3 Best Restaurants in Sochi, Russia

As part of the largest private museum of Caucasian artifacts and history, the restaurant at the Amshensky Dvor Ethnographic Complex serves some of the most authentic Caucasian dishes around. Here you can watch your meal getting prepared. Lavash, an Armenian flatbread, bakes in a wood-fired oven as meats and cheeses are smoked and stews are prepared in clay pots. The museum features over 2,000 artifacts that were collected over several years by local ethnic Armenian historian Eduard Kolodjian.

This restaurant gets a gold medal for its handmade pastas, Italian wines, and imported ingredients like mozzarella, parmesan, and hams from Bologna. The cozy decor features luxurious textiles and curtains made of string lights. Located in an elite building park called "Kings Park," the restaurant attracts a well-heeled clientele. Pasta is the highlight of the menu, but dishes include pizza, baked dorada fish, seafood, salads, grilled meats, and handmade chocolates. But be prepared for a bit of a drive as the restaurant is outside of the city center. Takeout and delivery are available.

Excellent food in an attractive setting (dim lights and modern decor) attract a trendy clientele to this high-end Japanese restaurant. The sceney restaurant serves an extensive menu of the usual Asian fare, including sushi rolls, sashimi, noodles, dumplings, teriyaki, and yakitori. The drink menu includes wines, sake and whiskey from Japan and other countries, as well as Cognac, rum, tequila, and vodka. Expect large crowds at nights and on weekends; be sure to book a table in advance.