If you want to dine Tzar or Tzarina-style, check out Aleksandr, a restaurant located inside the Chebotarev Hotel. This posh, classy establishment serves European and Russian dishes, including kulebyaka (stuffed pies) and smoked duck dumplings. Besides standard dinners, Aleksandr can also host banquets and business meetings.
Vavilon is one of Sochi's most beautiful restaurants. It is located in a park with lush vegetation, a pond with carps, and peacocks roaming free. The restaurant has separate VIP rooms and even a whole VIP house for those who want a more intimate experience. There is also an area where you can relax with a hookah. As for the menu, the restaurant has mostly European and Russian dishes, with the latter including such all-time favorites as herring, pickled mushrooms, and julienne (a mushroom and sour cream casserole). If all that is not enough, Vavilon has its own banya (Russian sauna).
In Russia the differences between restaurant and cafe are not as clear-cut as in other countries. A lot of the places have coffee and pastries as well as dinner food and a wide assortment of cocktails and other alcoholic drinks. A lot of establishments have both "restaurant" and "cafe" in the name. One such place is Brigantina, one of Sochi's favorites for casual meals. Brigantina strives to create the ambiance of a Mediterranean restaurant, boasting views of the sea and offering a large variety of seafood dishes. Brigantina is also commended for its high-quality, reasonably-priced breakfasts and delicious pastries.
La Terrazza specializes in Italian cuisine, offering homemade pasta, an array of meat and seafood dishes, and delectable desserts. The atmosphere in the restaurant is romantic, with the interior decorated with soft colors. The food here can be a bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for with the flavorful Italian cuisine.
Nippon House is a very popular Japanese restaurant in the center of Sochi. The expansive menu features a lot of classic rolls, including hot and spicy varieties. There are also different kinds of sushi, sashimi, rice dishes, dumplings, and noodles. Desserts include delicious fried ice cream. For those looking to eat without leaving their couches, Nippon House delivers.
Beliye Nochi (White Nights) focuses on the cuisine of the Caucasus, which is very popular in Sochi. The restaurant is famous for its khinkali dumplings, a staple of Georgian cuisine. There are also traditional dishes like shashlyk or skewered meat, lobio or spicy stewed beans, and satsivi or meat with walnut sauce. The bar also offers local wine and Armenian cognac. The prices at the restaurant are quite reasonable.