The Best Bars in Kyiv

When people ask me what I miss about Kyiv, I say my friends – including my bartenders. I think my mom cringes at this, but I promise it’s not a confession of alcoholism. What I love about the Kyiv bar scene is not just the truly delectable cocktails the guys and girls of Black Tot, Hendrick’s, and Barman Dictat would shake up for me, but also how they wouldn’t judge if I sat at the bar alone reading or if my friends and I wanted to chat with them for hours. I loved being a local somewhere, that the bartenders would nod at me if they saw me outside in the real world or give me a parting gift on my last night in town. So here we go — my list of the best bars in Kyiv from extensive research carried out over eighteen months.

You’re welcome.

Obviously, there are more bars in Kyiv than there are on this list. In fact, there are so many, that if I were to sample them all and still patronize my favorites I’d have to be a full-time alcoholic. There are also bars that I went to that just didn’t make the cut. With over two dozen venues here, I think you’ll have plenty of options (check out the ones I *-ed for my favorites), but if I’ve missed anything please leave a comment!

Best Wine and Beer Bars in Kyiv

Varvar’s Brewpub*: Varvar is my favorite Ukrainian craft beer, so let’s just get my bias out of the way. Their stalwart line never fails (like their Ipanema and Equinox DIPA), and their seasonal and experimental beers are intriguing deviations. They have two locations in Kyiv. One is a beer garden on the outskirts of town, and the other is a trendy pseudo-Viking themed taphouse near the train station.

Pravda*: Pravda hails from Lviv, but recently the brewery has established a taproom in Kyiv. They like to push the envelope with their beers, both in flavors and in political statements. They’ve got beers “dedicated” to Merkel, Trump, Obama, Putin, and Trudeau – if you’re a world leader, you’re probably getting your face on a Pravda label.

Collider: Collider has been brewing craft beer since 2012, and their taphouse hidden in a basement in a courtyard is one of Golden Gate’s greatest secrets. I enjoy Collider because they brew beer that I am in a sense used to – APAs and IPAs and such – but they put a Ukrainian spin on it, like with their Carpathian Ale. They keep plenty of other craft beers on tap.

Someone recently mentioned to me that Collider might have moved. If anyone can give an update on their location, please drop a note in the comments!

CRAFT vs PUB: Perhaps the best beer bar in Podil, Craft vs Pub maintains a healthy list of both Ukrainian and imported beer. It’s a company that clearly cares a lot about the beer scene, as they host a Craft Beer Fest twice a year. It’s a great opportunity to check out other Ukrainian (and sometimes international) brewers.

Knayp-klub Kupidon: I wouldn’t necessarily say that Kupidon is craft anything, but it gives off an air of old intelligentsia hangouts, places where students and journalists drink and rant about the day’s issues. I’m probably romanticizing it, as I only ever went once, but I wish I had dragged my friends there more often.

Ципа (Tsypa): Ципа started out as a village brewery intent on making quality beer and has since become a major player on the Ukrainian craft beer scene. It’s a fusion of German and Czech ingredients with Carpathian traditions, producing everything from IPAs to black ales. Their taproom is a fun explosion of color, a welcome break from dark wood pubs.

Punkraft: I only visited Punkraft a couple of times, mostly because its location in Podil was far from my own home. Their beer list is extensive and solid, with local and imported bottles and draughts, and – to my nerd’s delight – they have video game systems hooked up to projectors so you can challenge your friends to classics like Mortal Kombat. (There’s also a Pac-Man machine for when you need to console yourself about losing to your friends in Mortal Kombat.)

Bierwelle/Brewhops: When I left Kyiv, Bierwelle was just starting to make a significant foray into the market. They had finally set up a (semi) centrally located shop near the train station, close to Varvar’s Brewpub. Bierwelle is a Chernihiv brewery, and my absolute favorite thing about it is that it’s (super) craft label, Brewhops, produces sour beers!

Syndicate: I deeply regret that I only discovered Syndicate two weeks before I moved away from Kyiv. It feels a little like an American sports bar fused with a British pub, making it perfect for large groups of loud Americans and their friends. What’s listed on the blackboard is just a small sampling of what they have to offer.

RockFellow 210: RockFellow 210 is a courtyard oasis hidden right next to Maidan, the perfect place for relaxing with friends on beanbag chairs. The drinks themselves are nothing to write home about, but the atmosphere is top-notch for a chill summer afternoon.

Palata #6: Google Maps calls Palata #6 a cocktail bar, but really it’s the place to go if you want cheap shots and the kitschy experience of wearing a flaming hard helmet and getting an empty beer keg knocked against your head. Better seen for yourself than described.

Like a Local’s*: I adore this cozy wine bar, and not just because it was the closest one to my apartment. This is the place to come to get an overview of Ukrainian wine, to properly inform your palate for when you’re facing the wine shelves at the grocery store.

Win Bar: Win Bar is housed in a stunning 19^th century building, taking seriously the sophistication of drinking wine. However it’s not a snobby wine bar – it’s just as welcoming for a girl’s night out as it is a fancy birthday party. Tons of tasty wines from all over the world (with budget options as well as top tier labels).

Whisky Corner: With over 750 kinds of whiskey, Whisky Corner is an aficionado’s dream. The waiters are extremely knowledgeable, helping you branch out from your typical preferences to discover new favorites. They also offer a selection of cocktails, as well as upscale meals.

PR Bar: I ended up at PR Bar usually because friends had picked it, but it’s a reliable choice if you’re in Podil. They have craft beer and solid cocktails, so it’s an easy crowd pleaser.

Pst, do you travel solo and sometimes feel weird about drinking alone? I got you, which is why I wrote up my own personal guide on how to drink alone (and not feel weird about it). Hint #1: Bring a book.

Best Cocktail Bars in Kyiv

Black Tot*: Black Tot is a bar with a serious rum problem, but only in the best way. The menu extends beyond rum drinks, though – one weekday evening when it was slow the bartenders were playing around with a kvass cocktail. The bartenders have always taken excellent care of me here, including the welcome shot you get every single time.

Alchemist*: Alchemist takes its potion-making very seriously with a menu that covers every liquor and palate. It also manages to easily balance different atmospheres in one venue – there’s a room with tables and live music, the bar with an open floor for a late night DJ, and a ‘secret’ backroom for more intimate rendezvouses. I’m not into techno or insane club scenes, but Alchemist is the cocktail bar I like to go to when I want to dance.

Mur Mur*: I wish Mur Mur wasn’t so hip and trendy because they have some of the most interesting cocktails I’ve seen and I don’t want to fight for space at the bar with people doing their Instagram photo shoots. Their ingredients can range from pine vodka to honey with truffle. They manage to make it work, though, for you disbelievers. Mur Mur has a rooftop terrace and an eclectic interior design, so it can get quite busy in any season.

Lost and Found: The bartenders at Lost and Found once made me an amazing lemonade when I was on antibiotics and couldn’t drink, which is a testament to their skills. Lost and Found was started by an American and Ukrainian husband-wife team, a tiny underground bar that’s filled with knick-knacks and good vibes. In good weather they have a small courtyard that’s perfect for laid-back summer drinking. Affordable and draws a young crowd.

Podil East India Company*: Owned by the same couple that runs Lost and Found, Podil East India Company has a totally different vibe but the same stellar quality of cocktails. Each room is designed differently, capturing a moment on the sea-faring trade route (yes, the ship room actually has sounds of waves). The cocktails are heavily influenced by Indian spices, and the menu ranges through many countries of the East Indies.

Kostacka: Kostacka is a basement-level hipster paradise. Everyone looks like they stepped out of Instagram, but that never stopped me from coming. Main draws – the Ginger Daddy and Aperol Spritzes in the summer.

Bydy Poshe: I’ve always enjoyed Bydy Poshe (a place one friend dubbed “the most Berlin bar in Kyiv”), but I’ve also always ended up there in the early evening when it’s very quiet. Still, with its minimalist design and candlelight, the chill vibes work. The sparse descriptions on the menu leave much to the imagination, so often I just end up telling the bartender what I like. Haven’t been disappointed yet.

S34: When my friends and I slipped into S34 one icy evening, the bar almost seemed closed. It’s tucked into a quiet part of town, and the bar is similarly understated classy. There was only one bartender and about eight of us, but he took his time with each drink and all eight of us were deeply satisfied.

De Bosch: De Bosch is all about presentation, and they do it well. You step inside the world of Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch and peruse a cocktail list that sounds like it was named by Dante. But I’ll be honest – despite their creative cocktail ingredients, De Bosch was never my first choice in Kiev bars. The layout makes it feel more like a restaurant than a place to mix and mingle.

Best Speakeasies in Kyiv

(I agonized for weeks about how much information to give you about the Kyiv speakeasies. In the end, I’ve decided to give you only their names. Part of the fun of speakeasies is figuring out how to get in, and there’s plenty of information on the Internet – they are businesses, after all. So I’ll tease you here and let you loose on your scavenger hunt.)

Hendrick’s*: My absolute favorite bar in Kyiv, Hendricks shakes up classic and creative cocktails with intriguing ingredients and presentation pizzazz. The bartenders are also fab people and always made me feel welcome, with friends or with my book. Zero pretension here, just out-of-the-ballpark cocktails. I like the plum sour, but often I just ask the bartender to make me whatever has recently caught their imagination.

Barman Dictat: There’s a lot to love about Barman Dictat – the subtle steampunk vibe, the 10 meter-long display of booze, live jazz music on Tuesdays. It’s sophisticated without being pretentious, just as good for a weekday night with friends as it is for an oligarch’s birthday party. Their cocktails are equally impressive without being over-the-top (El Diablo is my favorite, though it’s not listed on the menu anymore), and if you’re not into cocktails there’s around 400 different kinds of poison you can pick from. Just no beer.

Paravoz: Tucked into a movie theater basement, Paravoz was actually my first speakeasy in Kyiv. Paravoz means “locomotive” in Ukrainian, and this narrow speakeasy can hoodwink you for a minute to thinking you’re on some old-fashioned train dining car. They have an extensive list of classics and twists, and I’ve never been disappointed. My go-to is usually the passion sour (not on the menu).

Loggerhead: I had one of the best drinks of my life, a Tom Yam cocktail, in Loggerhead (as well as a missed connection with a guy wearing a Star Wars shirt, but that’s another story you’ll never hear). This place is chic, though, and we were frequently turned away at the door. Whether it’s because they actually were full or because we didn’t pass face control, I’m not sure.

Torf: Not for everyone. Let me know if you find it.

Kyiv Restaurants with Good Cocktails

While I don’t normally drink cocktails with meals, there are a few restaurants in Kyiv that do a standout job with their cocktails, namely Tin Tin, Dogs & Tails, and The Life of Wonderful People. You can check out more my foodie recommendations on my Kyiv Restaurant Guide post.

You may have noticed there are not any hookah bars on this list. They’re not my thing, as they feel like places people go to be seen and see instead of actually hang out with each other. But there are plenty of hookah bars in Kyiv, and many of the places on this list offer it as well.

If you go to any of these bars, please leave a comment with what you drank and what you thought! And if you have anything to add to this list of the best bars in Kyiv, drop a note in the comments — I’m always looking for new places to chat up the bartender.