TO DO
CATS REPUBLIC
РЕСПУБЛИКА КОШЕК
About
A heaven for cat-lovers, and the first cat café in Russia is a home of around 30 cats today, including the retired Hermitage cats (cats who used to work for the museum hunting mice). As in a real republic, there's a president, a 15-year old Hermitage cat called Jean-Baptiste Vallen de la Moth, and a vice-president cat Dora Maar. To get to the cat republic, you need to buy a visa at the reception, enter your details as if you were a cat (your cat age and your cat height and weight). Then you get into an old wardrobe, you meow, and the door to the Cat Republic opens. You can pat, cuddle and scratch all the cats, although some enjoy it more than others. Besides, if you feel like you have a special connection with one of the cats, you can adopt it, and take it home. As a bonus for your first visit you get a token which you can exchange for some cat-themed souvenirs or a photo with any cat you choose in a photobooth. They sell all sorts of cat-related souvenirs, and really nice postcards with cats set against St Petersburg landmarks. There's also a café in the reception area where you can have cat-shaped cakes, snacks and hot drinks.
It's a good idea to visit cats during their feeding times when all cats are active, and not sleeping or hiding. The cat breakfast is at 11.30am (arrive for 11am tour) and dinner is at 9.10pm (9pm tour).
Info
10 Yakubovicha St. (ул. Якубовича, д. 10)
+7 812 312 04 87
+7 921 945 19 51
Mon-Sun 11am-10pm
Average visit duration: 1h
Accessible to English speakers
You can only visit cats with a tour which starts every hour from 11am until 9pm. The guide will tell you about each and every cat of the Cat Republic in Russian or English (ask them in advance about a tour in English), and then you'll have time to play, pat, scratch, and take photos with cats.
First visit on weekdays: 11am-4pm 300₽, 5-9pm 400₽; weekends and holidays 500₽. Second visit and on (if you show your cat passport which you receive on your first visit) - 200₽ on any day. You can also get a multivisa for 12 hourly visits to the Cat Republic for 2300₽.
Cards accepted
ANGLETERRE CINEMA LOUNGE
About
The only cinema showing films in original language (mainly in English) in St Petersburg is at the historical hotel Angleterre on the St Isaac's Square. Angleterre shows both mainstream films and arthouse, and often house international film festivals. All films are shown with Russian subtitles. The screen is quite big, the seats are comfortable, and the location of the cinema can hardly be better. Check their website for session times.
Info
24 Malaya Morskaya St. (ул. Малая Морская, д. 24)
Enter through the main entrance of The Angleterre Hotel on St Isaac's Square. Buy tickets at the reception of the hotel, and then walk along the corridor, past the hotel bar, to the cinema hall.
+7 812 494 50 63 (session times)
+7 812 494 59 90
Accessible to English speakers
Cards accepted