Defying the Crisis: Two Georgian Restaurants Open in Yakutsk

Yakutsk's dining slump defies two bold Georgian restaurant openings

Despite the challenging conditions and the closure of many dining establishments in Yakutsk, the situation is not entirely bleak. New venues continue to emerge in the city against the odds.

This spring alone, two restaurants opened their doors—both in spaces previously occupied by shuttered businesses. The Georgian restaurant Nino's began operating at 4 Lenin Street, taking over the site of the now-closed Spinach & Meat.

Meanwhile, Ochag, a restaurant serving Georgian and Russian cuisine, has replaced the defunct Matsuri in the Japanese House on Fyodor Popov Street. According to Yakutia.Info, the project is owned by the same team behind Rooms, whose closure was reported earlier. Ochag opened in early April.

Curiously, both new venues specialize in Georgian cuisine. Yakutsk already hosts several long-standing Georgian restaurants, including Khachapuri, Mama Gata, Barashek, and Khinkali No. 1.

While it may be premature to draw optimistic conclusions—these restaurants have opened amid significant challenges, and their longevity remains uncertain—it is also too soon to declare the demise of full-service dining in favor of fast-food spots and pubs. Reviews on 2GIS for both new establishments are mixed, ranging from high praise to scathing criticism. Yet the sheer volume of feedback suggests strong public interest, proving that people still dine out despite the difficulties.

Earlier reports listed a wave of closures in 2024–2025, including Rooms, Parus, Respublika, Beketov, Daily Café, Waffles & Coffee, Para Bokalov, Doki, Red Star, Robinson Crusoe, Spinach & Meat, and others. Restaurants WokCafé and Osnova have also announced plans to sell.

Data from the Yakutia Restaurant Association indicates that foot traffic in restaurants and bars fell by 20–30% from November 2025 to January 2026 compared to previous months. For context, SakhaStat reports that the republic's food service sector generated 38.8 billion rubles in 2024—a 5.9% increase in real terms over 2023.

Industry representatives told Yakutia.Info that the downturn in Yakutsk's dining scene mirrors nationwide trends, driven by rising tax burdens (including higher VAT) and declining household incomes.