In addition to Belarusian dishes, there is also a good selection of international and Russian specialties available.
Things to know: Beer and vodka can be bought round the clock from all-night kiosks and food shops. Coffee is generally available with meals and in cafes, although standards vary. Some bars are open until the early hours of the morning, while some close around 2100.
National specialties: • Belarusian
borshch, a soup made with beetroot, is served hot with sour cream.
• Other excellent specialties are
filet à la Minsk and Minsk cutlet.
• Regional cooking is often based on potatoes with mushrooms and berries as favorite side dishes.
• Local dishes well worth trying are
dracheny, a tasty potato dish with mushrooms, and
draniki which is served with pickled berries.
• Mochanka is a thick soup mixed with lard accompanied by hot pancakes.
National drinks:
• Beloveszhskaya Bitters are made from over 100 different herbs and have an interesting flavor.
• A favorite drink is
chai (black tea).
Tipping: 10 per cent is usual. In some hotels in Minsk and other cities a 10 to 15 per cent service charge is added to the bill. Porters expect a tip of US$1-2.
NightlifeA thriving cultural scene with opera, ballet, theater, circus and puppet theater can be found in Minsk. Brest also has a renowned puppet theater. Tickets can be bought in advance at underground stations or at the Central Theater Ticket Office (Skoriny 13; opening hours: Mon-Sat 0930-2000, Sun 1100-1700). Same-day tickets are only available at the venue in question. Minsk now has a reasonable selection of restaurants, some of which offer live music. There are also discos, music venues and bars in the city. Many clubs are open all night.
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