Stroganov Palace stands on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the Moyka — a green-and-white block of Elizabethan baroque by Rastrelli. For St Petersburg it is more than a monument: the Stroganovs were one of the richest merchant families in the empire, and the chef who invented beef Stroganoff worked in their household. Since 1988 the building has been a branch of the Russian Museum, with a suite of state rooms and several thematic exhibitions open to the public.
🏛 State rooms: Grand Ballroom, Arabesque Lounge, Mineral Cabinet
The main route runs along the second floor. The Grand Ballroom is the centrepiece, with Rastrelli's gilt stucco and wall paintings by Valeriani. The Arabesque Lounge repeats Raphael's Vatican Loggias — the Stroganovs commissioned Italian masters to copy the frescoes. The Mineral Cabinet is a rare survival: a collection of Urals stones assembled around the family's main holding, the Perm ironworks.
A separate exhibition covers Russian Empire style — furniture, bronze, tableware and painting of the first half of the 19th century.
🦁 The lioness in the courtyard
The inner courtyard is open without a ticket — it has a cafe and a bronze lioness that has become the informal symbol of the palace. A photo by the lioness is a required stop for children. In summer the courtyard hosts markets and small concerts.
🍲 The beef Stroganoff restaurant
On the ground floor a Russian-cuisine restaurant references the original Stroganov kitchen. Beef Stroganoff here follows an old recipe — in sour cream with mushrooms, served in a cast-iron pot. Lunch runs around 1,500 ₽. A separate cafe operates in the courtyard.
