V tsentre Minska na Nemige Apartments

Rain made it a great day to spend time indoors here. I had freshly made donuts and waffles, then bought desserts, coffee, cocoa, perfumes, and souvenirs. The prices and quality were all fairly good, and the mall also has a range of household appliances.

In summer it's extremely hot inside, with no air conditioning. The space in the very centre of town is used absolutely uselessly, the services feel like the USSR, and the regional in the elevator is a problem. It's also not easy for disabled people to get around.

I have fond childhood memories of going there, but my visit in March left me disappointed. The toy shop that used to be packed with Lego sets and all kinds of toys is now practically empty. The salespeople couldn't care less and didn't even greet customers, spending their time gossiping instead of helping. The Soviet architecture may be off-putting to foreigners, though the mall feels familiar to me. Sadly, there's still no bathroom or AC. I can't recommend Nemiga mall: there's nothing to see or buy, and GUM mall is a better choice for both shopping and architecture.

The shops are cramped little glass boxes, with low light and very little room. This outdated shopping-centre format feels more like a slightly updated Kamarouka/Zhdanovichy bazaar from the 1990s than anything modern. The ugly building stands where the cosy old Niamiha housings were, although those could have been properly reconstructed. Better not spend your money here.