Kyiv
More than just a nightclub, Closer is a bohemian tour de force that epitomises Kyiv's emergence as a hub of creativity and counterculture. Heavily…
Must-see nightlife in Ukraine
Lviv
The latest addition to Lviv's drinking scene is this dramatically industrial, multistorey beer temple right on pl Rynok. The master brewer here creates…
Kyiv
Kyiv's best bar is set in an intimate basement space on vibrant vul Shota Rustaveli. No pretensions, no strict feiskontrol (face control), just an…
Kyiv
Pink Freud reckons it can cure you with quality cocktails. It may be right: its talented mixologists have created an original drink for every mood and…
Lviv
It's easy to find this one-drink bar – just look for the crowd of people on pl Rynok holding tiny glasses of something crimson, any time of the day. The…
Kyiv
Billing itself as a 'theatre cafe' (due to its proximity to the playhouses on nearby pl Ivana Franka), this place is an arty delight. It's all scuffed…
Lviv
Pick of the bunch on pl Katedralna, with no theme, no gimmicks, just a focus on Lviv's best coffee-making traditions (hence it's always packed with locals…
Kyiv
This indie cafe at the back of the House of Scientists has a creative atmosphere, excellent coffee and a strong wi-fi connection – a perfect spot to plant…
The Carpathians
Astoundingly out of character with the rest of Rakhiv, this excellent, colourful, egg-themed cellar pub has some of best food in Rakhiv and incredibly…
Kharkiv
A former seed-selection factory now disseminates the seeds of cultured drinking in a place prone to wild drinking habits. The extensive bar menu lists out…
Kyiv
Mur Mur has been pushing the envelope of cutting-edge design in Kyiv for two decades – first as Concord restaurant, and now in its latest incarnation as a…
Lviv
You'll find Lviv's chocolate cafes all over the country, but there's something special about the central Lviv branch where it all began. Cafe tables and…
Lviv
Lviv is Ukraine's undisputed coffee capital, and the 'Lviv Coffee Mine' is where the stratum of arabica is excavated by local colliers from deep beneath…
Odesa
It feels like entering a shkaf (wardrobe) from the outside, but what you find inside is a heaving basement bar–club, a surefire antidote to Odesa's trendy…
Odesa
Each of the three young owners here throw something into the mix: Israeli cultural influence, French culinary education and really good musical taste…
Kyiv
Hidden in the basement of the Kyiv Cinema, this is Kyiv's original speakeasy and a legend among Kyiv's bars. Whereas the bartenders at most top cocktail…
Kyiv
A tiny but immensely popular coffee shop in Podil with high-quality caffeinated beverages, friendly baristas and low prices. The action spills out into…
Kyiv
Run by squatters living upstairs at the same address. It was once large enough to host live bands, but much of their space was reclaimed in 2017 and the…
Kyiv
Ukraine is grain country, so no surprise you can find good craft beer. There are 180 types of bottled beer here and more than 25 on tap – many of them…
Kyiv
This bar/cafe spills into a courtyard near the origin of Andriyivsky uzviz. Choose between coffee, refreshing lemonades and competently mixed cocktails…
Odesa
Doubling as a barbershop by day, this little bar has an edgy, decadent feel enhanced by aged walls and a magnificent chandelier that bedazzles incoming…
Lviv
This cafe–art gallery in the shadow of the Dominican Cathedral has a relaxed vibe. It's particularly popular with bohemian, alternative types but seems to…
Kyiv
A de rigueur stop after descending Andriyivsky uzviz, this dessert-cafe specialises in rich melted-chocolate concoctions from Lviv – Ukraine's unofficial…
Kyiv
Ukraine has some good wine-growing areas in the south and in the west, and this welcoming little space is the place to sample them. Plenty of dry…
Kyiv
Around for years, 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…
Kyiv
Probably the best and most 'clubby' of Kyiv's growing repertoire of gay clubs, it gets quite packed on weekends and attracts a mostly gay clientele but…
Kyiv
You gotta love a place called 'Woolly Hops.' The selection of IPAs at this basement place is more wonderful than woolly, but we're not complaining. There…
Kyiv
This little bohemian hangout near Kyiv Mohyla Academy holds nightly events that might include poetry readings, storytelling or live music on the sidewalk…
Odesa
This charming re-created USSR-era living room littered with photos of Russian film stars is proof that 'retro Soviet' doesn't have to mean political…
Kyiv
A brewpub smack dab in the middle of town? Works for us. They produce a crisp pilsner, an aggressive wheat bock (6.2% alcohol), and seasonal specialities,…
Lviv
Bright and welcoming, the jumble sale of mismatched furniture, old shoes and potted plants that tumbles out onto pl Katedralna is Cafe 1, a great place…
Kyiv
With an open-air dance floor packed with beautiful bodies, this is Kyiv's top summer nightclub. The action is, predictably, centred on weekend nights; at…
Kyiv
Enter through a door in the form of an iconic red telephone box to find yourself in this classy UK-inspired cafe. Siphon, aeropress and pour-over brews…
Kyiv
An excellent find hidden in a courtyard off Khreshchyk, Paliturka has good tunes and a boho vibe, in addition to fine coffee. Plenty of spaces to chat or…
Kyiv
As the name implies, this American-owned place in the heart of Podil's bar district offers drinks as well as food with an Oriental twist. It's American…
Odesa
If one dessert can save the world, then it is Kyiv-style cake produced in this tiny coffee shop that looks like a slightly cramped dollhouse. But the main…
Odesa
Designed in a cool, retro-industrial style, this coffee shop is run by bearded lumberjack hipsters who approach the brewing process with a near-academic…
Kyiv
This is an intimate, welcoming place serving great cocktails at reasonable prices. Try the killer Old Fashioned with Plantation rum (69% ABV) or the…
Lviv
This is a surprisingly untouristy coffeehouse given the location, a joint favoured by the locals for its brews from around the bean-growing world. The…
Kyiv
A bar for real bar flies, Amigos is a laid-back place with friendly bartenders and big variety of original and classic drinks. It's significantly cheaper…
