Ola bar

A St. Petersburg bar that offers more than just drinks; it's a cultural hub.

Ola bar: A new cocktail bar on Fontanka Embankment, blending aesthetics and energy. This is a place that brings people together, filled with lively conversations, cheerful enthusiasm, and a Friday night love for life. Ola bar, a cocktail bar, has opened on Fontanka Embankment. THE CONCEPT Ola bar is the debut project of Olya Kopyeva. As a first venture, the place is unique and charming. The brick walls create an atmosphere of lightness, freedom, and friendliness. The bar has a soul and a personality. This personality finds its expression not only in wine but also in cocktails, music, literature, and genuine human connection. Once a week, the bar transforms into an improvised cultural center. It hosts piano concerts, lectures on topical issues, DJ sets, exhibitions of contemporary artists, English-language evenings, and film screenings (not about coniferous trees). On other days, guests gather with friends, enjoy the flavors of the drinks and dishes, relax from the hustle and bustle, and simply feel happy. THE DRINK MENU The bar menu at Ola bar is curated by bar manager Mikhail Kuzmin, known in St. Petersburg for his work at restaurants KUZNYAHOUSE, Geografiya, and the bar "Arkhitekt," which was named the best bar in St. Petersburg by the Where to eat 2022 awards. Mikhail has created a cocktail menu for Ola bar that offers a variety of options, designed to make the evening more than just one drink, but an exciting journey from light refreshments to more complex and dynamic flavors. This allows guests to explore different tastes and combinations, using various techniques such as fermentation, infusion, and clarification. You can start your exploration of the cocktail menu with the Black Sea (600 rubles), a sweet and refreshing drink made with pear vodka and feijoa cordial. Mikhail Kuzmin, bar manager at Ola bar: We wanted to create a cocktail that proves that you can find bright flavors in a drink made with domestic alcohol, so we used Russian pear vodka. Another cocktail on the menu is the Asian Biscuit (600 rubles), a rich and tropical drink inspired by the Pornstar Martini, but with a nutty flavor that complements the bright passion fruit. The Sunset Punch (600 rubles) is made with a berry aperitif and almond amaretto, creating a warm combination of strawberry, raspberry, and almond liqueur. The cocktail menu at Ola bar is complemented by a selection of wines, with the team focusing on a range of unique varieties from small wineries around the world. THE FOOD The culinary aspect of the cocktail bar is designed to be a universal complement to the drinks. The menu was created by chef Artur Vatutin. Artur's diverse career has included experience at renowned establishments such as the Cococo Bistro restaurant, where he worked under Igor Grishchenko when the restaurant was awarded the 120 The World’s Best Restaurants prize, the pan-Asian Robata Bar, and the bar "Arkhitekt." Therefore, in the menu for Ola bar, the chef doesn't adhere to a specific style, experimenting with different combinations of ingredients and cultures. The bar serves spicy tomatoes with dark chocolate and cilantro (450 rubles) and tuna ceviche with strawberry puree (650 rubles) as accompaniments to the cocktails. The chef seasons the delicate tuna with an Asian dressing made with soy sauce, sesame oil, and red onion, and serves it with a cream made from ripe berries to enhance the flavor of the fresh fish. In addition, Artur prepares a tender duck breast with creamy chili (550 rubles), where the creamy flavor and spiciness of the pepper are followed by a delicate aroma. The shrimp with caramelized pineapple on a coconut bed (650 rubles) is expected to be a favorite among guests. The pineapples are marinated in a spicy rum with five spices, and the shrimp are pan-fried with brown sugar for a caramelized crust and then simmered in a sweet and spicy pineapple sauce. THE INTERIOR The interior design of the Ola bar cocktail bar was created by the young designer Gelya Kostenko, who implemented the ideas of the project's creator, Olya Kopyeva, and guided them in the right direction. The bar's interior is filled with details that have their own stories. Above the bar, guests are greeted by a chandelier of an improvised shape, which the team created themselves. The door handles were brought from an antique fair in London. The walls of the bar are decorated with masks brought from Sri Lanka, decorative elements found in Rome, and paintings by the owner, Olya Kopyeva. A piano from 1987, made by the pre-revolutionary "Krasny Oktyabr" factory, was found in one of the St. Petersburg communal apartments, restored, and tuned so that it can be used for musical evenings in the future. The main decoration is a stained-glass window created by a local design studio, made to order.