Friends, today we’re once again going on a virtual walk through the heart of beautiful St. Petersburg to explore a building located at the intersection of Malaya Morskaya and Gorokhovaya streets. This structure is known as the Guilherme Revenue House, or the Rotin House.
History of the Building: From the “Pesterev House” to a Haven for Creative Intellectuals
The first structure on this previously undeveloped plot appeared in the 1770s. The land and the new building belonged to merchant Fyodor Ivanovich Pesterev. At the time, the building was simply referred to as the “Pesterev House.” The owner rented out its premises.
Over its long history, the house changed hands many times. At different points, it belonged to the Dmitriev family, A. E. Engelhardt, Colonel F. F. Grote, French subject Guilherme, second guild merchant F. I. Rotin, and others.
As ownership changed, so did the appearance of the house: architects added inner wings, constructed extra floors on the main building, and altered the façades. Probably the most famous architect to work here was Harald Bosse.
Despite the large number of owners, I’ve come across mentions that the building is commonly called the Guilherme House or the Rotin House. Interestingly, in the official register of cultural heritage sites, it’s listed as “The house where the following people lived: in 1893 – composer P. I. Tchaikovsky; from 1923 to 1926 – military commander V. K. Blyukher; from 1926 to the 1930s – ballerina G. S. Ulanova.”
Although many famous names are associated with this house, it is also known for once housing the restaurant “Vienna.” This establishment first opened in the 1830s as the “Viennese Tavern,” and later, F. I. Rotin operated it as a restaurant.
“Vienna” became famous for being a favorite spot of many prominent cultural figures: Leonid Andreyev, Alexander Blok, Maxim Gorky, Alexander Kuprin, Alexei Tolstoy, Feodor Chaliapin, and many other artists.
To a large extent, “Vienna” became a haven for the intelligentsia thanks to its location: nearby were numerous theaters, banks, and shops. Guests also appreciated the spacious halls, where one could hold discreet conversations without fear of being overheard.
One of “Vienna’s” innovations was its approach to food service: dishes were not brought to each guest individually, but instead served in large shared bowls — allowing diners to choose their preferred portion. There was also a clever idea behind this ritual: the aromas would fill the entire hall, whetting the appetite of all guests.
How to Get There by Metro
The address of the house is 13 Malaya Morskaya Street / 8 Gorokhovaya Street. The nearest metro station is “Admiralteyskaya.” After exiting the station, turn onto Malaya Morskaya and walk one block away from Nevsky Prospekt.
While you’re in the area, you can visit the famous St. Isaac’s Cathedral or take a look at the monument to Nicholas I. If you’ve already been to these landmarks, I suggest checking out the Museum of Communications or the Museum of the History of Religion — these are not the most popular, but still very interesting exhibition spaces in our city.
Have a nice trip!
