Russia's oldest botanic garden was founded by Peter the Great in 1706 to grow medicinal plants. "Aptekarsky" means "apothecary" in Russian.
There are a lot of cafes and restaurants near the botanical garden.
Enjoy gourmet cuisine surrounded by contemporary art in Garage Café, the perfect place to unwind after visiting an exhibition or taking a stroll in Gorky Park. The Café’s relaxed atmosphere is the perfect place for doing work or meeting with friends, while dining on innovative dishes. The menu is updated each season and offers an array of delicious, fresh food, including a large selection of desserts and a kids’ menu, as well as specialty coffees and teas.
Remy Kitchen Bakery is a restaurant and a bakery in one establishment. Head chef is Melbourne native Glen Ballis and in the menu he aims to reflect the cuisine of his homeland: it's a mix of Italian, French, Greek, Chinese and Japanese elements and all ingredients used are seasonal. Remyboasts a spacious open kitchen and the majority of the dishes are prepared on the Josper grill. The bakery offers a range of mouth-watering freshly baked pastries as well as a deli section, where guests can get something to take.