Lido is one of the most popular places in Minsk if you want to try simple, homemade-style Belarusian food. It’s best described as a self-service cafeteria.

You walk along food stations on the first and second floors, point to what you want, the staff serve it, weigh your plate, and then you pay at the cashier. After that, you choose any table you like, enjoy your meal, and return your tray when you’re done.

The menu is mostly traditional Belarusian and Slavic comfort food — the kind of dishes people here eat at home every day.

One more lovely detail: Lido has big open windows with a view of Nemiga Street, so you can sit, eat, and watch the city and people passing by. It’s a simple and very local experience.