Buy records:
Maybe the most well-known vinyl store in St. Petersburg, Phonoteka offers a good choice of vinyl records both new and second-hand. There are also CDs, as well as musical literature and magazines available. For those who prefer shopping online, Phonoteka has an online store, as well.
Where: Marata St. 28, not far from the Dostoevskaya/Vladimirskaya metro stations and ITMO’s Lomonosova campus
Working hours: Mon - Sun, 10 am to 10 pm.
This store is considered somewhat more expensive, but has a rich selection of records, both old classics and recent releases. What’s more, it offers a range of useful accessories and services like cleaning and appraisal of vinyl records, as well as free-delivery online shopping.
Where: Zhukovskogo St. 20, not far from the Mayakovskaya metro station
Working hours: Mon - Sun, 10 am to 10 pm
Just a few steps away from ImagineClub you will find the Gramophone store, with a great homely vibe and a somewhat laid-back atmosphere. The records are generally more affordable and the staff is really friendly. A great place to hang around, meet like-minded people – and maybe practice some Russian.
Where: Zhukovskogo St. 17, bldg. 2B
Working hours: Mon - Sun, 12 pm to 8 pm.
Despite the name (Винил для всех - “vinyl for everyone”), this store is geared towards seasoned vinyl enthusiasts and people who know what they are looking for. Expect less customer service, but a really serious approach to everything vinyl. A place for true devotees.
Where: Manezhnyy Ln. 16
Working hours: Mon - Sun, 10 am to 10 pm
Udelnaya Flea Market
Sometimes called simply Udelka, this is yet another place to look for vinyl records. Browsing among the stalls can reward you with great finds. The process can be quite enjoyable, so long as you remember that you can – and typically should – haggle. In case you’re planning a visit, be sure to read our handy guide to flea markets in St. Petersburg.
Where: Fermskoye Shosse 41/8, Udelnaya metro station
Working hours: the flea market works from 10 am to 8 pm on workdays and from 7 am to 7 pm on weekends, but the best time to look for vinyl records is said to be from 9 am on weekends.
Hardware and maintenance:
This hi-fi store in central St. Petersburg has a good choice of record players. The place also sells vinyl records and accessories and offers good repair services.
Where: Liteyniy Pr. 59
Working hours: Mon - Sun, 10 am to 10 pm
A store selling used audio equipment and offering repair services. If you’re planning to go searching for vinyl records at the Udelnaya flea market, mind that Vintage Tech is conveniently close, which makes it a good place to stop by and take a look at old record players and other associated vintage tech, like you would do at a museum.
Where: Udelnyy Pr. 2A/D1
Working hours: Mon - Sun, 12 pm to 7 pm
Another popular St. Petersburg market, this one is famous for selling all kinds of technical stuff. If you’re aiming to not just give your old record player a new life but do it by yourself, this place is a true treasure trove. What’s more, you can find a good choice of old Soviet-era vinyl records at Yunona’s flea market area.
Where: Marshala Kazakova St., 35
Working hours and additional information: Mon - Sun, 9 am to 8 pm; the flea market area is only busy on weekends.
Miscellaneous:
Private sellers: in case you have trouble finding what you need in a store, you can always try browsing through offers by private sellers. Being Russia’s most popular classified ads site, Avito always has more than a few. Many local vinyl enthusiasts also recommend the Meshok.net website, which conveniently has an English version.
Events: yet another good option is to be on the lookout for vinyl-associated events. The closest one is Vinyl Mne Mil (Винил мне мил – “vinyl is what I like”), taking place on May. You can check the address and get more details on the event’s VK page (in Russian).
