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Kiev Nightlife | Kiev Bars | Kiev Night Clubs Nightlife |
 One thing you won’t do in Kiev (or Kyiv as the locals call it)…unless you run out of money….is starve or get thirsty! This bustling capital of Ukraine has stepped into the modern world with a determination to offer its (wealthier) residents, and steadily growing number of visitors, plenty of nightlife choice. But be warned, as more and more of Kiev turns to hard currency, so prices are rising - it’s not a cheap night out.
Ukranian independence since 1991 has seen a massive influx of Western influence and the arrival of trendy nightclubs, sophisticated restaurants and cool bars. It has also meant the arrival of numerous striptease joints and you’re likely to come across your fair share of ‘working girls’ in pubs and bars. Yet at the same time, with more than 130 nationalities and ethnic groups living in Kiev, there’s no danger of feeling like you could be in Marbella.
Independence Square and Khreschatyk Street, in the centre, is where most of the action takes place with the area taking on a true outdoor party feel in the warm summer evenings. The massive Arena complex in the city centre offers a wide range of shopping, casinos, restaurants and a night club. The Sports Zone restaurant here has a great view across the central plaza.
Nightclubs are springing up all over the place. If you’re into Salsa then Caribbean Club at 4 Kominternaya is a must. The only Latin disco in the city, experienced salsa dancers will be in their element (the rest of us can just look and admire!) Popular PaTiPa in Muzeyny Lane also has salsa music on Fridays. Avalon, at 3 Leontovycha, doubles as a casino (big business in Kiev) and seafood restaurant. River Palace (a floating casino) does the same, while Privilege at 2 Parkovaya Doroga is a summer open air club that focuses on House music. One of the most popular clubs is Kaif (20 Artyoma), where if the queue is long the best advice is to speak loudly. Once they hear your foreign accents you’ll find you get in a lot quicker!
Generally expect to pay from about 40 UAH to 150 or more for entry. The very sophisticated Decadence club/restaurant at Shota Rustaveli has a big 200 UAH cover charge if you want a table, but women do get in free. |
 In need of Guinness…….yes, well there had to be one, didn’t there and in Kiev there are a couple! O’Briens in Mikhaylvska 17a, is a highly rated Irish pub, just two minutes walk from Independence Square, offering a great range of drinks, an excellent menu (including a homemade Dublin breakfast), live music and live sports on Sky TV. Near the Golden Gate monument in Volodmyrska is the Golden Gate, a two floor class Irish Pub with a good atmosphere, well rated beer and food and sports coverage. No ‘working girls’ are allowed here…
If you can’t bear to miss your favourite sport then Arena Citi in Basseyna 2A and Planeta Sport in B. Khmelnytskovo 3 cover most major events. Planeta gets packed, so booking is advisable.
Not into Guinness or Football? There are plenty of straightforward lounge bars and pubs to explore. La Casa del Habano in Klovski Spusk 13 is aimed at cigar aficionados, while the Taboo Lounge Bar at the Premier Palace Hotel offers a flavour of the Middle East with hookah pipes.. Baraban (The Drum) is very popular with expats, but not easy to find. Walk 100 yards or so up Prorizna (opposite the Khreschatyk Metro) and look on the right for an alleyway. There are also a couple of good jazz clubs the Miami Blues in Krasnoarmyiska 114 (which also offers food 24 hours a day), and the Jazz Club in Druzhby Narodov, which has live sessions every night. Dixieland is an excellent restaurant in Kyrylo-Mefodyivska St, where Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Swing, Soul reign every night. |
 Kiev’s cultural diversity has resulted in a tremendous culinary choice. Restaurants range from the traditional Ukrainian cuisine to classical French and Italian…and YES, chicken Kiev actually does come from here! Service can be slow though, so don’t expect to eat in a hurry - even at one of the fast food places!
Do not miss the chance to try local dishes such as vareniki (small stuffed dough pies), Ukranian borsch (beet soup) and pampushki (soft rolls soaked in fresh crushed garlic and oil). There are also some delicious Georgian and Russian specialities to be had, so be adventurous! Recommended restaurants include Kozachok (Ukranian) in Kirovohradska and Tsentralnaya, which offers an authentic menu, has a "family night" on Sundays, and features traditional drinks favoured by Cossacks. Chocolade is a hip and trendy restaurant and bar in Shota Rustaveli,which is currently attracting the young and beautiful. Dancing is from 11pm and if you stay there long enough you can enjoy a breakfast menu. Another restaurant (of the many) worth mentioning is the award winning Capuchin at 81 Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St.
Named after the medieval order of the same name, the cuisine is European with a distinctive French accent and here is an impressive wine, whisky and cocktail list.
The interior has a medieval feel with stone walls, heavy wood furniture, chains, candles etc which set the atmosphere. There is also a pub within the complex which has live sports and karaoke.
Fast food outlets have sprung up in the last few years . Yes, there is a McDonalds but for real local fast food try one of the several Puzata Khata outlets. Literally translated as Pot Bellied peasant house, the restaurants recreate the traditional clay-walled hut that you’ll find in any old village of Ukraine.. The menu includes national dishes such as Ukrainian borsch with pampushki, homemade sausages, vareniki, pancakes, salads, meat and fish dishes. Also excellent is Dva Gusya (they are at the Metrograd shopping complex in Bessarabskaya Square and Globus shopping centre in Independence Square). Meaning ‘Two Geese’ the menu includes traditional dishes . as well as American, Russian, Danish and even Hawaiian choices.
Lastly, two useful phrases that will put you in the good books of every restaurateur and publican!
Za vashe zdorovye! (to your health)
Duzhe smachno (delicious) |
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