The Guest House is the largest department store in St. Petersburg, located in the very center of the city between Nevsky Prospect, Lomonosov and Sadovaya Streets, as well as the Perinna Line. The total area of the shops is 13,000 square meters.

The building was erected in 1785 according to the design of Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe in the classical style. However, this is not the first market project: earlier ideas were proposed by Antonio Rinaldi and Bartolomeo Rastrelli. A distinctive feature of the building is the rhythmic enfilade of two-tiered arches, which not only protected the shops from bad weather but also gave the facade dynamism. The facade along Nevsky Prospect stretches for 230 meters. In 1837, the building was equipped with pneumatic stoves and gas lighting.

The Guest House actively traded in haberdashery, fabrics, jewelry, manufactured goods, perfumery, and books. Many well-known merchants owned the shops, and gradually the "Gostinka" became an elite place that attracted high society. Prices here corresponded to the level of the clientele. In 1887, the building was reconstructed according to Benois's design, the facade became more ornate, and sculptural compositions and a dome above the entrance appeared.

After the revolution, trade in the Guest House ceased. During the blockade, the building suffered greatly from shelling, and its large-scale reconstruction began only in 1955. In 1967, the restoration was completed: the market lost its extravagant stucco and dome but gained a through enfilade. A vestibule of the metro station of the same name opened in the building.

Today, this largest department store in the city is not just a series of brand shops. Here you can visit a museum of modern wax sculptures and fashion shows. You can relax from shopping in the inner courtyard of the department store, where a public space "Dvor Gostinki" has recently appeared.

The square in front of the Guest House has also become a place for creativity: street musicians often perform here, and performances take place. Visiting the department store is worth it even without plans for shopping; everyone will find something interesting, and its history and architecture will leave no one indifferent.