Aryxe in Kyiv, Ukraine
6 min read
6 min read
by Aleksandra Stamatovic
Recently we have launched an entirely new series of articles covering travel and best spots to visit when you’re away from home. Our second article in this series is dedicated to Kyiv, the capital and most populous city of Ukraine.
Kyiv can easily be treated as also one of the most important centers of Eastern Europe thanks to its developed industrial, educational, scientific, and cultural segments of life.
In addition to carrying the torch of the new world in Eastern Europe, it is a frequent choice for many high-tech industries, further strengthening its leading position in this side of the world.
In this article, we will bring to you a list of our favorite spots when it comes to coffee places, restaurants, bars, and clubs.
It goes without saying that we strongly encourage you to visit Kyiv and in case you have never been there, you’re in for a treat!
Coffee places
If you’re a fan of urban, non-touristy places, you will absolutely love this coffee bar placed in a cool basement setting, with outdoor seating where you can enjoy the shade under the trees. Their coffee is superb, and they have a variety of delicious cocktails, too!
Kosatka is a place to be if you’re on a search for a good place to have brunch at, and, in case you have particular requests due to your diet, they will have your back with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options for every meal.
All things considered, your visit to Kosatka simply can’t be a miss.
If you are looking for a laidback getaway with great coffee, WhyNot is definitely a place to consider. This particular coffee place is a location where you won’t see many tourists and it has a calm and quiet environment, which is perfect for those looking to continue the remote work without any disturbances or nuisances throughout.
CoffeeDOOR is a newer place in the Podil district, with exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. The place is very stylish and will offer you terrific coffee, along with cold brew which is absolutely delicious. The place is not too busy so if you are looking for a quiet spot to be in while you have a business meeting, CoffeeDOOR is a perfect choice! Also, their raspberry tarts are to die for so make sure to have one if you get a chance to visit.
The Fandom Coffee Bar is placed just opposite the Kyiv Opera so it’s a place you can’t miss if you are strolling through the city center. The place per se is extremely stylish and uber-elegant. Their staff is very professional yet friendly. The decor is modern, sleek-looking, topped with seductive lighting and interesting art, Overall, this place is fantastic for business meetings as well as a safe bet for those trying to find a place that will offer a phenomenal dining experience.
And now last but certainly not least is the Idealist coffee bar, placed in the vicinity of the Golden Gate, boasting a young, urban crowd. It’s a place that can get fairly busy but offers a pleasant experience at a superb location.
Restaurants
Kicking off the list of restaurants with Italian cuisine, Casa Nori is a modern Italian restaurant located in Podil, offering not only terrific food but reasonable prices and a laidback clientele, too.
Their food is absolutely delicious and can’t be a miss for anyone who’s a fan of Italian specialties.
The restaurant is elegant and stylish and a great choice for a romantic evening out in Kyiv.
This cozy place has a wonderful interior, super friendly staff, reasonable prices, and yummy meals to please anyone’s taste buds. The place itself has been there for a long time and attracts an urban crowd with its delicious vegan and vegetarian specialties.
If you are a fan of traditional Italian cuisine and have a thing for pasta specialties, you’ll be very pleased with this elegant, terraced venue where you can frequently find politicians, celebs, and the like.
The restaurant serves fantastic food, accompanied by an amazing wine list, impeccable service, and prices to match the experience. If you do decide to give it a try, don’t forget to book a table!
If you are in Kyiv and very much wanting to try out traditional, Ukrainian cuisine, we strongly recommend Kanapa. This restaurant is beautifully decorated in the old country house flavors, accompanied by high-quality food, extremely friendly staff, and overall superb service.
If you were planning to wear high heels and visiting the Kanapa, you may want to rethink that decision since the place is located on the Andriivs’kyi descent, on a steep cobbled stoned lane and a sprained ankle may ruin your dining experience.
Bars & Clubs
Pure & Naive wine bar + bistro offers pleasant outdoor seating, a phenomenal selection of wines by the glass, and even has exotic wines for you to try out. The place itself is super sleek, with an urban crowd and it can get quite busy so our recommendation is to make a reservation ahead of time.
Closer is a type of club that makes the worldly famous Berghain look like a spot where uncool tourists go to let their hair down for the weekend. Closer is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but if you are up for a maze-like, crazy experience where you will see the local techno lovers, gothic beauties, weirdos, long-legged models, and the creatures of the night – Closer is a place to be at hands down!
There’s plenty of more exciting and enticing places to visit while in Kyiv, but you’ll have to agree that this is more than enough no matter if it is or isn’t your first time visiting.
Travelers have limited time allotted to spend in a city of choice, so why waste that time tasting bad food or scrolling down countless reviews of people fussing over this or that – this list is the ultimate guide providing you with superb options for every part of the day and a variety of occasions. No matter if you are on a trip exploring the city with your friends, taking care of business, indulging in some romantic evenings with your significant other, or combining the three – we got you!
Stay tuned for more cities that we will cover in the upcoming months in our Travel section on the blog post.
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