Krasny Kabachok, tavern

Categories / City Services/Restaurants, Cafes, Cafeterias
KRASNY KABACHOK ("Red Pub"). A tavern located on the 7th Verst of Petergofskaya Road. Named after Krasnenkaya Road, it was located at the building constructed for Tsar Peter I in the early 18th century as a rest-stop on his way to Strelna and Peterhof. Issuing a decree on 16 November 1706, Peter I gave the building to his interpreter, Semen Ivanov, who, by a decree issued on 7 June 1713, was allowed to arrange it "according to the model of German public houses, and to sell vodka and tobacco there". In 1733, Krasny Kabachok was bought by the General Chief of Police, V.F. Saltykov, after which the building repeatedly changed hands. On 29 June 1762, Empress Catherine II rested at Krasny Kabachok on her way from Peterhof. In 1785, the tavern was bought by Duchess E. Kingston; in 1787-1806, it belonged to Colonel Garnovsky, secretary to G. A. Potemkin. In the early 19th century, the St. Petersburg German community gathered at Krasny Kabachok to celebrate Pancake Week. After 1815, Krasny Kabachok was bought by L. Kessenich; under her the pub became famous for its waffles. Alexander Pushkin, M.Y. Lermontov (who mentioned the pub in his poem “Mongo”), P.A. Katenin and many others dined there. Krasny Kabachok is depicted in the novel Dushegub (Murderer) by N.N. Zhivotov, and in the play "Krasny Kabachok" by Y. D. Belyaeva (staged at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in 1911). The wall of the Krasny Kabachok boasted a memorable brass plate with dates of Emperor Alexander I’s and Emperor Nicholas I's visits. The house was demolished circa 1919.

Reference: Пыляев М. И. Забытое прошлое окрестностей Петербурга. СПб., 1996. С. 115-119.

I. A. Bogdanov. Alexander I, Emperor
Belyaev Yury Dmitrievich
Catherine II, Empress
Garnovsky Mikhail Antonovich
Ivanov Semen
Katenin Pavel Alexandrovich
Kessenich Luiza
Kingston E., Duchess
Lermontov Mikhail Yurievich
Nicholas I, Emperor
Peter I, Emperor
Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich, Gracious Prince of Tauride
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Saltykov Vasily Fedorovich
Zhivotov Nikolay Nikolaevich
Пыляев М. И. Забытое прошлое окрестностей Петербурга. СПб., 1996 Alexandrinsky Theatre