Drinking and nightlife Ukraine, Eastern Europe - Lonely Planet (2024)

Closer

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…

Pravda Beer Theatre

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…

Alchemist Bar

Kyiv

Kyiv's best bar is set in an intimate basem*nt space on vibrant vul Shota Rustaveli. No pretensions, no strict feiskontrol (face control), just an…

Pink Freud

Kyiv

Pink Freud reckons it can cure you with quality co*cktails. It may be right: its talented mixologists have created an original drink for every mood and…

Pyana Vyshnya

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…

Na Stanislavskogo

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…

Svit Kavy

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…

Kharms

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…

Tsypa

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…

Fabrika

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…

Mur Mur

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…

Lvivska Maysternya Shokoladu

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…

Lvivska Kopalnya Kavy

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…

Shkaf

Odesa

It feels like entering a shkaf (wardrobe) from the outside, but what you find inside is a heaving basem*nt bar–club, a surefire antidote to Odesa's trendy…

Dizyngoff

Odesa

Each of the three young owners here throw something into the mix: Israeli cultural influence, French culinary education and really good musical taste…

Parovoz

Kyiv

Hidden in the basem*nt of the Kyiv Cinema, this is Kyiv's original speakeasy and a legend among Kyiv's bars. Whereas the bartenders at most top co*cktail…

Espressoholic

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…

Squat 17b Yard Cafe

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…

Old Bar

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…

Druzi Cafe

Kyiv

This bar/cafe spills into a courtyard near the origin of Andriyivsky uzviz. Choose between coffee, refreshing lemonades and competently mixed co*cktails…

The Fitz

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…

Dzyga

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…

Lviv Handmade Chocolate

Kyiv

A de rigueur stop after descending Andriyivsky uzviz, this dessert-cafe specialises in rich melted-chocolate concoctions from Lviv – Ukraine's unofficial…

Like a Local's

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…

Kaffa

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…

Lift

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…

Mokhnaty Khmil

Kyiv

You gotta love a place called 'Woolly Hops.' The selection of IPAs at this basem*nt place is more wonderful than woolly, but we're not complaining. There…

Vagabond

Kyiv

This little bohemian hangout near Kyiv Mohyla Academy holds nightly events that might include poetry readings, storytelling or live music on the sidewalk…

Friends and Beer

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…

Pivna Duma

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,…

Cafe 1

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…

Hangover Bar

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…

London

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…

Podil East India Company

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…

Kofeynya ZheTo

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…

Foundation Roasters

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…

Wood You Like Bar

Kyiv

This is an intimate, welcoming place serving great co*cktails at reasonable prices. Try the killer Old Fashioned with Plantation rum (69% ABV) or the…

Medelin

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…

Amigos Bar

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…