Smena

«Smena» was opened by people who came from the Double B coffee chain, and it shows in how they approach things. The coffee here is made with full dedication — espresso, cappuccino, flat white, filter coffee, and, as something out of the ordinary, pear tea. On weekends they sometimes hold cuppings for those who want to get deeper into coffee. There's deliberately no Wi-Fi here — the owners are for live conversation and mindful time spent without gadgets. Coffee is served here with homemade baked goods: lemon-poppy seed cake, cherry marshmallow. On weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm they serve breakfast, but the place's real pride is its Saturday and Sunday brunches. Dishes are served in small portions, mezze-style, and the theme is different each time. Sometimes it's a Middle Eastern mood — hummus, bulgur, cream cheese with za'atar, a boiled egg, and pita. Sometimes it's a variation on an American breakfast with peanut butter, blackcurrant jam, bacon, avocado, and banana. The place is located in St. Petersburg, at 20 Baskov Lane, within walking distance of the "Chernyshevskaya," "Ploshchad Vosstaniya," and "Mayakovskaya" metro stations. The average check is around 1,200 rubles. The cuisine is chef's own creation, and on weekends you have to fight for a table here — the brunches draw quite a crowd.