slothis · English

Pyshki in St. Petersburg: A Cheap Russian Donut Brunch

2016-09-08 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

I woke up leisurely to find that all the people sleeping in my room had already left. They seemed more like people here for work rather than travel, which made me feel a bit awkward about sleeping in. After getting up, washing, and briefly organizing my money and travel notes, I started getting hungry. I don't have much money left, so I need to cut back on my spending even more. While wondering what to do, I thought of pyshki. It's a snack-like bread I had before leaving Moscow, and it's incredibly cheap. It tastes exactly like those cheap, old-school donuts (the kind without glutinous rice), but pyshki is even greasier, so just a few bites will leave your throat feeling dry. Still, for a broke traveler, it's a fantastic brunch that provides an instant hit of energy and sugar.

Exterior of an old building with a sign reading Pyshki (Russian donuts) in Russian
The name of the shop itself is Pyshki.

I went in to order and noticed that people seemed to order in proportion to their physique. Women who looked like they watched their figures were eating just one or two, whereas grandmas who looked like they'd scoff at the idea of a diet ordered six or more, eating them very slowly and cherishing every bite. I was starving and the price was cheap, so I ordered four. By the time I was on my third pyshki, my mouth was so dry I was seriously debating whether to order a Coke or just wrap the rest in a napkin to take with me. They are definitely delicious. But after a certain point, I just couldn't eat any more. I probably should have asked for more coffee.

A plate of four donuts sprinkled with powdered sugar and a cup of milk coffee
A round, ring-shaped fried donut heavily sprinkled with white powdered sugar
Close-up of a ring donut sprinkled with powdered sugar on a plate
A plate of powdered sugar donuts and warm milk coffee on a light-colored table
The coffee tastes just like old-school Korean dabang coffee. It's really sweet.
A view of old buildings and parked cars lined up along a river with a cruise ship passing by

I'm not sure if I'm actually full, but either way, I've reached a state where I can't eat another bite, so now it's time to go explore this beautiful city.

Expenses

Total Expenses 1038RUB

Total Travel Expenses 525,936 KRW + 40,593RUB + $152.26