Kyiv Entertainment

  1. Arena Night Club

    At the top end, new clubs are constantly trying to outdo each other in terms of price, decadence and beauty of clientele, such as Arena Night Club, Decadance House and Barsky. To enter any of these you'll have to pass through some of the strictest feis kontrol (face control, ie door policy) in the city, so dress the part. Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission prices listed.

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  2. Art Club 44

    This venue has suffered a big drop in the quality of its music. Still, it has a great atmosphere for watching live local bands - even if the thuggish bouncers now demand the hefty cover charge several hours before the music starts. Through the courtyard at vul Khreshchatyk 44, the unmarked entrance is on your left. Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission price listed.

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  3. Babuin

    This funky and fun venue is actually three entities in one: bar (by night), café (by day) and bookshop (all the time). We put it here because come the main activity is most definitely drinking alcoholic beverages, often to a live-music accompaniment. It's a perennial winner of the slowest-service-in-Kyiv award.

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  4. Baraban

    This popular journo hangout is hard to find but a colourful cast of regulars manages to do so on a nightly basis. This is the place to talk politics and plot revolutions, and it also has decent food at good prices - including burgers.

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  5. Barsky

    At the top end, new clubs are constantly trying to outdo each other in terms of price, decadence and beauty of clientele, such as Decadance House and Arena Night Club, but the talk of the town when we were there was the newly opened Barsky. To enter any of these you'll have to pass through some of the strictest feis kontrol (face control, ie door policy) in the city, so dress the part. Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission prices listed.

    Read more about Barsky

  7. Bierstube

    The German-influenced menu (all dishes served with charming mugs o' ketchup and mustard), smoky basement air and chummy environment persist post-Eric (a well-known bar and club entrepreneur and former manager of Bierstube). However, the service has taken a nosedive. Go through the archway and hug the right.

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  8. Blindazh

    This textbook dive bar, done up like a Red Army bunker, has old Kalashnikovs, grenades and other weaponry behind the bar for you to fondle. Order a 'Boromirovka' - Burn energy drink and tonic mixed with 14 shots of vodka and served in an old metal pail.

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  9. Caribbean Club

    Sort of a Latin version of Shooters (another club), complete with sleazy Wednesday 'Ladies' Night'. It's been around forever, which tells you something. Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission price listed.

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  10. Decadance House

    At the top end, new clubs are constantly trying to outdo each other in terms of price, decadence and beauty of clientele. Decadance House was the original VIP club, and was soon followed by Arena Night Club and Barsky. To enter any of these you'll have to pass through some of the strictest feis kontrol (face control, ie door policy) in the city, so dress the part. Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission prices listed.

    Read more about Decadance House

  11. Dnipro Party Boats

    To really go local take one of these 1½-hour 'disco' river cruises. They're cheap, they're cheesy, and they're unpredictable. Just buy a ticket, board the boat (they leave when full) and start drinking. Didn't think you'd get caught dead dancing to Russian pop? Think again. Catch the boats at pier 11, south of the richnoy vokzal (river boat terminal). Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission price listed.

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  13. Double Coffee

    Of the chains, our favourites are Double Coffee for its breakfasts and Kofiym for its general bohemian ambience.

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  14. Dynamo Stadium

    Dynamo Kyiv is one of the most recognisable names in European football and Dynamo Stadium is the team's modestly sized home. Ticket booths are out front near the statue of a young Valery Lobanovsky, the late, legendary coach of Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team. There's also a memorial to WWII team Start.

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  15. Golden Gate

    Kyiv's two main Irish pubs are bitter rivals, but relative equals in terms of service, atmosphere and beer selection. For sports nuts, both venues have multiple large screens, accommodate match requests and stay open late for big games. For whatever reason Golden Gate tends to draw the American and German expat crowd, while O'Brien's attracts English, Irish and Scottish elements. O'Brien's is slightly more affordable and is renowned for its breakfasts.

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  19. Jeans Beach Club by Opium

    Two popular summer venues are in Hydropark: Jeans Beach Club by Opium and Sun City. Hydropark also has a clutch of more downmarket clubs on the south side of the metro tracks that can get decidedly ugly as the evening wears on. Women usually get a substantial discount off the admission prices listed.

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  20. Kaffa

    The recent onslaught of coffee houses has not changed one thing: long-standing Kaffa still serves the most heart-pumping, rich-tasting brew in town. Coffees and teas from all over the world are served in a pot sufficient for two or three punters in a blissfully smoke-free, whitewashed African-inspired interior - all ethnic masks, beads and leather.

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  21. Kinoteatr Kyiv

    Usually has one nightly showing in English.

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  22. Kofiym

    Of the chains, our favourites are Kofiym for its general bohemian ambience and Double Coffee for its breakfasts.

    Read more about Kofiym

  23. Koleso Kafe-Theatre

    This semi-avant-garde theatre has an informal, café-like environment. Performances involve much song and dance as well as food, so understanding the language is not essential.

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  25. National Philharmonic

    Originally the Kyiv Merchants' Assembly headquarters, this beautiful building is now home to the national orchestra.

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  26. O'Brien's

    Kyiv's two main Irish pubs are bitter rivals, but relative equals in terms of service, atmosphere and beer selection. For sports nuts, both venues have multiple large screens, accommodate match requests and stay open late for big games. O'Brien's attracts English, Irish and Scottish elements, while Golden Gate, for whatever reason, tends to draw the American and German expat crowd. O'Brien's is slightly more affordable and is renowned for its breakfasts.

    Read more about O'Brien's

  27. Olympic/Respublikansky Stadium

    All Ukrainian national team matches, as well as most of Dynamo Kyiv's (one of the most recognisable names in European football) European matches, kick off at the larger Olympic/Respublikansky Stadium. Tickets for the stadium's 100,000 seats are sold at kiosks in front of the entrance gates. This is also the scheduled venue for the final match of the Euro 2012 football championships.

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  28. Palats Sportu

    The main venues for rock concerts are Palats Sportu and Palats Ukraina. It also hosts Ukraine's international basketball and hockey games.

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  29. Palats Ukraina

    The main venues for rock concerts are Palats Ukraina and Palats Sportu.

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