Nevsky Prospect is the famous street that cuts through the centre of St Petersburg and bustles with life as it is lined with restaurants, bars and shops.  At the crossroads with the Kazan Cathedral is the beautiful Art Nouveau building of the Eliseyev Emporium. With its prominent corner position, beautiful design and vibrant lights, plus moving puppets in the windows, I had to go have a peek.

Eliseyev is a luxury food emporium. They stock everything from caviar, tea, coffee, vodka and a charcuterie counter to the most unbelievable homemade confectionary. Having a huge sweet tooth I was a bit like a moth to a light bulb with marzipan corn on the cobs, carrots and homemade jellies of every colour imaginable.

The centre of the Eliseyev store is dominated by a huge pineapple! This is the centre-point of the store with cafe tables dotted underneath its fronds. The Emporium was packed with Russians and tourists alike all buying treaty foods or sitting under the pineapple supping coffee or champagne.  There was a sense of theatre throughout the store, from the stucco ceilings, huge glittering chandeliers and endless gold leaf to the musicians playing on the balcony all of which added to the buzzy atmosphere.

www.saint-petersburg.com/buildings/eliseyev-emporium/