bubbling vat and both Turkish and Finnish style saunas), business centre and a helpful En glish-speaking guest relations person who will help you with just about anything. Breakfast included, and it’s edible. Q 252 rooms (singles US$183, doubles US$209-255, triples US$432, suites US$300-1120). JHARFLGKDhhhh

Victoria (Виктория ( Виктория ) B-2, Pobediteley pr. 59 (просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 59), tel. (+375 17) 204 88 44, fax (+375 17) 204 88 33. It might only have opened in the 21st century but it proudly glistens with exciting, late-60’s décor. Very time-trippy, but also very opulent. You’ll be happy  with flat-screen televisions, minibar, brand-spanking new  furniture and swish bathrooms. Q 169 rooms (115 singles US$145-165, 45 doubles US$185, 8 suites US$225-570).

PHAFLGKDCWhhhh

12.06 Sunday Moby  Minsk-Arena, Pobediteley pr. 111 (просп ( просп . Победителей,, 111). Tel. (+375 17) 253 53 61. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

20.06 Monday King Stakh's Wild Hunt 

27.06 Monday Sting 

Opera in two acts by Vladimir Soltan. Libretto - Svetlana Klimkovich. Language: Belarusian. First night - April 6, 1989. QStarts at 19:00

Minsk-Arena, Pobediteley pr. 111 (просп ( просп . Победителей,, 111). Tel. (+375 17) 253 53 61. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

Minsk In Your Po cket

kaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 216 22 44, www. palace.by. A wide range of concerts and performances. Other facilities include cafés, bars, billiards and a restaurant  that puts on shows during the evenings. Q JLK

WHERE TO STAY

Aida  Opera in three Acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto - Antonio Ghislanzoni. Language: Italian. Premiere - May 30, 2011. QStarts at 19:00

Palace of the Republic (Дворец (Дворец Республики Республики)) D-4, Oktyabrskaya pl. 1 (Октябрьская (Октябрьская пл пл.. 1), MOktyabrs-

Goethe Institut Minsk ( Институт имени Гете в Минске Минске)) B-4, ul. Very Khoruzhey 25/3 ( ул ( ул.. Веры

Интернациональная, 20), tel. (+375 17) 203 77 66. One Интернациональная, of the city’s oldest surviving cinemas specialising in serious cinema. Seasons include screenings of works by international directors as well as films from one specific country.

Minsk-Arena (Минск (Минск--Арена Арена)) Pobediteley pr. 111

Telephone

(+375 17) 328 66 38. A large, 1,300-seater for mostly pop and rock music concerts.

Cultural centres

Concert halls

Laptop login

Opera & Ballet 

02.06 Thursday Giselle 

C-4, Parizhskoy Kommuny pl. 1 (пл пл.. Парижской Коммуны Коммуны,, 1), tel. (+375 17) 334 10 41, www.belarusopera.by. The Belarusian Opera & Ballet Theatre began performances in 1933 although this building dates from considerably later. The repertoire is extensive and includes many classics.

Pobeda (Победа (Победа)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 20 ( ул  ул..

CULTURE & EVENTS All performances take place at the Belarusian National Opera & Ballet Theatre, C- 4, Parizhskoy Kommuny pl. 1 (пл пл.. Парижской Коммуны Коммуны,, 1) Ticket office, tel. (+375 17) 334 06 66, (+375 17) 334 10 41

Belarusian National Opera & Ballet Theatre (Национальный академический Большой театр оперыи оперы и балета балета))

Наук), Наук ), tel. (+375 17) 292 94 26.

Soyuz Online (Союз (Союз онлайн онлайн)) D-4, ul. Krasno-

Minsk In Your Po cket

12

Opera & Ballet

MTS Nezavisimosti pr. 95 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 95), tel. (+375 17) 237 98 98, [email protected], www.mts.by. Russian-Belarusian GSM company, operating in Belarus and covering a rather nice part of it. Also at Revoliutsionnaya 24b, Kalvariyskaya 60, Nezavisimosti, 6, Karla Marksa, 26. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00.

Express mail

11

minsk inyourpo cket com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

WHERE TO STAY

CULTURE & EVENTS

12

Opera & Ballet  All performances take place at the Belarusian National Opera & Ballet Theatre, C- 4, Parizhskoy Kommuny pl. 1 (пл пл.. Парижской Коммуны Коммуны,, 1) Ticket office, tel. (+375 17) 334 06 66, (+375 17) 334 10 41

02.06 Thursday Giselle  Ballet in two acts by Adolphe Adam. Libretto - Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Théophile Gautier, Jean Coralli. Premiere May 10, 1987 QStarts at 19:00

03.06 Friday Nabucco  Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto - Temistocle Solera. Language: Italian. Production was staged in 2010 QStarts at 19:00

08.06 Wednesday Iolanta  Opera in two acts b y Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky. Libretto - Mod est  Tchaikovsky. Language: Russian. First night of the new sta ge version - February 5, 2004 QStarts at 19:00

09.06 Thursday Carmen  Opera in three acts by George Bizet. Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Language: French. French. First night February 24, 2005. QStarts at 19:00

10.06 Friday Creation of The World  Ballet in two acts by An drey Petrov. Libretto - Natalia KasatKasatkina, Vladimir Vasiliev. QStarts at 19:00

13.06 Monday Premiere

21.06 Tuesday Paquita  Ballet in one act by Ludwig Minkus. Choreography - Marius Petipa. Premiere - May 12, 2008. QStarts at 19:00

23.06 Wednesday/ 24.06 Thursday Premiere

14.06 Tuesday The Nutcracker Suite  Ballet in 2 acts by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Libretto - Marius Petipa. Premiere - April 15, 1982. QStarts at 19:00

15.06 Wednesday Premiere

The Snow Maiden  Opera in two Acts with Prologue by Nic olay Rimsky-Korsakov. Libretto - Nicolay Rimsky-Korsakov. Language: Russian. Premiere - January 28, 2011. QStarts at 19:00

17.06 Friday The Fountain Of Bakhchisarai  Ballet in three acts by Boris Asafjev. Libretto - Nikolay Volkov. Premiere - September 28, 2007. QStarts at 19:00

G Non-smoking rooms J Central location

D Sauna

C Swimming pool

I Fireplace

W Wireless Internet access

Concerts 17.05 Tuesday Bruno Pelletier  C-3, Sport Palace, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4). Tel. (+375 17) 203 27 33. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

(Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 218 34 00, fax (+375 17) 200 80 60, www.cpminsk.com. Minsk’s  first international chain hotel sets new standards which will have some of its rivals seething with envy. The two-floor  Presidential Suite, with its private lift and sauna, is the last  word in luxury and will no doubt put up many a visiting head of state and megalomaniacal pop star. Standard rooms are also well furnished and equipped and come quite reasonably  priced by Western standards. The Crowne Plaza’s convenient  central location and outstanding facilities, which include a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, business centre and glitzy nightclub, should ensure it’s regularly booked out. Q

19.05 Thursday Shakira  Minsk-Arena, Pobediteley pr. 111 (просп ( просп . Победителей,, 111). Tel. (+375 17) 253 53 61. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

POJHAFLKCWhhhhh

Europe (Европа (Европа)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 28 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 28), M Oktyabrskaya

D-4, Big Hall of the Palace of the Republic, O k t y a b r s k a y a p l . 1 (О ( О к т я б р ь с к а я пл . 1) MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская ). Tel. (+375 17) 216 22 99. QStarts at 19:00

(Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 229 83 39, fax (+375 17) 229 83 34, [email protected], www.hoteleurope.by. The superbly located five-star Europe is one of Minsk’s   finest hotels. The lovely, atrium-like lobby includes a towering painting of Minsk in a quasi-historic style. The level of  service is excellent, while the impressive facilities include a well equipped fitness centre and swimming pool, business centre, underground parking and five bars in which to unwind. The Europe also boasts some of the best views to be had in Minsk. Q 67 rooms: 13 singles €265, 11 doubles   €310, 7 twins €353, 25 deluxe rooms €465, 9 suites   €526, 1 apartment €588, 1 presedential suite €1150.

25.05 Wednesday Thomas Anders 

Upmarket 

22.05 Sunday Chris de Bourg with the Belarusian President’s  President’s  Orchestra 

C-3, Sport Palace, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4). Tel. (+375 17) 203 27 33. Победителей QStarts at 19:00

26.05 Thursday Korn  C-3, Sport Palace, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4). Tel. (+375 17) 203 27 33. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

PJHAFLKCWhhhhh

Juravinka (Журавинка (Журавинка)) C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 00, fax (+375 17) 227 55 42, [email protected], www.juravinka.by.Spoiled, decadent Westerners welcome! For luxury and comfort, this small but smart central hotel attached to the Juravink Juravinka a business and recreation complex is a tough one to beat. Its single and double rooms are comfortable affairs, and even come with adjustable climate

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Belarusian

IBB Gazety Pravda pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Газеты Правда Правда,, 11), at reception are friendly enough, and the quick Metro ride (four stops) to the centre makes this one of the bes t deals in town. The lobby has currency exchange and a buffet. If you get thirsty, try the bar in the second floor casino rather than the over-priced restaurant, which is usually  booked by a wedding party anyway. Q Single Standard  €40-51, Double Standard - €55-73, Triple Standard - €67, Single Half Suite - €43-57, Double Half Suite - €75-92.

OALGKXWhhh

U Fontana ( У  Фонтана Фонтана)) C-2, ul. Amuratorskaya 4 tel. (+375 17) 252 39 33/(+375 17) 257 14 20. It’s a bit trippy and will require a journey on the Metro to get  there, but it offers a range of rooms from fair-value, clean and tidy basic b usiness rooms to the most expensive hotel room in the country with its own gym and sauna. There’s also a sauna and conference facilities for up to 50 persons. Q200 rooms (41 singles US$76-91, 140 doubles US$85-137, 24 suites US$190-200, 2 apartments US$500). OHALKChhh

( ул  ул.. Амураторская Амураторская,, 4), tel. (+375 17) 203 58 18/ (+375 17) 203 14 00, fax (+375 17) 203 14 74. At  last, a healthy refuge in this vodka and potato pancake culture. Opened in 2005, this tiny hotel attached to a  fitness centre is perfect for aerobics bunnies and muscleheads. It even has its own ‘sports restaurant’. That said, even a slob with a beer gut or an In Your Pocket editor is welcome here, and will definitely appreciate the sparkling, high-quality rooms, relatively central location and spa bath. Q 18 rooms (2 singles €46, 14 doubles €66-82, 2 suites  €119). PAULGKDXWhhh

Planeta (Планета (Планета)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 31 (просп (просп..

Yubileynaya (Юбилейная (Юбилейная)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 19

Победителей, 31), tel. (+375 17) 226 78 55/ Победителей, (+375 17) 203 85 87, fax (+375 17) 226 77 80, [email protected], www.hotelplaneta.by. An absolutely marvellous hotel featuring the very best in what most hotels behind the former Iron Curtain gave up years ago. Still slightly struggling to come to terms with the 21st century, the staff are at least very friendly and most of them now speak good English. The rooms come in a number of different classes to suit all tastes and pockets, with the ones high up in the building boasting  beautiful views of the river and city spread out below. Wireless Internet is available throughout the building and the breakfast, served inside a gorgeous room complete with brightly coloured Socialist Realist ceramic art, is ample. Recommended. Q306 rooms (306 Total rooms ).

(просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 90 24, fax (+375 17) 226 91 71. Currently undergoing renovation work on a couple of floors, everything is comfortable and the hotel comes with a good range of services. It’s a good compromise between not-very-central location and not-very-expensive price. Tattoos and other professional services available in the lobby. Q 230 rooms (119 singles US$59-92, 83 doubles US$79-118, 19 suites US$153-243).

Minsk In Your Po cket

M i n s k (М (Минск) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 90 78, fax (+375 17) 209 91 11, [email protected], www. hotelminsk.by. Are we still in Minsk? This grand hotel with stylish subdued marble in the foyer and classy coffee-andcream decor in all the rooms could have you believing that  you are in any western city. Until you step out the door. Some rooms have views of the adjacent Independence Square, but all have satellite television, minibar, air conditioning and nice firm beds. Th e ‘superior’ rooms are worth considering for having even larger beds. Other facilities include a fitness and sauna centre (weights, cardio, green bubbling vat and both Turkish and Finnish style saunas), business centre and a helpful En glish-speaking guest relations person who will help you with just about anything. Breakfast included, and it’s edible. Q 252 rooms (singles US$183, doubles US$209-255, triples US$432, suites US$300-1120). JHARFLGKDhhhh

Victoria (Виктория ( Виктория ) B-2, Pobediteley pr. 59 (просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 59), tel. (+375 17) 204 88 44, fax (+375 17) 204 88 33. It might only have opened in the 21st century but it proudly glistens with exciting, late-60’s décor. Very time-trippy, but also very opulent. You’ll be happy  with flat-screen televisions, minibar, brand-spanking new  furniture and swish bathrooms. Q 169 rooms (115 singles US$145-165, 45 doubles US$185, 8 suites US$225-570).

PHAFLGKDCWhhhh

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Eating out in Minsk continues to improve on an almost daily  basis. There’s still a handful of places that fail to impress with either food or service, but these are thankfully few and far between. If it’s awful, we generally don’t write about it. Likewise, the diversity of cuisine in Minsk is far from all-encompasing, with what international food there is thankfully getting better  all the time. Be aware that many restaurants list garnishes such as French fries, vegetables, rice and, butter and tomato ketchup as separate items.

Победы), tel. (+375 17) 294 79 63. Tucked away in a Победы), quiet housing district not far from the centre it’s quite easy  to mistake 40 Let Pobedy for just another tower block, especially after dark. The fact that they have over 100 rooms, all recently renovated and brought up to a good standard, means you’re quite likely to get one. Everything is clean and all rooms have en suite facilities. Ask for one at the back, as the view over the small par k is far superior to that of the road at the front of the building. Q 50 rooms (20 singles US$75, 30 doubles US$120). PJAKhhh

tel. (+375 17) 295 40 31, fax (+375 17) 295 44 94. Tourist is your typical, large-scale Minsk hotel. The ladies

PJAFLKhhhh

2011

RESTAURANTS

40 Let Pobedy (40 лет Победы Победы)) D-5, ul. Azgura 3 ( ул . Азгура Азгура,, 3), M Ploschad Pobedy (Площадь (Площадь

Tourist (Турист (Турист)) Partizansky pr. 81 (просп ( просп.. Парти Парти-занский,, 81), M Partizanskaya (Партизанская занский (Партизанская), ),

control. If you’ve got money to burn you can dip into the realm of the surreal by booking the Presidential Suite, which has its own glass-covered swimming pool. Q 18 rooms (13 singles US$190, 4 doubles US$270, 1 suite US$1200).

Minsk-Arena, Pobediteley pr. 111 (просп ( просп . Победителей,, 111). Tel. (+375 17) 253 53 61. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

Mid-range

2), tel. (+375 17) 220 36 19. Judging by the lobby, some remodelling may have been done in the last five years, and the place seems to be popular with budget tourists from Russia. Q 162 rooms (singles US$ 66 - 128, doubles US$ 94 - 125, suite rooms US$160). ADhhh

X Smoking section

12.06 Sunday Moby 

WHERE TO STAY

Sputnik (Спутник (Спутник)) ul. Brilevskaya 2 ( ул  ул.. Брилевская Брилевская,,

L Guarded parking 

K Restaurant 

Minsk-Arena, Pobediteley pr. 111 (просп ( просп . Победителей,, 111). Tel. (+375 17) 253 53 61. Победителей QStarts at 20:00

OHAFLKDChhh

U Facilities for the disabled

F Fitness centre

Crowne Plaza Minsk (Краун (Краун Плаза Минск Минск)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 13), MPloschad Lenina

Opera in two acts by Vladimir Soltan. Libretto - Svetlana Klimkovich. Language: Belarusian. First night - April 6, 1989. QStarts at 19:00

Orbita ((Орбита Орбита)) C-1, Pushkina pr. 39 ( просп просп.. Пушкина,, 39), M Pushkinskaya (Пушкинская Пушкина (Пушкинская), ),

H Conference facilities

T Child friendly 

Romantic ballet in two acts by Herman Lovenskiold. Libretto - Adolphe Nourrit and Filippo Taglioni. Taglioni. Premiere - March 18, 2011. QStarts at 19:00

27.06 Monday Sting 

HAUKDhhh

A Credit cards accepted

O Casino

R LAN connection

20.06 Monday King Stakh's Wild Hunt 

tel. (+375 17) 270 39 94, fax (+375 17) 270 39 95. As if to demonstrate that Germany has more to offer than BMWs with blacked-out windows, the German Association   for International Education and Exchange set up this marvellous hotel and conference centre. The rooms are clean, bright and somehow both stylish and austere, with a few having a very modern-art-minimalist theme to them. It can  feel a bit 1980s, but that’s futuristic in Minsk. The attached Westfalia restaurant is a big plus, but the sleeping district  location isn’t. Q 35 rooms (singles US$79, doubles US $109).

P Air conditioning 

Cream of the crop

Minsk In Your Po cket

14

Symbol key

La Sylphide 

Aida  Opera in three Acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto - Antonio Ghislanzoni. Language: Italian. Premiere - May 30, 2011. QStarts at 19:00

Accommodation is usually the biggest expense in what’s otherwise a relatively good value city. Luckily things are changing, and if you shop around a bit you can often find a reasonable deal on a decent room. The cheaper places tend to be out of the centre, although taxis remain cheap. Almost  without exception, Minsk’s hotels are state run. Registration is included in the price of the room.

13

OJHALKhhh

Budget  Zvezda (Звезда (Звезда)) Gazety Pravda pr. 47 ( просп просп.. Газеты Правда Правда,, 47), tel. (+375 17) 272 85 42/(+375 17) 270 74 85. Zvezda is a bit far from things on the southwestern edge of the city, and the building looks like it was plucked right out of down town Mogadishu. But the rooms are clean and well maintained, and guests can use a spa bath, sauna, solarium and massage. Apparently there’s some kind of privatisation going on too, with small dental clinics now crowding the lower floors. Q Singles, doubles €20-70, 3 lux rooms €70-100. No breakfast. HADhh

www.inyourpocket.com/  clickandbuy  minsk inyourpo cket com

There are essentially two types of Belarusian restaurant in Belarus. The first and most obvious variety features pigtailed waitresses in national dress serving plates of potatoes and beetroot soup in an atmosphere reminiscent of an old barn. The second is less easy to pin down, and is perhaps best  described as a restaurant or café serving predominantly but  not exclusively Belarusian favourites in an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere other than in Belarus. Rather than insult  the best intentions of the good restaurant owners of Minsk  and call the former of the two Folk restaurants, we choose to list both types of restaurant together.

Apricot (Абрикос (Абрикос)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 23 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 23), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 31 06. The sign on the wall says We Are Inspired By Urban Creativit y, whatever that means, a sure sure sign that this is either a great place to spend time in or an at tempt  to distract diners from their food with the h elp of some baffling  propaganda. Aimed squarely at teenagers, its all canteen style in here, with wipe-clean everything, pancakes, pizza, sushi of  course and, last but not least, an English menu to boot. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 01:00. Closed Sun.

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Symbol key P Air conditioning 

A Credit cards accepted

E Live music

S Take away 

T Child friendly 

U Facilities for the disabled

G Non-smoking 

W Wireless Internet access

X Smoking place

B Outside seating 

I Fireplace

J Old town location

Bambuk (Бамбук (Бамбук ) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. TC “Stolitsa” (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, ТЦ сс сс), ), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 12 36. A rather average offering located inside a shopping centre, the menu of dishes including Belarusian and sushi, isn’t going to win any awards soon. Good for a harmless meal in convivial if not exactly luxury surroundings. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00. LNG

Brutto (Брутто (Брутто)) B-6, ul. Petrusya Brovky 3/2 ( ул  ул.. Петруся Бровки Бровки,, 3/2), tel. (+375 29) 5 630 630, fax (+375 17) 294 92 85. Nice, exposed brick walls, silver candelabras and a good mix of diners are to be found inside this fairly new Minsk offering. The menu provides a  few local and international choices plus there’s cold draught  beer to drink outside during the summer. QOpen 24 hours.

PAEGSW

Gastinets (Гаст (Гастiiнец нец)) D-4, Svobody pl. 2 (пл (пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 2), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 29) 388 00 02/ (+375 29) 690 19 89. Five different halls with lots of vaulted brick ceilings from the 18th century and wrought ironwork  set the scene for a popular restaurant serving traditional Belarusian food with a modern twist alongside a range of  international dishes. The chef here has a good reputation among the locals and the freshly baked bread comes particularly recommended. Friendly and attentive service, plus a great drinks menu including some fine draught beers. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00. PTA6

LEGBXW

Kushavel (Кушавель (Кушавель ) B-3, Pobediteley pr. 49

Enjoy the fresh Minsk Sea air  and complete relaxation on board our ships and luxurious yachts  A restaurant and a bar on board, live music and show and beautiful nature around  will make your cruise unforgettable

(просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 49), tel. (+375 44) 788 80 00, fax (+375 17) 297 93 53. An almost Scandinavian feel here, including lots of sharp corners and emphatic curves, the menu features a number of original dishes that garner  good comments from those who’ve eaten from it. Very  tourist-friendly and with English menus and English-speaking  staff, locals insist that they have the best summer terrace in the city. The location might well prove them right. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. PABXS

L’Orange (Лоранж (Лоранж)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 21 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 21), tel. (+375 29) 370 90 01. Tree trunks, corks on the walls, a rather enthusiastic television and a Russian-only menu are the things that stand out here. Hovering in the twilight world somewhere between and café and a restaurant, L’Orange L’Orange is perfect as the latter and perfectly  adequate for the lat ter. On offer fer besides caffeine find a choi ce of good value dishes including a plaudits-inducing collection of  salads and grilled shrimps. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

www.belrest.info [email protected] tel.: +375 29 332 12 12

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Megapolis (Мегаполис (Мегаполис)) Nezavisimosti pr. 116 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 116), MVostok (Восток (Восток), ), tel. (+375 17) 266 39 53/(+375 29) 664 35 96, fax (+375 17) 200 12 06. A modern take on an old Soviet 

2011

14

RESTAURANTS

WHERE TO STAY Mid-range

Eating out in Minsk continues to improve on an almost daily  basis. There’s still a handful of places that fail to impress with either food or service, but these are thankfully few and far between. If it’s awful, we generally don’t write about it. Likewise, the diversity of cuisine in Minsk is far from all-encompasing, with what international food there is thankfully getting better  all the time. Be aware that many restaurants list garnishes such as French fries, vegetables, rice and, butter and tomato ketchup as separate items.

40 Let Pobedy (40 лет Победы Победы)) D-5, ul. Azgura 3 ( ул . Азгура Азгура,, 3), M Ploschad Pobedy (Площадь (Площадь Победы), tel. (+375 17) 294 79 63. Tucked away in a Победы), quiet housing district not far from the centre it’s quite easy  to mistake 40 Let Pobedy for just another tower block, especially after dark. The fact that they have over 100 rooms, all recently renovated and brought up to a good standard, means you’re quite likely to get one. Everything is clean and all rooms have en suite facilities. Ask for one at the back, as the view over the small par k is far superior to that of the road at the front of the building. Q 50 rooms (20 singles US$75, 30 doubles US$120). PJAKhhh

Belarusian

IBB Gazety Pravda pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Газеты Правда Правда,, 11), tel. (+375 17) 270 39 94, fax (+375 17) 270 39 95. As if to demonstrate that Germany has more to offer than BMWs with blacked-out windows, the German Association   for International Education and Exchange set up this marvellous hotel and conference centre. The rooms are clean, bright and somehow both stylish and austere, with a few having a very modern-art-minimalist theme to them. It can  feel a bit 1980s, but that’s futuristic in Minsk. The attached Westfalia restaurant is a big plus, but the sleeping district  location isn’t. Q 35 rooms (singles US$79, doubles US $109).

HAUKDhhh

at reception are friendly enough, and the quick Metro ride (four stops) to the centre makes this one of the bes t deals in town. The lobby has currency exchange and a buffet. If you get thirsty, try the bar in the second floor casino rather than the over-priced restaurant, which is usually  booked by a wedding party anyway. Q Single Standard  €40-51, Double Standard - €55-73, Triple Standard - €67, Single Half Suite - €43-57, Double Half Suite - €75-92.

OALGKXWhhh

U Fontana ( У  Фонтана Фонтана)) C-2, ul. Amuratorskaya 4 Orbita ((Орбита Орбита)) C-1, Pushkina pr. 39 ( просп просп.. Пушкина,, 39), M Pushkinskaya (Пушкинская Пушкина (Пушкинская), ), tel. (+375 17) 252 39 33/(+375 17) 257 14 20. It’s a bit trippy and will require a journey on the Metro to get  there, but it offers a range of rooms from fair-value, clean and tidy basic b usiness rooms to the most expensive hotel room in the country with its own gym and sauna. There’s also a sauna and conference facilities for up to 50 persons. Q200 rooms (41 singles US$76-91, 140 doubles US$85-137, 24 suites US$190-200, 2 apartments US$500). OHALKChhh

( ул  ул.. Амураторская Амураторская,, 4), tel. (+375 17) 203 58 18/ (+375 17) 203 14 00, fax (+375 17) 203 14 74. At  last, a healthy refuge in this vodka and potato pancake culture. Opened in 2005, this tiny hotel attached to a  fitness centre is perfect for aerobics bunnies and muscleheads. It even has its own ‘sports restaurant’. That said, even a slob with a beer gut or an In Your Pocket editor is welcome here, and will definitely appreciate the sparkling, high-quality rooms, relatively central location and spa bath. Q 18 rooms (2 singles €46, 14 doubles €66-82, 2 suites  €119). PAULGKDXWhhh

Planeta (Планета (Планета)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 31 (просп (просп..

Yubileynaya (Юбилейная (Юбилейная)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 19

Победителей, 31), tel. (+375 17) 226 78 55/ Победителей, (+375 17) 203 85 87, fax (+375 17) 226 77 80, [email protected], www.hotelplaneta.by. An absolutely marvellous hotel featuring the very best in what most hotels behind the former Iron Curtain gave up years ago. Still slightly struggling to come to terms with the 21st century, the staff are at least very friendly and most of them now speak good English. The rooms come in a number of different classes to suit all tastes and pockets, with the ones high up in the building boasting  beautiful views of the river and city spread out below. Wireless Internet is available throughout the building and the breakfast, served inside a gorgeous room complete with brightly coloured Socialist Realist ceramic art, is ample. Recommended. Q306 rooms (306 Total rooms ).

(просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 90 24, fax (+375 17) 226 91 71. Currently undergoing renovation work on a couple of floors, everything is comfortable and the hotel comes with a good range of services. It’s a good compromise between not-very-central location and not-very-expensive price. Tattoos and other professional services available in the lobby. Q 230 rooms (119 singles US$59-92, 83 doubles US$79-118, 19 suites US$153-243).

OHAFLKDChhh

Sputnik (Спутник (Спутник)) ul. Brilevskaya 2 ( ул  ул.. Брилевская Брилевская,, 2), tel. (+375 17) 220 36 19. Judging by the lobby, some remodelling may have been done in the last five years, and the place seems to be popular with budget tourists from Russia. Q 162 rooms (singles US$ 66 - 128, doubles US$ 94 - 125, suite rooms US$160). ADhhh

Tourist (Турист (Турист)) Partizansky pr. 81 (просп ( просп.. Парти Парти-занский,, 81), M Partizanskaya (Партизанская занский (Партизанская), ), tel. (+375 17) 295 40 31, fax (+375 17) 295 44 94. Tourist is your typical, large-scale Minsk hotel. The ladies

OJHALKhhh

Budget  Zvezda (Звезда (Звезда)) Gazety Pravda pr. 47 ( просп просп.. Газеты Правда Правда,, 47), tel. (+375 17) 272 85 42/(+375 17) 270 74 85. Zvezda is a bit far from things on the southwestern edge of the city, and the building looks like it was plucked right out of down town Mogadishu. But the rooms are clean and well maintained, and guests can use a spa bath, sauna, solarium and massage. Apparently there’s some kind of privatisation going on too, with small dental clinics now crowding the lower floors. Q Singles, doubles €20-70, 3 lux rooms €70-100. No breakfast. HADhh

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Minsk In Your Po cket

16

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

There are essentially two types of Belarusian restaurant in Belarus. The first and most obvious variety features pigtailed waitresses in national dress serving plates of potatoes and beetroot soup in an atmosphere reminiscent of an old barn. The second is less easy to pin down, and is perhaps best  described as a restaurant or café serving predominantly but  not exclusively Belarusian favourites in an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere other than in Belarus. Rather than insult  the best intentions of the good restaurant owners of Minsk  and call the former of the two Folk restaurants, we choose to list both types of restaurant together.

Apricot (Абрикос (Абрикос)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 23 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 23), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 31 06. The sign on the wall says We Are Inspired By Urban Creativit y, whatever that means, a sure sure sign that this is either a great place to spend time in or an at tempt  to distract diners from their food with the h elp of some baffling  propaganda. Aimed squarely at teenagers, its all canteen style in here, with wipe-clean everything, pancakes, pizza, sushi of  course and, last but not least, an English menu to boot. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 01:00. Closed Sun.

PAIGBXS

Starovilenskaya Korchma (Старовиленская (Старовиленская корчма)) C-4, ul. Starovilenskaya 2 ( ул корчма ( ул.. Старовилен Старовилен-ская,, 2), MNemiga (Немига ская (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 335 45

Mirsky Zamok (Мирский (Мирский Замок Замок)) D-3, ul. Gorodskoy Val 9 ( ул ( ул.. Городской Вал Вал,, 9), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 38/(+375 29) 616 69 38. Meaning Mir  Castle and named after the Unesco World Heritage complex some 60km or so west of Minsk after which the interior decoration owes more than a passing nod, inside the menus held together with metal clasps is a meat-heavy choice of dishes plus one or two offerings for vegetarians. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00. PAUEGBSW

My English Granny (Моя (Моя английская бабушка бабушка)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 36 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 36), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 22 24. Granny’s still got a bit of spunk left in her yet. Just  look at this place. Sure, it’s a bit frilly and they serve your    food on paper doilies, but somehow the place is rather  cool. It attracts young hipsters who drink juice and have pillow fights and just seem to feel very comfortable here. Probably because i t’s just like Granny’s place. Flick through the packed-with-classics menu, pick and partake. A good option for breakfast or just couching around with friends at  any time. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 02:00.

PJA6NBXSW

Pechki Lavochki (Печки ( Печки-- лавочки ) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 22), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 78 79. A bit barnyard and cottage, but really rather  nice, espe cially if you get a seat by the window where you can enjoy the view as much as the recommended food. Expect  plenty of pungent soups, juicy grilled meats and other hearty  Slavic dishes. They also have what they call Beer Rooms, where visitors are welcome to quaff ale and be noisy without  upsetting anyone. Recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00.

PJAGKXSW

Skif (Скиф (Скиф)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 34 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 34), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Независимости (Площадь Победы), tel. (+375 17) 284 75 41/(+375 29) Победы), 304 86 22. Opposite the apartment where Lee Harvey  Oswald used to live, this delightfully wicked, wacky and ropey little restaurant and bar is a very cool hang-out 

Minsk In Your Po cket

P Air conditioning 

A Credit cards accepted

E Live music

S Take away 

T Child friendly 

U Facilities for the disabled

G Non-smoking 

W Wireless Internet access

X Smoking place

B Outside seating 

I Fireplace

J Old town location

Bambuk (Бамбук (Бамбук ) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. TC “Stolitsa” (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, ТЦ сс сс), ), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 12 36. A rather average offering located inside a shopping centre, the menu of dishes including Belarusian and sushi, isn’t going to win any awards soon. Good for a harmless meal in convivial if not exactly luxury surroundings. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00. LNG

Brutto (Брутто (Брутто)) B-6, ul. Petrusya Brovky 3/2 ( ул  ул.. Петруся Бровки Бровки,, 3/2), tel. (+375 29) 5 630 630, fax (+375 17) 294 92 85. Nice, exposed brick walls, silver candelabras and a good mix of diners are to be found inside this fairly new Minsk offering. The menu provides a  few local and international choices plus there’s cold draught  beer to drink outside during the summer. QOpen 24 hours.

PAEGSW

Gastinets (Гаст (Гастiiнец нец)) D-4, Svobody pl. 2 (пл (пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 2), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 29) 388 00 02/ (+375 29) 690 19 89. Five different halls with lots of vaulted brick ceilings from the 18th century and wrought ironwork  set the scene for a popular restaurant serving traditional Belarusian food with a modern twist alongside a range of  international dishes. The chef here has a good reputation among the locals and the freshly baked bread comes particularly recommended. Friendly and attentive service, plus a great drinks menu including some fine draught beers. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00. PTA6

Kushavel (Кушавель (Кушавель ) B-3, Pobediteley pr. 49

Enjoy the fresh Minsk Sea air  and complete relaxation on board our ships and luxurious yachts  A restaurant and a bar on board, live music and show and beautiful nature around  will make your cruise unforgettable

(просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 49), tel. (+375 44) 788 80 00, fax (+375 17) 297 93 53. An almost Scandinavian feel here, including lots of sharp corners and emphatic curves, the menu features a number of original dishes that garner  good comments from those who’ve eaten from it. Very  tourist-friendly and with English menus and English-speaking  staff, locals insist that they have the best summer terrace in the city. The location might well prove them right. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. PABXS

L’Orange (Лоранж (Лоранж)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 21 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 21), tel. (+375 29) 370 90 01. Tree trunks, corks on the walls, a rather enthusiastic television and a Russian-only menu are the things that stand out here. Hovering in the twilight world somewhere between and café and a restaurant, L’Orange L’Orange is perfect as the latter and perfectly  adequate for the lat ter. On offer fer besides caffeine find a choi ce of good value dishes including a plaudits-inducing collection of  salads and grilled shrimps. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

www.belrest.info [email protected] tel.: +375 29 332 12 12

Megapolis (Мегаполис (Мегаполис)) Nezavisimosti pr. 116 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 116), MVostok (Восток (Восток), ), tel. (+375 17) 266 39 53/(+375 29) 664 35 96, fax (+375 17) 200 12 06. A modern take on an old Soviet 

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

RESTAURANTS with a mad medieval theme. There’s rope, wrought iron, sackcloth and wood everywhere, and a jaunty knight in  jangly armour watches over it all. The crowd is young and hip and the place is so groovy that no one cares that the  food is a bit basic. It’s a great venue for a pre-club snack  and chat. QOpen 08:30 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 24:00.

theme, the National Library’s in-house restaurant, restaurant, as one would perhaps expect, specialises in national dishes. The translated menu tempts diners with a beguiling list of dishes including The Tongue Baked Under Souse and (a particular   favourite) Smoky Sturgeon Ke gs From A Cucumber. Whatever  you choose to eat, expect it to be accompanied by live cabaret  music and the occasional bit of dancing during the weekends. Megapolis also offers an excellent value weekday lunch menu. QOpen 11:00 - 02:00, Mon 11:00 - 19:00. PAE

Symbol key

LEGBXW

RESTAURANTS

Minsk, Trinity (Troitskoye) suburb

15

02/(+375 44) 775 45 02. The barman evidently learned customer relations from a Siberian camp guard, but if you manage to overlook this minor inconvenience this can be a ver y  pleasant place to eat. The interior of the restored house on the edge of Trinity nity is a nice en ough venue, although the place really  comes into its own during the warmer part of the year when visitors flock to sit out by the river and enjoy the magnificent  view. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00. AIEBXS

Starye Traditsiy (Старые (Старые Традиции Традиции)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 57 (просп (просп.. Независимости , 57), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 29) 107 57 57/(+375 17) 331 90 87. At the time of going to press there was no English menu available here, but  if you can overcome that small hurdle then expect to find an interesting mix of locals tucking into a choice of great value Belarusian food. Décor comes pretty much as standard, including the almost compulsory television chattering away  in the background and a rather tatty old upright piano. Rare  for a place in this part of the world, smoking is not allowed. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PTAUIEGBS

Stary Gorod (Старый (Старый город город)) С-4, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 19 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 19), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 286 05 08. It’s safe to assume that any restaurant set in Minsk’s recreated old town has a certain tourist orientation, but Stary Gorod isn’t  one to write off. The classics of national cuisine arrive at your  table on a hot griddle, and most are sanely priced. Dine on the relaxing back terrace during the summer or check out  seating in the funky cellar. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat  12:00 - 02:00. PJUNBXS

Stary Mlyn (Стары (Стары Млын Млын)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 78 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 78), MPark Chelyuskintsev (Парк Челюскинцев Челюскинцев), ), tel. (+375 17) 280 28 72. A  perfectl y adequate although by no means special place to eat  hearty lo cal snacks for a good price, the Old Mill also features a small outdoor terrace for some excellent people-watching  opportunities. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. PUNBX

Straunya Kamyanitsa (Стра (Страўня Камян Камянiiца ца)) D-5, ul. Pervomayskaya 18 ( ул  ул.. Первомайская Первомайская,, 18), tel. (+375 17) 294 51 24/(+375 17) 285 39 47. Recreating  the time when Belarus formed part of the Grand Duchy of  Lithuania, this fine little restaurant churns out classic dishes  from days gone by with a heavy emphasis on roasted, grilled and stewed meat. The staff dress in authentic costumes and the menu is held inside a large leather wallet. If you’re not  starving, do at least try one of their recommended soups or  indulge in a glass or two of the local firewater. The weekends

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see a number of live events taking place including music on Fridays and traditional dancing on Sundays. QOpen 12:00 23:00. PTAUIVEXS

Talaka ((Талака Талака ) С -3, ul. Rakovskaya 18 ( ул ( ул . Раковская,, 18), M Nemiga (Немига Раковская (Немига)/(+375 )/(+375 17) 203 27 94, fax (+375 29) 637 03 80. An eclectic cellar  restaurant with a hunting theme (stuffed rabbits are among  its décor victims), Talaka is one to seek out for its magnificent food and unusual atmosphere. Tables are made from old beds, carriages and the like, and what’s served on them is mostly potato snacks and skewered meat. A bit pricier  than elsewhere, reservations are a good idea since this small place tends to get booked up. QOpen 10:00 - 06:00.

PJAEBXS

Traktir na Parkovoy (Трактир (Трактир на Парковой ) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 11), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 203 69 91/(+375 29) 135 77 36. It’s supposed to look like Grandmother’s place in the country, which might explain the live rooster running around the yard or, at a stretch, the aquarium full of carp. But it doesn’t really account for the screaming Gypsy band on stage. If you want to sample the pelmeni , shashlyk and Belarusian Belarusia n national food served here, we suggest avoiding  arriving between 20:00 and 23:00 when the live music is inflicting brain damage on the customers. QOpen 12:00 24:00. PJAIEGBS

Traditional Belarusian restaurant in the very heart of Minsk with great views of the city

U Barysycha ( У   У Барысыча Барысыча)) B-6, ul. Petrusya Brovki 12 ( ул  ул.. Петруся Бровки Бровки,, 12), MAkademiya Nauk (Академия Наук Наук), ), tel. (+375 17) 331 82 29. Although at the time of going to press there were no English menus to be found here, U Barysycha is still worth dropping by for a visit. The mix of old and new décor works really well here and the staff are friendly and helpful. Best of all though is the food. Although claiming to be a Belarusian restaurant, the menu goes well beyond local dishes, including just about everything    from pasta to Greek salad to classic Soviet-era dishes to goat. The quality is high and if you’re in the moo d you can even order a whole goose. To top it all there’s striptease and belly dancing during the weekends. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00.

Svobody 4 (пл . Свободы, 4)

tel. (+375 17) 321 20 89 (+375 29) 321 20 59 Open 10:00 - 24:00, Fri 10:00 - 02:00, Sat 10:00 - 02:00.

PVENBXS

U Yanki ( У   У Янки Янки)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 21 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса, 21), tel. (+375 17) 210 49 03. A celebration Маркса, of the time-honoured pursuit in which grown men take to the woods and shoot defenc eless animals, the walls of this place are littered with guns and the menu is equally festooned with the poor creatures that had the misfortune to walk in front of  them. Actually, everything probabl y came from an abattoir, but  that’s not the point. Vegetarians and animal rights activities walk on by. Those who dribble at the thought of vast plates of grilled meat might like this place a lot. QOpen 11:00 23:00. PNGX

Verhniy Gorod (Верхний (Верхний Город Город)) C-4, Svobody pl. 4 (пл пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 4), tel. (+375 17) 321 20 89/(+375 17) 321 20 59. A much talked about and much loved restaurant  in the heart of the city featuring a great view of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and the river, Verhny Gorod is in the eyes of  many who’ve experienced it the best place in Minsk to dine on quality Belarusian and international cuisine in sumptuous surroundings. Popular with locals and foreigners alike, legend has it that one group of visiting Germans refused to eat  anywhere else during their stay in the ci ty and insisted on taking the recipe for the pike perch in a clay pot back home with them. Recommended. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat  10:00 - 02:00. PAIEBS

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RESTAURANTS with a mad medieval theme. There’s rope, wrought iron, sackcloth and wood everywhere, and a jaunty knight in  jangly armour watches over it all. The crowd is young and hip and the place is so groovy that no one cares that the  food is a bit basic. It’s a great venue for a pre-club snack  and chat. QOpen 08:30 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 24:00.

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Starovilenskaya Korchma (Старовиленская (Старовиленская корчма)) C-4, ul. Starovilenskaya 2 ( ул корчма ( ул.. Старовилен Старовилен-ская,, 2), MNemiga (Немига ская (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 335 45

Minsk, Trinity (Troitskoye) suburb theme, the National Library’s in-house restaurant, restaurant, as one would perhaps expect, specialises in national dishes. The translated menu tempts diners with a beguiling list of dishes including The Tongue Baked Under Souse and (a particular   favourite) Smoky Sturgeon Ke gs From A Cucumber. Whatever  you choose to eat, expect it to be accompanied by live cabaret  music and the occasional bit of dancing during the weekends. Megapolis also offers an excellent value weekday lunch menu. QOpen 11:00 - 02:00, Mon 11:00 - 19:00. PAE

Mirsky Zamok (Мирский (Мирский Замок Замок)) D-3, ul. Gorodskoy Val 9 ( ул ( ул.. Городской Вал Вал,, 9), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 38/(+375 29) 616 69 38. Meaning Mir  Castle and named after the Unesco World Heritage complex some 60km or so west of Minsk after which the interior decoration owes more than a passing nod, inside the menus held together with metal clasps is a meat-heavy choice of dishes plus one or two offerings for vegetarians. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00. PAUEGBSW

My English Granny (Моя (Моя английская бабушка бабушка)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 36 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 36), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 22 24. Granny’s still got a bit of spunk left in her yet. Just  look at this place. Sure, it’s a bit frilly and they serve your    food on paper doilies, but somehow the place is rather  cool. It attracts young hipsters who drink juice and have pillow fights and just seem to feel very comfortable here. Probably because i t’s just like Granny’s place. Flick through the packed-with-classics menu, pick and partake. A good option for breakfast or just couching around with friends at  any time. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 02:00.

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Pechki Lavochki (Печки ( Печки-- лавочки ) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 22), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 78 79. A bit barnyard and cottage, but really rather  nice, espe cially if you get a seat by the window where you can enjoy the view as much as the recommended food. Expect  plenty of pungent soups, juicy grilled meats and other hearty  Slavic dishes. They also have what they call Beer Rooms, where visitors are welcome to quaff ale and be noisy without  upsetting anyone. Recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00.

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Skif (Скиф (Скиф)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 34 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 34), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Независимости (Площадь Победы), tel. (+375 17) 284 75 41/(+375 29) Победы), 304 86 22. Opposite the apartment where Lee Harvey  Oswald used to live, this delightfully wicked, wacky and ropey little restaurant and bar is a very cool hang-out 

02/(+375 44) 775 45 02. The barman evidently learned customer relations from a Siberian camp guard, but if you manage to overlook this minor inconvenience this can be a ver y  pleasant place to eat. The interior of the restored house on the edge of Trinity nity is a nice en ough venue, although the place really  comes into its own during the warmer part of the year when visitors flock to sit out by the river and enjoy the magnificent  view. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00. AIEBXS

Starye Traditsiy (Старые (Старые Традиции Традиции)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 57 (просп (просп.. Независимости , 57), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 29) 107 57 57/(+375 17) 331 90 87. At the time of going to press there was no English menu available here, but  if you can overcome that small hurdle then expect to find an interesting mix of locals tucking into a choice of great value Belarusian food. Décor comes pretty much as standard, including the almost compulsory television chattering away  in the background and a rather tatty old upright piano. Rare  for a place in this part of the world, smoking is not allowed. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PTAUIEGBS

Stary Gorod (Старый (Старый город город)) С-4, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 19 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 19), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 286 05 08. It’s safe to assume that any restaurant set in Minsk’s recreated old town has a certain tourist orientation, but Stary Gorod isn’t  one to write off. The classics of national cuisine arrive at your  table on a hot griddle, and most are sanely priced. Dine on the relaxing back terrace during the summer or check out  seating in the funky cellar. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat  12:00 - 02:00. PJUNBXS

Stary Mlyn (Стары (Стары Млын Млын)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 78 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 78), MPark Chelyuskintsev (Парк Челюскинцев Челюскинцев), ), tel. (+375 17) 280 28 72. A  perfectl y adequate although by no means special place to eat  hearty lo cal snacks for a good price, the Old Mill also features a small outdoor terrace for some excellent people-watching  opportunities. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00. PUNBX

Straunya Kamyanitsa (Стра (Страўня Камян Камянiiца ца)) D-5, ul. Pervomayskaya 18 ( ул  ул.. Первомайская Первомайская,, 18), tel. (+375 17) 294 51 24/(+375 17) 285 39 47. Recreating  the time when Belarus formed part of the Grand Duchy of  Lithuania, this fine little restaurant churns out classic dishes  from days gone by with a heavy emphasis on roasted, grilled and stewed meat. The staff dress in authentic costumes and the menu is held inside a large leather wallet. If you’re not  starving, do at least try one of their recommended soups or  indulge in a glass or two of the local firewater. The weekends

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see a number of live events taking place including music on Fridays and traditional dancing on Sundays. QOpen 12:00 23:00. PTAUIVEXS

Talaka ((Талака Талака ) С -3, ul. Rakovskaya 18 ( ул ( ул . Раковская,, 18), M Nemiga (Немига Раковская (Немига)/(+375 )/(+375 17) 203 27 94, fax (+375 29) 637 03 80. An eclectic cellar  restaurant with a hunting theme (stuffed rabbits are among  its décor victims), Talaka is one to seek out for its magnificent food and unusual atmosphere. Tables are made from old beds, carriages and the like, and what’s served on them is mostly potato snacks and skewered meat. A bit pricier  than elsewhere, reservations are a good idea since this small place tends to get booked up. QOpen 10:00 - 06:00.

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Traktir na Parkovoy (Трактир (Трактир на Парковой ) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 11), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 203 69 91/(+375 29) 135 77 36. It’s supposed to look like Grandmother’s place in the country, which might explain the live rooster running around the yard or, at a stretch, the aquarium full of carp. But it doesn’t really account for the screaming Gypsy band on stage. If you want to sample the pelmeni , shashlyk and Belarusian Belarusia n national food served here, we suggest avoiding  arriving between 20:00 and 23:00 when the live music is inflicting brain damage on the customers. QOpen 12:00 24:00. PJAIEGBS

Наук), tel. (+375 17) 294 94 13/(+375 44) 794 94 14. Наук), Featuring horse shoes on the walls and crudely carved  furniture, Zhban is named after a traditional Belarusian mug  with a large capacity and featuring a hinged lid used for the consumption of low alcohol drinks such as kvas . Claiming  to use only fresh ingredients, the menu holds a number of  surprises, not least the cute-sounding Piglet at Rest alongside more familiar fare such as bliny with red caviar and herring. Food can be served on wooden plates to order, there’s the usual offering of business lunch plus there’s live shows and discos during the weekends. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat  08:00 - 02:00. PTAUEGSW

(Академия Наук Наук), ), tel. (+375 17) 331 82 29. Although at the time of going to press there were no English menus to be found here, U Barysycha is still worth dropping by for a visit. The mix of old and new décor works really well here and the staff are friendly and helpful. Best of all though is the food. Although claiming to be a Belarusian restaurant, the menu goes well beyond local dishes, including just about everything    from pasta to Greek salad to classic Soviet-era dishes to goat. The quality is high and if you’re in the moo d you can even order a whole goose. To top it all there’s striptease and belly dancing during the weekends. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00.

TGIFriday’s(Фрайдис (Фрайдис)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 22), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 23 31. Silly hats, klaxons, loud shirts and all the other nonsense that those who k now this American chain will have come to expect, the formula is unchanged here with decent food such as burgers, chicken wings, steaks and ribs, although not served in such large portions. Worth it for the New York cheesecake alone. A good choice if you want to play it safe and go somewhere where you know exactly what you’re going  to get. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. PJVGXS

Asian Dzhomalungma (Джомалунгма (Джомалунгма)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 7 ( ул  ул.. Гикало Гикало,, 7), M Ploschad Yakuba Kolasa (Пло (Пло-щадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 280 53 88,  [email protected]. Just the kind of Asian restaurant  Minsk has been waiting for, find a well-orchestrated affair set in a cheerful room of explosive colours. The outstanding food is mainly Tibetan, with a few Nepalese, Indian and Thai choices thrown in. Hot towels precede your meal, and tea comes in a tiny pot set on a wooden platform. Also at International airport  Minsk-2. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. PJAEBKXS

Azerbaijani 37), tel. (+375 17) 299 97 61/(+375 29) 115 94 01. Absolutely fantastic for anyone who hasn’t experienced the   full-on extravagance of cheesy Azerbaijani décor before, this cavernous recommendation is popular with all kinds of  diners from diplomats to movie stars. The menu positivel y  heaves with classic dishes which need to be tasted to be believed, Azerbaijani festivals are celebrated with small   festivals inside the restaurant plus, as is so often the case inside a Minsk restaurant, there’s live shows and belly dancing during the weekends. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00.

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Bulgarian Buffet express If you’ve just read the entire restaurant chapter of this guide and you still haven’t been served, stay calm, collect your  belongings and pop into a place where the food is served piping hot and straight from metal containers.

Lido (Лидо (Лидо)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 49/1 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 49/1), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa Независимости (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 82 08/ (+375 29) 368 66 86, [email protected]. For those who aren’t   familiar with this successful Latvian chain, Lido’s philosophy  is to serve an absolutely enormous selection of foods such as pizza, pork chops, ice-cream and much more in a fun,  folksy cafeteria set-up for a bargain price and, best of all, in an instant. A staff equalling the population of Riga buzz around the dining room ready to whisk away your plate the instant  the last morsel of food goes in to your mouth. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. PAEBS

Maestro (Маэстро ( Маэстро)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. TC “Stolitsa”, upper level (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, ТЦ “Столица Столица”), ”), tel. (+375 17) 227 54 41/(+375 17) 227 81 24. Classic local food plus an array of other treats including sausages and mash, pasta and garlic bread, all ready to plonk on your plate straight from hot metal containers. An excellent choice if you’re in a hurry, although try to avoid during lunchtimes as the queues literally snake out  the door. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.

Maxi Bis (Макси (Макси Бис ) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 1 (просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 306 45 53. There’s a counter in here for ordering freshly baked pizza and the like, but the real reason for  visiting is to shuffle round the edge of the room collecting  ready-prepared food from the lovely ladies who work here. The choice is excellent and the price is also not too bad. A great choice for simple food in a hurry. QOpen 08:00 23:00. PJBS

Gabrovo (Габрово (Габрово)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 81 (просп (просп.. Независимости,, 81), MAkademia Nauk (Академия Независимости (Академия наук), tel. (+375 17) 287 30 53/(+375 17) 287 30 54, наук), fax (+375 17) 287 30 54. Although Gabrovo claims to be f  Bulgarian, the menu is really just a generic East European mishmash of mayonnaise-drenched salads and fatty cutlets. Still, the portions are generous, the prices reasonable, and the atmosphere has a tacky sort of charm about it with lots t  of starchy tablecloths and plastic vines wrapped around the rafters. A few years ago this would have been considered classy. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 24:00.

PAEBXW

Traktir na Marksa (Трактир (Трактир на Маркса Маркса)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 21 ( ул  ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 21), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 03 41. A dark, underground labyrinth of booths in the heart of the city  centre, find all manner of locals sat at chequered tablecloths tucking into a range of dishes not just from Bulgaria but also t   from further afield. Recommen ded are the Bulgarian salad and  f  the golden chicken. The food is unpretentious, filling and good t  value. Perhaps too gloomy to be enjoyed during the daytime, this would be a better place to frequ ent after the sun has set. t  QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. PNGW

Open 10:00 - 24:00, Fri 10:00 - 02:00, Sat 10:00 - 02:00.

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U Yanki ( У   У Янки Янки)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 21 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса, 21), tel. (+375 17) 210 49 03. A celebration Маркса, of the time-honoured pursuit in which grown men take to the woods and shoot defenc eless animals, the walls of this place are littered with guns and the menu is equally festooned with the poor creatures that had the misfortune to walk in front of  them. Actually, everything probabl y came from an abattoir, but  that’s not the point. Vegetarians and animal rights activities walk on by. Those who dribble at the thought of vast plates of grilled meat might like this place a lot. QOpen 11:00 23:00. PNGX

Verhniy Gorod (Верхний (Верхний Город Город)) C-4, Svobody pl. 4 (пл пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 4), tel. (+375 17) 321 20 89/(+375 17) 321 20 59. A much talked about and much loved restaurant  in the heart of the city featuring a great view of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and the river, Verhny Gorod is in the eyes of  many who’ve experienced it the best place in Minsk to dine on quality Belarusian and international cuisine in sumptuous surroundings. Popular with locals and foreigners alike, legend has it that one group of visiting Germans refused to eat  anywhere else during their stay in the ci ty and insisted on taking the recipe for the pike perch in a clay pot back home with them. Recommended. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat  10:00 - 02:00. PAIEBS

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2011

Table talk En gl gli sh sh

B el ela ru ru si si an an

Café каф е рэстар таран ан Restaurant  рэс Bar  бар т уа уа ле лет Toilet  курыца /  Chicken кураня ялавi чын чына а Beef  Pork  св i нiна паста /  Pasta макароны пi цц а Pizza Sushi сушы р ыба Fish Soup суп гарачы /  Hot / Cold халодны

Ru ss ssi an an

Russian pronunciation

ka´fe resto´ran bar  ба р т уа уа ле лет tua´let  kuritsa /  курица/  цыпленок tsyp´lionok  говяди гов ядина на go´viadina svi´nina св и н и н а паста /  ´pasta /  макароны maka´rony  пицца ´pizza ´sushi су ш и рыба ´ryba sup су п горячий /  go´riachii /  холодный ho´lodnyi картофель /  kar´tofel’/  Potatoes бульба картошка kar´toshka Vegetables гароднiн а ´ovoshchi ов ощ ощ и чай чай Tea chai ко ф е ко ф е Coffee ´kofe х леб х леб Bread hleb цукар сахар Sugar  ´sahar  Milk  molo´ko м ал ал ак ак о м ол ол ок ок о вяршкi сливки Cream ´slivki Beer  ´pivo пi ва пиво в iно вино vi´no Wine (red/  ( чырвонае чырвонае/  ( красное красное/  (krasnoie/  white) beloie) белае) белое) водка во дк а Vodka ´vodka Bill /  чэк /  чек /  счет chek/shchiot  рахунак cheque Change ´zdacha сдача с да ч а на чай ч а ев ы е Tip chae´vyie Thank you д зя spa´sibo зя ку ку й с па па си си бо бо пабачэнняДо энняДо свидания Do svi´daniia Goodbye Да пабач Мы Мы We’ll be My  back  вернемся вернемся ver´niomsia Which way  Як прайсцi Как пройти Kak proi´ti да...? к...? to...? k...? каф е ресторан рестор ан

Caucasian

meal in the evening the food never really fails to impress. Go  for a Steak Deluxe and take a peep at the villainous-looking  host whilst you sip a gin and tonic and enjoy the good life. Summertime brings the addition of a Parisian-style outdoor  terrace. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00. PA6XW

Dolce Vita ((Дольче Дольче Вита Вита)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул  ул.. Кирова , 13), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 218 35 55/(+375 17) 200 Ленина), 47 81. Predominantly fine Italian dishes served inside the Crowne Plaza’s flagship restaurant, everything was imported  from Italy and the food is very good indeed. It being a hotel restaurant, don’t expect value for money or too much in the way  of atmosphere. Having said that, there are many worse hotel restaurants to be found in the world. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.

Europa Restaurant (ресторан (ресторан г-цы “Европа Европа”) ”) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 28 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная Интернациональная,, 28), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 229 84 31. Classy in a stilted, stifling sor t of way, Europa Europa tries  just a little too hard to be elegant and sophisticated (we grimaced while watching watching a waitress strug gle with one hand to open a plastic bottle of water balanced on a silver tray). Concentrate on the excellent food instead, such as the fried camembe rt with sesame and raspberry sauce, or the kebab with tiger prawns. The à la carte menu is pricey, although there’s a much cheaper, if very  limited, set lunch option. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PJA

Falcone (Фальконе (Фальконе)) D-3, ul. Korolya 9 ( ул ( ул.. Короля Короля,, 9), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская (Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 29) 377 77 76, [email protected]. When we asked why there were two formidable-looking security guards patrolling the entrance, we were cryptically informed that their job is to protect the guests. Falcone is a seriously lavish Italian restaurant for people with serious amounts of roubles to burn. Although the food is impressive, it’s hard not to be bothered by the sheer ostentatious ostentatious-ness -ness of the place, surrounded as it is by crumbling old Soviet-era housing on a drab residential street. A taste of the Minsk to come. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.

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Grand Café ((Гранд Гранд Кафе Кафе)) D-4, ul. Lenina 2 ( ул  ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 2), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 44) 703 11 11. Relatively new although already  buzzing, this crisp, white tablecloth affair provides Italian food and other treats cooked to perfection and served with a rare taste for quality and flair. The décor is interesting indeed, combining the classic look of a classy restaurant offset with large photographs of Soviet-era housing on the walls. Barmen mix drinks in white tuxedos to give the place an added touch of  sophistication. Recommended among the many great dishes is the Chateaubriand steak, whilst Friday evenings see the arrival of fresh oysters and some of the best DJs in the city. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. PJAGXW

Juravinka (Журавинка (Журавинка)) C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25

Verba (Верба (Верба)) B-4, ul. Kropotkina 51 ( ул  ул.. Кропоткина Кропоткина,, 51), tel. (+375 17) 334 69 95, fax (+375 17) 334 34 67. A favourite place to come for  shashlyk , that tasty, shishkebab-like dish that originated in the mountains of the Caucasus and became a culinary hit all over the USSR. Tiny, cosy and well worth a visit. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

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Mecca ecca for spotty youth on weekend evenings. The outisde tables are a good spot to watch the world go by. Also at Surganova 63, Dzerzhinskogo 96, Nemiga 12, Pritytskogo 28, Logoisky Tract 35. QOpen 07:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 07:00 - 24:00. JB

Fine dining  Bistro de Luxe (Бистро (Бистро де Люкс Люкс)) D-3, ul. Gorod-

Fast food McDonald’s (Мак (Мак Дональдс Дональдс)) C-2, Nezavisimosti pr. 23 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 23), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 217 65 28. The local Mc-

Minsk In Your Po cket

Svobody 4 (пл . Свободы, 4)

tel. (+375 17) 321 20 89 (+375 29) 321 20 59

RESTAURANTS

Astara (Астара (Астара)) D-5, ul. Pulihova 37 ( ул ( ул.. Пулихова Пулихова,,

American

Traditional Belarusian restaurant in the very heart of Minsk with great views of the city

U Barysycha ( У   У Барысыча Барысыча)) B-6, ul. Petrusya Brovki 12 ( ул  ул.. Петруся Бровки Бровки,, 12), MAkademiya Nauk

RESTAURANTS Zhban (Жбан (Жбан)) B-6, ul. Petrusya Brovki 16 ( ул ( ул.. Петруся Бровки Бровки,, 16), MAkademiya Nauk (Академия (Академия

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skoy Val 10 ( ул ( ул.. Гороской Вал Вал,, 10), tel. (+375 44) 789 11 11, [email protected]. Popping up among a number of places in the area, Bistro de Luxe offers a modern interpretation of the classic bistro design. From freshly made croissants for breakfast through to a full blow-out Italian

minsk.inyourpocket.com

( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 89/ (+375 17) 328 69 13. For overblown formality, Belarusian style, the grand restaurant in the Juravinka business compl ex takes first prize. That’s not to say you won’t have a quality  experience here complete with top-notch chefs and silly dance numbers to boot. They probably even have doctors standing  by for when they give you the bill. Bu t you don’t have to spend through the nose to have a good time here. You can throw a  few gutter balls in the bowling club downstairs or try th e more affordable dining in the Lasunak café (also a decent drinking  place), which has picture-perfect riverside seating when the weather’s warm. QOpen 19:00 - 04:00, Fri, Sat 19:00 05:00. Closed Mon. PJALEGBXS

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RESTAURANTS Zhban (Жбан (Жбан)) B-6, ul. Petrusya Brovki 16 ( ул ( ул.. Петруся Бровки Бровки,, 16), MAkademiya Nauk (Академия (Академия Наук), tel. (+375 17) 294 94 13/(+375 44) 794 94 14. Наук), Featuring horse shoes on the walls and crudely carved  furniture, Zhban is named after a traditional Belarusian mug  with a large capacity and featuring a hinged lid used for the consumption of low alcohol drinks such as kvas . Claiming  to use only fresh ingredients, the menu holds a number of  surprises, not least the cute-sounding Piglet at Rest alongside more familiar fare such as bliny with red caviar and herring. Food can be served on wooden plates to order, there’s the usual offering of business lunch plus there’s live shows and discos during the weekends. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat  08:00 - 02:00. PTAUEGSW

RESTAURANTS Asian Dzhomalungma (Джомалунгма (Джомалунгма)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 7 ( ул  ул.. Гикало Гикало,, 7), M Ploschad Yakuba Kolasa (Пло (Пло-щадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 280 53 88,  [email protected]. Just the kind of Asian restaurant  Minsk has been waiting for, find a well-orchestrated affair set in a cheerful room of explosive colours. The outstanding food is mainly Tibetan, with a few Nepalese, Indian and Thai choices thrown in. Hot towels precede your meal, and tea comes in a tiny pot set on a wooden platform. Also at International airport  Minsk-2. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. PJAEBKXS

Azerbaijani Astara (Астара (Астара)) D-5, ul. Pulihova 37 ( ул ( ул.. Пулихова Пулихова,,

American TGIFriday’s(Фрайдис (Фрайдис)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 22), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 23 31. Silly hats, klaxons, loud shirts and all the other nonsense that those who k now this American chain will have come to expect, the formula is unchanged here with decent food such as burgers, chicken wings, steaks and ribs, although not served in such large portions. Worth it for the New York cheesecake alone. A good choice if you want to play it safe and go somewhere where you know exactly what you’re going  to get. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. PJVGXS

37), tel. (+375 17) 299 97 61/(+375 29) 115 94 01. Absolutely fantastic for anyone who hasn’t experienced the   full-on extravagance of cheesy Azerbaijani décor before, this cavernous recommendation is popular with all kinds of  diners from diplomats to movie stars. The menu positivel y  heaves with classic dishes which need to be tasted to be believed, Azerbaijani festivals are celebrated with small   festivals inside the restaurant plus, as is so often the case inside a Minsk restaurant, there’s live shows and belly dancing during the weekends. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00.

PTALEGBXS

Bulgarian Buffet express If you’ve just read the entire restaurant chapter of this guide and you still haven’t been served, stay calm, collect your  belongings and pop into a place where the food is served piping hot and straight from metal containers.

Lido (Лидо (Лидо)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 49/1 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 49/1), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa Независимости (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 82 08/ (+375 29) 368 66 86, [email protected]. For those who aren’t   familiar with this successful Latvian chain, Lido’s philosophy  is to serve an absolutely enormous selection of foods such as pizza, pork chops, ice-cream and much more in a fun,  folksy cafeteria set-up for a bargain price and, best of all, in an instant. A staff equalling the population of Riga buzz around the dining room ready to whisk away your plate the instant  the last morsel of food goes in to your mouth. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. PAEBS

Maestro (Маэстро ( Маэстро)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. TC “Stolitsa”, upper level (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, ТЦ “Столица Столица”), ”), tel. (+375 17) 227 54 41/(+375 17) 227 81 24. Classic local food plus an array of other treats including sausages and mash, pasta and garlic bread, all ready to plonk on your plate straight from hot metal containers. An excellent choice if you’re in a hurry, although try to avoid during lunchtimes as the queues literally snake out  the door. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.

Maxi Bis (Макси (Макси Бис ) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 1 (просп просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 306 45 53. There’s a counter in here for ordering freshly baked pizza and the like, but the real reason for  visiting is to shuffle round the edge of the room collecting  ready-prepared food from the lovely ladies who work here. The choice is excellent and the price is also not too bad. A great choice for simple food in a hurry. QOpen 08:00 23:00. PJBS

Gabrovo (Габрово (Габрово)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 81 (просп (просп.. Независимости,, 81), MAkademia Nauk (Академия Независимости (Академия наук), tel. (+375 17) 287 30 53/(+375 17) 287 30 54, наук), fax (+375 17) 287 30 54. Although Gabrovo claims to be f  Bulgarian, the menu is really just a generic East European mishmash of mayonnaise-drenched salads and fatty cutlets. Still, the portions are generous, the prices reasonable, and the atmosphere has a tacky sort of charm about it with lots t  of starchy tablecloths and plastic vines wrapped around the rafters. A few years ago this would have been considered classy. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 24:00.

PAEBXW

Traktir na Marksa (Трактир (Трактир на Маркса Маркса)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 21 ( ул  ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 21), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская (Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 03 41. A dark, underground labyrinth of booths in the heart of the city  centre, find all manner of locals sat at chequered tablecloths tucking into a range of dishes not just from Bulgaria but also t   from further afield. Recommen ded are the Bulgarian salad and  f  the golden chicken. The food is unpretentious, filling and good t  value. Perhaps too gloomy to be enjoyed during the daytime, this would be a better place to frequ ent after the sun has set. t  QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. PNGW

En gl gli sh sh

B el ela ru ru si si an an

Café каф е рэстар таран ан Restaurant  рэс Bar  бар т уа уа ле лет Toilet  курыца /  Chicken кураня ялавi чын чына а Beef  Pork  св i нiна паста /  Pasta макароны пi цц а Pizza Sushi сушы р ыба Fish Soup суп гарачы /  Hot / Cold халодны

Ru ss ssi an an

Russian pronunciation

ka´fe resto´ran bar  ба р т уа уа ле лет tua´let  kuritsa /  курица/  цыпленок tsyp´lionok  говяди гов ядина на go´viadina svi´nina св и н и н а паста /  ´pasta /  макароны maka´rony  пицца ´pizza ´sushi су ш и рыба ´ryba sup су п горячий /  go´riachii /  холодный ho´lodnyi картофель /  kar´tofel’/  Potatoes бульба картошка kar´toshka Vegetables гароднiн а ´ovoshchi ов ощ ощ и чай чай Tea chai ко ф е ко ф е Coffee ´kofe х леб х леб Bread hleb цукар сахар Sugar  ´sahar  Milk  molo´ko м ал ал ак ак о м ол ол ок ок о вяршкi сливки Cream ´slivki Beer  ´pivo пi ва пиво в iно вино vi´no Wine (red/  ( чырвонае чырвонае/  ( красное красное/  (krasnoie/  white) beloie) белае) белое) водка во дк а Vodka ´vodka Bill /  чэк /  чек /  счет chek/shchiot  рахунак cheque Change ´zdacha сдача с да ч а на чай ч а ев ы е Tip chae´vyie Thank you д зя spa´sibo зя ку ку й с па па си си бо бо пабачэнняДо энняДо свидания Do svi´daniia Goodbye Да пабач Мы Мы We’ll be My  back  вернемся вернемся ver´niomsia Which way  Як прайсцi Как пройти Kak proi´ti да...? к...? to...? k...? каф е ресторан рестор ан

Caucasian 51), tel. (+375 17) 334 69 95, fax (+375 17) 334 34 67. A favourite place to come for  shashlyk , that tasty, shishkebab-like dish that originated in the mountains of the Caucasus and became a culinary hit all over the USSR. Tiny, cosy and well worth a visit. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

PTA6ULBXS

Mecca ecca for spotty youth on weekend evenings. The outisde tables are a good spot to watch the world go by. Also at Surganova 63, Dzerzhinskogo 96, Nemiga 12, Pritytskogo 28, Logoisky Tract 35. QOpen 07:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 07:00 - 24:00. JB

Fine dining  Bistro de Luxe (Бистро (Бистро де Люкс Люкс)) D-3, ul. Gorod-

Fast food McDonald’s (Мак (Мак Дональдс Дональдс)) C-2, Nezavisimosti pr. 23 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 23), MOktyabrskaya

Minsk In Your Po cket

meal in the evening the food never really fails to impress. Go  for a Steak Deluxe and take a peep at the villainous-looking  host whilst you sip a gin and tonic and enjoy the good life. Summertime brings the addition of a Parisian-style outdoor  terrace. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00. PA6XW

Dolce Vita ((Дольче Дольче Вита Вита)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул  ул.. Кирова , 13), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 218 35 55/(+375 17) 200 Ленина), 47 81. Predominantly fine Italian dishes served inside the Crowne Plaza’s flagship restaurant, everything was imported  from Italy and the food is very good indeed. It being a hotel restaurant, don’t expect value for money or too much in the way  of atmosphere. Having said that, there are many worse hotel restaurants to be found in the world. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.

Europa Restaurant (ресторан (ресторан г-цы “Европа Европа”) ”) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 28 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная Интернациональная,, 28), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 229 84 31. Classy in a stilted, stifling sor t of way, Europa Europa tries  just a little too hard to be elegant and sophisticated (we grimaced while watching watching a waitress strug gle with one hand to open a plastic bottle of water balanced on a silver tray). Concentrate on the excellent food instead, such as the fried camembe rt with sesame and raspberry sauce, or the kebab with tiger prawns. The à la carte menu is pricey, although there’s a much cheaper, if very  limited, set lunch option. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PJA

Falcone (Фальконе (Фальконе)) D-3, ul. Korolya 9 ( ул ( ул.. Короля Короля,, 9), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская (Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 29) 377 77 76, [email protected]. When we asked why there were two formidable-looking security guards patrolling the entrance, we were cryptically informed that their job is to protect the guests. Falcone is a seriously lavish Italian restaurant for people with serious amounts of roubles to burn. Although the food is impressive, it’s hard not to be bothered by the sheer ostentatious ostentatious-ness -ness of the place, surrounded as it is by crumbling old Soviet-era housing on a drab residential street. A taste of the Minsk to come. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.

PTJA6UILEGBXSW

Grand Café ((Гранд Гранд Кафе Кафе)) D-4, ul. Lenina 2 ( ул  ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 2), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 44) 703 11 11. Relatively new although already  buzzing, this crisp, white tablecloth affair provides Italian food and other treats cooked to perfection and served with a rare taste for quality and flair. The décor is interesting indeed, combining the classic look of a classy restaurant offset with large photographs of Soviet-era housing on the walls. Barmen mix drinks in white tuxedos to give the place an added touch of  sophistication. Recommended among the many great dishes is the Chateaubriand steak, whilst Friday evenings see the arrival of fresh oysters and some of the best DJs in the city. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. PJAGXW

Juravinka (Журавинка (Журавинка)) C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25

Verba (Верба (Верба)) B-4, ul. Kropotkina 51 ( ул  ул.. Кропоткина Кропоткина,,

(Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 217 65 28. The local Mc-

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Table talk

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skoy Val 10 ( ул ( ул.. Гороской Вал Вал,, 10), tel. (+375 44) 789 11 11, [email protected]. Popping up among a number of places in the area, Bistro de Luxe offers a modern interpretation of the classic bistro design. From freshly made croissants for breakfast through to a full blow-out Italian

( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 89/ (+375 17) 328 69 13. For overblown formality, Belarusian style, the grand restaurant in the Juravinka business compl ex takes first prize. That’s not to say you won’t have a quality  experience here complete with top-notch chefs and silly dance numbers to boot. They probably even have doctors standing  by for when they give you the bill. Bu t you don’t have to spend through the nose to have a good time here. You can throw a  few gutter balls in the bowling club downstairs or try th e more affordable dining in the Lasunak café (also a decent drinking  place), which has picture-perfect riverside seating when the weather’s warm. QOpen 19:00 - 04:00, Fri, Sat 19:00 05:00. Closed Mon. PJALEGBXS

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RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS internationally trained, the environment is exquisite and the prices are not as stratospherically high as one might  expect. A perfect choice for a quality evening. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PJAX

La Dame De Pique (Пиковая (Пиковая дама) дама) D-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 17 ( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 17), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 73 14/(+375 29) 615 13 13. Conjuring images of decadent France at every opportunity this gorgeous little anomaly is the ultimate in bling. Models of lithe greyhounds chained to the walls welcome visitors to a restaurant that’s a feast on both the eyes and the taste buds. Not the cheapes t place in town, the menu tempts with a roll call of dishes including the mischievous-sounding  Russian Proposal in Paris (it’s a salad), Veal Martignon and that old favourite, crème brûlée . Visitors looking to push the boat out as far as it can go take note that at the time of going  to press there was a champagne on the m enu going for a cool 5,481,000BYR. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.

Fun Chill Out (Чилл (Чилл Аут Аут)) C-4, Svobody pl. 4 (пл (пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 4), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 63 43. Soft  tones of beige and brown with just a hint of neon purple and lime green inside this restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart  of the city. Surplus to the telephone directory of cocktails is a menu of international dishes and the added bonus of a summer barbecue terrace. Chill Out also has a reputation for its parties, popular with some of the better off youth of the capital. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. PABXSW

G a r a z h (Гараж ( Гараж)) u l . K a l v a r i y s k a y a 1 7 ( ул ( ул . Кальварийская,, 17), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Кальварийская (Фрунзенская), ), Newman (Ньюмен (Ньюмен)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 36 ( ул ( ул.. Немига Немига,, 36), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (ПлощадьЛенина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 306 48 39/(+375 44) 777 42 42. A magnificent find, Newman offers great steaks on two floors including several cooked on a charcoal grill, plus handmade lightshades and expert Russian hands overseeing the operation. At ground level there’s a bar where a range of international food can also be ordered, while upstairs is a more sophisticated restaurant  setting with leather seatin g and all the trimmings. The draught  beer goes down a treat, the steaks we demolished were fantastic and the service is both helpful and attentive. Newman also offers a good value business lunch during the week which can be ordered from either floor. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. The bar is open till 04:00 at weekends. JHALGXW

Renaissance ((Ренессанс Ренессанс)) D-4, Svobody pl. 23 (пл пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 23), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 09 91, fax (+375 17) 227 09 64. If Bill Gates and Al Capone wanted to do lunch in Minsk, this is where it would happen. Built in a former monastery print  shop, Renaissance is a haven of beautiful columns, soft  lighting and carpets working to create a level of opulence that will drive many into fits of nervous laughter. Specialities like filet mignon in cherry sauce and lamb with cognac sauce are served to the sound of tinkling piano music. Guests can also escape to the billiards room or sink into a leather sofa in the cigar room. To get nearly the same experience without  such a heavy financial impact, come for the business lunch. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. PJAULVEBXS

Seventh Heaven (Седьмое (Седьмое небо небо)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (Hotel Minsk, top floor) (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 90 38/ (+375 17) 209 90 87. It’s

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believed by many cultures that the seventh heaven is a place where you can meet God. We came along and looked around but didn’t see him. Or her. But you can see the pretty Mary Magdalena Church if you look out the window. It’s really a dinner-dance kind of place, with a suave skyblue and silver theme. It’s not the most happening venue, but it’s a bit romantic, and if the couple we saw dancing  were anything to go by, they must serve aphrodisiacs. QOpen 18:00 - 04:00. PJENK

Fish Porto del Mare (Порто (Порто дель Маре Маре)) C-5, ul. Kozlova 3 ( ул ( ул.. Козлова Козлова,, 3), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь (Площадь Победы), tel. (+375 29) 197 00 00, portodelmare@tut. Победы), by. The former Porto Maltes e has made a few slight changes but remains more or less as it was before. For the uninitiated, it’s an aquatic-looking fish restaurant with a few other dishes on the menu such as steak and chef’s specials that garners nothing but positive reviews from all who eat there. Diners can choose their own fish from a chilled display plus there’s a nice Bedouin-looking outdoor terrace for the summer. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PTJALEX

French La Crête d’Or (Золотой (Золотой гребешок гребешок)) D-4, ul. Lenina 3 ( ул ( ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 3), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 32 04. The name suggests it is the highest cock, but somehow that sounds a bit too coarse  for this fine and refined restaurant. Expect softly spoken men in black roll-neck skivvies peru sing a menu that is too good to be translated into English (you’ll have to read it in Russian or French, darling). Both kitchen and waitstaff are

minsk inyourpo cket com

meat and I talian offerings. offerings. The waiters speak English and there’s rooms for those who smoke and those who don’t. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

German Westfalia (Вестфалия (Вестфалия)) Gazety Pravda pr. 11 (просп просп.. Газеты Правда Правда,, 11), tel. (+375 17) 270 57 27/ (+375 29) 172 00 00. A perfect escape from the overbearing atmosphere found elsewhere in the city, the restaurant  attached to the IBB centre offers excellent, fresh food, a soft, modern interior and an overall unpretentious dining experience. The German chef cooks up a variety of both German and international fare. Try the Zurich veal or th e specialit y, pike perch Papillote style. Live jazz is performed on Friday evenings, instrumental music on Saturdays and Sundays. Also note that  the breakfast buffet here may be the best in town. QOpen 07:30 - 23:00. PTA6ULEGBXSW

Indian Taj (Тадж ( Тадж)) C-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 26 ( ул  ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 26), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 44) 711 11 10, fax (+375 17) 306 29 61. Opened to much blowing of trumpets, Taj is by all accounts a welcome addition to Minsk’s ever growing  and ever improving restaurant scene. Bright, understated and modern with plent y of Indian touches, an Indian ndian chef oversees the preparation of a good choice of food, some cooked in a tandoor oven plus a few vegetarian options as well. There’s an authentic Indian dance group during the weekends too, to really spice up the evening. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

PTAUBXSW

tel. (+375 29) 620 05 11. Everything in this must-see place refers to cars and racing, from the extraordinary range of  vehicle-related paraphernalia to the recommended menu  featuring dishes with names such as the Lamborghini Diablo and Ferrari Maranello pizzas and the Spaghetti Barichello. There’s a big screen showing F1 and other major racing events plus the occasional wacky competition like inviting diners to eat spaghetti against the clock with spanners spanners.. Dedicated to the time-honoured worship of the automobile, Garage is more than just the sum of its gimmicky décor and does a great job in the kitchen. The all-male staff are young, friendly  and several speak English. The fabulous Garage is located in two locations in the city but the theme is pretty much the same in both. Also at Mogilevskaya 12a. QOpen 24 hours.

PTAVBSW

№1) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 33 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 33), tel. (+375 17) 222 27 07. Once you’ve finally figured out how to get through the front door you’ll wish you’d bought a torch. Illuminated by  a handful of scrawny red lightbulbs to give atmosphere but  really just to disorientate and make you bang your shins on things, the main draw here are the hookahs. The concept, so the website says, is to bring like-minded people together  over a bubbling smoke and, well, that’s the end of the concept really. Also on offer is a limited range of drinks and light  refreshments.QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08 :00 - 02:00, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. Kalyannaya # 1 (Кальянная (Кальянная

Lozhki (Ложки ( Ложки)) D-4, ul. Komsomolskaya 34 ( ул Комсомольская Комсомольская,, 34), tel. (+375 17) 227 07 72. Deliciously silly, this quirky and fun café-restaurant  is littered with spoons ( lozhki ) on the walls and ceiling. A former much-loved café, it’s now home to a range of  international dishes including the usual selection of grilled

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RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS internationally trained, the environment is exquisite and the prices are not as stratospherically high as one might  expect. A perfect choice for a quality evening. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PJAX

La Dame De Pique (Пиковая (Пиковая дама) дама) D-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 17 ( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 17), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 73 14/(+375 29) 615 13 13. Conjuring images of decadent France at every opportunity this gorgeous little anomaly is the ultimate in bling. Models of lithe greyhounds chained to the walls welcome visitors to a restaurant that’s a feast on both the eyes and the taste buds. Not the cheapes t place in town, the menu tempts with a roll call of dishes including the mischievous-sounding  Russian Proposal in Paris (it’s a salad), Veal Martignon and that old favourite, crème brûlée . Visitors looking to push the boat out as far as it can go take note that at the time of going  to press there was a champagne on the m enu going for a cool 5,481,000BYR. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.

Fun Chill Out (Чилл (Чилл Аут Аут)) C-4, Svobody pl. 4 (пл (пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 4), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 63 43. Soft  tones of beige and brown with just a hint of neon purple and lime green inside this restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart  of the city. Surplus to the telephone directory of cocktails is a menu of international dishes and the added bonus of a summer barbecue terrace. Chill Out also has a reputation for its parties, popular with some of the better off youth of the capital. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. PABXSW

G a r a z h (Гараж ( Гараж)) u l . K a l v a r i y s k a y a 1 7 ( ул ( ул . Кальварийская,, 17), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Кальварийская (Фрунзенская), ), Newman (Ньюмен (Ньюмен)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 36 ( ул ( ул.. Немига Немига,, 36), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (ПлощадьЛенина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 306 48 39/(+375 44) 777 42 42. A magnificent find, Newman offers great steaks on two floors including several cooked on a charcoal grill, plus handmade lightshades and expert Russian hands overseeing the operation. At ground level there’s a bar where a range of international food can also be ordered, while upstairs is a more sophisticated restaurant  setting with leather seatin g and all the trimmings. The draught  beer goes down a treat, the steaks we demolished were fantastic and the service is both helpful and attentive. Newman also offers a good value business lunch during the week which can be ordered from either floor. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. The bar is open till 04:00 at weekends. JHALGXW

Renaissance ((Ренессанс Ренессанс)) D-4, Svobody pl. 23 (пл пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 23), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 09 91, fax (+375 17) 227 09 64. If Bill Gates and Al Capone wanted to do lunch in Minsk, this is where it would happen. Built in a former monastery print  shop, Renaissance is a haven of beautiful columns, soft  lighting and carpets working to create a level of opulence that will drive many into fits of nervous laughter. Specialities like filet mignon in cherry sauce and lamb with cognac sauce are served to the sound of tinkling piano music. Guests can also escape to the billiards room or sink into a leather sofa in the cigar room. To get nearly the same experience without  such a heavy financial impact, come for the business lunch. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. PJAULVEBXS

Seventh Heaven (Седьмое (Седьмое небо небо)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (Hotel Minsk, top floor) (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 90 38/ (+375 17) 209 90 87. It’s

believed by many cultures that the seventh heaven is a place where you can meet God. We came along and looked around but didn’t see him. Or her. But you can see the pretty Mary Magdalena Church if you look out the window. It’s really a dinner-dance kind of place, with a suave skyblue and silver theme. It’s not the most happening venue, but it’s a bit romantic, and if the couple we saw dancing  were anything to go by, they must serve aphrodisiacs. QOpen 18:00 - 04:00. PJENK

Fish Porto del Mare (Порто (Порто дель Маре Маре)) C-5, ul. Kozlova 3 ( ул ( ул.. Козлова Козлова,, 3), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь (Площадь Победы), tel. (+375 29) 197 00 00, portodelmare@tut. Победы), by. The former Porto Maltes e has made a few slight changes but remains more or less as it was before. For the uninitiated, it’s an aquatic-looking fish restaurant with a few other dishes on the menu such as steak and chef’s specials that garners nothing but positive reviews from all who eat there. Diners can choose their own fish from a chilled display plus there’s a nice Bedouin-looking outdoor terrace for the summer. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PTJALEX

French La Crête d’Or (Золотой (Золотой гребешок гребешок)) D-4, ul. Lenina 3 ( ул ( ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 3), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 32 04. The name suggests it is the highest cock, but somehow that sounds a bit too coarse  for this fine and refined restaurant. Expect softly spoken men in black roll-neck skivvies peru sing a menu that is too good to be translated into English (you’ll have to read it in Russian or French, darling). Both kitchen and waitstaff are

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minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Независимости , 25), tel. (+375 29) 677 79 99. A  Независимости, veritable aircraft hangar lies behind th e innocuous frontage of this splendid addition to the delights of the Belarusian capital. A predominantly booth-seated affair with lots of  wood panelling and posters of pre-wa pre-warr American film heartthrobs on the walls, there’s a bit of everything for everyone in here. The kitchen churns out a range of staples including  chicken wings and squid whilst the bar packs both draught  Guinness and Pilsner Urquell. Aimed at a 30-something crowd although attracting plenty more besides, there’s also live music every night from 21:00. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 03:00. PAUEX

Grunwald Café (Грунвальд (Грунвальд кафе) кафе ) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 19 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 19), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 210 42 55/(+375 29) 177 56 90. A half-hearted at tempt to cash in on the greatest  battle of medieval Europe. The food is a bit pricey and the atmosphere is nothing special, so other than the suit of armour  by the door and some photographs of modern-day enthusiasts pretending to be medieval, it actually lacks an outstanding  appeal. Outdoor seating on a relatively quiet stree t is a bonus during the summer. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 02:00, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. PJABKXSW

Kabab-Zhi (Кабаб (Кабаб--Жи Жи)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 71 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 71), MAkademia Nauk

Atelier ((Ателье Ателье ) C-3, ul. Melnikaite 4 ( ул ( ул . Мельникайте,, 4) MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Мельникайте (Фрунзенская). ). (+375 17) 203 77 26. This brand new restaurant complete with large photographs of famous chefs on the walls comes with a dressmaking theme as the name suggests and is well worth a visit. The menu features a wealth of classic dishes from the kitchens of Europe including a great menu of grilled meats as well as a b etter than average wine list. Don’t eat too much though or you’ll miss the mouth-watering  Zaher cake, claimed by those who’ve tried it to be as good as any you’ll ever come across. All in all, excellent value dining of the highest standard. QOpen 08:00 - 02:00.

PTJHALEBKS

El Pomidoro (Эль (Эль Помидоро Помидоро)) E-3, ul. Kirova 6 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова,, 6), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Кирова (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 10 20/(+375 29) 702 02 07, fax (+375 17) 200 65 51. The Tomato is a busy restaurant near the train station that’s one step up from fast food. Ask for El Menu and then order El Pizza or El Salad. It’s hardly spectacular but decent  enough to fill an undiscerning hole. Kebabs and breakfast are also served. Expect a 15-20 minute wait during the lunchtime rush. Also at Krasnaya 23, Bogdanovicha 102, Nezavisimosti 83. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. PJAUGBS

Gostiny Dvor (Гостиный (Гостиный Двор Двор)) D-3, ul. Sovetskaya 17 ( ул  ул.. Советская Советская,, 17), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 328 64 17. A recommended cellar  Ленина), restaurant complete with knights in armour, painted ceilings and waitresses in green waistcoats, the food, a favourite among diplomats and wealthy wedding parties, is excellent  albeit a little pricey. Recommended comes the Belarusia Belarusian n

Minsk In Your Po cket

German Westfalia (Вестфалия (Вестфалия)) Gazety Pravda pr. 11 (просп просп.. Газеты Правда Правда,, 11), tel. (+375 17) 270 57 27/ (+375 29) 172 00 00. A perfect escape from the overbearing atmosphere found elsewhere in the city, the restaurant  attached to the IBB centre offers excellent, fresh food, a soft, modern interior and an overall unpretentious dining experience. The German chef cooks up a variety of both German and international fare. Try the Zurich veal or th e specialit y, pike perch Papillote style. Live jazz is performed on Friday evenings, instrumental music on Saturdays and Sundays. Also note that  the breakfast buffet here may be the best in town. QOpen 07:30 - 23:00. PTA6ULEGBXSW

Indian Taj (Тадж ( Тадж)) C-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 26 ( ул  ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 26), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 44) 711 11 10, fax (+375 17) 306 29 61. Opened to much blowing of trumpets, Taj is by all accounts a welcome addition to Minsk’s ever growing  and ever improving restaurant scene. Bright, understated and modern with plent y of Indian touches, an Indian ndian chef oversees the preparation of a good choice of food, some cooked in a tandoor oven plus a few vegetarian options as well. There’s an authentic Indian dance group during the weekends too, to really spice up the evening. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

PTAUBXSW

PTAVBSW

№1) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 33 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 33), tel. (+375 17) 222 27 07. Once you’ve finally figured out how to get through the front door you’ll wish you’d bought a torch. Illuminated by  a handful of scrawny red lightbulbs to give atmosphere but  really just to disorientate and make you bang your shins on things, the main draw here are the hookahs. The concept, so the website says, is to bring like-minded people together  over a bubbling smoke and, well, that’s the end of the concept really. Also on offer is a limited range of drinks and light  refreshments.QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08 :00 - 02:00, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. Kalyannaya # 1 (Кальянная (Кальянная

Lozhki (Ложки ( Ложки)) D-4, ul. Komsomolskaya 34 ( ул Комсомольская Комсомольская,, 34), tel. (+375 17) 227 07 72. Deliciously silly, this quirky and fun café-restaurant  is littered with spoons ( lozhki ) on the walls and ceiling. A former much-loved café, it’s now home to a range of  international dishes including the usual selection of grilled

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

RESTAURANTS

Gosti (Гости (Гости)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25 (просп ( просп..

International

meat and I talian offerings. offerings. The waiters speak English and there’s rooms for those who smoke and those who don’t. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

tel. (+375 29) 620 05 11. Everything in this must-see place refers to cars and racing, from the extraordinary range of  vehicle-related paraphernalia to the recommended menu  featuring dishes with names such as the Lamborghini Diablo and Ferrari Maranello pizzas and the Spaghetti Barichello. There’s a big screen showing F1 and other major racing events plus the occasional wacky competition like inviting diners to eat spaghetti against the clock with spanners spanners.. Dedicated to the time-honoured worship of the automobile, Garage is more than just the sum of its gimmicky décor and does a great job in the kitchen. The all-male staff are young, friendly  and several speak English. The fabulous Garage is located in two locations in the city but the theme is pretty much the same in both. Also at Mogilevskaya 12a. QOpen 24 hours.

RESTAURANTS casserole, the ideal accompaniment to the live music that  generally livens things up during the weekend. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PJALEXS

(Академия Академиянаук наук), ), tel. (+375 17) 292 02 08/(+375 29) 392 02 08. Featuring a total of three halls for smokers and non-smokers alike, Kabab-Zhi is remarkable in that it offers a bizarre albeit recommende d selection of food as wide-ranging  as Indian, Italian Italian and the Lebanese. And if that’s not enough, they also try to label th emselves as a sports bar. Rare in Minsk  and recommended is the salad bar. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

Italian Bella Rosa ((Белла Белла Роса Роса)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 3 ( ул  ул.. Гикало Гикало,, 3), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Пло (Пло-щадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 53 03/ (+375 17) 284 52 55. The exemplary if somewhat  pricey kitchen in this classy establishment whisks up more than pizza and pasta, including oysters and Tuscan goulash. goulash. Also serving a few more local dishes such as an extremely good shchi , other things worth  further applause are exceptionally good focaccia and an espresso that could’ve come direct from Rome. Q Open 12:00 - 02:00. PJHALBKX

Bergamo (Бергамо (Бергамо ) A-4, ul. Kulman 37 ( ул  ул.. Кульман Кульман,, 37), tel. (+375 17) 334 45 56, fax (+375 17) 210 12 08. A well established Italian restaurant restaura nt inside a somewhat nondescript building  that’s been a favourite with staff from the Italian embassy among other for a number of years, the interior  is classy but not too ostentatious and the food has a very good reputation. The menu comes complete with a large collection of Italian favourites including  plenty of good pasta dishes and thin, crispy pizza. Q Open 10:00 - 24:00. PA6UEGXSW

Il Patio (Иль ( Иль Патио Патио)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 22), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская ), tel. (+375 17) 227 17 91. You really can’t go wrong here. Central location, friendly  prices, efficient service, cosy brick décor. What more could you possibly ask for? Formerly Patio Pizza, this popular restaurant and meeting place still serves some of the best pizza in town, although as the name change suggests, they’ve got plenty of other Italian dishes as well. It also has some of the freshest, besttasting salads in Minsk. Also at Surganova 50. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. PJAVGBXS

U Admirala ( У  ( У  Адмирала Адмирала)) B-2, Svobody pl. 8 (пл пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 8), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 53 32. Tumble down the rab bit-hole stairs for an adventure in blunderland. The re’s a rubble floor, a forest-like,   fairy-tale atmosphere, little wine barrels that have been turned into mushroom-style stools and a freaky toy rabbit  on one of the walls. Despite the wine-suggestive name, the place has a bog-standard menu with everything from simple sandwiches to proper meaty meals. Prices go up after midnight. And the c oat-check man turns into a pumpkin. Probably. QOpen 24 hours. PJAEBX

U Ratushi ( У  ( У  Ратуши ) C-4, ul. Gertsena 1 ( ул  ул.. Герцена Герцена,, 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 06 43. Set over three levels, this spacious and pleasant bar-restaurant is an excellent place for a meal af ter an exhausting day walking around Minsk’s blister-inducingly  long streets. The diverse menu is a notch above average and throws everything from chicken masala to Thai stir    fry to steak au poivre into the mix. There’s also a good selection of beers, while local bands churn out bland pop tunes and jazz most evenings. Booking during the weekends is highly recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.

PJAEX

Vostochny Express ((Восточный Восточный экспресс ) E-3, ul. Kirova 1 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 1), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 225 62 43. A great  city centre location for a really nice-looking place complete with engraved wine glasses, the staff speak English and the menu features everything from Belarusian to Latin American. There’s a super list of cocktails too to make the food go with a bang. A VIP room is also available for private partie s. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PJAX

PAGBXS

Limoncello (Лимончелло (Лимончелло)) B-6, ul. Bogdana Khmelnitskogo 7 ( ул  ул.. Богдана Хмельницкого Хмельницкого,, 7), tel. (+375 17) 290 02 00/(+375 44) 753 34 44. In short, two floors, lounge music, World Fashion on the television and groups of  rich young women demolishing tables of expensive food and drink. A restaurant that serves borsch and sushi probably  doesn’t deserve to be called a tratorria as this place likes to call itself, but that’s of little interest to the scores of pe ople who flock here every day. We had Mexican Goulash and a pizza and thought both were ok if nothing to write home about. Smoking is upstairs, it’s a bit out of the way and is definitel y worth a visit for anyone with even a passing interest  in anthropology. QOpen 11:00 - 02:00, Mon 11:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. PJAKX

News Café (Ньюс (Ньюс Кафе Кафе)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 34 ( ул . К а р л а М а р к с а, а, 3 4 ) , M O k t y a b r s k a y a (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 78 67. The good news is that News Café has been providing quality international fare to scores of well-heeled locals and top notch  foreigners for years. Friendly English-speaking staff oversee the delivery of a feast of food including some fine pasta dishes such as the knockout tagliatelle with rabbit ragout. There’s free wireless Internet, a trendy layout and an overall laid-back feel to the place. The bad news is that because of  this it’s quite often difficult to find a seat. Reserving a table is highly recommended. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 08:00 - 24:00. PJAGBXW

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Perfetto (Перфетто (Перфетто)) D-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 1 ( ул ( ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 28 99/ (+375 29) 607 99 99. A doorman in a suit ushers customers into this moderately classy affair. The pizzas are excellent, although the pasta and salads are poor imitations of what they purport to be despite being served up on fancy crockery. The best  reason to come is to watch the local posers hard at it. The barman helps the atmosphere along with his well-rehearsed cocktail bottle-flipping routine. Q Open 12:00 - 24:00. PJABXSW

Olivye (Оливье ( Оливье)) C-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 27 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 27), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 203 93 55/(+375 29) 639 93 55. First  of all, top marks for finding us a table when they were fully  booked. Second, top marks for the food. One could easily  overlook this place, thinking it one of a crowd of mediocre affairs in town, and that, judging from the food we ate, would be a mistake. A good steak, a better-than-average Greek  salad and an exemplary vegetarian lasagne all passed with  flying colours, plus there’s plenty more on offer including  pasta, sushi and the intriguingly named Salad Olivye USSR with Doctor’s Sausage. Even better, they work around the clock. An excellent city centre choice. QOpen 24 hours.

PTJHALEBKS

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RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS casserole, the ideal accompaniment to the live music that  generally livens things up during the weekend. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. PJALEXS

Gosti (Гости (Гости)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25 (просп ( просп.. Независимости , 25), tel. (+375 29) 677 79 99. A  Независимости, veritable aircraft hangar lies behind th e innocuous frontage of this splendid addition to the delights of the Belarusian capital. A predominantly booth-seated affair with lots of  wood panelling and posters of pre-wa pre-warr American film heartthrobs on the walls, there’s a bit of everything for everyone in here. The kitchen churns out a range of staples including  chicken wings and squid whilst the bar packs both draught  Guinness and Pilsner Urquell. Aimed at a 30-something crowd although attracting plenty more besides, there’s also live music every night from 21:00. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 03:00. PAUEX

Grunwald Café (Грунвальд (Грунвальд кафе) кафе ) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 19 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 19), MKupalovskaya (Купаловская Купаловская), ), tel. (+375 17) 210 42 55/(+375 29) 177 56 90. A half-hearted at tempt to cash in on the greatest  battle of medieval Europe. The food is a bit pricey and the atmosphere is nothing special, so other than the suit of armour  by the door and some photographs of modern-day enthusiasts pretending to be medieval, it actually lacks an outstanding  appeal. Outdoor seating on a relatively quiet stree t is a bonus during the summer. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 02:00, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. PJABKXSW

Kabab-Zhi (Кабаб (Кабаб--Жи Жи)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 71 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 71), MAkademia Nauk

International Atelier ((Ателье Ателье ) C-3, ul. Melnikaite 4 ( ул ( ул . Мельникайте,, 4) MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Мельникайте (Фрунзенская). ). (+375 17) 203 77 26. This brand new restaurant complete with large photographs of famous chefs on the walls comes with a dressmaking theme as the name suggests and is well worth a visit. The menu features a wealth of classic dishes from the kitchens of Europe including a great menu of grilled meats as well as a b etter than average wine list. Don’t eat too much though or you’ll miss the mouth-watering  Zaher cake, claimed by those who’ve tried it to be as good as any you’ll ever come across. All in all, excellent value dining of the highest standard. QOpen 08:00 - 02:00.

PTJHALEBKS

El Pomidoro (Эль (Эль Помидоро Помидоро)) E-3, ul. Kirova 6 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова,, 6), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Кирова (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 10 20/(+375 29) 702 02 07, fax (+375 17) 200 65 51. The Tomato is a busy restaurant near the train station that’s one step up from fast food. Ask for El Menu and then order El Pizza or El Salad. It’s hardly spectacular but decent  enough to fill an undiscerning hole. Kebabs and breakfast are also served. Expect a 15-20 minute wait during the lunchtime rush. Also at Krasnaya 23, Bogdanovicha 102, Nezavisimosti 83. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. PJAUGBS

Gostiny Dvor (Гостиный (Гостиный Двор Двор)) D-3, ul. Sovetskaya 17 ( ул  ул.. Советская Советская,, 17), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 328 64 17. A recommended cellar  Ленина), restaurant complete with knights in armour, painted ceilings and waitresses in green waistcoats, the food, a favourite among diplomats and wealthy wedding parties, is excellent  albeit a little pricey. Recommended comes the Belarusia Belarusian n

(Академия Академиянаук наук), ), tel. (+375 17) 292 02 08/(+375 29) 392 02 08. Featuring a total of three halls for smokers and non-smokers alike, Kabab-Zhi is remarkable in that it offers a bizarre albeit recommende d selection of food as wide-ranging  as Indian, Italian Italian and the Lebanese. And if that’s not enough, they also try to label th emselves as a sports bar. Rare in Minsk  and recommended is the salad bar. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.

щадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 53 03/ (+375 17) 284 52 55. The exemplary if somewhat  pricey kitchen in this classy establishment whisks up more than pizza and pasta, including oysters and Tuscan goulash. goulash. Also serving a few more local dishes such as an extremely good shchi , other things worth  further applause are exceptionally good focaccia and an espresso that could’ve come direct from Rome. Q Open 12:00 - 02:00. PJHALBKX

Bergamo (Бергамо (Бергамо ) A-4, ul. Kulman 37 ( ул  ул.. Кульман Кульман,, 37), tel. (+375 17) 334 45 56, fax (+375 17) 210 12 08. A well established Italian restaurant restaura nt inside a somewhat nondescript building  that’s been a favourite with staff from the Italian embassy among other for a number of years, the interior  is classy but not too ostentatious and the food has a very good reputation. The menu comes complete with a large collection of Italian favourites including  plenty of good pasta dishes and thin, crispy pizza. Q Open 10:00 - 24:00. PA6UEGXSW

Il Patio (Иль ( Иль Патио Патио)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 22), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская ), tel. (+375 17) 227 17 91. You really can’t go wrong here. Central location, friendly  prices, efficient service, cosy brick décor. What more could you possibly ask for? Formerly Patio Pizza, this popular restaurant and meeting place still serves some of the best pizza in town, although as the name change suggests, they’ve got plenty of other Italian dishes as well. It also has some of the freshest, besttasting salads in Minsk. Also at Surganova 50. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. PJAVGBXS

Limoncello (Лимончелло (Лимончелло)) B-6, ul. Bogdana Khmelnitskogo 7 ( ул  ул.. Богдана Хмельницкого Хмельницкого,, 7), tel. (+375 17) 290 02 00/(+375 44) 753 34 44. In short, two floors, lounge music, World Fashion on the television and groups of  rich young women demolishing tables of expensive food and drink. A restaurant that serves borsch and sushi probably  doesn’t deserve to be called a tratorria as this place likes to call itself, but that’s of little interest to the scores of pe ople who flock here every day. We had Mexican Goulash and a pizza and thought both were ok if nothing to write home about. Smoking is upstairs, it’s a bit out of the way and is definitel y worth a visit for anyone with even a passing interest  in anthropology. QOpen 11:00 - 02:00, Mon 11:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. PJAKX

Byblos (Библос (Библос)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 21 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 21), M Oktyabrskaya (Октярьская Октярьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 289 12 18, solimart@ bn.by. A bright, busy, noisy kebab house where you can fill your belly without emptying your wallet. Along with the kebab and salad plates you can get a decently priced chicken shawarma  with French fries and chichtawook (chicken legs), among many other goodies. Also at Karla Marxa 10. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. JA

Middle-Eastern Kasbar (Касбар ( Касбар)) E-3, ul. Vokzalnaya 23 ( ул ( ул . Вокзальная , 23), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 29) 666 36 05, fax (+375 17) Ленина), 200 25 91. Kudos to this Syrian-themed restaurant for its bubbly atmosphere and colourful, Arabian-inspired décor. The menu is heavy on shashlyk , the staple fallback for  any Minsk restaurant with an Oriental theme. That’s not  to say there’s anything wrong with it. The main attraction is the loud belly dancing show that happens in the dining room. You might as well sit back and enjoy it, a small charge has already been added to your bill for the pleasure. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. PAEXS

Pizza Amsterdam ((Амстердам Амстердам)) C-2, ul. Kalvariyskaya 24 ( ул  ул.. Кальварийская Кальварийская,, 24), MMolodezhnaya (Молодеж (Молодеж-ная), tel. (+375 17) 226 51 19. A perfectly adequate if  ная), hardly outstanding little place inside the Korona shopping  centre, Amsterdam probably serves more pizza than any thing  else although there’s plenty of other dishes on the menu. A good enough place for filling food for a decent price without the frills. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00. PTAXS

Peperoni ((Пеперони Пеперони)) ul. Tsentralnaya 9 ( ул ( ул . Центральная,, 9), MAvtozavodskaya (Автозаводская Центральная (Автозаводская), ), tel. (+375 17) 242 89 79. A classic diner-style pizza place with bright orange seating, a children’s menu and even a few cocktails. We haven’t tried the pizza so will reserve judgement  until we do. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. AUXSW

Tempo (Темпо (Темпо)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 78 ( просп просп.. Независимости, 78), tel. (+375 17) 284 04 92/ Независимости, (+375 17) 255 84 83. The name says it all. This is a  fast-paced ast-paced pizza joint popular with students from the nearby  university building. Small, packed and highly recommended. Also at Pobediteley 89, Lobanka 94, Marxa 9, Gromova 20, Nezavisimosti 78, Ya Yakuba kuba Kolasa 37. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. NBS

Tapas Tapas Bar (Тапас (Тапас Бар Бар)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 9 ( ул ( ул.. Интернациональная Интернациональная,, 9), MNemiga (Немига Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 203 11 27. Right across the street from one of the city’s iconic, Stalin-era cinemas, if you’re in town and you’re looking for generously  proportione d tapas or paella, this might might be just the ticket. A simple and stylish cantina-like décor provides the backdrop whilst the drinks menu features a number of  classic favourites plus the usual wine and beer. The staff  are friendly and, unusual for Minsk, knowledgeable. The Belarusian capital would be a slightly worse place for its absence. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. JAGXSW

Minsk In Your Po cket

328 53 32. Tumble down the rab bit-hole stairs for an adventure in blunderland. The re’s a rubble floor, a forest-like,   fairy-tale atmosphere, little wine barrels that have been turned into mushroom-style stools and a freaky toy rabbit  on one of the walls. Despite the wine-suggestive name, the place has a bog-standard menu with everything from simple sandwiches to proper meaty meals. Prices go up after midnight. And the c oat-check man turns into a pumpkin. Probably. QOpen 24 hours. PJAEBX

U Ratushi ( У  ( У  Ратуши ) C-4, ul. Gertsena 1 ( ул  ул.. Герцена Герцена,, 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 06 43. Set over three levels, this spacious and pleasant bar-restaurant is an excellent place for a meal af ter an exhausting day walking around Minsk’s blister-inducingly  long streets. The diverse menu is a notch above average and throws everything from chicken masala to Thai stir    fry to steak au poivre into the mix. There’s also a good selection of beers, while local bands churn out bland pop tunes and jazz most evenings. Booking during the weekends is highly recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.

PJAEX

Vostochny Express ((Восточный Восточный экспресс ) E-3, ul. Kirova 1 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 1), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 225 62 43. A great  city centre location for a really nice-looking place complete with engraved wine glasses, the staff speak English and the menu features everything from Belarusian to Latin American. There’s a super list of cocktails too to make the food go with a bang. A VIP room is also available for private partie s. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PJAX

News Café (Ньюс (Ньюс Кафе Кафе)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 34 ( ул . К а р л а М а р к с а, а, 3 4 ) , M O k t y a b r s k a y a (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 78 67. The good news is that News Café has been providing quality international fare to scores of well-heeled locals and top notch  foreigners for years. Friendly English-speaking staff oversee the delivery of a feast of food including some fine pasta dishes such as the knockout tagliatelle with rabbit ragout. There’s free wireless Internet, a trendy layout and an overall laid-back feel to the place. The bad news is that because of  this it’s quite often difficult to find a seat. Reserving a table is highly recommended. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 08:00 - 24:00. PJAGBXW

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Perfetto (Перфетто (Перфетто)) D-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 1 ( ул ( ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 28 99/ (+375 29) 607 99 99. A doorman in a suit ushers customers into this moderately classy affair. The pizzas are excellent, although the pasta and salads are poor imitations of what they purport to be despite being served up on fancy crockery. The best  reason to come is to watch the local posers hard at it. The barman helps the atmosphere along with his well-rehearsed cocktail bottle-flipping routine. Q Open 12:00 - 24:00. PJABXSW

Olivye (Оливье ( Оливье)) C-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 27 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 27), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 203 93 55/(+375 29) 639 93 55. First  of all, top marks for finding us a table when they were fully  booked. Second, top marks for the food. One could easily  overlook this place, thinking it one of a crowd of mediocre affairs in town, and that, judging from the food we ate, would be a mistake. A good steak, a better-than-average Greek  salad and an exemplary vegetarian lasagne all passed with  flying colours, plus there’s plenty more on offer including  pasta, sushi and the intriguingly named Salad Olivye USSR with Doctor’s Sausage. Even better, they work around the clock. An excellent city centre choice. QOpen 24 hours.

PTJHALEBKS

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

CAFÉS

RESTAURANTS Kebabs

U Admirala ( У  ( У  Адмирала Адмирала)) B-2, Svobody pl. 8 (пл пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 8), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17)

PAGBXS

Minsk In Your Po cket

24

Italian Bella Rosa ((Белла Белла Роса Роса)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 3 ( ул  ул.. Гикало Гикало,, 3), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Пло (Пло--

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Ukrainian

AirGrip (Эйр ( Эйр Грип Грип)) D-4, ul. Komsomolskaya 19 ( ул  ул.. Комсомольская Комсомольская,, 19), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel.

Chumatsky Shlyakh (Чумацький (Чумацький шлях шлях))

(+375 17) 328 37 93. There’s a definite Italian-ness to Air  Grip. After all, it has the same owners as the Voglia Matta restaurant. The emphasis here, though, is on ice-cream and cakes. A strangely attractive place that attracts a diverse crowd. QOpen 10:00 - 03:00. PAGBXSW

D-3, ul. Myasnikova 34 ( ул ( ул.. Мясникова Мясникова,, 34), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 29) 190 77 77, [email protected]. The rather  over-the-top folksy atmosphere in no way impin ges on what’s one of the best places to eat peasant food in the city. Set out on two floors, the real magic here can be found inside the kitchen. Choosing what to eat can be difficult as it’s a big menu and it’s all good. Recommended are either of the two offerings of borsch, the vareniki and the potato pancakes. There’s several vodkas to help it all down too, and a rather marvellous photograph of happy factory workers just on the right as you enter. Highly recommended, espe cially for  those eating in groups. In a word, magnificent. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PJAULBXSW

Banana Café (Банана (Банана Кафе) Кафе) C-4, ul. Storozhovskaya 7 ( ул ( ул.. Сторожевская , 7), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel./fax (+375 17) 285 50 79. It’s certainly bent, but more bruised-banana brown than happy-smiley yellow. We don’t  know what goes on behind the mirrored VIP door downstairs, but upstairs is a dark café with a litter of wooden cottage-style tables and chairs. Twigs on the ceiling add a rustic, fire-hazard charm. It looks like there’s a nice outdoor seating area, but  it wasn’t being used when we visited in May. No menus in English, and we don’t know if the staff speak Engli sh because they didn’t bother to actually serve us. QOpen 10:00 - 05:00.

PAIEBXS

Spanish Casa Agustin Lopez (Каса (Каса Аугустин Лопез Лопез)) C-5, ul. Zakharova 31 ( ул ( ул.. Захарова Захарова,, 31), tel. (+375 17) 233 95 84/(+375 17) 177 77 55. They’ve packed in all manner of Spanish clichés but fortunately have stopped short of wearing silly costumes or charging like wounded bulls. The food is mildly authentic, reasonably priced and quite pleasing for us gringo types. The menu is in English and has pictures for the linguistically or culinarily challenged. Flamenco and Salsa parties fire up on weekend evenings. QOpen 12:00 - 03:00. PALBX

Sushi Blackberry ((Блекберри Блекберри)) D-3, ul. Bersona 3 ( ул  ул.. Берсона,, 3), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Берсона (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 74 82/(+375 29) 196 89 68. Two   for the price of one. To the right find a large space for the enjoyment of international dishes to the sound of live music at the weekend, and to the left a smaller area serving fresh sushi from a Russian-only menu. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 02:00. PJHEX

Mon Café (Мон (Мон Кафе Кафе)) C-3, ul. Melnikaite 2/4 ( ул  ул.. Мельникайте,, 2/4), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Мельникайте (Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 29) 623 99 57/(+375 17) 203 99 57. It’s hard to decide whether this is really a café, a sushi bar, a nightclub or none of the above. In any case the open two  floor plan certainly makes it loud and echoey when the DJ starts cranking up the volume. Mainly it’s a hangout for  young hipsters hipsters and anyone in need of the advertised ‘most  affordabel (sic) sushi’. Indeed this is cheaper than elsewhere and a peculiarly pleasant place in an Eastern European sort of way. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 02:00.

PTA6LEBKXS

Planet Sushi (Планета (Планета Суши Суши)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 18 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 18), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 210 56 45. Clean, bright, modern, stylish and foreigner-friendly. These popular restaurants can get a bit rowdy when locals swarm in to laugh at  each other trying to use chopsticks, but generally a slick and sophisticated atmosphere prevails. Waitresses are dressed up in space-kimonos, the menu is pictographic so you can choose and point and there’s more than just sushi. One of the most foreigner-friendly outfi ts in town. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00.

PJAVGBXS

minsk inyourpo cket com

Beze Café (Безе (Безе Кафе Кафе)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 18 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 18), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 64 09. Beze bills itself as A Gallery of Sweet Masterpieces, and that’s a fairly  accurate summary of what this nice old-fashioned café is all about. It specialises in all kinds of Austrian desserts including strudels and the like. Inexpensive Belarusian meals are also served in case you feel guilty about not finishing all your  vegetables first. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 01:00.

PJAGBXS

Coffeeberry (Кофеберри (Кофеберри)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. SC “Stolitsa” (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, ТЦ “Столица Столица”), ”), tel. (+375 29) 6 177 438. A somewhat noisy, circular af fair with a glass roof inside one of the city’s best shopping  centres. As well as serving a respecta ble espresso this place also boasts a small Internet café at the top of the stairs. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00. PALGBS

they still haven’t got round to changing the branding on everything, but that doesn’t seem to matter when you’ve got free Internet access. The coffee’s ok incidentally. Also at Nezavisimosti 18 and Shopping Centre Expobel. QOpen 24 hours. PJW

Graf Café (Граф (Граф Кафе Кафе)) Nezavisimosti pr. 116, (просп (просп.. Независимости , 116), tel. (+375 17) 266 37 22/ Независимости, (+375 29) 690 62 17. Perched up high on the 22nd floor  of the National Library, this average café hosts changing  art exhibitions and sells a drinkable cup of coffee. Access is only possible with a ticket to the viewing gallery on top of the building. QOpen 13:00 - 23:00. PW

Gurman (Гурман (Гурман)) C-4 ul. Kommunisticheskaya 7 ( ул  ул.. Коммунистическая Коммунистическая,, 7), tel. (+375 17) 290 67 74. The Gourmet name is perhaps a bit of an overstatement  but we can happily overlook such hyperbole. Gurman is one of the nicest places in Minsk and would snugly fit into any  Western capital. The food is good, if not exactl y haute cuisine, and includes Indian, Italian, Belarusian and a good breakfast  menu. It’s casual, friendly and delightfully easy-going, easy-going, and  just the sort of place you’d regularly hang out at if it were in your neighbourhood. Menus are available in English. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. PW

In Vino (Ин (Ин Вино Вино)) B-4, ul. Very Khoruzhey 22 ( ул  ул.. Веры Хоружей Хоружей,, 22), tel. (+375 29) 377 00 00, fax (+375 17) 238 17 34. A pleasant modern setting with lots of cool brown shades with the chance to dine sat on a sofa, In Vino offers a good choice of international dishes alongside menus for coffee and dessert. The grilled meats are particularly talked about here. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 01:00. PALXS

Coffee Inn (Кофе (Кофе Инн Инн)) C-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 23 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 23), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 40 41/(+375 29) 199 00 99. The somewhat striking interior can be charming or hallucinogenic depending on your mood. But Coffee Inn does what any halfdecent café is supposed to, i.e. it serves a good cup of cof fee. There’s also a decent selection of cakes on offer and a curiously Russian-like tent extension where you can sit and observe the locals leisurely go about their business. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00, Fri 08:00 - 03:00, Sat 10:00 - 03:00, Sun 10:00 - 01:00. PJALEBX

FreshCafe (ФрэшКафе (ФрэшКафе)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 42 (просп просп.. Независимости , 42), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Победы Победы), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 54 04, fax (+375 17) 288 17 14. One of the better cafés in town, Fresh Café has a nice modern look to it with lots of angular  modern furniture and bright colours, plus a gaggle of young  and friendly waitresses scuttling about and keeping everyone happy with smiles glued to their faces. As well as being a recommende d place to fuel up on coffee, coffee, they also serve a few dishes from a menu of international dishes plus a few sushi options. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. PAGBS

Golden Coffee B-4, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 26 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 26), tel. (+375 44) 756 21 17. Coffee, ice cream, cocktails, light meals and scores of  people glued to their screens courtesy of the free wireless Internet connection. It used to b e called Double Coffee and

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2011

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24

CAFÉS

RESTAURANTS Kebabs Byblos (Библос (Библос)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 21 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 21), M Oktyabrskaya (Октярьская Октярьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 289 12 18, solimart@ bn.by. A bright, busy, noisy kebab house where you can fill your belly without emptying your wallet. Along with the kebab and salad plates you can get a decently priced chicken shawarma  with French fries and chichtawook (chicken legs), among many other goodies. Also at Karla Marxa 10. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. JA

Middle-Eastern Kasbar (Касбар ( Касбар)) E-3, ul. Vokzalnaya 23 ( ул ( ул . Вокзальная , 23), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 29) 666 36 05, fax (+375 17) Ленина), 200 25 91. Kudos to this Syrian-themed restaurant for its bubbly atmosphere and colourful, Arabian-inspired décor. The menu is heavy on shashlyk , the staple fallback for  any Minsk restaurant with an Oriental theme. That’s not  to say there’s anything wrong with it. The main attraction is the loud belly dancing show that happens in the dining room. You might as well sit back and enjoy it, a small charge has already been added to your bill for the pleasure. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00. PAEXS

Pizza Amsterdam ((Амстердам Амстердам)) C-2, ul. Kalvariyskaya 24 ( ул  ул.. Кальварийская Кальварийская,, 24), MMolodezhnaya (Молодеж (Молодеж-ная), tel. (+375 17) 226 51 19. A perfectly adequate if  ная), hardly outstanding little place inside the Korona shopping  centre, Amsterdam probably serves more pizza than any thing  else although there’s plenty of other dishes on the menu. A good enough place for filling food for a decent price without the frills. QOpen 09:00 - 01:00. PTAXS

Peperoni ((Пеперони Пеперони)) ul. Tsentralnaya 9 ( ул ( ул . Центральная,, 9), MAvtozavodskaya (Автозаводская Центральная (Автозаводская), ), tel. (+375 17) 242 89 79. A classic diner-style pizza place with bright orange seating, a children’s menu and even a few cocktails. We haven’t tried the pizza so will reserve judgement  until we do. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. AUXSW

Tempo (Темпо (Темпо)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 78 ( просп просп.. Независимости, 78), tel. (+375 17) 284 04 92/ Независимости, (+375 17) 255 84 83. The name says it all. This is a  fast-paced ast-paced pizza joint popular with students from the nearby  university building. Small, packed and highly recommended. Also at Pobediteley 89, Lobanka 94, Marxa 9, Gromova 20, Nezavisimosti 78, Ya Yakuba kuba Kolasa 37. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. NBS

Tapas Tapas Bar (Тапас (Тапас Бар Бар)) D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 9 ( ул ( ул.. Интернациональная Интернациональная,, 9), MNemiga (Немига Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 203 11 27. Right across the street from one of the city’s iconic, Stalin-era cinemas, if you’re in town and you’re looking for generously  proportione d tapas or paella, this might might be just the ticket. A simple and stylish cantina-like décor provides the backdrop whilst the drinks menu features a number of  classic favourites plus the usual wine and beer. The staff  are friendly and, unusual for Minsk, knowledgeable. The Belarusian capital would be a slightly worse place for its absence. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. JAGXSW

Ukrainian

AirGrip (Эйр ( Эйр Грип Грип)) D-4, ul. Komsomolskaya 19 ( ул  ул.. Комсомольская Комсомольская,, 19), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel.

Chumatsky Shlyakh (Чумацький (Чумацький шлях шлях))

(+375 17) 328 37 93. There’s a definite Italian-ness to Air  Grip. After all, it has the same owners as the Voglia Matta restaurant. The emphasis here, though, is on ice-cream and cakes. A strangely attractive place that attracts a diverse crowd. QOpen 10:00 - 03:00. PAGBXSW

D-3, ul. Myasnikova 34 ( ул ( ул.. Мясникова Мясникова,, 34), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 29) 190 77 77, [email protected]. The rather  over-the-top folksy atmosphere in no way impin ges on what’s one of the best places to eat peasant food in the city. Set out on two floors, the real magic here can be found inside the kitchen. Choosing what to eat can be difficult as it’s a big menu and it’s all good. Recommended are either of the two offerings of borsch, the vareniki and the potato pancakes. There’s several vodkas to help it all down too, and a rather marvellous photograph of happy factory workers just on the right as you enter. Highly recommended, espe cially for  those eating in groups. In a word, magnificent. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. PJAULBXSW

tel./fax (+375 17) 285 50 79. It’s certainly bent, but more bruised-banana brown than happy-smiley yellow. We don’t  know what goes on behind the mirrored VIP door downstairs, but upstairs is a dark café with a litter of wooden cottage-style tables and chairs. Twigs on the ceiling add a rustic, fire-hazard charm. It looks like there’s a nice outdoor seating area, but  it wasn’t being used when we visited in May. No menus in English, and we don’t know if the staff speak Engli sh because they didn’t bother to actually serve us. QOpen 10:00 - 05:00.

PAIEBXS

Spanish Casa Agustin Lopez (Каса (Каса Аугустин Лопез Лопез)) C-5, ul. Zakharova 31 ( ул ( ул.. Захарова Захарова,, 31), tel. (+375 17) 233 95 84/(+375 17) 177 77 55. They’ve packed in all manner of Spanish clichés but fortunately have stopped short of wearing silly costumes or charging like wounded bulls. The food is mildly authentic, reasonably priced and quite pleasing for us gringo types. The menu is in English and has pictures for the linguistically or culinarily challenged. Flamenco and Salsa parties fire up on weekend evenings. QOpen 12:00 - 03:00. PALBX

Sushi Blackberry ((Блекберри Блекберри)) D-3, ul. Bersona 3 ( ул  ул.. Берсона,, 3), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Берсона (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 74 82/(+375 29) 196 89 68. Two   for the price of one. To the right find a large space for the enjoyment of international dishes to the sound of live music at the weekend, and to the left a smaller area serving fresh sushi from a Russian-only menu. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 02:00. PJHEX

Mon Café (Мон (Мон Кафе Кафе)) C-3, ul. Melnikaite 2/4 ( ул  ул.. Мельникайте,, 2/4), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Мельникайте (Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 29) 623 99 57/(+375 17) 203 99 57. It’s hard to decide whether this is really a café, a sushi bar, a nightclub or none of the above. In any case the open two  floor plan certainly makes it loud and echoey when the DJ starts cranking up the volume. Mainly it’s a hangout for  young hipsters hipsters and anyone in need of the advertised ‘most  affordabel (sic) sushi’. Indeed this is cheaper than elsewhere and a peculiarly pleasant place in an Eastern European sort of way. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 02:00.

PTA6LEBKXS

Planet Sushi (Планета (Планета Суши Суши)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 18 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 18), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 210 56 45. Clean, bright, modern, stylish and foreigner-friendly. These popular restaurants can get a bit rowdy when locals swarm in to laugh at  each other trying to use chopsticks, but generally a slick and sophisticated atmosphere prevails. Waitresses are dressed up in space-kimonos, the menu is pictographic so you can choose and point and there’s more than just sushi. One of the most foreigner-friendly outfi ts in town. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00.

PJAVGBXS

Minsk In Your Po cket

26

Banana Café (Банана (Банана Кафе) Кафе) C-4, ul. Storozhovskaya 7 ( ул ( ул.. Сторожевская , 7), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ),

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Beze Café (Безе (Безе Кафе Кафе)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 18 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 18), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 64 09. Beze bills itself as A Gallery of Sweet Masterpieces, and that’s a fairly  accurate summary of what this nice old-fashioned café is all about. It specialises in all kinds of Austrian desserts including strudels and the like. Inexpensive Belarusian meals are also served in case you feel guilty about not finishing all your  vegetables first. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 01:00.

PJAGBXS

Coffeeberry (Кофеберри (Кофеберри)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. SC “Stolitsa” (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, ТЦ “Столица Столица”), ”), tel. (+375 29) 6 177 438. A somewhat noisy, circular af fair with a glass roof inside one of the city’s best shopping  centres. As well as serving a respecta ble espresso this place also boasts a small Internet café at the top of the stairs. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00. PALGBS

they still haven’t got round to changing the branding on everything, but that doesn’t seem to matter when you’ve got free Internet access. The coffee’s ok incidentally. Also at Nezavisimosti 18 and Shopping Centre Expobel. QOpen 24 hours. PJW

Graf Café (Граф (Граф Кафе Кафе)) Nezavisimosti pr. 116, (просп (просп.. Независимости , 116), tel. (+375 17) 266 37 22/ Независимости, (+375 29) 690 62 17. Perched up high on the 22nd floor  of the National Library, this average café hosts changing  art exhibitions and sells a drinkable cup of coffee. Access is only possible with a ticket to the viewing gallery on top of the building. QOpen 13:00 - 23:00. PW

Gurman (Гурман (Гурман)) C-4 ul. Kommunisticheskaya 7 ( ул  ул.. Коммунистическая Коммунистическая,, 7), tel. (+375 17) 290 67 74. The Gourmet name is perhaps a bit of an overstatement  but we can happily overlook such hyperbole. Gurman is one of the nicest places in Minsk and would snugly fit into any  Western capital. The food is good, if not exactl y haute cuisine, and includes Indian, Italian, Belarusian and a good breakfast  menu. It’s casual, friendly and delightfully easy-going, easy-going, and  just the sort of place you’d regularly hang out at if it were in your neighbourhood. Menus are available in English. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. PW

In Vino (Ин (Ин Вино Вино)) B-4, ul. Very Khoruzhey 22 ( ул  ул.. Веры Хоружей Хоружей,, 22), tel. (+375 29) 377 00 00, fax (+375 17) 238 17 34. A pleasant modern setting with lots of cool brown shades with the chance to dine sat on a sofa, In Vino offers a good choice of international dishes alongside menus for coffee and dessert. The grilled meats are particularly talked about here. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 01:00. PALXS

Coffee Inn (Кофе (Кофе Инн Инн)) C-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 23 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная, 23), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 40 41/(+375 29) 199 00 99. The somewhat striking interior can be charming or hallucinogenic depending on your mood. But Coffee Inn does what any halfdecent café is supposed to, i.e. it serves a good cup of cof fee. There’s also a decent selection of cakes on offer and a curiously Russian-like tent extension where you can sit and observe the locals leisurely go about their business. QOpen 08:00 - 01:00, Fri 08:00 - 03:00, Sat 10:00 - 03:00, Sun 10:00 - 01:00. PJALEBX

FreshCafe (ФрэшКафе (ФрэшКафе)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 42 (просп просп.. Независимости , 42), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Победы Победы), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 54 04, fax (+375 17) 288 17 14. One of the better cafés in town, Fresh Café has a nice modern look to it with lots of angular  modern furniture and bright colours, plus a gaggle of young  and friendly waitresses scuttling about and keeping everyone happy with smiles glued to their faces. As well as being a recommende d place to fuel up on coffee, coffee, they also serve a few dishes from a menu of international dishes plus a few sushi options. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. PAGBS

Golden Coffee B-4, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 26 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 26), tel. (+375 44) 756 21 17. Coffee, ice cream, cocktails, light meals and scores of  people glued to their screens courtesy of the free wireless Internet connection. It used to b e called Double Coffee and

minsk.inyourpocket.com

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NIGHTLIFE

CAFÉS Kokos (Кокос (Кокос)) ul. Babushkina 60a ( ул  ул.. Бабушкина Бабушкина,, 60а), tel. (+375 29) 350 00 20. Functioning as both a 60а café and a place to pick up a wide range of dishes from grilled meat to pretty good pizza to sushi, the interior of  Kokos has a fun, colourful feel to it. There’s also a salad bar and a good value business lunch. QOpen 24 hours.

ing. There’s French press coffees, plenty of teas (including  authentic mate ) and a few snacks. A waitress who looks like an 18-year-old Nana Mouskouri may try to seduce you into something quichey, but we suggest you don’t go if  you’re hungry. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00.

J6ENGBW

PTALVBXS

La Crête d’Or Café (Кофейня ( Кофейня Золотой гребешок)) D-4, ul. Lenina 3 ( ул гребешок  ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 3), tel. (+375 29) 105 05 03. Right next door to the superb French restaurant of the same name, don’t expect any thing even vaguely resembling a French café though. La Crête d’Or is a pleasant but rather nondescript little place which does a good cup of coffee and a nice selection of gunk-filled pastries and cakes. The best thing it has going for it is its location on one of Minsk’s most attracti ve streets. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00. PJAS

London (Лондон (Лондон)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 18 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 18), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 289 15 29. Once you see past the mountains of London souvenirs at this cheerful little café, you’ll notice it has two narrow levels, it’s decorated with red paint, and it  has a spiral staircase at the back. Drop in for a quick cup of  coffee from Guatemala or head upstairs to lounge ou t. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00. PJNBW

Stary Mensk (Старый (Старый Менск Менск)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 14 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 14), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 289 14 00. The size of a tea chest and intricately decorated with all sorts of old coffee tins, mysterious bottles and labels stuck to the tables so you think you’re eating off a well travelled person’s suitcase. It’s all very nice with an intimate elbows-in feel-

Nightlife options in Minsk are diverse, friendly and at times refreshingly ngly odd, making the city an excellent option for all manner of adventures after dark. Borders blur a bit, with bars being a bit like clubs and cafés turning into cabaret venues and live music striking up in the most unlikely places. The streets are safe and the taxis are cheap. There’s really no excuse for not having a good night out.

Teatro Café C-4, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 6 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 6), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 334 13 52/(+375 29) 355 70 77. A sprawling  venue with a decidedly industrial feel to it, there’s plenty on the walls and the furniture to keep the eyes occupied whilst  you drink decent coffee or order something a little stronger. There’s also a small menu of food including Italian and Japanese to stave off the hunger.

Zelyonaya Polyana (Зеленая (Зеленая поляна поляна)) C-2, ul. Kalvariyskaya 17 ( ул  ул.. Кальварийская Кальварийская,, 17), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская (Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 29) 103 27 77, www.poliana.by.A recommended café and restaurant serving a good mix of internationa internationall dishes, this centrally located establishment also offers billiards and has something of a reputation as one of the top places in the cit y for karaoke. The aforementioned menu contains a bit of everything from grilled meat to pizza. QOpen 24 hours. PALVEXSW

Bars Barin (Барин (Барин)) Pobediteley pr. 17 (просп ( просп.. Побе Побе-дителей,, 17), M Nemiga (Немига дителей ( Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 44 01/(+375 29) 348 24 22, fax (+375 17) 203 09 69. Close to the Planeta hotel a little bit of a way  out of the city centre, Barin is essentially a café-bar with  food on the menu offering a truly authentic vision of Belarus without the tourist trimmings. trimmings. A little bit bling and laid out on two floors, it’s dark and moody in here and of ten full of people with large bank accounts. There’s also a small VIP room complete with a grand old fireplace. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.

PAIGBXS

Bar T34 (Бар (Бар Т34) D-4, ul. Krasnoarmeyskaya 3 ( ул . Красноармейская , 3), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 768 90 73/(+375 44) 782 46 11. Named after the infamous WWII Soviet tank of  which an example can be found outside, Bar T-34 functions like so many other plac es in Minsk as both a place to eat and to drink. Made up of two underground rooms decorated with lashings of military paraphernalia, the charming waitresses come complete with saucy slogans on their T-shirts and are on hand to deliver everything from bottled Asahi beer to pancakes. The menu unfortunately remains in Russian only  and the gentleman on th e door is apt to keep riff raff out, which generally doesn’t includ e foreigners. Great for a meal or a beer  or both. QOpen 17:00 - 04:00. JABXS

Drozhzhi United (Ирландский (Ирландский паб Дрожжи Юнайтед)) D-3, ul. Sverdlova 2 ( ул Юнайтед ( ул.. Свердлова Свердлова,, 2), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 54 56/(+375 44) 700 54 56. Translating as Yeast, Drozhzhi offers familiar Irish pub surroundings to a mix of local and expat drinkers alike. There’s sport of the television, Kilkenny, Guinness and Harp on draught, booth seatin g and of  course a wealth of paraphernalia nailed to the walls. There’s also a limited menu of local and international international dishes and, so we’re reliably informed, live music at the weekends. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. PJAEBX

Gvozd (Гвоздь (Гвоздь)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 5 ( ул ( ул.. Гикало Гикало,, 5), MYakuba Kolasa (Якуба (Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 290-28-91/ (+375 29) 606-03-97. Hammers and nails (the name of the place translates as The Nail) all over the walls and one of the best selections of bottled beer within  five hours of the place, Gvozd panders to the lo cal addicts who can’t live without the constant hum of a television set  but, easily avoided, there’s plenty more on offer inside. The aforementioned bottles include Master Tmavý and Master  Zlatý, plus there’s a decent me nu of international food and live music. Great atmosphere too. Definitel y one for the pub crawl. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 02:00.

ID Bar (ID-бар (ID-бар)) С-5, ul. Zakharova 19 ( ул ( ул.. Захарова Захарова,, 19), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь (Площадь Победы Победы), ), tel. (+375 17) 293 13 96/(+375 44) 793 13 96. Mannequins as coat hangers, dangerously exposed lighting and a large evacuation plan on the wall make this place a little bit odd but worthy of further attention. The service is friendly if a little hit and miss, plus they had the audacity to run out of 

Trinity suburb at night 

Minsk In Your Po cket

Rounding things up A new custom has recently emerged in cafés, bars and restaurants in which the bill is rounded up to the nearest  1,000 rouble note. Don’t consider it a tip but rather a minuscule service charge.

SunCafe (СанКафе (СанКафе)) B-5, ul. Kuibysheva 38 ( ул  ул.. Куйбышева , 38), tel. (+375 17) 286 03 72/(+375 44) Куйбышева, 777 1 333. One of a chain of restaurants across the city  serving Italian and international dishes as well as functioning as a simple café, Sun Café is popular with students and others looking for simple food served in moder n surroundings with a professional touch. Also at Yakuba Kolasa 52, Gintovta 1, Nezavisimosti at SC “Stolitsa” and Borovaya 7. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. PAGBSW

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bottled beer before we arrived. Set in a gloomy gloomy,, L-shaped basement, ID also offers free wireless Internet, has a limited menu of pricey food and is a decent place for a decent  drink or two. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00.

PA6GBXS

Live Pub (Лайв ( Лайв Паб Паб)) D-4, ul. Komsomolskaya 34 ( ул  ул.. Комсомольская Комсомольская,, 34), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 29) 170 57 71/(+375 17) 210 58 25. They say it’s a replica of a classic Parisian beer restaurant and they also say its owners are French, but neither of these things really  matter because it looks great and by all accounts it is great. Choose from a smoking and non-smoking hall and get set to drink yourself stupid on draught beer and a long cocktail list  including such unforgettable concoc tions as Jeans with Tonic. There’s chanson over the speakers Thursday to Sunday and a menu of classic pub grub including fish and chips, chicken wings and steak in pepper sauce. Take advantage of the weekday  lunch here nine times and you’ll get the 10th one for free. Magic. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00. PIENGBXW

Moloko (Молоко (Молоко)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 37a (просп (просп.. Независимости,, 37), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Независимости (Площадь Победы ), tel. (+375 17) 284 53 99/(+375 29) 329 06 10. Board games, bottled beer and toasted sandwiches are the first impressions one gets when entering this slightly alternative bar inside the city’s small Contemporary  Arts Centre. As well as being a great place to find Englishspeaking locals wit h an interest in culture, Moloko (Milk) has a strict no-smoking policy and plays a great selection of music. Recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.

Pinta VIP ((Пинта Пинта VIP) D-3, ul. Bersona 16 ( ул  ул.. Берсона Берсона,, 16), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 289 55 55. A classic Eastern Ленина), European establishment shment that defies accurate and succinct  description, Pinta VIP celebrates Soviet art and design with the help of décor including old posters and all manner of kni ckknacks whilst pandering to a daytime crowd with a menu of  dishes including the ubiquitous sushi. There’s also a good value business lunch to be had here during the week, although we mark it out as a place for visiting in the evening when the workers have all gone home and there’s plenty of room for  some serious drinking. Also Pinta XXL at Kulman 11. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 02:00. PJLNBX

Verona Pub (Верона (Верона паб паб)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 5 ( ул ( ул.. Гикало,, 5), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь Гикало (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 331 94 81/(+375 17) 331 94 81. A dark and dingy bar located at the b ottom of   flight of stairs, Verona Pub would would probably b e overlooked were it not for the fact that they’ve got bowling lanes. The bowling  lanes in question may predate the founding of America but  that’s not the point. Genius. QOpen 12:00 - 05:00.

Clubs Afrika ((Африка Африка)) C-2, ul. Timiryazeva 9 ( ул ( ул . Тимирязева,, 9), MFrunzenskay Тимирязева Frunzenskaya a (Фрунзенская ), tel. (+375 29) 360 76 06, ww w.africaclub.by. A masterpiece

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CAFÉS Kokos (Кокос (Кокос)) ul. Babushkina 60a ( ул  ул.. Бабушкина Бабушкина,, 60а), tel. (+375 29) 350 00 20. Functioning as both a 60а café and a place to pick up a wide range of dishes from grilled meat to pretty good pizza to sushi, the interior of  Kokos has a fun, colourful feel to it. There’s also a salad bar and a good value business lunch. QOpen 24 hours.

ing. There’s French press coffees, plenty of teas (including  authentic mate ) and a few snacks. A waitress who looks like an 18-year-old Nana Mouskouri may try to seduce you into something quichey, but we suggest you don’t go if  you’re hungry. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00.

J6ENGBW

PTALVBXS

La Crête d’Or Café (Кофейня ( Кофейня Золотой гребешок)) D-4, ul. Lenina 3 ( ул гребешок  ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 3), tel. (+375 29) 105 05 03. Right next door to the superb French restaurant of the same name, don’t expect any thing even vaguely resembling a French café though. La Crête d’Or is a pleasant but rather nondescript little place which does a good cup of coffee and a nice selection of gunk-filled pastries and cakes. The best thing it has going for it is its location on one of Minsk’s most attracti ve streets. QOpen 09:00 - 24:00. PJAS

London (Лондон (Лондон)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 18 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 18), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 289 15 29. Once you see past the mountains of London souvenirs at this cheerful little café, you’ll notice it has two narrow levels, it’s decorated with red paint, and it  has a spiral staircase at the back. Drop in for a quick cup of  coffee from Guatemala or head upstairs to lounge ou t. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00. PJNBW

Stary Mensk (Старый (Старый Менск Менск)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 14 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 14), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 289 14 00. The size of a tea chest and intricately decorated with all sorts of old coffee tins, mysterious bottles and labels stuck to the tables so you think you’re eating off a well travelled person’s suitcase. It’s all very nice with an intimate elbows-in feel-

Nightlife options in Minsk are diverse, friendly and at times refreshingly ngly odd, making the city an excellent option for all manner of adventures after dark. Borders blur a bit, with bars being a bit like clubs and cafés turning into cabaret venues and live music striking up in the most unlikely places. The streets are safe and the taxis are cheap. There’s really no excuse for not having a good night out.

Rounding things up A new custom has recently emerged in cafés, bars and restaurants in which the bill is rounded up to the nearest  1,000 rouble note. Don’t consider it a tip but rather a minuscule service charge.

SunCafe (СанКафе (СанКафе)) B-5, ul. Kuibysheva 38 ( ул  ул.. Куйбышева , 38), tel. (+375 17) 286 03 72/(+375 44) Куйбышева, 777 1 333. One of a chain of restaurants across the city  serving Italian and international dishes as well as functioning as a simple café, Sun Café is popular with students and others looking for simple food served in moder n surroundings with a professional touch. Also at Yakuba Kolasa 52, Gintovta 1, Nezavisimosti at SC “Stolitsa” and Borovaya 7. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. PAGBSW

Teatro Café C-4, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 6 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 6), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 334 13 52/(+375 29) 355 70 77. A sprawling  venue with a decidedly industrial feel to it, there’s plenty on the walls and the furniture to keep the eyes occupied whilst  you drink decent coffee or order something a little stronger. There’s also a small menu of food including Italian and Japanese to stave off the hunger.

Zelyonaya Polyana (Зеленая (Зеленая поляна поляна)) C-2, ul. Kalvariyskaya 17 ( ул  ул.. Кальварийская Кальварийская,, 17), MFrunzenskaya (Фрунзенская (Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 29) 103 27 77, www.poliana.by.A recommended café and restaurant serving a good mix of internationa internationall dishes, this centrally located establishment also offers billiards and has something of a reputation as one of the top places in the cit y for karaoke. The aforementioned menu contains a bit of everything from grilled meat to pizza. QOpen 24 hours. PALVEXSW

Bars Barin (Барин (Барин)) Pobediteley pr. 17 (просп ( просп.. Побе Побе-дителей,, 17), M Nemiga (Немига дителей ( Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 209 44 01/(+375 29) 348 24 22, fax (+375 17) 203 09 69. Close to the Planeta hotel a little bit of a way  out of the city centre, Barin is essentially a café-bar with  food on the menu offering a truly authentic vision of Belarus without the tourist trimmings. trimmings. A little bit bling and laid out on two floors, it’s dark and moody in here and of ten full of people with large bank accounts. There’s also a small VIP room complete with a grand old fireplace. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.

PAIGBXS

Bar T34 (Бар (Бар Т34) D-4, ul. Krasnoarmeyskaya 3 ( ул . Красноармейская , 3), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 768 90 73/(+375 44) 782 46 11. Named after the infamous WWII Soviet tank of  which an example can be found outside, Bar T-34 functions like so many other plac es in Minsk as both a place to eat and to drink. Made up of two underground rooms decorated with lashings of military paraphernalia, the charming waitresses come complete with saucy slogans on their T-shirts and are on hand to deliver everything from bottled Asahi beer to pancakes. The menu unfortunately remains in Russian only  and the gentleman on th e door is apt to keep riff raff out, which generally doesn’t includ e foreigners. Great for a meal or a beer  or both. QOpen 17:00 - 04:00. JABXS

Drozhzhi United (Ирландский (Ирландский паб Дрожжи Юнайтед)) D-3, ul. Sverdlova 2 ( ул Юнайтед ( ул.. Свердлова Свердлова,, 2), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 54 56/(+375 44) 700 54 56. Translating as Yeast, Drozhzhi offers familiar Irish pub surroundings to a mix of local and expat drinkers alike. There’s sport of the television, Kilkenny, Guinness and Harp on draught, booth seatin g and of  course a wealth of paraphernalia nailed to the walls. There’s also a limited menu of local and international international dishes and, so we’re reliably informed, live music at the weekends. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. PJAEBX

Gvozd (Гвоздь (Гвоздь)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 5 ( ул ( ул.. Гикало Гикало,, 5), MYakuba Kolasa (Якуба (Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 290-28-91/ (+375 29) 606-03-97. Hammers and nails (the name of the place translates as The Nail) all over the walls and one of the best selections of bottled beer within  five hours of the place, Gvozd panders to the lo cal addicts who can’t live without the constant hum of a television set  but, easily avoided, there’s plenty more on offer inside. The aforementioned bottles include Master Tmavý and Master  Zlatý, plus there’s a decent me nu of international food and live music. Great atmosphere too. Definitel y one for the pub crawl. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 02:00.

ID Bar (ID-бар (ID-бар)) С-5, ul. Zakharova 19 ( ул ( ул.. Захарова Захарова,, 19), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь (Площадь Победы Победы), ), tel. (+375 17) 293 13 96/(+375 44) 793 13 96. Mannequins as coat hangers, dangerously exposed lighting and a large evacuation plan on the wall make this place a little bit odd but worthy of further attention. The service is friendly if a little hit and miss, plus they had the audacity to run out of 

Trinity suburb at night 

Minsk In Your Po cket

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bottled beer before we arrived. Set in a gloomy gloomy,, L-shaped basement, ID also offers free wireless Internet, has a limited menu of pricey food and is a decent place for a decent  drink or two. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 02:00.

PA6GBXS

Live Pub (Лайв ( Лайв Паб Паб)) D-4, ul. Komsomolskaya 34 ( ул  ул.. Комсомольская Комсомольская,, 34), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 29) 170 57 71/(+375 17) 210 58 25. They say it’s a replica of a classic Parisian beer restaurant and they also say its owners are French, but neither of these things really  matter because it looks great and by all accounts it is great. Choose from a smoking and non-smoking hall and get set to drink yourself stupid on draught beer and a long cocktail list  including such unforgettable concoc tions as Jeans with Tonic. There’s chanson over the speakers Thursday to Sunday and a menu of classic pub grub including fish and chips, chicken wings and steak in pepper sauce. Take advantage of the weekday  lunch here nine times and you’ll get the 10th one for free. Magic. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00. PIENGBXW

Moloko (Молоко (Молоко)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 37a (просп (просп.. Независимости,, 37), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Независимости (Площадь Победы ), tel. (+375 17) 284 53 99/(+375 29) 329 06 10. Board games, bottled beer and toasted sandwiches are the first impressions one gets when entering this slightly alternative bar inside the city’s small Contemporary  Arts Centre. As well as being a great place to find Englishspeaking locals wit h an interest in culture, Moloko (Milk) has a strict no-smoking policy and plays a great selection of music. Recommended. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.

Pinta VIP ((Пинта Пинта VIP) D-3, ul. Bersona 16 ( ул  ул.. Берсона Берсона,, 16), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 289 55 55. A classic Eastern Ленина), European establishment shment that defies accurate and succinct  description, Pinta VIP celebrates Soviet art and design with the help of décor including old posters and all manner of kni ckknacks whilst pandering to a daytime crowd with a menu of  dishes including the ubiquitous sushi. There’s also a good value business lunch to be had here during the week, although we mark it out as a place for visiting in the evening when the workers have all gone home and there’s plenty of room for  some serious drinking. Also Pinta XXL at Kulman 11. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 02:00. PJLNBX

Verona Pub (Верона (Верона паб паб)) B-5, ul. Gikalo 5 ( ул ( ул.. Гикало,, 5), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь Гикало (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 331 94 81/(+375 17) 331 94 81. A dark and dingy bar located at the b ottom of   flight of stairs, Verona Pub would would probably b e overlooked were it not for the fact that they’ve got bowling lanes. The bowling  lanes in question may predate the founding of America but  that’s not the point. Genius. QOpen 12:00 - 05:00.

Clubs Afrika ((Африка Африка)) C-2, ul. Timiryazeva 9 ( ул ( ул . Тимирязева,, 9), MFrunzenskay Тимирязева Frunzenskaya a (Фрунзенская ), tel. (+375 29) 360 76 06, ww w.africaclub.by. A masterpiece

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

NIGHTLIFE in design, this large subterranean nightclub has been packing them in for at least a decade in one shape or another. Currently looking like the home of slightly deranged big game hunter, the African theme stops with the décor as the music remains in the realms of house and techno, much of it Russian. As with most clubs in Minsk it’s good to know a local who can tell you what’s happening on any particular night here as it varies so much. Look for the big sign close to the Korona shopping centre. QOpen 22:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon.

Alcatraz (Алькатраз (Алькатраз)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 25), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 355 33 33. Hidden away  of all places underneath the Trade Union Palace of Culture, whilst this extraordinary extraordinary if not outright kinky little club is no longer the force it was a decade ago, it’s still a great place to visit for a bit of fun. There’s a good sized dance floor to move around on with the help of a collection of mainstream DJs. QOpen 12:00 - 06:00. PALEBXS

Black Door (Блэк (Блэк дор дор)) B-4, ul. Very Khoruzhey 29 ( ул  ул.. Веры Хоружей Хоружей,, 29), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 334 43 44/ (+375 44) 734 43 44. Dark and moody and featuring a bar that changes colour, Black Door lives in that classic Belarusian twilight zone that’s not quite a restaurant and not quite a club. The food is average, making even more of  an argument for calling it a club. The music sways between anything from funk to jazz, DJs come from abroad and they  often have raucous music-theme nights. QOpen 12:00 02:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 05:00.

Broadway (Бродвей (Бродвей)) B-4, Masherova pr. 17/1 (просп просп.. Машерова Машерова,, 17/1), tel. (+375 29) 650 0 612, fax (+375 17) 286 3 158. This is among the swankiest, classiest, shiniest and fanciest places in town. Dress nice if  you want to be let in and fit in. Oh, and press the zero button a few extra times when making the withdrawal from the ATM before this night out. A glorious period atmosphere, excellent  entertainment and, according to all reports including our own, the most gorgeous gold-diggers in town. QOpen 11:00 06:00. Entrance fee: €10. PAILKXW

Coyote (Койот (Койот)) Nezavisimosti pr. 117a (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 117а Независимости 117 а), M Vostok (Восток ( Восток), ), tel. (+375 29) 190 66 66. A wonderful blending of styles incorporating such diametrically opposed ideas as plush leather sofas and anarchic scribbling on the walls, this magnificent place close to the National Library a few kilometres from the city cen tre is more than just a bar, also also  functioning perfectly well as a restaurant and club. The food includes everything from Belarusian to sushi, the massive

NIGHTLIFE bar features Cuban barmen and there’s a different show and club night on every evening including the popular Thursday  night jazz sessions. The face c ontrol is much more relaxed than it is at other places of this level of sophistication and it’s getting rave reviews from the young crowd who like to come here. QOpen 12:00 - 06:00.

Goodwin (Гудвин (Гудвин)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 19 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 19), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 04 16/(+375 44) 797 64 96. A bit of  a nondescript restaurant by day and early evening, Goodwin slumps into a kind of gritty-groovy nightclub mode after midnight. Of particular note is the small dance floor and stage which quickly becomes packed with mildly inebriated happy  locals with few pretentions and few inhibitions. Get in among  them and, provided you don’t have any snobbish tendencies, you’re bound to enjoy the evening. Friendly English-speaking  staff are a bonus. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 06:00. PTAEGBXW

Madison Royal Club (Мэдисон (Мэдисон Роял Клаб Клаб)) C-2, ul. Timiryazeva 9 ( ул ( ул.. Тимирязева Тимирязева,, 9), tel. (+375 29) 619 00 40, www.madisonclub.by. The ultimate night club experience, Madison Royal Club is about as exclusive, luxurious and hedonistic as it gets. The face control is legendary, but  assuming you get in (men should be sober and sophisticate d, women beautiful and scantily dressed) expect, according to them, a New York concrete and Soho glass extravaganza. Many male DJs come from Ibiza, the women DJs spin tunes whilst practically naked and the bill at the end of the evening  is going to cost you more than the flight home. If you don’t like this kind of thing then move on. If on the other hand you do, the word on the street is that it’s extremely well organised, safe and one of the b est nights out of its kind anywhere. QOpen 22:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon, Tue. PALKX

Max Show (Макс (Макс Шоу Шоу)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 73 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 73), MAkademia Nauk (Академия Академиянаук наук), ), tel. (+375 17) 292 00 38/(+375 44) 703 07 84. This round, blue and popular club in the Oktyabr cinema puts particular emphasis on its erotic show programmes, meaning go-go dancers in various states of  nakedness taking to the stage just about every night. In a surprising display of egalitarianism, it also caters to the la dies by offering a male striptease review some nights. Check  the schedule ahead of time to see whether it’ll be a Boris or a Natasha flapping their privates in your face. QOpen 13:00 - 06:00. Entrance fee - €10 (from 22:30 till 06:00).

PAULEXSW

Next (Некст (Некст)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 13), tel. (+375 44) 718 77 77, ww w.cpminsk.com. The Crowne

Plaza Minsk’s very own in-house club is aimed at young, successful professionals professionals with money in their bank accounts to match. Among the many treats in store are no less than  four bars, one of which is generally alive with the skills of an acrobatic cocktail-maker. The music is quality mainstream club music, pumped out onto a dance floor more often than not awash with good-looking things having the time of their  life. Professional security keeps the riff-raff out, guaranteeing a relaxed and fun night out for all. QOpen 11:00 - 06:00.

POJHALEGKXW

Overtime (Овертайм (Овертайм)) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4), MNemiga (Немига Победителей (Немига), ), tel. (+375 29) 1 414 414. A big sports-themed hall with mediocre facilities has somehow managed to become a happening nightspot. Really, there’s no accounting for taste. Most of the floor space is given over to restaurant-style seating, with blue plastic swivelling egg-cups accommodating some of the prettiest  bottoms in town. There’s a small tiled dance floor with not  much in the way of lighting that quickly gets packed. Bar staff  keep the crowd amused by juggling and dropping bottles. Wannabe thugs keep their ape ambitions alive with an arcade style punching b ag in the foyer. Popular and fun. QOpen 17:00 - 06:00. Entrance fee: €4+. PJAKX

Casinos

Minsk In Your Po cket

27

minsk inyourpo cket com

a selection of slot machines. Restaurant, bar and currency exchange also available in-house. QOpen 24 hours.

POJLKX

Diamond Princess ((Даймонд Даймонд Принцесс Принцесс)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул  ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 13), MPloshchad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 218 34 46, [email protected], www.worldofprincess. com. Inside the Crowne Plaza hotel, Diamond Princess offers over 1,000 square metres of space for nine table games including Blackjack, Roulette, Caribbean poker and Russian Poker as well as over 100 slot machines. Open around the clock there’s also an in-house bookmakers for those who like to have a flutter  on sporting events. A range of drinks and snacks is available  from the casino bar. QOpen 24 hours. POJAKX

Juravinka Princess (Журавинка (Журавинка Принцесс) Принцесс) С-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул ( ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 17, www.worldofprincess.com.Roulette, black jack, poker, slot  machines, a nice bar and international food are all on offer  here, and if that’s not enough it’s located inside the amazing  Juravinka complex which boasts among its temptations b owling, bars, a disco, fitness centre and even a hotel for those who don’t want to stray too far from the action. QOpen 24 hours. POJALEKX

Casino Royal (Казино (Казино Роял Роял)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), MPloschad

Princess Casino Nemiga (Принцесс (Принцесс казино Немига)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 12 ( ул Немига ( ул.. Немига Немига,, 12), MNe-

Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 29) 111 33 33, www.royal.by. The city’s most luxurious casino can be  found located inside the Minsk hotel. As well as the usual space open to all is a special VIP room where gamblers can play incognito for high stakes. Games available include American roulette, black jack and poker, plus there’s

miga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 14 92/(+375 17) 200 42 81, www.worldofprincess.com. Two gambling halls here, the first space given over to a wealth of possibilities including eight roulette tables and the chance to play Russian, Texas and Caribbean poker. There’s also a VIP room, a restaurant serving international food, live shows and much

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

29

28

NIGHTLIFE in design, this large subterranean nightclub has been packing them in for at least a decade in one shape or another. Currently looking like the home of slightly deranged big game hunter, the African theme stops with the décor as the music remains in the realms of house and techno, much of it Russian. As with most clubs in Minsk it’s good to know a local who can tell you what’s happening on any particular night here as it varies so much. Look for the big sign close to the Korona shopping centre. QOpen 22:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon.

Alcatraz (Алькатраз (Алькатраз)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 25), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 355 33 33. Hidden away  of all places underneath the Trade Union Palace of Culture, whilst this extraordinary extraordinary if not outright kinky little club is no longer the force it was a decade ago, it’s still a great place to visit for a bit of fun. There’s a good sized dance floor to move around on with the help of a collection of mainstream DJs. QOpen 12:00 - 06:00. PALEBXS

Black Door (Блэк (Блэк дор дор)) B-4, ul. Very Khoruzhey 29 ( ул  ул.. Веры Хоружей Хоружей,, 29), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 334 43 44/ (+375 44) 734 43 44. Dark and moody and featuring a bar that changes colour, Black Door lives in that classic Belarusian twilight zone that’s not quite a restaurant and not quite a club. The food is average, making even more of  an argument for calling it a club. The music sways between anything from funk to jazz, DJs come from abroad and they  often have raucous music-theme nights. QOpen 12:00 02:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 05:00.

Broadway (Бродвей (Бродвей)) B-4, Masherova pr. 17/1 (просп просп.. Машерова Машерова,, 17/1), tel. (+375 29) 650 0 612, fax (+375 17) 286 3 158. This is among the swankiest, classiest, shiniest and fanciest places in town. Dress nice if  you want to be let in and fit in. Oh, and press the zero button a few extra times when making the withdrawal from the ATM before this night out. A glorious period atmosphere, excellent  entertainment and, according to all reports including our own, the most gorgeous gold-diggers in town. QOpen 11:00 06:00. Entrance fee: €10. PAILKXW

Coyote (Койот (Койот)) Nezavisimosti pr. 117a (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 117а Независимости 117 а), M Vostok (Восток ( Восток), ), tel. (+375 29) 190 66 66. A wonderful blending of styles incorporating such diametrically opposed ideas as plush leather sofas and anarchic scribbling on the walls, this magnificent place close to the National Library a few kilometres from the city cen tre is more than just a bar, also also  functioning perfectly well as a restaurant and club. The food includes everything from Belarusian to sushi, the massive

NIGHTLIFE bar features Cuban barmen and there’s a different show and club night on every evening including the popular Thursday  night jazz sessions. The face c ontrol is much more relaxed than it is at other places of this level of sophistication and it’s getting rave reviews from the young crowd who like to come here. QOpen 12:00 - 06:00.

Goodwin (Гудвин (Гудвин)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 19 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 19), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Независимости (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 04 16/(+375 44) 797 64 96. A bit of  a nondescript restaurant by day and early evening, Goodwin slumps into a kind of gritty-groovy nightclub mode after midnight. Of particular note is the small dance floor and stage which quickly becomes packed with mildly inebriated happy  locals with few pretentions and few inhibitions. Get in among  them and, provided you don’t have any snobbish tendencies, you’re bound to enjoy the evening. Friendly English-speaking  staff are a bonus. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 06:00. PTAEGBXW

Madison Royal Club (Мэдисон (Мэдисон Роял Клаб Клаб)) C-2, ul. Timiryazeva 9 ( ул ( ул.. Тимирязева Тимирязева,, 9), tel. (+375 29) 619 00 40, www.madisonclub.by. The ultimate night club experience, Madison Royal Club is about as exclusive, luxurious and hedonistic as it gets. The face control is legendary, but  assuming you get in (men should be sober and sophisticate d, women beautiful and scantily dressed) expect, according to them, a New York concrete and Soho glass extravaganza. Many male DJs come from Ibiza, the women DJs spin tunes whilst practically naked and the bill at the end of the evening  is going to cost you more than the flight home. If you don’t like this kind of thing then move on. If on the other hand you do, the word on the street is that it’s extremely well organised, safe and one of the b est nights out of its kind anywhere. QOpen 22:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon, Tue. PALKX

Max Show (Макс (Макс Шоу Шоу)) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 73 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 73), MAkademia Nauk (Академия Академиянаук наук), ), tel. (+375 17) 292 00 38/(+375 44) 703 07 84. This round, blue and popular club in the Oktyabr cinema puts particular emphasis on its erotic show programmes, meaning go-go dancers in various states of  nakedness taking to the stage just about every night. In a surprising display of egalitarianism, it also caters to the la dies by offering a male striptease review some nights. Check  the schedule ahead of time to see whether it’ll be a Boris or a Natasha flapping their privates in your face. QOpen 13:00 - 06:00. Entrance fee - €10 (from 22:30 till 06:00).

PAULEXSW

Next (Некст (Некст)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 13), tel. (+375 44) 718 77 77, ww w.cpminsk.com. The Crowne

Plaza Minsk’s very own in-house club is aimed at young, successful professionals professionals with money in their bank accounts to match. Among the many treats in store are no less than  four bars, one of which is generally alive with the skills of an acrobatic cocktail-maker. The music is quality mainstream club music, pumped out onto a dance floor more often than not awash with good-looking things having the time of their  life. Professional security keeps the riff-raff out, guaranteeing a relaxed and fun night out for all. QOpen 11:00 - 06:00.

POJHALEGKXW

Overtime (Овертайм (Овертайм)) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 4 (просп (просп.. Победителей,, 4), MNemiga (Немига Победителей (Немига), ), tel. (+375 29) 1 414 414. A big sports-themed hall with mediocre facilities has somehow managed to become a happening nightspot. Really, there’s no accounting for taste. Most of the floor space is given over to restaurant-style seating, with blue plastic swivelling egg-cups accommodating some of the prettiest  bottoms in town. There’s a small tiled dance floor with not  much in the way of lighting that quickly gets packed. Bar staff  keep the crowd amused by juggling and dropping bottles. Wannabe thugs keep their ape ambitions alive with an arcade style punching b ag in the foyer. Popular and fun. QOpen 17:00 - 06:00. Entrance fee: €4+. PJAKX

Casinos

Minsk In Your Po cket

30

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

a selection of slot machines. Restaurant, bar and currency exchange also available in-house. QOpen 24 hours.

POJLKX

Diamond Princess ((Даймонд Даймонд Принцесс Принцесс)) D-4, ul. Kirova 13 ( ул  ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 13), MPloshchad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 218 34 46, [email protected], www.worldofprincess. com. Inside the Crowne Plaza hotel, Diamond Princess offers over 1,000 square metres of space for nine table games including Blackjack, Roulette, Caribbean poker and Russian Poker as well as over 100 slot machines. Open around the clock there’s also an in-house bookmakers for those who like to have a flutter  on sporting events. A range of drinks and snacks is available  from the casino bar. QOpen 24 hours. POJAKX

Juravinka Princess (Журавинка (Журавинка Принцесс) Принцесс) С-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул ( ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 69 17, www.worldofprincess.com.Roulette, black jack, poker, slot  machines, a nice bar and international food are all on offer  here, and if that’s not enough it’s located inside the amazing  Juravinka complex which boasts among its temptations b owling, bars, a disco, fitness centre and even a hotel for those who don’t want to stray too far from the action. QOpen 24 hours. POJALEKX

Casino Royal (Казино (Казино Роял Роял)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), MPloschad

Princess Casino Nemiga (Принцесс (Принцесс казино Немига)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 12 ( ул Немига ( ул.. Немига Немига,, 12), MNe-

Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 29) 111 33 33, www.royal.by. The city’s most luxurious casino can be  found located inside the Minsk hotel. As well as the usual space open to all is a special VIP room where gamblers can play incognito for high stakes. Games available include American roulette, black jack and poker, plus there’s

miga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 200 14 92/(+375 17) 200 42 81, www.worldofprincess.com. Two gambling halls here, the first space given over to a wealth of possibilities including eight roulette tables and the chance to play Russian, Texas and Caribbean poker. There’s also a VIP room, a restaurant serving international food, live shows and much

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

NIGHTLIFE

NIGHTLIFE

more. The smaller of the two features no less than 46 slot  machines plus the chance to bet on international international sporting  events. Popular and frequently busy. QOpen 24 hours.

whilst betting and a lounge area to relax. There’s also the opportunity to eat, with a menu full of good things to eat  including the now ubiquitous Minsk staple, sushi. QOpen 24 hours. POULENGXW

Shangri La (Шангри (Шангри Ла Ла)) D-4, ul. Kirova 8/3 ( ул ( ул..

Cocktails

POALEXW

Кирова, 8/3), tel. (+ 375 17) 321 20 22, fax (+ 375 Кирова, 17) 227 03 33, [email protected], www. SHANGRILAcasino.by.Classy, you won’t get in here without  US$100 in tokens, Shangri La has American roulette, black   jack, poker and 30 sophisticated slot machines for your  pleasure in rather splendid surroundings. More than just  a place to lose your shirt in, there’s also a fine restaurant  with arguably the city’s best kn own German chef working in it. Also on offer are live cabaret, Russian billiards and even airport transfer if you want to stay to the very last. QOpen 24 hours. POJHALEKXW

Boulevard (Бульвар (Бульвар)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 22), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 111 47 47/(+375 17) 328 45 96. Giving the two expat favourites around the corner a run for their money, this relatively new venture is already awash with the babble of spoken and broken English. Categorised as a cocktail bar simply because the co cktail menu outweighs the one with the food on it, the latter, which changes regularly, offers offers nouvelle cuisine and othe r favourites including schnitzel and mashed potato whilst the cocktail menu features every concoction you could possibly dream of. Purple and grey and spread out on two floors, Boulevard also works very well as a café and i s a good place to visit any  time of day. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00.

Victoria (Виктория (Виктория)) B-2, Pobediteley pr. 59 (просп ( просп.. Победителей , 59), tel. (+375 17) 306 08 08. The biggest casino in Belarus is more than just the ordinary  casino experience. Surplus to the poker, black jack, switch, slot machines etc are a host of extras. Victoria is perhaps best known and loved for its soundproof telephone booth complete with selectable background noises including airport  and nightclub, provided for the ultimate in client discretion. QOpen 24 hours. POAEXW

Stravinsky Bar (Стравинский (Стравинский Бар Бар)) С-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25b (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 25б 25б), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 190 99 99. A little bit of sophistication tucked away behind the tourist  market, Stravinsky boasts a menu of over 60 cocktails, a glass bar, angle-poise lamps screwed to the ceiling and contemporary wall art made from red wine stains. One of  the nicest places in town to head for a drink, added bonuses include the blues oozing from the loudspeakers and small selection of things to eat. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 05:00. PA6UBX

Zeus (Зевс (Зевс)) A-4, ul. Orlovskaya 40a ( ул ( ул.. Орловская Орловская,, 40а), tel. (+375 17) 335 03 22, www.casinozeus.by. 40а A fun atmosphere thanks to an Ancient Greek theme, Casino Zeus features three areas, one for serious gambling with the help of slot machines, roulette, black jack, Russian poker, Texas poker and three-card poker, a bar to keep lubricated

Sweet & Sour (Суит (Суит энд Сауэр Сауэр)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 14 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 14), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 218 25 93, www.sweetandsour.by. Relive prohibition-era America inside this small and exclusive, centrally located bar popular  with a range of well-heeled visitors from their 20s to their  50s. The lively bar staff conjure up all manner of fancy drinks including the highly recommended Prescription Julep made  from cognac, rye whiskey, mint leaves, sugar and spring water. A good night out here is accompanied by the sounds of   jazz of all kinds and French chanson among others. QOpen 16:00 - 02:00. Closed Sun. PJENX

Wine Galereya Vin (Галерея (Галерея вин вин)) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 23 - 1 (просп просп.. Победителей , 23 - 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 63 90. Wine Gallery is actually a wine shop, but it has a small bar in the back and a handful of  wooden tables where you can enjoy a nice vintage by the glass. A very civilised alternative to the flashy casinos and beer gardens that surround it. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00, Mon 10:00 - 19:00. PAS

ostrich, brains ns and buckwheat and fish soup. The itinerant  band may be good, but it probably won’t stop you wanting to slap them. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. AUGXS

Live music DooDah King (ДуДа (ДуДа Кинг Кинг)) D-3, ul. Bersona 14 ( ул ( ул.. Берсона,, 14), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Берсона (ПлощадьЛенина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 29) 103 10 00. Featuring live music almost  every night from around 23:00 and a fabulous collection of  art, graffiti and American road signs covering every available wall space, Doodah King also provides music performances on an array of large screens when there’s nobody prancing  around on the stage. The booze selection is good, the menu is bursting with Russian and American favourites and you’ll be hard pressed to find a seat i f you arrive too late. Friendly sta ff  too. QOpen 11:00 - 05:00. PJENXSW

Adult entertainment  Laguna ((Лагуна Лагуна)) C-1, Pushkina pr. 39 ( просп просп.. Пушкина,, 39), MPushkinskaya (Пушкинская Пушкина (Пушкинская), ), tel. (+375 17) 252 69 46. Strip club

minsk inyourpo cket com

QOpen

21:30 - 05:30.

Microbreweries

PNK

Rakovsky Brovar (Раковский (Раковский Бровар Бровар)) C-3,

Versus (Версус (Версус)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 11), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Независимости (Площадь

ul. Uralskaya 13 ( ул  ул..  Уральская  Уральская,, 13), tel. (+375 17) 245 17 01. An absolutely enormous place, hard to find and decorated in the manner of a large hunting lodge, the main reason for dropping by is to drink yourself silly on the in-house beer. On offer are a choice of four brews, all of them superb and all of them liable to mislead as the percentage refers to something other than the alcohol content. A favourite among  resident and visiting foreigners alike, the food on offer includes

Minsk In Your Po cket

29

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 200 25 20/(+375 29) 634 44 Ленина), 12. Strip club QOpen 21:00 - 07:00. PAULBKX

Texas (Техас (Техас ) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 (просп (просп.. Победителей , 19), tel. (+375 17 226 99 04), Победителей, [email protected]. Strip club QOpen 20:00 – 05:00.

PAULBKX

2011

31

30

NIGHTLIFE

NIGHTLIFE

more. The smaller of the two features no less than 46 slot  machines plus the chance to bet on international international sporting  events. Popular and frequently busy. QOpen 24 hours.

whilst betting and a lounge area to relax. There’s also the opportunity to eat, with a menu full of good things to eat  including the now ubiquitous Minsk staple, sushi. QOpen 24 hours. POULENGXW

Shangri La (Шангри (Шангри Ла Ла)) D-4, ul. Kirova 8/3 ( ул ( ул..

Cocktails

POALEXW

Кирова, 8/3), tel. (+ 375 17) 321 20 22, fax (+ 375 Кирова, 17) 227 03 33, [email protected], www. SHANGRILAcasino.by.Classy, you won’t get in here without  US$100 in tokens, Shangri La has American roulette, black   jack, poker and 30 sophisticated slot machines for your  pleasure in rather splendid surroundings. More than just  a place to lose your shirt in, there’s also a fine restaurant  with arguably the city’s best kn own German chef working in it. Also on offer are live cabaret, Russian billiards and even airport transfer if you want to stay to the very last. QOpen 24 hours. POJHALEKXW

Boulevard (Бульвар (Бульвар)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 22 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 22), M Oktyabrskaya (Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 111 47 47/(+375 17) 328 45 96. Giving the two expat favourites around the corner a run for their money, this relatively new venture is already awash with the babble of spoken and broken English. Categorised as a cocktail bar simply because the co cktail menu outweighs the one with the food on it, the latter, which changes regularly, offers offers nouvelle cuisine and othe r favourites including schnitzel and mashed potato whilst the cocktail menu features every concoction you could possibly dream of. Purple and grey and spread out on two floors, Boulevard also works very well as a café and i s a good place to visit any  time of day. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00.

Victoria (Виктория (Виктория)) B-2, Pobediteley pr. 59 (просп ( просп.. Победителей , 59), tel. (+375 17) 306 08 08. The biggest casino in Belarus is more than just the ordinary  casino experience. Surplus to the poker, black jack, switch, slot machines etc are a host of extras. Victoria is perhaps best known and loved for its soundproof telephone booth complete with selectable background noises including airport  and nightclub, provided for the ultimate in client discretion. QOpen 24 hours. POAEXW

Stravinsky Bar (Стравинский (Стравинский Бар Бар)) С-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25b (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 25б 25б), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 29) 190 99 99. A little bit of sophistication tucked away behind the tourist  market, Stravinsky boasts a menu of over 60 cocktails, a glass bar, angle-poise lamps screwed to the ceiling and contemporary wall art made from red wine stains. One of  the nicest places in town to head for a drink, added bonuses include the blues oozing from the loudspeakers and small selection of things to eat. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 05:00. PA6UBX

Zeus (Зевс (Зевс)) A-4, ul. Orlovskaya 40a ( ул ( ул.. Орловская Орловская,, 40а), tel. (+375 17) 335 03 22, www.casinozeus.by. 40а A fun atmosphere thanks to an Ancient Greek theme, Casino Zeus features three areas, one for serious gambling with the help of slot machines, roulette, black jack, Russian poker, Texas poker and three-card poker, a bar to keep lubricated

Sweet & Sour (Суит (Суит энд Сауэр Сауэр)) D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 14 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 14), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 218 25 93, www.sweetandsour.by. Relive prohibition-era America inside this small and exclusive, centrally located bar popular  with a range of well-heeled visitors from their 20s to their  50s. The lively bar staff conjure up all manner of fancy drinks including the highly recommended Prescription Julep made  from cognac, rye whiskey, mint leaves, sugar and spring water. A good night out here is accompanied by the sounds of   jazz of all kinds and French chanson among others. QOpen 16:00 - 02:00. Closed Sun. PJENX

Wine Galereya Vin (Галерея (Галерея вин вин)) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 23 - 1 (просп просп.. Победителей , 23 - 1), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 63 90. Wine Gallery is actually a wine shop, but it has a small bar in the back and a handful of  wooden tables where you can enjoy a nice vintage by the glass. A very civilised alternative to the flashy casinos and beer gardens that surround it. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00, Mon 10:00 - 19:00. PAS

ostrich, brains ns and buckwheat and fish soup. The itinerant  band may be good, but it probably won’t stop you wanting to slap them. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. AUGXS

Live music DooDah King (ДуДа (ДуДа Кинг Кинг)) D-3, ul. Bersona 14 ( ул ( ул.. Берсона,, 14), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Берсона (ПлощадьЛенина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 29) 103 10 00. Featuring live music almost  every night from around 23:00 and a fabulous collection of  art, graffiti and American road signs covering every available wall space, Doodah King also provides music performances on an array of large screens when there’s nobody prancing  around on the stage. The booze selection is good, the menu is bursting with Russian and American favourites and you’ll be hard pressed to find a seat i f you arrive too late. Friendly sta ff  too. QOpen 11:00 - 05:00. PJENXSW

Adult entertainment  Laguna ((Лагуна Лагуна)) C-1, Pushkina pr. 39 ( просп просп.. Пушкина,, 39), MPushkinskaya (Пушкинская Пушкина (Пушкинская), ), tel. (+375 17) 252 69 46. Strip club

Minsk In Your Po cket

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

QOpen

21:30 - 05:30.

Microbreweries

PNK

Rakovsky Brovar (Раковский (Раковский Бровар Бровар)) C-3,

Versus (Версус (Версус)) D-3, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 11), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь Независимости (Площадь

ul. Uralskaya 13 ( ул  ул..  Уральская  Уральская,, 13), tel. (+375 17) 245 17 01. An absolutely enormous place, hard to find and decorated in the manner of a large hunting lodge, the main reason for dropping by is to drink yourself silly on the in-house beer. On offer are a choice of four brews, all of them superb and all of them liable to mislead as the percentage refers to something other than the alcohol content. A favourite among  resident and visiting foreigners alike, the food on offer includes

32

Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 200 25 20/(+375 29) 634 44 Ленина), 12. Strip club QOpen 21:00 - 07:00. PAULBKX

Texas (Техас (Техас ) C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 (просп (просп.. Победителей , 19), tel. (+375 17 226 99 04), Победителей, [email protected]. Strip club QOpen 20:00 – 05:00.

PAULBKX

minsk.inyourpocket.com

WHAT TO SEE

2011

WHAT TO SEE

33

Maria Magdalena Church B-4, ul. Kiselyova 42

Despite its predominantly post-war character, character, Minsk is a  fabulous city to explore. One of the world’s masterpieces of  Socialist-Realist urban planning, the city also throws aficionados of antiquity a handful of titbits such as a scattering of  marvellous old churches.

( ул  ул.. Киселева Киселева,, 42). Founded in 1847, this lovely little church with a fine octagonal bell tower and splendid dome was built on the site of an earlier wooden structure. Also on the same territor y are, to the left, a small church dedicated to John the Baptist and consecrated in 1995 and, to the right, a chapel dating from 1998. Used as a film, photography and sound archive during the Soviet period, Mary Magdalena Church was the first religious building in the city to be given back to the religious community, the first service taking place on November 25, 1990.

Museums & Galleries Ancient Belarusian Culture Museum B-6, ul.Surganova 1/2 ( ул  ул..Сурганова Сурганова,, 1/2), tel. (+375 17) 284 27 32/(+375 17) 284 24 97. Opened in 1979 on the 50th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences, the collection includes a wide range of ethnographic and cultural exhibits including icons, folk art and even a collection of items relating to the Chernobyl disaster. QOpen 11:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Admission free.

Maryinsky Cathedral D-4, Svobody pl. 9 (пл (пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 9). This Catholic cathedral survi ved the ravages of both world wars but in the 1950s lost its two towers when it received a thorough Soviet makeover. The twin towers have since been restored, with copper domes sparkling impressively.

Maksim Bogdanovich Literature Museum

Fire Museum D-3, ul. Gorodskoy Val 12 ( ул  ул.. Городской Вал, 12), tel. (+375 17) 294 61 22. The fascinating  Вал, history of Minsk’s fire brigade, with tours conducted by  grinning firemen. Visits must be booked in advance, and keep in mind that tours are in the Russian language only. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00.

First Congress of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers Party Museum C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 31a (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 31 а), tel. (+375 17) 290 68 47. Home to the first Party Congress way back in 1898, the building was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War.. Such is the importanc e of the building, it was completel y  War rebuilt after the war and remains a testament to all things Soviet. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Wed.

Great Patriotic War Museum D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25a (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 25 а), tel. (+375 17) 227 56 11. Opened barely three months after Minsk  was liberated by the Red Army, the city’s must-see Great  Patriotic War Museum has come a long way over the last six decades and is currently based inside a building where it’s been since 1966. Presenting the full horrors of World War  II from the perspective of the Soviet Union, you won’t find much mention of the Allied efforts, but you will get insight into the suffering of the Belarusians and the immense sacrifices made by the Red Army to liberate their territory from the ‘facist-German’ ‘facistGerman’ [sic] occupiers. After passing a magnificent  statue of Lenin, you can visit some original tanks and planes in the back yard of the museum. All texts are in Russian, and it’s highly recommended to telephone or drop by in advance to arrange a guided tour in English to get the full benefit of  the experience. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Closed Mon Admission 5,000BYR.

Maxim Bogdanovich Literature Museum C-4,

Isle of Tears B-2, On the Svisloch, near Storozhevskaya, MNemiga (Немига (Немига). ). A small footbridge leads from the

National Museum of History & Culture D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 12 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 12), tel. (+375 17) 227 43 22. Artefacts relating to the history of Belarus from 40,000BC 40,000B C to the present day are sprinkled throughout this creaky old museum, the largest repository of archaeological items in the country. Axe-heads, swords, portraits, an old printing press and exhibi ts on fishing, hunting and folklore are among the many rewards for those who visit. Unfortunately  there’s no text to describe any of it in English. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Wed. Admission 7,000BYR.

Nature Museum D-2, ul. Karla Marxa 12 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса, 12), tel. (+375 17) 206 69 56. Located in the Маркса, bowels of the Museum of History and Culture (see Museums), this small museum is the most exciting place in town to see dusty mammoth bones and stuffed bears. Don’t miss the institution’s pride and joy - a nice pile of potatoes. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Wed. Admission 7,000BYR.

Churches Aleksander Nevsky Church C-5, ul. Kozlova 11

Cathedral of Sts. Peter & Paul C-3, ul. Rakovskaya 4 ( ул  ул.. Раковская Раковская,, 4), MNemiga (Немига (Немига). ). Built in 1613,

Minsk In Your Po cket

Places of interest 

ul. Bogdanovicha 7a ( ул  ул.. Богдановича Богдановича,, 7 а), tel. (+375 17) 334 42 69. The Belarusian poet and journalist  Maxim Bogdanovich (1891-1917) had an enormou s effect on Belarusian literature, a fact reflected in the naming of several streets throughout the country in his honour. This museum, one of several in Belarus dedicated to his life, is somewhat  specialised as well as lacking in any English explanations to the exhibits. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon. Also closed Sundays in summer.

( ул  ул.. Козлова Козлова,, 11). Built inside the grounds of the cit y’s Military Cemetery to commemorate victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and completed in 1898, this splendid lit tle Russian Baroque church is the only religious building in the city to retain its original appearance. The in terior is somewhat  austere, featuring lots of black marble with inscriptions to those lost in bloody battle. In February 1938 the church was the last to be closed in the cit y, three years before a Luftwaffe bomb fell through the roof on June 24, 1941, landing in front of  the icon of St. Nicholas but failing to explode. Another bomb during the same air raid had better luck, destroying much of  the roof. Reopened by the occupying Germans soon after, the church was closed again by the Soviets who did at least  spend time restoring the building.

Aleksander Nevsky Church

31

the so-called Yellow Church is the oldest surviving religious

minsk inyourpo cket com

Isle of Tears building in Minsk. The building was closed by the Bolsheviks at the start after the October revolution, reopened by the Nazis, closed again by the Soviets in 1944 and reopened once more in 1992.

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit С-4, ul. Kirilla i Mefodiya 3 ( ул  ул.. Кирилла Кириллаи и Мефодия Мефодия,, 3). One of the most instantly  recognisable symbols of Minsk is this magnificent, gleaming, two-towered Orthodox cathedral in the heart of the city. Completed in 1642 as part of a larger ensemble to serve Bernadine nuns, consecra tion was delayed for 40 years because of the Muscovite invasions. In 1741 the original structure was damaged by fire but later reconstructed. The convent was closed in 1852 and the building gi ven to the Russian Orthodox Church for use as a monastery before being closed by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution. Today the church has been restored to its former glory. Look out for the famed Minsk Icon, supposedly dating from around 1500.

Church of Sts. Simon & Helena D-3, ul. Sovetskaya 15 ( ул  ул.. Советская Советская,, 15), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 220 44 15. Known in the local Ленина), vernacular as the Red Church, the city’s best-known Catholic building was constructed between 1908 and 1910 on the orders of a rich Belarusian family upon the premature death of their two children after whom the church is dedicated. The two smaller towers are name d after th e offspring, while the larger one represents the grief of the parents. Under  the Soviets the church was turned into a cinema then a  film studio. Now once again used for its original purpose, the building adds a nice splash of history to an otherwise modern square. The bronze statue in front of the church represents Archangel Michael slaying the Devil, represented as a dragon. Also of interest is the so-called Nagasaki Bell, a replica of the one that use d to hang in Nagasaki’s Urakami Cathedral before it was destroyed in the nuclear attack on August 9, 1945.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Trinity to the Isl e of Tears, a memorial commemorating Soviet  soldiers from Belarus who died in the decade-long war with Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989. The centrepiece is the chapel, with haunting figures of grieving mothers, sisters and widows at its base. A nearby fountain features the boy-like  figure of an angel, rigged up to cry teardrops. You may notice that a certain part of his anatomy is shinier than the rest. This is explained by the tradition of newlyweds visiting war  memorials on their wedding day, and a modern folk belief  that if the bride gropes this poor young lad’s privates privates she’ll be guaranteed children.

Minsk State Circus D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 32 (просп (просп.. Независимости, 32), tel. (+375 17) 226 10 08/ Независимости, (+375 17) 227 22 45. The origins of the Minsk State Circus date to 1930 and the construction of a tent in what’s now Gorky Park. Today’s building took four years to complete and was opened to the public on February 11, 1959. Completely  renovated in 2010, the circus now also boasts a hotel for  visiting performers and a museum.

Minsk Zoo ul. Tashkentskaya 40, Chizhovka district ( ул  ул.. Ташкентская Ташкентская,, 40), tel. (+375 17) 240 23 97. Established in 1984 in true Soviet style by workers at  the neighbouring Minsk Automobile Plant, this 42-hectare menagerie features over 160 species of animals including  eagle owls, brown bears, Egyptian fruit bats, lamas and others. As well as functioning as an ordinary zoo open to the general public, Minsk Zoo is also involved in several conservation and breeding programmes. QOpen 10:00 17:00, Fri 10:00 - 18:00.

Cemeteries Military Cemetery C-5, Between ul. Kozlova and ul. Krasnozvezdnaya (между (между  ул  ул.. Козлова и  ул  ул.. Краснозвездная). Краснозвездная ). First opened in 1840 and moved to its current location in 1895, the cemetery contains the war dead from countles s campaigns from the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 to those who fell during the Great  Patriotic War. The cemetery also contains the graves of  several notable figures in Belarusian culture including that  of the poet and wri ter Yanka Yanka Kupala (1882-1942), whose name crops up in several places around the capital.

2011

32

WHAT TO SEE

WHAT TO SEE

33

Maria Magdalena Church B-4, ul. Kiselyova 42

Despite its predominantly post-war character, character, Minsk is a  fabulous city to explore. One of the world’s masterpieces of  Socialist-Realist urban planning, the city also throws aficionados of antiquity a handful of titbits such as a scattering of  marvellous old churches.

( ул  ул.. Киселева Киселева,, 42). Founded in 1847, this lovely little church with a fine octagonal bell tower and splendid dome was built on the site of an earlier wooden structure. Also on the same territor y are, to the left, a small church dedicated to John the Baptist and consecrated in 1995 and, to the right, a chapel dating from 1998. Used as a film, photography and sound archive during the Soviet period, Mary Magdalena Church was the first religious building in the city to be given back to the religious community, the first service taking place on November 25, 1990.

Museums & Galleries Ancient Belarusian Culture Museum B-6, ul.Surganova 1/2 ( ул  ул..Сурганова Сурганова,, 1/2), tel. (+375 17) 284 27 32/(+375 17) 284 24 97. Opened in 1979 on the 50th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences, the collection includes a wide range of ethnographic and cultural exhibits including icons, folk art and even a collection of items relating to the Chernobyl disaster. QOpen 11:00 - 16:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Admission free.

Maryinsky Cathedral D-4, Svobody pl. 9 (пл (пл.. Свободы Свободы,, 9). This Catholic cathedral survi ved the ravages of both world wars but in the 1950s lost its two towers when it received a thorough Soviet makeover. The twin towers have since been restored, with copper domes sparkling impressively.

Maksim Bogdanovich Literature Museum

Fire Museum D-3, ul. Gorodskoy Val 12 ( ул  ул.. Городской Вал, 12), tel. (+375 17) 294 61 22. The fascinating  Вал, history of Minsk’s fire brigade, with tours conducted by  grinning firemen. Visits must be booked in advance, and keep in mind that tours are in the Russian language only. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00.

First Congress of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers Party Museum C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 31a (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 31 а), tel. (+375 17) 290 68 47. Home to the first Party Congress way back in 1898, the building was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War.. Such is the importanc e of the building, it was completel y  War rebuilt after the war and remains a testament to all things Soviet. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Wed.

Great Patriotic War Museum D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 25a (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 25 а), tel. (+375 17) 227 56 11. Opened barely three months after Minsk  was liberated by the Red Army, the city’s must-see Great  Patriotic War Museum has come a long way over the last six decades and is currently based inside a building where it’s been since 1966. Presenting the full horrors of World War  II from the perspective of the Soviet Union, you won’t find much mention of the Allied efforts, but you will get insight into the suffering of the Belarusians and the immense sacrifices made by the Red Army to liberate their territory from the ‘facist-German’ ‘facistGerman’ [sic] occupiers. After passing a magnificent  statue of Lenin, you can visit some original tanks and planes in the back yard of the museum. All texts are in Russian, and it’s highly recommended to telephone or drop by in advance to arrange a guided tour in English to get the full benefit of  the experience. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Closed Mon Admission 5,000BYR.

Maxim Bogdanovich Literature Museum C-4,

Marxa 12 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 12), tel. (+375 17) 227 43 22. Artefacts relating to the history of Belarus from 40,000BC 40,000B C to the present day are sprinkled throughout this creaky old museum, the largest repository of archaeological items in the country. Axe-heads, swords, portraits, an old printing press and exhibi ts on fishing, hunting and folklore are among the many rewards for those who visit. Unfortunately  there’s no text to describe any of it in English. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Wed. Admission 7,000BYR.

Nature Museum D-2, ul. Karla Marxa 12 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса, 12), tel. (+375 17) 206 69 56. Located in the Маркса, bowels of the Museum of History and Culture (see Museums), this small museum is the most exciting place in town to see dusty mammoth bones and stuffed bears. Don’t miss the institution’s pride and joy - a nice pile of potatoes. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Wed. Admission 7,000BYR.

Churches Aleksander Nevsky Church C-5, ul. Kozlova 11

Cathedral of Sts. Peter & Paul C-3, ul. Rakovskaya 4 ( ул  ул.. Раковская Раковская,, 4), MNemiga (Немига (Немига). ). Built in 1613, the so-called Yellow Church is the oldest surviving religious

Minsk In Your Po cket

34

Isle of Tears B-2, On the Svisloch, near Storozhevskaya, MNemiga (Немига (Немига). ). A small footbridge leads from the

National Museum of History & Culture D-4, ul. Karla

( ул  ул.. Козлова Козлова,, 11). Built inside the grounds of the cit y’s Military Cemetery to commemorate victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and completed in 1898, this splendid lit tle Russian Baroque church is the only religious building in the city to retain its original appearance. The in terior is somewhat  austere, featuring lots of black marble with inscriptions to those lost in bloody battle. In February 1938 the church was the last to be closed in the cit y, three years before a Luftwaffe bomb fell through the roof on June 24, 1941, landing in front of  the icon of St. Nicholas but failing to explode. Another bomb during the same air raid had better luck, destroying much of  the roof. Reopened by the occupying Germans soon after, the church was closed again by the Soviets who did at least  spend time restoring the building.

Aleksander Nevsky Church

Places of interest 

ul. Bogdanovicha 7a ( ул  ул.. Богдановича Богдановича,, 7 а), tel. (+375 17) 334 42 69. The Belarusian poet and journalist  Maxim Bogdanovich (1891-1917) had an enormou s effect on Belarusian literature, a fact reflected in the naming of several streets throughout the country in his honour. This museum, one of several in Belarus dedicated to his life, is somewhat  specialised as well as lacking in any English explanations to the exhibits. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon. Also closed Sundays in summer.

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Isle of Tears building in Minsk. The building was closed by the Bolsheviks at the start after the October revolution, reopened by the Nazis, closed again by the Soviets in 1944 and reopened once more in 1992.

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit С-4, ul. Kirilla i Mefodiya 3 ( ул  ул.. Кирилла Кириллаи и Мефодия Мефодия,, 3). One of the most instantly  recognisable symbols of Minsk is this magnificent, gleaming, two-towered Orthodox cathedral in the heart of the city. Completed in 1642 as part of a larger ensemble to serve Bernadine nuns, consecra tion was delayed for 40 years because of the Muscovite invasions. In 1741 the original structure was damaged by fire but later reconstructed. The convent was closed in 1852 and the building gi ven to the Russian Orthodox Church for use as a monastery before being closed by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution. Today the church has been restored to its former glory. Look out for the famed Minsk Icon, supposedly dating from around 1500.

Church of Sts. Simon & Helena D-3, ul. Sovetskaya 15 ( ул  ул.. Советская Советская,, 15), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 220 44 15. Known in the local Ленина), vernacular as the Red Church, the city’s best-known Catholic building was constructed between 1908 and 1910 on the orders of a rich Belarusian family upon the premature death of their two children after whom the church is dedicated. The two smaller towers are name d after th e offspring, while the larger one represents the grief of the parents. Under  the Soviets the church was turned into a cinema then a  film studio. Now once again used for its original purpose, the building adds a nice splash of history to an otherwise modern square. The bronze statue in front of the church represents Archangel Michael slaying the Devil, represented as a dragon. Also of interest is the so-called Nagasaki Bell, a replica of the one that use d to hang in Nagasaki’s Urakami Cathedral before it was destroyed in the nuclear attack on August 9, 1945.

Parks & Gardens Central Botanical Gardens B-6, ul. Surganova 2a ( ул  ул.. Сурганова, 2а Сурганова, 2а), tel. (+375 17) 284 14 84. Taking up a considerable portion of the city’s Chelyuskintsev Park, the Central Botanical Gardens date from 1932 and feature some 9,000 different species. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon.

skaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская). ). Originally functioning as a small marketplace ace until the first half of the 19th century, October  Square is now a massive open space that effectively serves as the centre of the city where a small granite pyramid marks the spot. Most famous as a place of celebration, public events and an outdoor skating rink during the winter. Perhaps the most interesting if not bizarre story of the square is the discovery of several mammoth skeletons when the Metro line below was being built.

Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb) C-4, West bank of the river, between ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha and ul. Starovilenskaya (между (между ул  ул.. Богдановича и  ул  ул.. Старовиленской). Старовиленской ). Minsk’s old town, more commonly known as Troitskoye Troitskoye Predmestye (T (Trinity rinity Suburb, or just Trinity) after 

Minsk In Your Po cket

Gorky Park (Парк (Парк Горького Горького)) C-5, D-5, Along Nezavisimosti pr., between ul. Yanki Kupaly and ul. Frunze (Между  ул  ул.. Янки Купалы и  ул  ул.. Фрунзе Фрунзе). ). The oldest  park in Minsk and founded in 1800 as the City Gardens, Gorky Park received its current name in honour of the Soviet-era writer in 1936. Originally designed along the lines of a classic English park, the hugely popular public space has seen many transformations over the years. Now geared towards children ldren although frequented by people of  all ages, it’s home among other things to an amusement  park complete with a 56-metre Ferris wheel, a small observatory and planetarium and an indoor skating rink. During  the summer it’s possible for children to take a ride round the park on a pony.

Out of town

Chelyuskintsev Park (Парк (Парк Челюскинцев Челюскинцев)). The

Minsk Sea (Минское (Минское море море)) A large artificial expanse

sprawling, 78-hectare Chelyuskintsev Park is a hugely p opular  place for people of all ages to visit during the warmer part of  the year. Great for strolling ng around under the trees or taking a picnic, attractions include an ancient amusement park complete with 28-metre Ferris wheel, a narrow gauge railway run entirely  by young people and, next door, the lovely Central Botanical Gardens (see above). Interestingly, the park is named after the SS Chelyuskin, a Soviet steamship that found itself stranded along the Northern Sea Route in the early 1930s. Trapped in ice and eventually sinking, the pilots who rescued the crew were the  first ever to receive the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

of water 5km or so north of Minsk, the Minsk Sea is popular  place to escape during warm weekends. Scattered around the edge are b eaches, cafés, places to rent pedalos and the like and much more besides.

Jewish Minsk

Oktyabrskaya (October) Square D-4, Oktyabrskaya pl., next to Museum of Great Patriotic War, MOktyabr-

Независимости, 32), tel. (+375 17) 226 10 08/ Независимости, (+375 17) 227 22 45. The origins of the Minsk State Circus date to 1930 and the construction of a tent in what’s now Gorky Park. Today’s building took four years to complete and was opened to the public on February 11, 1959. Completely  renovated in 2010, the circus now also boasts a hotel for  visiting performers and a museum.

Minsk Zoo ul. Tashkentskaya 40, Chizhovka district ( ул  ул.. Ташкентская Ташкентская,, 40), tel. (+375 17) 240 23 97. Established in 1984 in true Soviet style by workers at  the neighbouring Minsk Automobile Plant, this 42-hectare menagerie features over 160 species of animals including  eagle owls, brown bears, Egyptian fruit bats, lamas and others. As well as functioning as an ordinary zoo open to the general public, Minsk Zoo is also involved in several conservation and breeding programmes. QOpen 10:00 17:00, Fri 10:00 - 18:00.

Cemeteries Military Cemetery C-5, Between ul. Kozlova and ul. Krasnozvezdnaya (между (между  ул  ул.. Козлова и  ул  ул.. Краснозвездная). Краснозвездная ). First opened in 1840 and moved to its current location in 1895, the cemetery contains the war dead from countles s campaigns from the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 to those who fell during the Great  Patriotic War. The cemetery also contains the graves of  several notable figures in Belarusian culture including that  of the poet and wri ter Yanka Yanka Kupala (1882-1942), whose name crops up in several places around the capital.

2011

WHAT TO SEE the former Trinity Church that once stood in the area, is a slight  misnomer in that it dates from just three decades ago. Built  between 1982 and 1985 on the site of a former settlement  dating from the 12th c entury, Trinity Trinity does a t least offer a break   from the sprawling concrete of the city centre. The birthplace of the Belarusian poet and journalist Maxim Bogdanovich, the area boasts a number of decen t restaurants and bars, making  it worth having a look round, especially during the summer.

Независимости , 116), tel. (+375 17) 229 24 94, http://newbuilding.nacbibl.org.by.Opened on June 16, 2006 and the work of architects Mihail Vinogradov and Vik tor  Kramarenko, the Belarusian National Library is well worth a trip out of the centre for a closer inspec tion. Standing at 72 metres tall and boasting an impressive 22 floors, the extraordinary  rhombicuboctahedron construction houses 20 state-of-the-a state-of-the-art  rt  reading rooms, has full disabled acce ss, contains its very own Book Museum, lights up at night and even has an obs ervation point on top for superb views of the city reached via a ride in a glass lift that clings to the edge of the building. A statue of the 16th-century father of Belarusian publishing, Francysk Skaryna stands near the entrance, whilst membership is open to anyone in possession of a valid passport regardless of nationality. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00.

Minsk State Circus D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 32 (просп (просп..

minsk.inyourpocket.com

WHAT TO SEE

National Library Nezavisimosti pr. 116 (просп ( просп..

Trinity to the Isl e of Tears, a memorial commemorating Soviet  soldiers from Belarus who died in the decade-long war with Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989. The centrepiece is the chapel, with haunting figures of grieving mothers, sisters and widows at its base. A nearby fountain features the boy-like  figure of an angel, rigged up to cry teardrops. You may notice that a certain part of his anatomy is shinier than the rest. This is explained by the tradition of newlyweds visiting war  memorials on their wedding day, and a modern folk belief  that if the bride gropes this poor young lad’s privates privates she’ll be guaranteed children.

Jewish life in Minsk and Belarus in general can be traced back to the 8th century. Before the German invasion of Belarus in 1941, the Yiddishspeaking Jews of  Minsk made up over half the population of the city. At war’s end almost all of Minsk’s Jewish men, women and children had been murdered by the Nazis and their willing  local collaborators, most of them at the n earby extermination camp at Maly Trostenets. Of the many notable Jews born in Belarus are the artist Marc Chagall (Moishe Shagal, 1887-1985) and the current Prime Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres (b. 1923). Today’s Jews make up less than one per cent of the population of the country.

Mound of Glory (Курган (Курган Славы Славы)) 30km north of  Minsk, at junction of Moscow and Minsk-2 highways. This rather extraordinary, artificial 70-metre mound out in the direction of Minsk-2 airport was constructed in 1969 at  the point where four Red Army divisions met on their drive towards Berlin in 1944. Made from soil taken from th ousands of Belarusian towns and villages affected by the German occupation, at the top of a 240-step walk on top of the mound are three huge bayonets rimmed by an elaborate mosaic depicting the horrors of war in both words and pictures. A  popular place of pilgrimage as well as one of the places local newlyweds come to have their photograph taken.

Stalin’s Line (Линия (Линия Сталина Сталина)) 31km west of  Minsk along the Molodechno road, 6km from Zaslavl, tel. (+375 17) 503 20 22, www.stalin-line.by. Opened in 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Great  Patriotic War, Stalin’s Line forms part of a chain of defences along or close to the former western border of the Soviet  Union that ran from the Finnish border to the Black Sea. Made up of a large collection of old tanks, aircraft, artillery  and other military hardware and set among old bunkers and other defensive structures visitors; are free to wander  around at their leisure or to take one of the guided tours on offer by men in military uniforms. Stalin’s Line is about 30km northwest of the capital. Tours are available in Russian only. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Entrance: 24 000 BYR Tour: 30 000 BYR.

Jewish Memorial C-3, ul. Zaslavskaya ( ул ( ул.. Заславская ). On March 2, 1942, around 5,000 JewЗаславская). ish men, woman and children were brought here, shot  and buried, some still alive. The memorial (pictured) represents a group of people descending a slope to their  horrific deaths.

Synagogue B-4, ul. Kropotkina 22 ( ул  ул.. Кропоткина Кропоткина,, 22), tel. (+375 17) 334 22 73. Allegedly the first synagogue built in the country since 1930, this large modern structure also func tions as a place for the Jewish community to mee t and features more than just a place for prayer, including a cultural centre, library and restaurant.

35

Hero City

On the day Hitler’s Wehrmacht took control of the Belarusian capital in the summer of 1941, Minsk looked more or less like any other historical cit y in the region, a multi-ethnic mishmash of wooden houses, Catholic spires, grand tsarist façades, synagogues and other  miscellaneous architecture. When the Red Arm y took it back again three years later, later, over 90 per cent of the city lay in ruins. Rebuilt li terally   from the ashes of the Great Patriotic War in accordance with the strictest Socialist Realist principles, Minsk, granted the title Hero City on June 26, 1974 along  with 11 other cities in the Soviet Union in honour of  the special role it played during the aforementioned hostilities, offers a rare glimpse at Stalin-era social planning on a truly epic scale. The city’s crowning masterpiece is the grand avenue stretching several kilometres northeast from the mostly pre-war Independence Square through the heart of the city along Nezavisimosti and out past  the pseudo-Classical Belarusian National Technical University into the suburbs. Lined with countless fine examples, of particular interest are the 1953 Central Post Office at Nezavisimosti 10 and complete with hammer and sickle over the entrance, the 1951 GUM department store at Nezavisimosti 23 and, a little  further on, the cathedral-looking struc ture dating from 1954 that’s the Trade Union Palace of Culture. Furth er  on at the centre of the magnificent Victory Square is the arguably the most representative structure in the entire city. The Victory Monument is a 38-metre granite column with a three-metre replica of the Soviet Order of Victory on top, unveiled on the 10th anniversary of the liberation of the city by the Red Army on July 3, 1954 to honour Belarusian Red Army soldiers and Partisans who gave their lives durin g the Great Patrio tic War. War. At  its base are four magnificent bronze reliefs (pictured) representing May 9, 1945 (Victory Day), the Red Army  During the Great Patriotic War, Belarusian Partisans and Honour for the Deceased Heroes of the Liberation. Nearby lie small granite plinths with the names of the other 11 Hero Cities throughou t Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. An eternal flame at the base of the monument, burning  since July 3, 1961, is a popular place for newlyweds to lay flowers and have their photograph taken. Interestingly, an entire three kilometre-long stretch of  Nezavisimosti and the buildings surrounding it were at one time mooted for inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage list, an event which sadly never happened thanks to some rather careless planning in 2002 that  destroyed the overall appearance of the area.

Mound of Glory 

minsk inyourpo cket com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

34

WHAT TO SEE

WHAT TO SEE the former Trinity Church that once stood in the area, is a slight  misnomer in that it dates from just three decades ago. Built  between 1982 and 1985 on the site of a former settlement  dating from the 12th c entury, Trinity Trinity does a t least offer a break   from the sprawling concrete of the city centre. The birthplace of the Belarusian poet and journalist Maxim Bogdanovich, the area boasts a number of decen t restaurants and bars, making  it worth having a look round, especially during the summer.

Parks & Gardens Central Botanical Gardens B-6, ul. Surganova 2a ( ул  ул.. Сурганова, 2а Сурганова, 2а), tel. (+375 17) 284 14 84. Taking up a considerable portion of the city’s Chelyuskintsev Park, the Central Botanical Gardens date from 1932 and feature some 9,000 different species. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon.

Независимости , 116), tel. (+375 17) 229 24 94, http://newbuilding.nacbibl.org.by.Opened on June 16, 2006 and the work of architects Mihail Vinogradov and Vik tor  Kramarenko, the Belarusian National Library is well worth a trip out of the centre for a closer inspec tion. Standing at 72 metres tall and boasting an impressive 22 floors, the extraordinary  rhombicuboctahedron construction houses 20 state-of-the-a state-of-the-art  rt  reading rooms, has full disabled acce ss, contains its very own Book Museum, lights up at night and even has an obs ervation point on top for superb views of the city reached via a ride in a glass lift that clings to the edge of the building. A statue of the 16th-century father of Belarusian publishing, Francysk Skaryna stands near the entrance, whilst membership is open to anyone in possession of a valid passport regardless of nationality. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00.

Oktyabrskaya (October) Square D-4, Oktyabrskaya pl., next to Museum of Great Patriotic War, MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская). ). Originally functioning as a small marketplace ace until the first half of the 19th century, October  Square is now a massive open space that effectively serves as the centre of the city where a small granite pyramid marks the spot. Most famous as a place of celebration, public events and an outdoor skating rink during the winter. Perhaps the most interesting if not bizarre story of the square is the discovery of several mammoth skeletons when the Metro line below was being built.

Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb) C-4, West bank of the river, between ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha and ul. Starovilenskaya (между (между ул  ул.. Богдановича и  ул  ул.. Старовиленской). Старовиленской ). Minsk’s old town, more commonly known as Troitskoye Troitskoye Predmestye (T (Trinity rinity Suburb, or just Trinity) after 

Out of town Minsk Sea (Минское (Минское море море)) A large artificial expanse

sprawling, 78-hectare Chelyuskintsev Park is a hugely p opular  place for people of all ages to visit during the warmer part of  the year. Great for strolling ng around under the trees or taking a picnic, attractions include an ancient amusement park complete with 28-metre Ferris wheel, a narrow gauge railway run entirely  by young people and, next door, the lovely Central Botanical Gardens (see above). Interestingly, the park is named after the SS Chelyuskin, a Soviet steamship that found itself stranded along the Northern Sea Route in the early 1930s. Trapped in ice and eventually sinking, the pilots who rescued the crew were the  first ever to receive the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

of water 5km or so north of Minsk, the Minsk Sea is popular  place to escape during warm weekends. Scattered around the edge are b eaches, cafés, places to rent pedalos and the like and much more besides.

Jewish life in Minsk and Belarus in general can be traced back to the 8th century. Before the German invasion of Belarus in 1941, the Yiddishspeaking Jews of  Minsk made up over half the population of the city. At war’s end almost all of Minsk’s Jewish men, women and children had been murdered by the Nazis and their willing  local collaborators, most of them at the n earby extermination camp at Maly Trostenets. Of the many notable Jews born in Belarus are the artist Marc Chagall (Moishe Shagal, 1887-1985) and the current Prime Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres (b. 1923). Today’s Jews make up less than one per cent of the population of the country.

Mound of Glory (Курган (Курган Славы Славы)) 30km north of  Minsk, at junction of Moscow and Minsk-2 highways. This rather extraordinary, artificial 70-metre mound out in the direction of Minsk-2 airport was constructed in 1969 at  the point where four Red Army divisions met on their drive towards Berlin in 1944. Made from soil taken from th ousands of Belarusian towns and villages affected by the German occupation, at the top of a 240-step walk on top of the mound are three huge bayonets rimmed by an elaborate mosaic depicting the horrors of war in both words and pictures. A  popular place of pilgrimage as well as one of the places local newlyweds come to have their photograph taken.

Stalin’s Line (Линия (Линия Сталина Сталина)) 31km west of  Minsk along the Molodechno road, 6km from Zaslavl, tel. (+375 17) 503 20 22, www.stalin-line.by. Opened in 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Great  Patriotic War, Stalin’s Line forms part of a chain of defences along or close to the former western border of the Soviet  Union that ran from the Finnish border to the Black Sea. Made up of a large collection of old tanks, aircraft, artillery  and other military hardware and set among old bunkers and other defensive structures visitors; are free to wander  around at their leisure or to take one of the guided tours on offer by men in military uniforms. Stalin’s Line is about 30km northwest of the capital. Tours are available in Russian only. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Entrance: 24 000 BYR Tour: 30 000 BYR.

Jewish Memorial C-3, ul. Zaslavskaya ( ул ( ул.. Заславская ). On March 2, 1942, around 5,000 JewЗаславская). ish men, woman and children were brought here, shot  and buried, some still alive. The memorial (pictured) represents a group of people descending a slope to their  horrific deaths.

Synagogue B-4, ul. Kropotkina 22 ( ул  ул.. Кропоткина Кропоткина,, 22), tel. (+375 17) 334 22 73. Allegedly the first synagogue built in the country since 1930, this large modern structure also func tions as a place for the Jewish community to mee t and features more than just a place for prayer, including a cultural centre, library and restaurant.

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

On the day Hitler’s Wehrmacht took control of the Belarusian capital in the summer of 1941, Minsk looked more or less like any other historical cit y in the region, a multi-ethnic mishmash of wooden houses, Catholic spires, grand tsarist façades, synagogues and other  miscellaneous architecture. When the Red Arm y took it back again three years later, later, over 90 per cent of the city lay in ruins. Rebuilt li terally   from the ashes of the Great Patriotic War in accordance with the strictest Socialist Realist principles, Minsk, granted the title Hero City on June 26, 1974 along  with 11 other cities in the Soviet Union in honour of  the special role it played during the aforementioned hostilities, offers a rare glimpse at Stalin-era social planning on a truly epic scale. The city’s crowning masterpiece is the grand avenue stretching several kilometres northeast from the mostly pre-war Independence Square through the heart of the city along Nezavisimosti and out past  the pseudo-Classical Belarusian National Technical University into the suburbs. Lined with countless fine examples, of particular interest are the 1953 Central Post Office at Nezavisimosti 10 and complete with hammer and sickle over the entrance, the 1951 GUM department store at Nezavisimosti 23 and, a little  further on, the cathedral-looking struc ture dating from 1954 that’s the Trade Union Palace of Culture. Furth er  on at the centre of the magnificent Victory Square is the arguably the most representative structure in the entire city. The Victory Monument is a 38-metre granite column with a three-metre replica of the Soviet Order of Victory on top, unveiled on the 10th anniversary of the liberation of the city by the Red Army on July 3, 1954 to honour Belarusian Red Army soldiers and Partisans who gave their lives durin g the Great Patrio tic War. War. At  its base are four magnificent bronze reliefs (pictured) representing May 9, 1945 (Victory Day), the Red Army  During the Great Patriotic War, Belarusian Partisans and Honour for the Deceased Heroes of the Liberation. Nearby lie small granite plinths with the names of the other 11 Hero Cities throughou t Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. An eternal flame at the base of the monument, burning  since July 3, 1961, is a popular place for newlyweds to lay flowers and have their photograph taken. Interestingly, an entire three kilometre-long stretch of  Nezavisimosti and the buildings surrounding it were at one time mooted for inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage list, an event which sadly never happened thanks to some rather careless planning in 2002 that  destroyed the overall appearance of the area.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

NATIONAL ART MUSEUM

2011

GETTING AROUND Strela Car Rental

N a t i o n a l A r t M u s e u m (Национальный ( Национальный Художественный музей музей)) D-4, ul. Lenina 20 ( ул  ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 20), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 68 44/(+375 17) 227 71 63, www.artmuseum.by. Minsk’s fabulous National Art Museum, or the National Art  Museum of the Republic of Belaru s to give it its full title, holds the largest single collection of Belarusian and international art in the country and is a must-see sight for anyone visiting  the city. Holding individual collections of Belarusian Art from the 12th to the 20th Century, Russian Art from the 18th to the 20th Century, Western European Art from the 16th to the 20th Century and Oriental Art from the 15th to the 20th Century, the museum’s origins date back to before the war  and a Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of  the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, passed on January  24, 1939, its official founding date. Starting life in the humble surroundings of Minsk’s Upper Communist Agricultural Sch ool, by 1941 the museum’s collection numbered 2,711 works of  art, most of them donated by galleries in cities in Russia and Belarus. The coming of the Great Patriotic War however saw the collection looted by the o ccupying Nazis and spread far  far  and wide, with not one item remaining and almost nothing  recovered at the end of hostilities. Starting from new, like the city in which is was housed, the collection was rebuilt from scratch with the notable work of the museum’s Director, Elena Aladova (1907-1986) who ran operations for  33 years from 1944 until her retirement. After the war the museum moved from home to home as the collection slowly  grew. Greatly extended in 2006 and p ossessing over 30,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, porcelain and other works of 

Hero City

Mound of Glory 

Minsk In Your Po cket

36

visimosti pr., between ul. Yanki Kupaly and ul. Frunze (Между  ул  ул.. Янки Купалы и  ул  ул.. Фрунзе Фрунзе). ). The oldest  park in Minsk and founded in 1800 as the City Gardens, Gorky Park received its current name in honour of the Soviet-era writer in 1936. Originally designed along the lines of a classic English park, the hugely popular public space has seen many transformations over the years. Now geared towards children ldren although frequented by people of  all ages, it’s home among other things to an amusement  park complete with a 56-metre Ferris wheel, a small observatory and planetarium and an indoor skating rink. During  the summer it’s possible for children to take a ride round the park on a pony.

Chelyuskintsev Park (Парк (Парк Челюскинцев Челюскинцев)). The

Jewish Minsk National Library Nezavisimosti pr. 116 (просп ( просп..

Gorky Park (Парк (Парк Горького Горького)) C-5, D-5, Along Neza-

35

Tanka 81/2 ( Танка 81/2) tel. (+375 25) 604 93 15

(+375 29) 190 78 59 Open 09:00 - 18:00

www.taxi-strela.by

        

National Art Museum

   

Public transport

art in total in its contemporary collection, the museum’s current  home dates from 1957 and was designed by the Belarusian architect Mikhail Baklanov (1914-1990). The museum manages to exhibit only a small fraction of its entire collection, none of it the work of a household name in the West (the absence of Marc Chagall continues to cause mild embarrassment for  a few, but the museum really isn’t any worse off without him), although much of it truly outstanding all the same. Notable among the many great works on display are several landscapes by the French painter Huber Rober t (1733-1808), some truly exquisite Chinese woodcarvings and Japanese ceramics, one or two outstanding pieces by the JewishBelarusian artist and Chagall’s teacher Yehuda (Yuri) (Yuri) Pen (1854-1937)) and a particular favourite, Mikhail Savitski’s (1854-1937 (1922-2010) extraordinary painting, Partisan Madonna, dating from 1967. Even the least cultured visitor with only a passing interest in art should give the museum at least an hour. More serious connoisseurs might like to give up half a day or so to the work on display. A floor plan of the 19 halls that make up the entire exhibition can be purchased inside the museum for 1,100BYR. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Tue.

Metro Anyone who’s ever experienced the beauty  of the Moscow Metro and is in need of more inspiration should see what they got up to in Minsk. A surviving  testament to Soviet  design, all major stations in the city centre remain intact since they were constructed with such inspiration. The us e of glass is of particular interest, as are the occasional busts of  Lenin found lurking in one or two subterranean niches. Using them on the other hand remains at best difficult. Two lines cover central Minsk. Purple plastic tokens costing 850BYR are sold from booths inside Metro stations. Drop those toy tokens into the slot machinelike turnstiles. Other tickets, including a 10-day pass for  12,000BYR, 12,000B YR, come in the form of magnetic cards. These you either swipe at the turnstile or shove in sideways until they pop back ou t, toaster-like a second later. Trains Trains run every two minutes or so during rush h our and every   five minutes off-peak. After 21:00 trains run every seven to 10 minutes until 01:00. Buses, Trams & Trolleybuses Minsk has 12 tram lines, 56 trolleybus routes and over  100 bus routes. All three run from around 05:35 to 00:55 seven days a week. Avoid peak hours if you value your limbs. Public transport tickets costing 850BYR are sold at most kiosks. Punch them inside the vehicle or  risk a fine.

Car rental Avis (Авис (Авис)) D-3, Hotel Minsk, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 334 79 90, fax (+375 17) 239 16 13, [email protected], www.avis.by. QOpen 08:00 - 17:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 16:00.

Hertz E-3, ul. Sverdlova 2/2 ( ул ( ул.. Свердлова Свердлова,, 2/2), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 306 53 35 (+375 29) 660 29 88, www.hertz-belarus.by. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Strela Car Rental C-2, ul. Tanka 81/2 ( ул ( ул.. Танка Танка,, 81/2), tel. (+375 25) 604 93 15/(+375 29) 190 78 59, [email protected], www.taxi-strela.by. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00.

Airlines Aeroflot Russian Airlines C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 227 28 87, www.aeroflot.ru.

Air Baltic C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 (просп (просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 90 43/(+375 17) 203 50 51, www.airbaltic.lv. Also in the airport Minsk-2 tel. (+375 17) 279 25 68. Daily from 14:00 till 16:20 QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Alitalia C-4, ul. Kuibysheva 29 ( ул ( ул.. Куйбышева , 29), tel. (+375 17) 220 22 23, www.alitalia.com.

Austrian Airlines/Swissair (Австрийские ( Австрийские авиалинии)) С-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 38 ( просп авиалинии просп.. Независимости,, 38), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Независимости (Площадь Победы), Победы ), tel. (+375 17)288 25 35/(+375 17)

international long-distance buses

your connection across Europe

 

  



Minsk In Your Po cket

minsk inyourpo cket com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Taxis If you use your common sense, taxis can be a surprisingly cheap and reliable way to get around Minsk. Just  like in any other major city, however, Minsk boats plenty  of entrepreneurial drivers out to take visitors for a ride in more ways than one. To minimise the risk, look for  either the official yellow taxis or those run by some of the more reliable private companies, such as 135, 157, 158 and 181. These numbers not only show the company  affiliation, they’re also the short telephone numbers you need to call them. Make sure the meter is running  before you set off.

2011

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NATIONAL ART MUSEUM

GETTING AROUND Strela Car Rental

N a t i o n a l A r t M u s e u m (Национальный ( Национальный Художественный музей музей)) D-4, ul. Lenina 20 ( ул  ул.. Ленина Ленина,, 20), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 328 68 44/(+375 17) 227 71 63, www.artmuseum.by. Minsk’s fabulous National Art Museum, or the National Art  Museum of the Republic of Belaru s to give it its full title, holds the largest single collection of Belarusian and international art in the country and is a must-see sight for anyone visiting  the city. Holding individual collections of Belarusian Art from the 12th to the 20th Century, Russian Art from the 18th to the 20th Century, Western European Art from the 16th to the 20th Century and Oriental Art from the 15th to the 20th Century, the museum’s origins date back to before the war  and a Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of  the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, passed on January  24, 1939, its official founding date. Starting life in the humble surroundings of Minsk’s Upper Communist Agricultural Sch ool, by 1941 the museum’s collection numbered 2,711 works of  art, most of them donated by galleries in cities in Russia and Belarus. The coming of the Great Patriotic War however saw the collection looted by the o ccupying Nazis and spread far  far  and wide, with not one item remaining and almost nothing  recovered at the end of hostilities. Starting from new, like the city in which is was housed, the collection was rebuilt from scratch with the notable work of the museum’s Director, Elena Aladova (1907-1986) who ran operations for  33 years from 1944 until her retirement. After the war the museum moved from home to home as the collection slowly  grew. Greatly extended in 2006 and p ossessing over 30,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, porcelain and other works of 

37

Tanka 81/2 ( Танка 81/2) tel. (+375 25) 604 93 15

(+375 29) 190 78 59 Open 09:00 - 18:00

www.taxi-strela.by

        

National Art Museum

   

Public transport

art in total in its contemporary collection, the museum’s current  home dates from 1957 and was designed by the Belarusian architect Mikhail Baklanov (1914-1990). The museum manages to exhibit only a small fraction of its entire collection, none of it the work of a household name in the West (the absence of Marc Chagall continues to cause mild embarrassment for  a few, but the museum really isn’t any worse off without him), although much of it truly outstanding all the same. Notable among the many great works on display are several landscapes by the French painter Huber Rober t (1733-1808), some truly exquisite Chinese woodcarvings and Japanese ceramics, one or two outstanding pieces by the JewishBelarusian artist and Chagall’s teacher Yehuda (Yuri) (Yuri) Pen (1854-1937)) and a particular favourite, Mikhail Savitski’s (1854-1937 (1922-2010) extraordinary painting, Partisan Madonna, dating from 1967. Even the least cultured visitor with only a passing interest in art should give the museum at least an hour. More serious connoisseurs might like to give up half a day or so to the work on display. A floor plan of the 19 halls that make up the entire exhibition can be purchased inside the museum for 1,100BYR. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Tue.

Metro Anyone who’s ever experienced the beauty  of the Moscow Metro and is in need of more inspiration should see what they got up to in Minsk. A surviving  testament to Soviet  design, all major stations in the city centre remain intact since they were constructed with such inspiration. The us e of glass is of particular interest, as are the occasional busts of  Lenin found lurking in one or two subterranean niches. Using them on the other hand remains at best difficult. Two lines cover central Minsk. Purple plastic tokens costing 850BYR are sold from booths inside Metro stations. Drop those toy tokens into the slot machinelike turnstiles. Other tickets, including a 10-day pass for  12,000BYR, 12,000B YR, come in the form of magnetic cards. These you either swipe at the turnstile or shove in sideways until they pop back ou t, toaster-like a second later. Trains Trains run every two minutes or so during rush h our and every   five minutes off-peak. After 21:00 trains run every seven to 10 minutes until 01:00. Buses, Trams & Trolleybuses Minsk has 12 tram lines, 56 trolleybus routes and over  100 bus routes. All three run from around 05:35 to 00:55 seven days a week. Avoid peak hours if you value your limbs. Public transport tickets costing 850BYR are sold at most kiosks. Punch them inside the vehicle or  risk a fine.

Car rental Avis (Авис (Авис)) D-3, Hotel Minsk, Nezavisimosti pr. 11 (просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 11), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 334 79 90, fax (+375 17) 239 16 13, [email protected], www.avis.by. QOpen 08:00 - 17:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 16:00.

Hertz E-3, ul. Sverdlova 2/2 ( ул ( ул.. Свердлова Свердлова,, 2/2), MPloschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 17) 306 53 35 (+375 29) 660 29 88, www.hertz-belarus.by. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Strela Car Rental C-2, ul. Tanka 81/2 ( ул ( ул.. Танка Танка,, 81/2), tel. (+375 25) 604 93 15/(+375 29) 190 78 59, [email protected], www.taxi-strela.by. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00.

Airlines Aeroflot Russian Airlines C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул  ул.. Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 227 28 87, www.aeroflot.ru.

Air Baltic C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 (просп (просп.. Победителей Победителей,, 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 90 43/(+375 17) 203 50 51, www.airbaltic.lv. Also in the airport Minsk-2 tel. (+375 17) 279 25 68. Daily from 14:00 till 16:20 QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Alitalia C-4, ul. Kuibysheva 29 ( ул ( ул.. Куйбышева , 29), tel. (+375 17) 220 22 23, www.alitalia.com.

Austrian Airlines/Swissair (Австрийские ( Австрийские авиалинии)) С-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 38 ( просп авиалинии просп.. Независимости,, 38), MPloschad Pobedy (Площадь Независимости (Площадь Победы), Победы ), tel. (+375 17)288 25 35/(+375 17)

international long-distance buses

your connection across Europe

 

  



Minsk In Your Po cket

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minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Taxis If you use your common sense, taxis can be a surprisingly cheap and reliable way to get around Minsk. Just  like in any other major city, however, Minsk boats plenty  of entrepreneurial drivers out to take visitors for a ride in more ways than one. To minimise the risk, look for  either the official yellow taxis or those run by some of the more reliable private companies, such as 135, 157, 158 and 181. These numbers not only show the company  affiliation, they’re also the short telephone numbers you need to call them. Make sure the meter is running  before you set off.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

GETTING AROUND

2011

GETTING AROUND

Tourist information Tourist Information C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 ( просп . Победителей , 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 99 00. The only thing Minsk has that’s remotel y like a tourist information office is a counter run by the s tate tourist agency, Belintourist, Belintourist, attached to the Yubileynaya Hotel. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00, 13:45 - 18:00. Fri 09:00 - 13:00, 13:45 - 16:45. Closed Sat, Sun.

288 25 55, www.aua.com. Q Open 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Also in Minsk-2 airport, tel. (+375 17) 279 15 39, 279 15 29. Open daily from 04:00 till 06:00, 11:00 till 18:00

Belavia (Белавиа (Белавиа)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 14 ( ул ( ул.. Немига Немига,, 14), tel. (+375 17) 210 41 00, [email protected], www.belavia.by. Also in the airport Minsk-2 tel. 279 10 32 QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 17:00.

CSA Czech Airlines C-4, ul. Kuibysheva 29

Travel a gency Gastina

  Minsk, 2/2, Sverdlova Str., room 6

Партизанский, 6 а ), tel. (+375 17) 211 26 06, Партизанский, www.elal.co.il. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Tel:

+375-17-288-22-65

Driving  Petrol stations. The highways, towns and cities of Belarus are lined with shiny, state-of-the art petrol stations including  Lukoil, Slavneft and BelNefteKhim BelNefteKhim.. Unleaded petrol is freely  available, as are maps, newspapers, food and all the other  things associated with Western-style stations. Payment is in Belarusian roubles only. At the time of going to press, a litre of 95 cost around 3700 BYR.

Tel/fax +375 17 306 53 35 Mob. +375 29 660 29 88

( ул  ул.. Куйбышева Куйбышева,, 29), tel. (+375 17) 284 91 01, www.czechairlines.com.

El Al Israeli Airlines Partisansky pr. 6a (просп ( просп..

Guided tours of Belarus Individual tours Corporate tours English speaking guides

e-mail: [email protected] www.hertz-belarus.by

Eurolines Belarus Borovaya 3/32, Minsk district (Боровая 3/32, Минский район район), ), tel. (+375 17) 225 25 56, [email protected], www.eurolines.by. National and international services to cities including Berlin, Białystok, Brest, Brussels, Mos cow, Paris, Vilnius and Warsaw. Warsaw. QOpen 09:00 - 17:30. Closed Sat, Sun.

LOT Polish Airlines C-3, Pobediteley pr. 7 (просп ( просп.. Победителей, 7), tel. (+375 17) 226 66 28, www.lot.pl. Победителей, QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Long-distance Long-dista nce buses

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Lufthansa B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 56 (просп ( просп.. Независимости, 56), tel. (+375 17) 284 71 30, Независимости, www.lufthansa.by. QOpen 09:00 - 17:30, Sat 09:00 13:00. Closed Sun. Also at Minsk-2, tel. (+375 17) 279 17 45 Daily from 10:00 til 16:30

( ул  ул.. Ленинградская Ленинградская,, 5), tel. (+375 17) 211 03 54. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Gastina (Гастина (Гастина)) С-5, Masherova pr. 3/9 (просп ( просп.. Машерова,, 3/9), MPloshchad Pobedy (Площадь Машерова (Площадь Победы ), tel. (+375 17) 288 22 65/(+375 29) Победы), 636 20 17, gastina2009 [email protected], @mail.ru, www.gastina.by. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Smok Travel (Смок (Смок Трэвэл Трэвэл)) B-4, ul. Masherova 19 ( ул  ул.. Машерова Машерова,, 19), tel. (+375 17) 284 69 69. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

Viapol (Виаполь (Виаполь)) D-4, ul. Lenina 9 ( ул ( ул.. Ленина Ленина,,

Travel agencies

At the time of going to press, Minsk’s Central Bus Station is closed for renovation until the end of 2011. The following  two stations currently handle all international buses in and out of Belarus.

Alatan Tour (Алатан (Алатан тур тур)) C-4, ul. Janky Kupaly

9), tel. (+375 17) 289 15 39/(+375 17) 226 15 76, [email protected], www.viapol.by. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00.

21 ( Янки Купалы Купалы,, 21), tel. (+375 17)289 14 36. Visas, accomodation, trips. Q Open 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Travel agenci es abroad

Moscovsky (Московский (Московский автовокзал) автовокзал) ul. Filimonova 63 ( ул ( ул.. Филимонова Филимонова,, 63), MMoskovskaya

Belarustourist (Беларустурист (Беларустурист)) C-3, ul. Maxima

Baltics and Beyond 1 Amy Street, Bingley, West Q Open

Tanka 30 ( ул ( ул.. Максима Танка Танка,, 30), tel. (+375 17) 226 94 85. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30, Fri 08:30 - 16:15. Closed Sat, Sun.

Vostochny (Восточный (Восточный автовокзал автовокзал)) ul. Vaneyeva

Belarus Tour Service E-2, ul. Rozy Luksemburg 89

34 ( ул  ул.. Ванеева Ванеева,, 34), tel. (+375 17) 248 06 28. QOpen 05:30 - 23:00.

( ул  ул.. Р.Люксембург Люксембург,, 89), tel. (+375 17) 200 56 75. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

(Московская Московская), ), tel. (+375 17) 219 36 52. 05:00 - 23:00.

Turkish Airlines C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул ( ул . Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 328 68 78, www.turkishairlines.com.

Blue Bird (Голубая (Голубая птица птица)) ul. Leningradskaya 5

Bus stations

Transaero Airlines D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 23 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная Интернациональная,, 23), tel. (+375 17) 289 14 53, www.transaero.ru. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

tel. (+375 17)222 30 22/(+375 17) 220 37 47. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Belorussky Sputnik (Белорусский (Белорусский Спутник Спутник))

Trains

D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 36 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 36),

Yorkshire, BD16 4NE, UK, tel. (+44 845) 094 2125, [email protected], www.balticsandbeyond. com. As the name suggests, they specialise not just in the Baltics, but the ‘beyond’ bits - and that means Minsk and other bits of Belarus.

www.inyourpocket.com/  clickandbuy 

Central Train Station (Центральный (Центральный вокзал вокзал))

Minsk Central Train Station

Minsk In Your Po cket

E-3, Privokzalnaya pl. 4 (Привокзальная (Привокзальная пл пл., ., 4), tel. (+375 17) 213 17 19. Tickets to domestic destinations are sold in the two narrow halls that flank the main entrance. International tickets, for some reason, are still sold in the old train station building (Open 09:00 - 20:00) to the right as you face the new buildin g. Call tel. (+375 17) 213 17 19 for information about international trains, or tel. 105 for any train-related enquiries. When looking for your  train, keep in mind that there are platform numbers and track numbers, so there could be two trains on the same platform. Check the signs carefully if you don’t want to end up in Izhevsk. The train station is packed wi th kiosks selling  everything from flowers to instant noodles. People travelling First Class can take advantage of the VIP lounge.

minsk inyourpo cket com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

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GETTING AROUND

GETTING AROUND

39

Tourist information Tourist Information C-3, Pobediteley pr. 19 ( просп . Победителей , 19), tel. (+375 17) 226 99 00. The only thing Minsk has that’s remotel y like a tourist information office is a counter run by the s tate tourist agency, Belintourist, Belintourist, attached to the Yubileynaya Hotel. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00, 13:45 - 18:00. Fri 09:00 - 13:00, 13:45 - 16:45. Closed Sat, Sun.

Travel a gency Gastina

 

288 25 55, www.aua.com. Q Open 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. Also in Minsk-2 airport, tel. (+375 17) 279 15 39, 279 15 29. Open daily from 04:00 till 06:00, 11:00 till 18:00

Belavia (Белавиа (Белавиа)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 14 ( ул ( ул.. Немига Немига,,

Guided tours of Belarus Individual tours Corporate tours English speaking guides

Minsk, 2/2, Sverdlova Str., room 6

Tel:

+375-17-288-22-65

Driving  Petrol stations. The highways, towns and cities of Belarus

14), tel. (+375 17) 210 41 00, [email protected], www.belavia.by. Also in the airport Minsk-2 tel. 279 10 32 QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 17:00.

are lined with shiny, state-of-the art petrol stations including  Lukoil, Slavneft and BelNefteKhim BelNefteKhim.. Unleaded petrol is freely  available, as are maps, newspapers, food and all the other  things associated with Western-style stations. Payment is in Belarusian roubles only. At the time of going to press, a litre of 95 cost around 3700 BYR.

Tel/fax +375 17 306 53 35 Mob. +375 29 660 29 88

CSA Czech Airlines C-4, ul. Kuibysheva 29 ( ул  ул.. Куйбышева Куйбышева,, 29), tel. (+375 17) 284 91 01, www.czechairlines.com.

e-mail: [email protected] www.hertz-belarus.by

El Al Israeli Airlines Partisansky pr. 6a (просп ( просп.. Партизанский, 6 а ), tel. (+375 17) 211 26 06, Партизанский, www.elal.co.il. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Eurolines Belarus Borovaya 3/32, Minsk district (Боровая 3/32, Минский район район), ), tel. (+375 17) 225 25 56, [email protected], www.eurolines.by. National and international services to cities including Berlin, Białystok, Brest, Brussels, Mos cow, Paris, Vilnius and Warsaw. Warsaw. QOpen 09:00 - 17:30. Closed Sat, Sun.

LOT Polish Airlines C-3, Pobediteley pr. 7 (просп ( просп.. Победителей, 7), tel. (+375 17) 226 66 28, www.lot.pl. Победителей, QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Long-distance Long-dista nce buses

ÓÍÏ 190592823

Lufthansa B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 56 (просп ( просп.. Независимости, 56), tel. (+375 17) 284 71 30, Независимости, www.lufthansa.by. QOpen 09:00 - 17:30, Sat 09:00 13:00. Closed Sun. Also at Minsk-2, tel. (+375 17) 279 17 45 Daily from 10:00 til 16:30

( ул  ул.. Ленинградская Ленинградская,, 5), tel. (+375 17) 211 03 54. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Gastina (Гастина (Гастина)) С-5, Masherova pr. 3/9 (просп ( просп.. Машерова,, 3/9), MPloshchad Pobedy (Площадь Машерова (Площадь Победы ), tel. (+375 17) 288 22 65/(+375 29) Победы), 636 20 17, gastina2009 [email protected], @mail.ru, www.gastina.by. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Smok Travel (Смок (Смок Трэвэл Трэвэл)) B-4, ul. Masherova 19 ( ул  ул.. Машерова Машерова,, 19), tel. (+375 17) 284 69 69. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

Viapol (Виаполь (Виаполь)) D-4, ul. Lenina 9 ( ул ( ул.. Ленина Ленина,,

Travel agencies

At the time of going to press, Minsk’s Central Bus Station is closed for renovation until the end of 2011. The following  two stations currently handle all international buses in and out of Belarus.

Alatan Tour (Алатан (Алатан тур тур)) C-4, ul. Janky Kupaly

9), tel. (+375 17) 289 15 39/(+375 17) 226 15 76, [email protected], www.viapol.by. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 14:00.

21 ( Янки Купалы Купалы,, 21), tel. (+375 17)289 14 36. Visas, accomodation, trips. Q Open 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Travel agenci es abroad

Moscovsky (Московский (Московский автовокзал) автовокзал) ul. Filimonova 63 ( ул ( ул.. Филимонова Филимонова,, 63), MMoskovskaya

Belarustourist (Беларустурист (Беларустурист)) C-3, ul. Maxima

Baltics and Beyond 1 Amy Street, Bingley, West Q Open

Tanka 30 ( ул ( ул.. Максима Танка Танка,, 30), tel. (+375 17) 226 94 85. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30, Fri 08:30 - 16:15. Closed Sat, Sun.

Vostochny (Восточный (Восточный автовокзал автовокзал)) ul. Vaneyeva

Belarus Tour Service E-2, ul. Rozy Luksemburg 89

34 ( ул  ул.. Ванеева Ванеева,, 34), tel. (+375 17) 248 06 28. QOpen 05:30 - 23:00.

( ул  ул.. Р.Люксембург Люксембург,, 89), tel. (+375 17) 200 56 75. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

(Московская Московская), ), tel. (+375 17) 219 36 52. 05:00 - 23:00.

Turkish Airlines C-4, ul. Yanki Kupaly 25 ( ул ( ул . Янки Купалы Купалы,, 25), tel. (+375 17) 328 68 78, www.turkishairlines.com.

Blue Bird (Голубая (Голубая птица птица)) ul. Leningradskaya 5

Bus stations

Transaero Airlines D-4, ul. Internatsionalnaya 23 ( ул  ул.. Интернациональная Интернациональная,, 23), tel. (+375 17) 289 14 53, www.transaero.ru. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

tel. (+375 17)222 30 22/(+375 17) 220 37 47. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.

Yorkshire, BD16 4NE, UK, tel. (+44 845) 094 2125, [email protected], www.balticsandbeyond. com. As the name suggests, they specialise not just in the Baltics, but the ‘beyond’ bits - and that means Minsk and other bits of Belarus.

www.inyourpocket.com/  clickandbuy 

Belorussky Sputnik (Белорусский (Белорусский Спутник Спутник))

Trains

D-4, ul. Karla Marxa 36 ( ул ( ул.. Карла Маркса Маркса,, 36),

Central Train Station (Центральный (Центральный вокзал вокзал)) E-3, Privokzalnaya pl. 4 (Привокзальная (Привокзальная пл пл., ., 4), tel. (+375 17) 213 17 19. Tickets to domestic destinations are sold in the two narrow halls that flank the main entrance. International tickets, for some reason, are still sold in the old train station building (Open 09:00 - 20:00) to the right as you face the new buildin g. Call tel. (+375 17) 213 17 19 for information about international trains, or tel. 105 for any train-related enquiries. When looking for your  train, keep in mind that there are platform numbers and track numbers, so there could be two trains on the same platform. Check the signs carefully if you don’t want to end up in Izhevsk. The train station is packed wi th kiosks selling  everything from flowers to instant noodles. People travelling First Class can take advantage of the VIP lounge.

Minsk Central Train Station

Minsk In Your Po cket

40

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

GETTING AROUND

GETTING AROUND

Flight schedule

Flight schedule

From Minsk

To Minsk

Days

Dep.

Arr.

–2–4–6– 1–3––6– –––4––– –2––––– –––––6– ––3–––– –––––6– –––––6– ––––––7 1–3––6– –2––––– –2–4––– ––––––7 1–––––– –2––––– –––45–7 ––3––6– 1–3–56– –2–456– ––3–––7 ––3–––7 ––––5–– –2–4–6– –––4––– –––––6– 1–––––– ––3–––7 1–34–6– –2––5–7 1–3––67 1–––5–– –2–4––– ––––5–– 1–––––– 1234–67 12––––7 ––34–6– ––––5–– ––––5–– ––34––– 1–––––– –2––––– –––4––– –––––6– ––3–5–– ––––––7 1–––––– 1–––––– –2–4–––

14:05 10:50 1 3 :5 5 23:40 17:05 20:15 20:30 20:15 20:30 23:55 23:50 23:50 0:20 14:30 13:00 15:00 22: 3 0 14:25 5:40 5:50 1 2: 3 5 1 2: 3 5 1 2: 3 0 8:05 1 3 :5 0 14:25 14:25 16:05 8:30 17:40 7:45 9:25 9:25 20:30 1 7:3 0 9:35 1 1 :3 0 1 7 : 25 18:30 20:30 8:50 14:50 7:40 7:40 9:55 1 2: 1 0 1 3 :5 5 1 6: 3 0 8:30

20:30 12:30 1 5: 3 5 5:40 23 : 3 0 3:15 3:15 3 :1 5 3:15 5 : 20 3 : 25 3 : 25 3 : 55 18:00 13:50 1 5: 50 4:30 15:45 7:00 7:10 14:00 14:00 1 3 :3 0 9:20 15:05 15:45 15:45 18:40 10:50 18:40 8:45 10:25 10:25 3:45 18:40 10:40 12:35 1 8: 3 0 19:40 2:50 11:50 18:10 11:00 11:00 10:55 13:10 1 5 :1 5 1 8: 2 0 10:20

Minsk In Your Po cket

Destination ABU DHABI (E Y) AMSTERDAM (B2) AMSTERDAM (B2) ASHGABAT (B2) ASHGABAT (T5) ASTANA (B2)  from 07 SEPTEMBER upto 26 OCTOBER ASTANA (B2)  from 25 JUNE upto 04 SEPTEMBER ASTANA (B2)  from 11 SEPTEMBER upto 23 OCTOBER ASTANA (B2) from 26 JUNE upto 05 SE PTEMBER BAKU (B2) BATUMI (B2) upto 01 JUNE  BATUMI (B2)  from 02 JUNE upto 29 OCTOBER BATUMI (B2) upto 29 OCTOBER BEIRUT (B2) BERLIN (B2) BERLIN (B2) YEKATERINBURG (B2) FRANKFURT (LH) FRANKFURT (LH) FRANKFURT (LH) FRANKFURT (B2) (LH) FRANKFURT (B2)  from 24 JUNE upto 02 SEPTEMBER HANNOVER (B2)  from 25 JUNE upto 05 SEPTEMBER HANNOVER (B2)  from 08 SEPTEMBER upto 27 OCTOBER HANNOVER (B2)  from 10 SEPTEMBER upto 29 OCTOBER HELSINKI (B2)  from 06 JUNE upto 24 OCTOBER HELSINKI (B2)  from 01 JUNE upto 26 OCTOBER ISTANBUL ( TK) ISTANBUL (B2) KALININGRAD (B2) KALININGRAD (B2)  from 10 JUNE upto 02 SEPTEMBER KALININGRAD (B2) KALININGRAD (B2) upto 09 JUNE  KARAGANDA (B2)  from 27 JUNE upto 30 AUGUST KYIV ( VV) KYIV (B2) KYIV (B2) KYIV (B2) KYIV ( VV) KOSTANAY (B2)  from 29 JUNE upto 02 SEPTEMBER KRASNODAR (7R)  from 23 MAY upto 24 OCTOBER LARNAKA (B2)  from 07 JUNE upto 25 OCTOBER LARNAKA (B2)  from 07 JULY upto 25 AUGUST LARNAKA (B2) LONDON (B2) LONDON (B2) MANCHESTER (B2)  from 30 MAY upto 29 AUGUST MILAN (B2) MILAN (B2)

From Minsk

To Minsk

Days

Dep.

Arr.

Days

Dep.

Arr.

–2–4–6– 1–3––6– –––4––– ––3–––– –––––6– –––4––– ––––––7 ––––––7 1––––––c –2–4––7 ––3–––– ––3–5––c ––––––7 1–––––– –2––––– –––45–7 –––4––7 1–––56– 1–3–5–– –234––– –––––6– ––3–––7 12–4–6– –––4––– –––––6– 1–––––– ––3–––7 1–34–6– –2––5–7 1–3––67 1–––5–– –2–4––– ––––5–– –2––––– 1234–67 12––––7 ––34–6– ––––5–– ––––5–– –––45–– 1–––––– –2––––– –––4––– –––––6– ––3–5–– ––––––7 1–––––– 1–––––– –2–4–––

7:20 14:30 17:30 4:40 10:30 1:15 6:30 6:40 1:30 4:20 3 :25 3 :25 3 : 55 19:00 15:40 17:40 2:30 21:40 10:55 21:30 10:35 15:55 16:00 11:10 16:55 16:30 16:45 12:35 11:50 19:30 1 3 :25 11:15 11:15 5:45 1 5: 3 5 11:30 13:25 19:20 16:30 6:45 5:40 19:10 12:00 12:00 13:55 16:10 18:15 20:20 12:20

13:05 17:00 20:00 8:50 15:05 5:40 10:55 11:05 5:55 8:05 6:00 6:00 6:30 22 :3 0 17:25 19:25 6:00 23:55 1 3 :1 0 23:45 1 2: 5 0 18:05 18:00 1 3 : 20 19:05 1 7 : 55 1 8: 1 0 15:05 14:10 20:30 14:25 1 2: 1 5 1 2: 1 5 10:30 16:25 1 2:3 5 14:30 20:25 1 7 : 20 10:30 7:40 22: 3 0 1 5 :2 0 1 5 : 20 16:50 19:05 21 :1 5 2 3 :1 0 1 5: 1 0

–––––6– 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 –2–4––7 ––––5–– –2––5–– 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– ––––––7 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– 1–––5–– ––3–––7 –2––5–– 1–––––– ––3––6– 12––5–7 –23456– –2––5–– ––3––6– 1234567 –2––5–7 –2––5–– –––––6– –2––––– –2–4––7 ––3–––– 1234567 1234567 1–––––– 1–––––– –2–45–7 – –3–––– –––4––– –––––6– ––3–––7

1 6:2 5 6: 1 0 7:00 9:00 10:30 12:00 16:35 19:00 21:25 8:20 16:20 20:30 15:15 13:40 9:35 9:15 15:10 1 3 :2 5 10:05 8:40 1 3 :5 0 1 2: 3 0 15:15 15:15 7: 3 0 1 7 :2 0 18:25 11:05 22:35 1 7: 5 0 23:55 22:05 23:10 20:00 19:45 5:10 13:25 6: 3 0 9:40 14:40 15:20 9:05 13:40 22:45

1 8: 1 5 8:3 5 9:20 11:20 12:50 14:20 1 8 : 55 21:20 23:45 10:20 1 8 : 20 3 : 55 16:05 14:25 10:20 10:00 16:30 14:30 11:10 10:35 15:45 14:25 18:40 18:40 9:55 19:45 19:10 11:50 2:3 0 21:20 5 : 25 2:35 2:55 23:40 2 3 :2 5 6:05 14:30 6:45 9:50 14:55 1 5 :3 0 9:15 1 3 : 50 3 :3 0

minsk inyourpo cket com

Destination MILAN (B2) MOSCOW (SU) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (SU) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) PARIS (B2) PARIS (B2) PAVLODAR (B2)  from 24 JUNE upto 03 SEPTEMBER PRAGUE (OK) PRAGUE (B2) PRAGUE (B2) PRAGUE (B2) RIGA (BT) RIGA (B2) RIGA (B2) ROME (B2) ROME (B2) SIMFEROPOL (B2)  from 17 JUNE upto 20 SEPTEMBER SOCHI (B2)  from 13 JUNE upto 05 SEPTEMBER SOCHI (B2)  from 25 MAY upto 08 OCTOBER ST. PETERSBURG (B2) upto 28 OCTOBER ST. PETERSBURG (B2) STOCKHOLM (B2) STOCKHOLM (B2) TBILISI (B2) TBILISI (A9) TEHRAN (B2) TEHRAN (B2)  from 14 MAY upto 18 SEPTEMBER TEL-AVIV (LY)  from 14 JUNE upto 25 OCTOBER TEL-AVIV (B2) TEL-AVIV (B2) VIENNA (OS) VIENNA (OS) WARSAW (LO) WARSAW (LO) WARSAW (B2) WARSAW (B2) WARSAW (B2) WARSAW (B2) YEREVAN (B2)

Days

Dep.

Arr.

–––––6– 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 –2–4––7 ––––5–– ––3––6– 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– ––––––7 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– 1–––5–– ––3–––7 –2––5–– 1–––––– ––3––6– 12––5–7 –23456– –2––5–– ––3––6– 1234567 –2––5–7 ––3––6– ––––––7 –2––––– 1–3–5–– –––4––– 1234567 1234567 –2–45–7 1–––––– 1–––––– – –3–––– –––4––– –––––6– 1––4–––

20:15 8 : 20 6:00 9:15 2 2: 20 11:20 14:15 1 8 : 55 21:20 12:20 20:25 5: 3 5 12:45 16:15 12:45 12:05 13:10 15:15 11:55 12:35 17:45 1 5: 1 5 18:40 18:40 9:45 19:35 21:00 13:40 2: 3 0 1 3 : 20 4:55 3:05 17:55 0:40 0:40 21:25 10:45 12:20 23 :3 0 12:10 17:45 11:30 16:00 2:30

23:05 9:40 7 :20 10:35 23:40 12:40 15:35 20:15 22:40 15:05 23:10 10:30 14:30 18:00 14:30 1 3 : 50 14:25 16:20 13:00 1 5: 2 0 20:30 17:15 21 : 1 0 21 :1 0 11:15 21:05 22:40 1 5: 2 0 5:35 16:10 9:05 7: 1 5 21:45 4:25 4:25 23:15 1 2: 3 5 1 3 :3 0 0:40 1 3 : 20 1 8: 5 5 12:40 17:10 5:45

Notes: (1 - Mon, 2 - Tue, 3 - Wed etc...). Schedule valid until Sept 01, 2011. Airline Codes: EY - Etihad Airways, B2 - Belavia, T5 - Turkmenistan Airlines, LH - Lufthansa, TK - Turkish Airlines, VV - Aerosvit Airlines, 7R - 7R, SU - Aeroflot, OK - Czech Airlines, BT - Air Baltic, A9 - Georgian Airways, LY - EL-AL, OS - Austrian Airlines, LO - LOT Polish Airlines . For details check at airport.by.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

2011

41

40

GETTING AROUND

GETTING AROUND

Flight schedule

Flight schedule

From Minsk

To Minsk

Days

Dep.

Arr.

–2–4–6– 1–3––6– –––4––– –2––––– –––––6– ––3–––– –––––6– –––––6– ––––––7 1–3––6– –2––––– –2–4––– ––––––7 1–––––– –2––––– –––45–7 ––3––6– 1–3–56– –2–456– ––3–––7 ––3–––7 ––––5–– –2–4–6– –––4––– –––––6– 1–––––– ––3–––7 1–34–6– –2––5–7 1–3––67 1–––5–– –2–4––– ––––5–– 1–––––– 1234–67 12––––7 ––34–6– ––––5–– ––––5–– ––34––– 1–––––– –2––––– –––4––– –––––6– ––3–5–– ––––––7 1–––––– 1–––––– –2–4–––

14:05 10:50 1 3 :5 5 23:40 17:05 20:15 20:30 20:15 20:30 23:55 23:50 23:50 0:20 14:30 13:00 15:00 22: 3 0 14:25 5:40 5:50 1 2: 3 5 1 2: 3 5 1 2: 3 0 8:05 1 3 :5 0 14:25 14:25 16:05 8:30 17:40 7:45 9:25 9:25 20:30 1 7:3 0 9:35 1 1 :3 0 1 7 : 25 18:30 20:30 8:50 14:50 7:40 7:40 9:55 1 2: 1 0 1 3 :5 5 1 6: 3 0 8:30

20:30 12:30 1 5: 3 5 5:40 23 : 3 0 3:15 3:15 3 :1 5 3:15 5 : 20 3 : 25 3 : 25 3 : 55 18:00 13:50 1 5: 50 4:30 15:45 7:00 7:10 14:00 14:00 1 3 :3 0 9:20 15:05 15:45 15:45 18:40 10:50 18:40 8:45 10:25 10:25 3:45 18:40 10:40 12:35 1 8: 3 0 19:40 2:50 11:50 18:10 11:00 11:00 10:55 13:10 1 5 :1 5 1 8: 2 0 10:20

Destination ABU DHABI (E Y) AMSTERDAM (B2) AMSTERDAM (B2) ASHGABAT (B2) ASHGABAT (T5) ASTANA (B2)  from 07 SEPTEMBER upto 26 OCTOBER ASTANA (B2)  from 25 JUNE upto 04 SEPTEMBER ASTANA (B2)  from 11 SEPTEMBER upto 23 OCTOBER ASTANA (B2) from 26 JUNE upto 05 SE PTEMBER BAKU (B2) BATUMI (B2) upto 01 JUNE  BATUMI (B2)  from 02 JUNE upto 29 OCTOBER BATUMI (B2) upto 29 OCTOBER BEIRUT (B2) BERLIN (B2) BERLIN (B2) YEKATERINBURG (B2) FRANKFURT (LH) FRANKFURT (LH) FRANKFURT (LH) FRANKFURT (B2) (LH) FRANKFURT (B2)  from 24 JUNE upto 02 SEPTEMBER HANNOVER (B2)  from 25 JUNE upto 05 SEPTEMBER HANNOVER (B2)  from 08 SEPTEMBER upto 27 OCTOBER HANNOVER (B2)  from 10 SEPTEMBER upto 29 OCTOBER HELSINKI (B2)  from 06 JUNE upto 24 OCTOBER HELSINKI (B2)  from 01 JUNE upto 26 OCTOBER ISTANBUL ( TK) ISTANBUL (B2) KALININGRAD (B2) KALININGRAD (B2)  from 10 JUNE upto 02 SEPTEMBER KALININGRAD (B2) KALININGRAD (B2) upto 09 JUNE  KARAGANDA (B2)  from 27 JUNE upto 30 AUGUST KYIV ( VV) KYIV (B2) KYIV (B2) KYIV (B2) KYIV ( VV) KOSTANAY (B2)  from 29 JUNE upto 02 SEPTEMBER KRASNODAR (7R)  from 23 MAY upto 24 OCTOBER LARNAKA (B2)  from 07 JUNE upto 25 OCTOBER LARNAKA (B2)  from 07 JULY upto 25 AUGUST LARNAKA (B2) LONDON (B2) LONDON (B2) MANCHESTER (B2)  from 30 MAY upto 29 AUGUST MILAN (B2) MILAN (B2)

From Minsk

To Minsk

Days

Dep.

Arr.

Days

Dep.

Arr.

–2–4–6– 1–3––6– –––4––– ––3–––– –––––6– –––4––– ––––––7 ––––––7 1––––––c –2–4––7 ––3–––– ––3–5––c ––––––7 1–––––– –2––––– –––45–7 –––4––7 1–––56– 1–3–5–– –234––– –––––6– ––3–––7 12–4–6– –––4––– –––––6– 1–––––– ––3–––7 1–34–6– –2––5–7 1–3––67 1–––5–– –2–4––– ––––5–– –2––––– 1234–67 12––––7 ––34–6– ––––5–– ––––5–– –––45–– 1–––––– –2––––– –––4––– –––––6– ––3–5–– ––––––7 1–––––– 1–––––– –2–4–––

7:20 14:30 17:30 4:40 10:30 1:15 6:30 6:40 1:30 4:20 3 :25 3 :25 3 : 55 19:00 15:40 17:40 2:30 21:40 10:55 21:30 10:35 15:55 16:00 11:10 16:55 16:30 16:45 12:35 11:50 19:30 1 3 :25 11:15 11:15 5:45 1 5: 3 5 11:30 13:25 19:20 16:30 6:45 5:40 19:10 12:00 12:00 13:55 16:10 18:15 20:20 12:20

13:05 17:00 20:00 8:50 15:05 5:40 10:55 11:05 5:55 8:05 6:00 6:00 6:30 22 :3 0 17:25 19:25 6:00 23:55 1 3 :1 0 23:45 1 2: 5 0 18:05 18:00 1 3 : 20 19:05 1 7 : 55 1 8: 1 0 15:05 14:10 20:30 14:25 1 2: 1 5 1 2: 1 5 10:30 16:25 1 2:3 5 14:30 20:25 1 7 : 20 10:30 7:40 22: 3 0 1 5 :2 0 1 5 : 20 16:50 19:05 21 :1 5 2 3 :1 0 1 5: 1 0

–––––6– 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 –2–4––7 ––––5–– –2––5–– 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– ––––––7 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– 1–––5–– ––3–––7 –2––5–– 1–––––– ––3––6– 12––5–7 –23456– –2––5–– ––3––6– 1234567 –2––5–7 –2––5–– –––––6– –2––––– –2–4––7 ––3–––– 1234567 1234567 1–––––– 1–––––– –2–45–7 – –3–––– –––4––– –––––6– ––3–––7

1 6:2 5 6: 1 0 7:00 9:00 10:30 12:00 16:35 19:00 21:25 8:20 16:20 20:30 15:15 13:40 9:35 9:15 15:10 1 3 :2 5 10:05 8:40 1 3 :5 0 1 2: 3 0 15:15 15:15 7: 3 0 1 7 :2 0 18:25 11:05 22:35 1 7: 5 0 23:55 22:05 23:10 20:00 19:45 5:10 13:25 6: 3 0 9:40 14:40 15:20 9:05 13:40 22:45

1 8: 1 5 8:3 5 9:20 11:20 12:50 14:20 1 8 : 55 21:20 23:45 10:20 1 8 : 20 3 : 55 16:05 14:25 10:20 10:00 16:30 14:30 11:10 10:35 15:45 14:25 18:40 18:40 9:55 19:45 19:10 11:50 2:3 0 21:20 5 : 25 2:35 2:55 23:40 2 3 :2 5 6:05 14:30 6:45 9:50 14:55 1 5 :3 0 9:15 1 3 : 50 3 :3 0

Minsk In Your Po cket

42

minsk.inyourpo cket.com

Destination MILAN (B2) MOSCOW (SU) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (SU) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) MOSCOW (B2) PARIS (B2) PARIS (B2) PAVLODAR (B2)  from 24 JUNE upto 03 SEPTEMBER PRAGUE (OK) PRAGUE (B2) PRAGUE (B2) PRAGUE (B2) RIGA (BT) RIGA (B2) RIGA (B2) ROME (B2) ROME (B2) SIMFEROPOL (B2)  from 17 JUNE upto 20 SEPTEMBER SOCHI (B2)  from 13 JUNE upto 05 SEPTEMBER SOCHI (B2)  from 25 MAY upto 08 OCTOBER ST. PETERSBURG (B2) upto 28 OCTOBER ST. PETERSBURG (B2) STOCKHOLM (B2) STOCKHOLM (B2) TBILISI (B2) TBILISI (A9) TEHRAN (B2) TEHRAN (B2)  from 14 MAY upto 18 SEPTEMBER TEL-AVIV (LY)  from 14 JUNE upto 25 OCTOBER TEL-AVIV (B2) TEL-AVIV (B2) VIENNA (OS) VIENNA (OS) WARSAW (LO) WARSAW (LO) WARSAW (B2) WARSAW (B2) WARSAW (B2) WARSAW (B2) YEREVAN (B2)

Train schedule Arr.

8: 3 4 21:2 21 :25 5 1:5 3 0:11 2:14 3:44 8 : 56 18:2 18 :26 6 21:3 21 :30 0 22:0 22 :09 9 22:1 22 :18 8 23:1 23 :15 5 23:3 23 :39 9 8: 3 4 20:0 20 :07 7 9:0 0 1 7: 7: 41 41 18:4 18 :48 8 3 :3 3 7:45 18:4 18 :49 9 0:22 6:19 20:4 20 :40 0

0:09 11:0 11 :08 8 1 5: 1 9 08 :5 5 11:4 5 1 2: 55 19:54 5:56 5: 56 8:05 8: 05 8:58 8: 58 9:20 9: 20 8:05 8: 05 10:2 10 :26 6 5:05 8:00 8: 00 10:39 8 :4 :4 0 9:36 9: 36 8:00 10:45 21:4 21 :49 9 8: 25 1 5: 1 4 5:46 5: 46

To Minsk

From Minsk

City

Dep.

Arr.

Dep. Arr.

BERLIN KYIV LVIV MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW PRAGUE RIGA SIMFEROLPOL ST. PETERSBURG ST. PETERSBURG VILNIUS VILNIUS VILNIUS WARSAW WARSAW WARSAW

5:02 2 1: 1:5 7 1 9: 9:0 2 1 0: 0: 29 29 1 3: 3: 54 54 1 5: 5: 43 43 1 6: 6: 50 50 1 7: 7:0 8 1 8: 8: 55 55 1 9: 9:3 9 2 2: 2: 25 25 2 3: 3: 34 34 2 3: 3: 44 44 2 2: 2: 09 09 1 9: 9:0 0 1 3: 3: 35 35 1 5: 5: 03 03 1 9: 9:0 8 7:05 1 7: 7: 00 00 1 9: 9: 05 05 1 0: 0: 38 38 1 5: 5: 20 20 2 1: 1:0 0

22:48 8 :3 5 9 :0 5 2 0: 0: 09 09 2 3: 3: 31 31   0 1: 1: 12 12 0 :1 1   2 :13 3 :0 :0 8 6 :3 9 7 :2 8 8 :2 6 8 :0 6 2 2: 2: 48 48 7 :3 0 1 5: 5: 55 55 4 :0 0 8 :5 5 10:05 2 1: 1: 40 40 2 2: 2: 05 05 2 2: 2: 48 48 0 2: 2: 01 01   8 :0 0

The best places to eat, drink, see, sleep and experience could be metres away.

To Minsk City

Arr.

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Shopping centres

V

(7) BIAŁ BIAŁYSTOK (2,4,7) 2:40

11:30

Bigzz (Бигз (Бигз)) Borovaya 5 (д (д. Боровая Боровая,, 5), tel. (+375 17) 237 93 33. A large hypermarket-style shopping centre not too far   from the city centre. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. PALK

12:00 12: 00 7:3 7:30 0

V

(3,5,7) BERLIN (2,5,7) 2 1: 1: 30 30 1 8: 8: 00 00

Evroopt (Евроопт (Евроопт)) ul. Montazhnikov 2 ( ул ( ул .

16:0 16 :00 0 22 22:2 :25 5

Монтажников, 2), tel. (+375 17) 201 16 40. Essentially  Монтажников, a fully fledged hypermarket complete with parking for 2,000 cars, it may not be central bu t what it lacks in location it more than makes up for in choice. Selling everything at bargain prices, the Evroopt chain also has a numbe r of smaller outlets throughout the city. Also at Nezavisimosti 48, Kalinovskogo 23. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

11:30 11: 30 1:4 1:40 0

V

(1,3,6) LODZ (1,3,6) 21 21:3 :30 0 11 11:3 :30 0

Hippo (Гиппо ( Гиппо)) Rokossovskogo pr. 2 (просп (просп .

11:30 11: 30 13: 13:30 30

V

(5) MAGDEBURG (1) 5:00

2:00

9 :0 0 2 3: 3:0 0

M

(3,7) MOSCOW (2,5) 8 :00

17:00

Рокоссовского , 2), tel. (+375 17) 214 47 46. As well as their larger shopping centre outlets the Hippo chain also has several smaller shops scattered around the centre. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

11:30 11: 30 22: 22:30 30

V

(5) DUSSELDORF (7) 2 1: 1: 00 00 2 :0 0

1 4: 4: 10 10

V

KAUNAS

3:55

16:00 16: 00 21: 21:50 50

V

KAUNAS

3:55

11:00

18:10 18: 10 0:35

V

KAUNAS

6: 5 0

12:30

V

KAUNAS

7 :2 0

18:40 18: 40 0:35

18:10 18: 10 8:00 19:00 19: 00 8:00 19-00 1900 8:30

V

10:40

V

MOSCOW

1 8: 8: 40 40 6 :1 :1 0

M

MOSCOW

2 0: 0: 00 00 6 :3 :3 0

(5) MOSCOW

-

-

12:00 12: 00 17: 17:00 00 V (3,5,7) MUNICH (2,5,7) 13:00 0 0 18 18:0 :00 0

Korona (ТЦ ( ТЦ Корона Корона)) С -2, ul. Kalvariyskaya 24 ( ул . Кальварийская Кальварийская,, 24), M Frunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 52 19. Two floors

11:30 11: 30 11: 11:00 00 V (1,3,6) PRAGUE (1,3,6) 11 11:3 :30 0 11 11:3 :30 0 10:00 10: 00 20: 20:00 00

V

RIGA

8: 3 0

18 :00

10:30 10: 30 20: 20:00 00

M

RIGA

8: 3 0

18 :30

21:30 21: 30 7:4 7:40 0

V

22:00 22: 00 7:4 7:40 0

M

23:30 23: 30 8:1 8:10 0

(1,3-7) RIGA (1,3-7) 2 1: 1: 20 20 7 :0 0

(1,3-7) RIGA (1,3-7) 2 1: 1: 20 20 7 :4 0 V

17:00 17: 00 9:4 9:40 0

V

17:30 17: 30 9:4 9:40 0

M M

(2-7) RIGA (2-7)

2 3: 3: 50 50 8 :3 :3 0

6: 30 30 6 :0 :0 0 ST.PETERSBURG (2) 1 6: ST.PETERSBURG

1 8: 8: 00 00 8 :4 :4 0

(2,5,7)ST.PETERSBURG 1 9: 9: 40 40 9 :4 0 (3,5,7)

23:00 23: 00 14: 14:00 00

M

1:3 5 5 :30

V

(1) ST.PETERSBURG -

-

(2-6) VILNIUS (1,3-7) 4:35

8: 3 0

1 1: 1: 50 50

V

VILNIUS

6:40

10:40

8 :2 0 1 2: 2: 10 10

V

VILNIUS

6:40

11:00

11:00 11: 00 15: 15:12 12

V

VILNIUS

9:00

12:30

16:00 16: 00 19: 19:45 45

V

VILNIUS

14:00 0 0 18 18:0 :00 0

M

18:10 18: 10 22: 22:45 45 18:40 18: 40 22: 22:45 45 23:30 23: 30 3:35

VILNIS

1 5: 5: 50 50 2 0: 0: 50 50

V

VILNIUS(1-5) VILNIUS (1-5)

1 7: 7: 00 00 2 1: 1: 00 00

V

(2-7) VILNIUS

18:0 18 :05 5 22 22:2 :25 5

11:30 11: 30 5:00

V

9 :4 0 1 99- 30 30

M

(1,4,6) WARSAW (2,5,7) 0909-00 00 20 20-5 -50 0

11:30 11: 30 23: 23:30 30

V

(1,3,6) WARSAW (1,4) 1 3: 3: 00 00 0 :4 :4 0

17:4 17 :40 0 5:0 5:00 0

V

(3,7) WARSAW (1,3,6) 23: 23:20 20 11 11:3 :30 0

What to buy Contrary to popular opinion, Belarus has plenty of fantastic indigenous products that serve well as both gifts and souvenirs. Classic folk-related things include nesting  matryoshka dolls, hand-painted wooden spoons, plus a wealth of bits and pieces fashioned from straw and flax, among them dolls in national costumes plus straw horses and chickens popular with child ren. If you look around you can also pick up some nice inlaid wooden boxes which make great little jewellery boxes. Linen is a favourite, and is represented predominantly as tablecloths and napkins, usually for a very good price. Or why not some chocolate? Two well established brands making a range of chocolates of exceptional quality are Kommunar ka and Spartak. Locally-produced glass and ceramics are both good value and can be really very nice indeed, and, last  but not least, Milavitsa has been making quality ladies underwear since Soviet times. As well as the Gifts & Souvenirs section on p. 45, keep an eye out for other  shops and the markets listed in this guide, several of  which provide perfect gift and souvenir solutions. solutions.

Arr.

23:05 9:40 7 :20 10:35 23:40 12:40 15:35 20:15 22:40 15:05 23:10 10:30 14:30 18:00 14:30 1 3 : 50 14:25 16:20 13:00 1 5: 2 0 20:30 17:15 21 : 1 0 21 :1 0 11:15 21:05 22:40 1 5: 2 0 5:35 16:10 9:05 7: 1 5 21:45 4:25 4:25 23:15 1 2: 3 5 1 3 :3 0 0:40 1 3 : 20 1 8: 5 5 12:40 17:10 5:45

2011

minsk inyourpo cket com

of shops selling everything from saucy underwear to dictionaries, plus currency exchange and one of the best  supermarkets in the city. There’s also a pharmacy that stays open late and a couple of average restaurants. Upstairs also find Korona Techno, a large shop selling electrical and electronic goods from digital cameras to washing ng machines. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. TAK

Kupalovsky (ТЦ (ТЦ Купаловский Купаловский)) D-4, Under Kilometer Zero at Oktiabrskaya metro stop, MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 287 77 14. A labyrinth of tiny shops and stalls, mostly selling women’s clothes, although there are a few other places selling  household items, cheap CDs and one little stall selling  children’s toys. There’s also a tiny café hiding in one corner. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. N Дзержинского, 126), tel. (+375 17) 256 45 59. Дзержинского, Another quality Western-style outlet selling the usual array of goods. Also here find an in-house bakery and delicatessen. Also at Partizansky 182 and Uborevicha 176. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

ProStore (ПроСтор (ПроСтор)) Dzerzhinskogo pr. 126 (просп (просп..

Shopping Centre Stolitsa (Подземный (Подземный торговый центр “Столица Столица”) ”) D-3, Nezavisimosti pl. (Площадь (Площадь Независимости ), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 226 11 67/(+375 17) Ленина), 226 18 31. According to many Minsk’s best shopping centre, Stolitsa is a great place for gift shopping as it’s got pretty  much everything from clothes to alcohol to souvenirs. As well as heaps of retail outlets on three floors, this centrally  located, 75,000 square-metre underground gem features a host of cafés, restaurants and, at the time of going to press, an Internet café. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.

Markets Car Market (магазин (магазин автомобилей автомобилей)) Malinovka district, southwest of the ring road (микрорайон ( микрорайон Малиновка), Малиновка ), tel. (+375 17) 223 05 09. Motor vehicles and the associated bits that make them tick. Q Open 06:00 - 17:00. N

Dinamo Stadium Market (Стадион (Стадион “Динамо Динамо”) ”) D-4, ul. Kirova 8 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 8), tel. (+375 17) 227 65 62. Shoes, pants, saucepans and plants. Billions of stalls stretching the entire circumference of the Dynamo stadium. Beware of imitation Adidas goods and ladies and gentlemen out to relieve you of your wallet. QOpen 08:00 17:00. Closed Mon. N

Komarovsky Market (Комаровский (Комаровский рынок) рынок) B-5, ul. Very Khoruzhey 6 ( ул ( ул.. Веры Хоружей Хоружей,, 6), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 331 90 33. This former traditional marketplace has been completely modernised. Meat is now kept in refrigerators refriger ators and everything is in jolly good shape. Despite having lost its old-world charm, this is still a great place to come and shop for local produce. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon. N

(1,3,6) VROTSLAV (1,3,6) 1 7: 7: 10 10 1 1: 1: 30 30

Notes: Schedule valid until Sep 1, 2011. Timetable key: Departs Minsk. Arrives destination. Days of the week  (1=Monday). Departs destination. Arrives Minsk  V - Vostochny (Eastern) bus station ( Восточный Восточный вокзал ). М Московский вокзал ). - Moscovsky bus station ( Московский

Minsk In Your Po cket

Minsk is hardly a shoppers’ paradise, although most things are available, for a price.

22:3 22 :35 5 5: 5:45 45

BIAŁYSTOK (4) 1 5: 11:30 11: 30 20: 20:00 00 (1,3,6) BIAŁ 5: 20 20 0 :4 :4 5

7 :2 0

Out now.

Dep.

V

21:05 21: 05 12: 12:50 50

The In Your Pocket app. Europe’s best city guides. Now with added GPS.

Dep.

20:15 8 : 20 6:00 9:15 2 2: 20 11:20 14:15 1 8 : 55 21:20 12:20 20:25 5: 3 5 12:45 16:15 12:45 12:05 13:10 15:15 11:55 12:35 17:45 1 5: 1 5 18:40 18:40 9:45 19:35 21:00 13:40 2: 3 0 1 3 : 20 4:55 3:05 17:55 0:40 0:40 21:25 10:45 12:20 23 :3 0 12:10 17:45 11:30 16:00 2:30

SHOPPING International bus schedule

From Minsk

Days

–––––6– 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 –2–4––7 ––––5–– ––3––6– 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– ––––––7 1–3–5–7 –2–4––– –––––6– 1–––5–– ––3–––7 –2––5–– 1–––––– ––3––6– 12––5–7 –23456– –2––5–– ––3––6– 1234567 –2––5–7 ––3––6– ––––––7 –2––––– 1–3–5–– –––4––– 1234567 1234567 –2–45–7 1–––––– 1–––––– – –3–––– –––4––– –––––6– 1––4–––

Notes: (1 - Mon, 2 - Tue, 3 - Wed etc...). Schedule valid until Sept 01, 2011. Airline Codes: EY - Etihad Airways, B2 - Belavia, T5 - Turkmenistan Airlines, LH - Lufthansa, TK - Turkish Airlines, VV - Aerosvit Airlines, 7R - 7R, SU - Aeroflot, OK - Czech Airlines, BT - Air Baltic, A9 - Georgian Airways, LY - EL-AL, OS - Austrian Airlines, LO - LOT Polish Airlines . For details check at airport.by.

GETTING AROUND

Dep.

41

Books etc. None of the shops we found had any great selection of  books in English. An outdoor summer crafts fair in Minsk 

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Akademkniga (Академкнига (Академкнига ) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 72 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 72), tel. (+375 17)

2011

43

42

SHOPPING

GETTING AROUND Train schedule

International bus schedule

From Minsk Dep.

Arr.

8: 3 4 21:2 21 :25 5 1:5 3 0:11 2:14 3:44 8 : 56 18:2 18 :26 6 21:3 21 :30 0 22:0 22 :09 9 22:1 22 :18 8 23:1 23 :15 5 23:3 23 :39 9 8: 3 4 20:0 20 :07 7 9:0 0 1 7: 7: 41 41 18:4 18 :48 8 3 :3 3 7:45 18:4 18 :49 9 0:22 6:19 20:4 20 :40 0

0:09 11:0 11 :08 8 1 5: 1 9 08 :5 5 11:4 5 1 2: 55 19:54 5:56 5: 56 8:05 8: 05 8:58 8: 58 9:20 9: 20 8:05 8: 05 10:2 10 :26 6 5:05 8:00 8: 00 10:39 8 :4 :4 0 9:36 9: 36 8:00 10:45 21:4 21 :49 9 8: 25 1 5: 1 4 5:46 5: 46

To Minsk

From Minsk

City

Dep.

Arr.

Dep. Arr.

BERLIN KYIV LVIV MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW PRAGUE RIGA SIMFEROLPOL ST. PETERSBURG ST. PETERSBURG VILNIUS VILNIUS VILNIUS WARSAW WARSAW WARSAW

5:02 2 1: 1:5 7 1 9: 9:0 2 1 0: 0: 29 29 1 3: 3: 54 54 1 5: 5: 43 43 1 6: 6: 50 50 1 7: 7:0 8 1 8: 8: 55 55 1 9: 9:3 9 2 2: 2: 25 25 2 3: 3: 34 34 2 3: 3: 44 44 2 2: 2: 09 09 1 9: 9:0 0 1 3: 3: 35 35 1 5: 5: 03 03 1 9: 9:0 8 7:05 1 7: 7: 00 00 1 9: 9: 05 05 1 0: 0: 38 38 1 5: 5: 20 20 2 1: 1:0 0

22:48 8 :3 5 9 :0 5 2 0: 0: 09 09 2 3: 3: 31 31   0 1: 1: 12 12 0 :1 1   2 :13 3 :0 :0 8 6 :3 9 7 :2 8 8 :2 6 8 :0 6 2 2: 2: 48 48 7 :3 0 1 5: 5: 55 55 4 :0 0 8 :5 5 10:05 2 1: 1: 40 40 2 2: 2: 05 05 2 2: 2: 48 48 0 2: 2: 01 01   8 :0 0

The best places to eat, drink, see, sleep and experience could be metres away.

To Minsk City

V

(7) BIAŁ BIAŁYSTOK (2,4,7) 2:40

11:30

Bigzz (Бигз (Бигз)) Borovaya 5 (д (д. Боровая Боровая,, 5), tel. (+375 17) 237 93 33. A large hypermarket-style shopping centre not too far   from the city centre. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00. PALK

12:00 12: 00 7:3 7:30 0

V

(3,5,7) BERLIN (2,5,7) 2 1: 1: 30 30 1 8: 8: 00 00

Evroopt (Евроопт (Евроопт)) ul. Montazhnikov 2 ( ул ( ул .

16:0 16 :00 0 22 22:2 :25 5

Монтажников, 2), tel. (+375 17) 201 16 40. Essentially  Монтажников, a fully fledged hypermarket complete with parking for 2,000 cars, it may not be central bu t what it lacks in location it more than makes up for in choice. Selling everything at bargain prices, the Evroopt chain also has a numbe r of smaller outlets throughout the city. Also at Nezavisimosti 48, Kalinovskogo 23. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

11:30 11: 30 1:4 1:40 0

V

(1,3,6) LODZ (1,3,6) 21 21:3 :30 0 11 11:3 :30 0

Hippo (Гиппо ( Гиппо)) Rokossovskogo pr. 2 (просп (просп .

11:30 11: 30 13: 13:30 30

V

(5) MAGDEBURG (1) 5:00

2:00

9 :0 0 2 3: 3:0 0

M

(3,7) MOSCOW (2,5) 8 :00

17:00

Рокоссовского , 2), tel. (+375 17) 214 47 46. As well as their larger shopping centre outlets the Hippo chain also has several smaller shops scattered around the centre. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

11:30 11: 30 22: 22:30 30

V

(5) DUSSELDORF (7) 2 1: 1: 00 00 2 :0 0

1 4: 4: 10 10

V

KAUNAS

3:55

16:00 16: 00 21: 21:50 50

V

KAUNAS

3:55

11:00

18:10 18: 10 0:35

V

KAUNAS

6: 5 0

12:30

V

KAUNAS

7 :2 0

18:40 18: 40 0:35

18:10 18: 10 8:00 19:00 19: 00 8:00 19-00 1900 8:30

V

10:40

V

MOSCOW

1 8: 8: 40 40 6 :1 :1 0

M

MOSCOW

2 0: 0: 00 00 6 :3 :3 0

(5) MOSCOW

-

-

12:00 12: 00 17: 17:00 00 V (3,5,7) MUNICH (2,5,7) 13:00 0 0 18 18:0 :00 0

Korona (ТЦ ( ТЦ Корона Корона)) С -2, ul. Kalvariyskaya 24 ( ул . Кальварийская Кальварийская,, 24), M Frunzenskaya (Фрунзенская Фрунзенская), ), tel. (+375 17) 226 52 19. Two floors

11:30 11: 30 11: 11:00 00 V (1,3,6) PRAGUE (1,3,6) 11 11:3 :30 0 11 11:3 :30 0 10:00 10: 00 20: 20:00 00

V

RIGA

8: 3 0

18 :00

10:30 10: 30 20: 20:00 00

M

RIGA

8: 3 0

18 :30

21:30 21: 30 7:4 7:40 0

V

22:00 22: 00 7:4 7:40 0

M

23:30 23: 30 8:1 8:10 0

(1,3-7) RIGA (1,3-7) 2 1: 1: 20 20 7 :0 0

(1,3-7) RIGA (1,3-7) 2 1: 1: 20 20 7 :4 0 V

17:00 17: 00 9:4 9:40 0

V

17:30 17: 30 9:4 9:40 0

M M

(2-7) RIGA (2-7)

2 3: 3: 50 50 8 :3 :3 0

6: 30 30 6 :0 :0 0 ST.PETERSBURG (2) 1 6: ST.PETERSBURG

1 8: 8: 00 00 8 :4 :4 0

(2,5,7)ST.PETERSBURG 1 9: 9: 40 40 9 :4 0 (3,5,7)

23:00 23: 00 14: 14:00 00

M

1:3 5 5 :30

V

(1) ST.PETERSBURG -

-

(2-6) VILNIUS (1,3-7) 4:35

8: 3 0

1 1: 1: 50 50

V

VILNIUS

6:40

10:40

8 :2 0 1 2: 2: 10 10

V

VILNIUS

6:40

11:00

11:00 11: 00 15: 15:12 12

V

VILNIUS

9:00

12:30

16:00 16: 00 19: 19:45 45

V

VILNIUS

14:00 0 0 18 18:0 :00 0

M

18:10 18: 10 22: 22:45 45 18:40 18: 40 22: 22:45 45 23:30 23: 30 3:35

VILNIS

1 5: 5: 50 50 2 0: 0: 50 50

V

VILNIUS(1-5) VILNIUS (1-5)

1 7: 7: 00 00 2 1: 1: 00 00

V

(2-7) VILNIUS

18:0 18 :05 5 22 22:2 :25 5

11:30 11: 30 5:00

V

9 :4 0 1 99- 30 30

M

(1,4,6) WARSAW (2,5,7) 0909-00 00 20 20-5 -50 0

11:30 11: 30 23: 23:30 30

V

(1,3,6) WARSAW (1,4) 1 3: 3: 00 00 0 :4 :4 0

17:4 17 :40 0 5:0 5:00 0

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What to buy Contrary to popular opinion, Belarus has plenty of fantastic indigenous products that serve well as both gifts and souvenirs. Classic folk-related things include nesting  matryoshka dolls, hand-painted wooden spoons, plus a wealth of bits and pieces fashioned from straw and flax, among them dolls in national costumes plus straw horses and chickens popular with child ren. If you look around you can also pick up some nice inlaid wooden boxes which make great little jewellery boxes. Linen is a favourite, and is represented predominantly as tablecloths and napkins, usually for a very good price. Or why not some chocolate? Two well established brands making a range of chocolates of exceptional quality are Kommunar ka and Spartak. Locally-produced glass and ceramics are both good value and can be really very nice indeed, and, last  but not least, Milavitsa has been making quality ladies underwear since Soviet times. As well as the Gifts & Souvenirs section on p. 45, keep an eye out for other  shops and the markets listed in this guide, several of  which provide perfect gift and souvenir solutions. solutions.

Minsk In Your Po cket

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Central Bookshop (Центральный (Центральный книжный магазин)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 19 ( просп магазин просп.. Независимости, 19), tel. (+375 17) 227 49 18. The Независимости, largest bookshop in Minsk. Along with a rather interesting, if random, selection of English-language novels, it also has Belarus guidebooks in English, Italian and German. It also has some good postcards of Minsk as well as a selection of  stationary. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Sat 10:00 - 20:00, Sun 10:00 - 19:00.

Dom Knigi Svetoch (Дом (Дом Книги Светоч Светоч)) С-3, Pobediteley pr. 11 (просп (просп.. Победителей , 11), tel.

Department stores

Kupalovsky (ТЦ (ТЦ Купаловский Купаловский)) D-4, Under Kilometer Zero at Oktiabrskaya metro stop, MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 287 77 14. A labyrinth of tiny shops and stalls, mostly selling women’s clothes, although there are a few other places selling  household items, cheap CDs and one little stall selling  children’s toys. There’s also a tiny café hiding in one corner. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. N Дзержинского, 126), tel. (+375 17) 256 45 59. Дзержинского, Another quality Western-style outlet selling the usual array of goods. Also here find an in-house bakery and delicatessen. Also at Partizansky 182 and Uborevicha 176. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

ProStore (ПроСтор (ПроСтор)) Dzerzhinskogo pr. 126 (просп (просп..

Shopping Centre Stolitsa (Подземный (Подземный торговый центр “Столица Столица”) ”) D-3, Nezavisimosti pl. (Площадь (Площадь Независимости ), M Ploschad Lenina (Площадь (Площадь Ленина), tel. (+375 17) 226 11 67/(+375 17) Ленина), 226 18 31. According to many Minsk’s best shopping centre, Stolitsa is a great place for gift shopping as it’s got pretty  much everything from clothes to alcohol to souvenirs. As well as heaps of retail outlets on three floors, this centrally  located, 75,000 square-metre underground gem features a host of cafés, restaurants and, at the time of going to press, an Internet café. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.

Markets Car Market (магазин (магазин автомобилей автомобилей)) Malinovka district, southwest of the ring road (микрорайон ( микрорайон Малиновка), Малиновка ), tel. (+375 17) 223 05 09. Motor vehicles and the associated bits that make them tick. Q Open 06:00 - 17:00. N

Dinamo Stadium Market (Стадион (Стадион “Динамо Динамо”) ”) D-4, ul. Kirova 8 ( ул ( ул.. Кирова Кирова,, 8), tel. (+375 17) 227 65 62. Shoes, pants, saucepans and plants. Billions of stalls stretching the entire circumference of the Dynamo stadium. Beware of imitation Adidas goods and ladies and gentlemen out to relieve you of your wallet. QOpen 08:00 17:00. Closed Mon. N

schad Yakuba Kolasa (Площадь (Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 331 90 33. This former traditional marketplace has been completely modernised. Meat is now kept in refrigerators refriger ators and everything is in jolly good shape. Despite having lost its old-world charm, this is still a great place to come and shop for local produce. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon. N

Books etc. None of the shops we found had any great selection of  books in English. An outdoor summer crafts fair in Minsk 

Akademkniga (Академкнига (Академкнига ) B-6, Nezavisimosti pr. 72 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 72), tel. (+375 17)

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SHOPPING 292 00 52/(+375 17) 292 46 52. As part of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences, this distinguished shop has many  interesting books on history, science and art among other  subjects. Unfortunately, there’s little in English, so it’s mainly  of interest to Russian speakers. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat  10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.

of shops selling everything from saucy underwear to dictionaries, plus currency exchange and one of the best  supermarkets in the city. There’s also a pharmacy that stays open late and a couple of average restaurants. Upstairs also find Korona Techno, a large shop selling electrical and electronic goods from digital cameras to washing ng machines. QOpen 09:00 - 02:00. TAK

Komarovsky Market (Комаровский (Комаровский рынок) рынок) B-5, ul. Very Khoruzhey 6 ( ул ( ул.. Веры Хоружей Хоружей,, 6), MPlo-

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Notes: Schedule valid until Sep 1, 2011. Timetable key: Departs Minsk. Arrives destination. Days of the week  (1=Monday). Departs destination. Arrives Minsk  V - Vostochny (Eastern) bus station ( Восточный Восточный вокзал ). М Московский вокзал ). - Moscovsky bus station ( Московский

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Shopping centres

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Minsk is hardly a shoppers’ paradise, although most things are available, for a price.

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SHOPPING (+375 17) 203 34 96. An old Minsk favourite for many  years, this recommended bookshop holds a large collection of literature albeit with little in English with the exception of  a few books about Belarus. Those who use the place say  that the English-speaking staff that work here are some of  the friendliest in the city. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Sat 11:00 - 21:00, Sun 11:00 - 19:00.

Flowers & Plants 7 Tsvetov (7 цветов цветов)) Internet shop, tel. (+375 29) 385 50 45, [email protected], www.amsc.by. 09:00 - 21:00.

QOpen

Flora - Design (Флора (Флора--дизайн дизайн)) A-6, ul. Yakuba Kolasa 50 ( ул  ул.. Якуба Коласа Коласа,, 50), tel. (+375 29) 666 17 32, www.gloss.by. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 19:00.

Loyalty (Лоялти ( Лоялти ) Intrenet shop, tel. (+375 29) 179 69 29, [email protected] [email protected],, w ww.cvetik.by. QOpen 24 hours.

Roza Azora (Роза ( Роза Азора Азора)) Nezavisimosti pr. 186 ( просп просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 186), tel. (+375 17) 286 61 38, [email protected], www.rozaazora.by. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00.

Terra (Терра Терра)) C-3, Pobediteley pr., underground crossing by Yubileynaya hotel (просп (просп.. Победителей Победителей), ), tel. (+375 17) 204 85 91, [email protected]. QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.

Food & Drink  Tsentralny (Центральный (Центральный)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 23 (просп (просп.. Независмости Независмости,, 23), MOktyabrskaya TSUM

GUM (ГУМ (ГУМ)) D-4, Nezavisimosti pr. 23 (просп ( просп.. Независимости,, 23), MOktyabrskaya (Октябрь Независимости (Октябрь-ская), tel. (+375 17) 227 88 76. Built in 1951, Minsk’s ская), showcase department store is a must for fans of classic Socialist Realist architecture. Otherwise it’s a fairly  dreary shopping experience. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 10:00 - 19:00. JA

Na Nemige (На (На Немиге Торговый дом дом)) D-3, ul. Nemiga 8 ( ул  ул.. Немига Немига,, 8), MNemiga (Немига (Немига), ), tel. (+375 17) 220 97 47. A decidedly uninspiring  department store in vintage Soviet style. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 10:00 - 20:00. A

TSUM (ЦУМ (ЦУМ)) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 54 ( просп просп.. Nezavisimosti, 54), MYakuba Kolasa (Я (Я. Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 21 64. Several floors of goods   from pens to beds. Hardly inspiring, although quite good fun. Look out for your wallet and note there’s an ATM on the first floor. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 11:00 - 18:00. A

Univermag Belarus ( Универмаг Беларусь Беларусь)) ul. Zhilunovicha 4 ( ул  ул.. Жилуновича Жилуновича,, 4), MPartizanskaya (Партизанская ( Партизанская), ), tel. (+375 17) 245 11 11. Another large collection of everything  imaginable for fair prices. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 10:00 - 18:00. A

Minsk In Your Po cket

(Октябрьская Октябрьская), ), tel. (+375 17) 227 88 76. One of the best, most Western-style food halls in Minsk despite its gloriously Soviet appearance. There are cafés, bakeries and a shop selling alcohol on the first floor plus a well stocked supermarket upstairs. Worth a visit even if you’re not going  to buy anything. QOpen 09:00 - 22:00.

Jubileyny-92 (Юбилейный (Юбилейный-92) -92) C-3, ul. Zaslavskaya 23/1( ул 23/1( ул.. Заславская Заславская,, 23/1), tel. (+375 17) 223 04 93. Everything and more to fill up your basket. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

Preston Market (Престон (Престон Маркет Маркет)) B-5, ul. Maxima Bogdanovicha 153 ( ул  ул.. Максима Богдановича Богдановича,, 153), tel. (+375 17) 331 77 65. A popular haunt of hungry expats, Preston Market sells a good selection of processed foods and other delights. One of the first of its kind, the place has been somewhat eclipsed over the years by newer competition. Still worth a look inside though. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00.

Radzivilovski (Радзивиловский (Радзивиловский ) B-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 52 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 52), tel. (+375 17) 292 20 10. A chain of supermarkets in Minsk. A basic range of groceries etc for a slightly higher pric e in exchange for good service and a cen tral location. QOpen 09:00 - 23:00.

Rublevski (Рублевский (Рублевский ) D-3, ul. Romanovskaya Sloboda 14 ( ул  ул.. Романовская Слобода Слобода,, 14), tel. (+375 17) 214 89 85. Over 30 shops in Minsk selling a  fairly average range of groceries and other household products for a decent price. Also at Pobediteley 1, etc. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00.

minsk inyourpo cket com

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Shopping Centre Stolitsa

Sosedi (Соседи (Соседи)) A-5, ul. Surganova 50 ( ул ( ул.. Сургано Сургано--

Ruchnaya Rabota (Ручная (Ручная работа работа)) A-5, ul. Sur-

ва, 50), tel. (+375 17) 334 82 33. A chain of supermarkets ва, selling everything necessary. Their large shop, Riga, is generally considered to be the best. Also recommended for their  great in-store bakeries. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00.

ganova 50 ( ул ( ул . Сурганова Сурганова,, 50), tel. (+375 17) 559 88 81. Paintings, graphics, posters, tapestries, batik, china, wood and leather gifts. Custom made souvenirs. QOpen 11:00 - 20:00.

Gifts & Sou veni venirs rs Galereya Mastatstva (Мастацтва (МастацтваГалерея Галерея)) D-3,

Slavutiya Maistry Gallery (Галерея (Галерея “Славутыя майстры ”) C - 4 , u l . K o m m u n a l n a y a 6 ( ул ( ул . Коммунальная,, 6), MNemiga (Немига Коммунальная (Немига), ), tel. (+375

Nezavisimosti pr. 12 (просп ( просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 12), (Площадь Ленина Ленина), ), tel. (+375 MPloschad Lenina (Площадь 17) 227 83 63. A range of art and artsy souvenirs. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00, Sat 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun. A

17) 283 28 25. A good collection of both grotesquely ugly  and staggeringly beautiful folk art, paintings, amber, large ceramic candleholders, dried flowers and chiffo chiffon n scarves. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.

Lyanok (Лянок (Лянок)) B-5, Nezavisimosty pr. 46 (просп (просп.. Независимости,, 46), MPloschad Yakuba Kolasa Независимости

Soyuzpechat (Союзпечать (Союзпечать)) C-5, Nezavisimosti pr. 44 (просп (просп.. Независимости Независимости,, 44), MPloschad Pobedy

(Площадь Якуба Коласа Коласа), ), tel. (+375 17) 284 81 44. Gorgeous local flax and linen, plus a range of hand-made gifts and souvenirs. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00, Sat 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.

(Площадь Победы Победы). ). Buy someone you love a bag of  stamps. Philately will get you everywhere. QOpen 08:00 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 19:00.

Minsky Vernisazh (Минский (Минский Вернисаж Вернисаж)) D-4, Oktyabrskaya Square, next to Museum of Great Patriotic War, MOktyabrskaya (Октябрьская (Октябрьская). ). A small outdoor market aimed specifically at tourists, find plenty  of folk art, hats and the like as well as a few Soviet-era military trinkets thrown in for good measure. Arguably the best place in the city for things like matryoshka dolls dolls and lacquered wooden boxes. Find it hidden way immediately to the left of the Trade Union Palace. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. N

minsk.inyourpocket.com

Recorded music Misteria Zvuka (Мистерия (Мистерия звука звука)) C-1, ul. Nemiga 12 ( ул  ул.. Немига Немига,, 12), MNemiga (Немига (Немига ), tel. (+375 17) 306 53 96. The best CD shop in Minsk that has a roof. Large selection of nicely priced internation international al and local discs. QOpen 11:00 - 21:00, Sun 11:00 - 18:00. A

www.inyourpocket.com 2011

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