Kiev

Kiev is one of the biggest cities in Europe. It is a bustling capital of the Ukraine, its administrative, economic, scientific, cultural and educational center. This scenic city with population of over 3 million people is located on the shores of the Dnepr River.

Kiev is a city of invaluable historical and cultural monuments, a city of great events and outstanding people. Everyone will find there something especially interesting for himself.

The art and architecture of Kiev are considered world treasures. Many famous artists, poets and writers estimated the unique beauty of this city. The most renowned landmarks include: Cathedral of St. Sophia with outstanding mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century; Kievo-Percherskaya Lavra featuring several monasteries and cathedrals; Golden Gate of Kiev, which date back to 1037; Ukrainian Baroque Church of St. Andrew; the magnificent 19th-century Cathedral of St. Vladimir; and many other attractions. Kiev is often referred to as "the mother of all cities" by Russians and Ukrainians. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe. In the historical center of Kiev you can feel the spirit of the past everywhere.

Kiev is distinguished for its rich cultural life. Theater lovers will find many theatres offering various theatrical programs. Most performances are held in Ukrainian or Russian. The recently renovated Kiev Opera House presents very good opera as well as a broad repertoire of ballets. Ivan Franko Theater is a center of Ukrainian drama, comedy, and musicals. A lot of various exhibitions are carried out in the city's numerous museums and art galleries.

Kiev is also a scientific and educational center of independent Ukraine. Various universities and science academies including famous Kiev-Mogilyanskaya Academy, which is one of the first scientific establishments in Eastern Europe, are located there. Being the largest city of Ukraine, Kiev is a leading industrial and commercial center of the country. Kiev's major industries include: food processing (especially processing of beet sugar), metallurgy, manufacture of machinery, machine tools, rolling stock, chemicals, building materials, and textiles. The development of Ukrainian economy gave impulse to business activity of the city. There are a lot of new office centers, banks, trade exhibition centers and other commercial enterprises appearing in the city nowadays.

Take a walk through the ancient streets of this scenic city, feel its unique beauty and the spirit of its past. For sure your stay in Kiev will become one of your most memorable experiences.

Sightseeing

Kiev is often called the mother of Slavic cities. It is more than 15 centuries old and during this time Kiev has made a long way from an ancient settlement of nomadic tribes to one of the largest cities in the world. Kiev is integrally connected to Slavic culture development. Its monuments, architectural ensembles and cathedrals charm with their beauty, harmony and historical meaningfulness. The Ukrainian capital's attractions are covered with the spirit of old glorious times.

Andreevsky Spusk

Andreevsky Spusk is one of the most famous streets in Kiev. In ancient days it was the shortest way from the Upper Town to Podol, or the Lower Town, where merchants and craftspeople used to live. Nowadays this steep and meandering street is a traditional place for arranging concerts, art festivals and city holidays.
Address: Andreevsky Spusk

Askold Grave

Askold's Grave is a part of park complex on the right bank of the Dnepr River. According to one legend, on this very site near the river in 882 Prince Oleg killed sons of Kie, Askold and Dir, ascended the prince throne and became a very successful ruler of Kiev Rus. The site of Askold's tragic death was marked by a small wooden chapel.
Address: Askold Grave Park

Children Railway

Some people think that children railway is just a toy, little steam engine and cars with remote control. It is not really true. Children railway is a narrow-gauge line with real trains and stations. Children at the age of 9-15 years work on the railway as machinists, train-drivers, conductors and so forth.
Address: Sirez Park

Cyril Church

The church was named in honor of Saint Cyril, one of the most eminent Orthodox saints. Cyril is also known as Slavonic apostle. Cyril and his brother Mephody preached the Gospel to the Slavs in Moravia, the land, from which Christianity spread to the Slavonic lands. The brothers Cyril and Mephody are considered to be the originators of the Cyrillic alphabet.
Address: 103 Frunze St.

Golden Gate

Golden Gate is the unique fortification architecture monument that survived until nowadays. It was constructed in 1017-1024 and served as a main entrance to Kiev. Great tower with Annunciation Church delighted contemporaries and terrified enemies with its inaccessibility. The name of the Gate in Kiev reminds of a famous entrance to Constantinople.
Address: Golden Gate

House with Chimeras

Immediately after the construction works of the House with Chimeras were completed, it became surrounded with numerous legends. One of them says that the architect decided to construct the house after the death of his daughter who drowned in Dnepr. According to this legend, the architect went crazy and decided to decorate the house with the river's inhabitants.
Address: 10 Bankovaya St.

Independence Square

Independence Square, or Maidan Nezalezhnosti, is the central square in Kiev, the main and the most beautiful one. Parades, concerts, festivals and other city arrangements and holidays regularly take place on this square. It contains six fountains, Independence Column, artificial waterfall, and other attractions.
Address: Independence Square

Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra

On the high hills of the right bank of the Dnepr River magnificent Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra topped with gilded domes is situated. According to the legend, Apostle Andrew, while preaching the Word of God in the Scythian Land, blessed the hilly bank of the Dnepr River and said: "On these hills the great city and many churches in glorification of Holy God will be".
Address: 25 Sichnego Povsstanniya St.

Kreschatik

Kreschatik is the most famous and busiest street in Kiev. It is a wide boulevard with plenty of chestnut trees. It is hard to believe that some time ago on the site of Kreschatik used to be a valley and a river surrounded by forest. Nowadays it stretches from Europeiskaya Square to Bessarabskaya Square and contains trade buildings, bank departments and luxurious hotels.
Address: Kreschatik St.

Pechersk-Lipki

To the south-east of Kreschatik Street there is a height that in the old days used to be called Klov after the Klov creek that rounded it. Nowadays the former Klov height consists of two districts, which are Pechersk and Lipki. The main thoroughfare of the region, Gryshevskogo Street, begins at the Kievo-Pecherskaya lavra and leads to the Europeiskaya Square.
Address: Pechersk-Lipki

Podol

Podol is an old district of Kiev, where craftsmen and fishermen used to live. The district was formed after fire of 1811, when all the wooden constructions burnt down. Several slopes, including famous Andreevsky Spusk, lead to Podol. The compositional center of Podol is large Kontraktovaya Square, where each house is interesting in its own way.
Address: Podol

St. Sofia Cathedral

Sofia Cathedral is the world famous historical and architectural monument of the first half of the 11th century. The name of the cathedral comes from Greek word "sofia", which means "wisdom". Built in the times of Yaroslav Mudry, the cathedral served as a social, political and cultural center of Kiev Rus.
Address: 24 Vladimirskaya St

St. Vladimir Cathedral

Saint Vladimir Cathedral is one of the most beautiful temples in Kiev. It was built in the 19th century to commemorate the 900th anniversary of Rus baptizing. Russian Emperor Nicolas I approved the project of the cathedral and ordered to collect money all over Russia. By 1859 more than 100,000 rubles were donated by people from different regions of the country.
Address: Taras Shevchenko Blvrd., 20

Vladimirskaya Gorka

Vladimirskaya Gorka is a visit card of Kiev. It is a green and cozy place with old pavilions offering picturesque views on the left bank of the Dnepr River. On Vladimirskaya Gorka young people come to celebrate graduation from school and enjoy the first sunrise of their new life. It is also the place where just married couples arrive.
Address: Vladimirskaya Gorka Park

Museums

Kiev, this indisputable cultural center of Ukraine, boasts a plenty of museums and art galleries that are of an exceptional cultural and historical value. Treasuries of national art, they represent thoroughly and comprehensively the rich culture of Ukraine from the old days to the recent past and present. With over 60 museums to choose from, one is sure to select something to his taste. We offer you the list of the most popular Kiev museums, which are not to be missed.

ARTEast Gallery
ARTEast Art Gallery is considered to be one of the best art galleries in the entire country. It holds a leading position in representing the best of national art to Ukrainian public and foreign connoisseurs as well. All exhibits represented in the gallery are the authentic works of well-established artists, members of the Ukrainian Union of Artists.
Address: 13 Reytarskaya St

Kiev Art Gallery

Kiev Art Gallery is located in the 19th century building in Nizhni Val Street in Podol, a historical district of the Ukrainian capital. A lot of ancient cultural monuments and famous landmarks of great tourist interest are located there. Podol was always an artistic district, one of the most favorite places of artists, actors and musicians.
Address: 17 Nizhni Val

Kiev Museum of Wax Figures

The idea to establish a museum of wax figures in Kiev appeared after its founders familiarized with exposition of London museum branch in Amsterdam. After this they questioned themselves - if there are such museums in Moscow and Saint Petersburg why not to create one in the capital of Ukraine. Nowadays the exposition consists of more than 60 figures.
Address: B. Khmelnitskogo St.

Kiev Museum of Western and Oriental Art

The Museum of Art named after Bogdan and Varvara Khanenko was founded on the basis of their private collections. The museum is also known as the Museum of Western and Oriental Art. Now it keeps one of the best collections of foreign art in Ukraine. From 1919 the number of exhibits has been more than 13 times increased, from 1,250 to nearly 17,000 artworks.
Address: 15 Tereshenkovskaya St.

Literary Memorial Museum of Mikhail Bulgakov

The museum of outstanding writer Mikhail Bulgakov is located in one of the most beautiful streets of Kiev, Andreyevsky Spusk, which was mainly built up at the end of the 19th century. The street is famous for some older constructions that are considered to be of great historical value. The Memorial Museum was founded in 1989 as a branch of the State Museum of Kiev's History.
Address: 13 Andreyevsky Spusk
Museum of Cultural Heritage

The Museum of Cultural Heritage was open on May 29, 1999. This museum presents the works by those Ukrainian artists who were compelled to live abroad. The collection of the museum is exhibited in eight halls of the old restored house. The museum building is the architectural monument dated to the end of the 18th century-the beginning of the 19th century.
Address: 40-B Moskovskaya St.

Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life

To the southwest of Kiev, in the picturesque setting of Pirogovo village there is an open-air Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture, Rural Life and Folk Art. The museum was founded in the late 1960s and features the unique collection of folk architecture from all regions of Ukraine. In summer and fall the museum hosts special craft festivals.
Address: Pirogovo village

National Art Museum of Ukraine

At the beginning of the history of the National Art Museum of Ukraine, there was hardly any concept of Ukrainian professional art. Ukraine was always famous for its national ethnographical applied art. The founders of the museum's collections decided to prove that this opinion was wrong and defined the list of main representatives of Ukrainian fine art.
Address: 6 Grushevskogo St

National Museum of Medicine of Ukraine

The National Museum of Medicine of Ukraine was founded in Kiev in 1973. It is located in the building of the former anatomical theatre of the University of Kiev. The building is considered to be one of the greatest architectural monuments of the 19th century. The museum represents medicine development in Ukraine from the oldest times until the present day.
Address: 37 B. Khmelnitskogo St.

State Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Folk Art

The State Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Folk Art has one of the largest collections of folk art in the ex-USSR countries. The history of the museum's collection goes back to the late 19th century when a group of prominent Ukrainian and Russian cultural figures sponsored the foundation of the Kiev Museum of Art, Industry and Science.
Address: 21 Sichnego Povsstaniya St.
Ukrainian Museum of Historical Treasures

Ukrainian Museum of Historical Treasures is located in the Pecherskaya lavra, the Monastery of Caves, and has one the richest collections of golden articles in the FSU countries. The museum features exhibits, representing Ukrainian goldsmiths and silversmiths from the 14th to 16th centuries. Ukraine has an old tradition of jewelry, gold and silverware making.
Address: 25 Sichnego Povsstaniya St.

Ukrainian State Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema

The State Museum of Theater, Music and Cinema, founded in 1923 by the artistic union "Berezil", is the only museum of this kind in Ukraine. The museum's collections feature unique exhibits of theater, music and cinema history. The collections were started in 1923 and became a basis for the scientific research and the documentation of cultural history of Ukraine.
Address: 21 Sichnego Povsstanniya St.

Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy

In spite of its rather academic name the Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy, located on the left bank of the Dnepr River, is a very innovative and young establishment. The theatre was founded in 1979. The first play of the new theatre that opened a galaxy of bright performances was Acme by Ukrainian playwright Rodion Fedenev.
Address: 25 Brovarsky Pr

Bravo Kiev Drama Theatre

The Bravo Drama Theatre has gone down in the history as the first private theatre of Kiev. The extensive theatre repertoire represents mainly comedies by modern Ukrainian and foreign playwrights. There one can find the last play by Joe Orton What the Butler Saw, The Value of Love by Mikhail Zadornov, I Prepay by Nadezhda Ptushkina, Tanya-Tanya by Olya Mukhina.
Address: 79 Olesya Gonchara St.

Cherny Kvadrat

To give a short answer to the question what the Cherny Kvadrat is, seems to be rather difficult. Indeed, the Cherny Kvadrat, or Black Square, is a center of modern theatrical art, where many innovative projects are carried out. The repertoire of the theater stretches from improvisations to modern performances, experimental theatrical projects and even academic plays.
Address: 27 Shevchenko Blvrd.
Marionette Theatre

The Kiev Marionette Theatre has been transporting children to an imaginary world of talking puppets and fairy tales since November 1989, when the first performance of the new theatre, founded by the producer and artist Mikhailo Yaremchuk, was shown to the public. Since then this rather small theatre with a chamber-like auditorium seating 100 people has been a destination for a lot of children.
Address: 29/3 P. Sagaidachnogo St.

National Academic Theatre named after I. Frank

The theatre cherishes the traditions of Ukrainian theatre but tries to combine them with the achievement of modern European drama. Since the early 1990s the theatre has toured a lot. People in Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy, Poland have had a possibility to familiarize with the Ukrainian theatre, and its performances have been highly appreciated.
Address: 3 Ivana Franka Sq.

National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after T.G. Shevchenko

The National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet is the oldest musical theatre in Ukraine. It was founded in 1867. While at that time Ukraine was a part of Russian Empire, mainly the operas of Russian composers were staged, such as Mermaid by A. Dargomyzhsky, Life for Tsar and Ruslan and Lyudmila by Ì. Glinka, Queen of Spades by P. Tchaikovsky.
Address: 50 Vladimirskaya St.

National Philharmonic of Ukraine

Today the National Philharmonic Hall of Ukraine continues to present a wide-ranging program that includes a full season of concerts by Symphony and Chamber Philharmonic Orchestras, guitar and bayan quartets, bandura trio, chamber and folk ensembles of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine. Also it constantly conducts international contests and festivals.
Address: 2 Vladimirsky Spusk St.

Theater of Russian Drama named after Lesya Ukrainka
One of the most popular theatres in the Ukrainian capital, the Theater of Russian Drama named after Lesya Ukrainka, is ideally located in the historical part of Kiev, a few steps from Kreschatik. The ancient building, the so-called Bergonye's house, for more than a century has been housing different theatrical troupes and for 80 years has been associated with the Theater of Russian Drama.
Address: 37 B. Hmelnitskogo St.
Communication

While in Kiev one can easily get access to public telephones and post offices. Kiev, being the largest city in Ukraine, has a well developed network of communications offices and public phones. Internet cafes can be also easily found throughout the city.

Telephones

You have several options to make international calls from Kiev. One of these options is using public phones. In order to use a public phone, you need a phone card that can be purchased at any postal office and some stores. Long distance calls in Ukraine are operated by Ukrainian Telecommunications, or shortly Utel. Utel telephones are located in the city's major hotels, restaurants, stores, airports and other places.

Visitors to Kiev can also buy a cellular phone with a SIM card and use it for both domestic and international calls. The average per-minute cost for calls to the United States is about $2.50, to Europe - $.50-1.50.

Kiev's major mobile operators are Golden Telecom, Wellcom, UMC, DCC and Kyivstar. If your cell phone supports such standards as GSM 900 or GSM 1800, you will need only a prepaid package - a SIM card and some money on account. Such packages are provided by Ukrainian mobile operators and can be purchased almost in every shop selling mobile phones.

If you stay at a hotel you can make international calls from there. As a rule, such calls are much more expensive than using a phone card. However, it is better to ask a receptionist about the procedure and fee for service that can vary from $7 to $15 per minute.

Another option you can use, only provided that your telephone has a tone dial, is IP telephony cards, which are very popular and can be bought almost in every stall. IP telephony cards are also sold in postal offices throughout the city. To call with such cards is a much cheaper option.

How to Call

To make an international call from Kiev, dial 8 - 10 - country code - city code - subscriber's number. When you have dialed 8, wait for a second dial tone and then dial your number. If you need to call San Diego, for example, dial 8-10-1-619-XXXXXXX, where 8 is a code for intercity service, 10 - a code for international service, 1 - the USA country code, 629 - San Diego's city code, XXXXXXX - a subscriber's number.

To make a call to another city of Ukraine, dial 8 - city code - subscriber's number. To call Kharkov, dial 8-572-XXXXXXX, where 8 is a code for intercity service, 572 - Kharkov's city code, XXXXXXX - a subscriber's local number.

To call within a city you do not need to dial any codes except a subscriber's number.

To make a call to Kiev from home dial 380-44-XXXXXXX, where 380 is Ukraine country code, 44 - Kiev city code, XXXXXXX - local number.
Post

Post offices in Kiev are normally open for 8 hours a day. The central post office of the city, located at 22 Kreschatik Street, works from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Here one can send letters, buy postcard, use a fax machine or make international calls. In the central post office one can use International Express Mail service, which guarantees that your mail will be delivered to one of 36 countries within 3 or 4 days.

You can also use a variety of mail services provided by such companies as DHL Worldwide Express, Federal Express, Pony Express, TNT Express Worldwide and United Parcel Service. You can find addresses of these couriers in Kiev in the Print and Take section of this website.

Important to note that, according to customs regulations, one cannot send traveler's checks, personal checks, credit cards, cash and passports through the international mail to Ukraine. Such a mail can be forfeited by postal authorities.

To send a regular mail from Ukraine you should use Ukrainian postage stamps that can be purchased at any post office. Postage rates depend on a recipient country. Though this is a very cheap way to send a letter, it's not so convenient. The main disadvantage of sending a regular mail is that such a mail in Ukraine is really snail-like: your letter will go for about a couple of weeks, so it's advisable to use express mail services.

Internet
Following Europe, Internet cafes are becoming very popular in Ukraine. Kiev has a large number of Internet cafes, many of which are open around the clock. On the whole, there are about one hundred Internet cafes and clubs in the city. And this network has been constantly increasing. The list of the most popular Internet cafes and computer clubs in Kiev includes Pentagon, Cyber Cafe, Red Heat and others. You can find Internet cafes with addresses in the Print and Take section of our website.

Recovering from the Soviet past, Kiev is becoming a capital city of European standards with all the attributes (such as large shopping and recreation centers, boutiques and top brands shops) peculiar to large cities. In this section we offer you information on major shopping centers and supermarkets, as well as some tips where you could buy gifts, souvenirs and high-quality vodka in the Ukrainian capital. You can also find brief information on markets and department stores in the Print and Take section. Supermarkets

Billa

"The City within the city", this great shopping center, occupying the total area of 1,500 square meters, houses about 40 different stores and boutiques. Regardless the fact that the shopping in the City Center can be equated to visiting about 40 stores all around Kiev, this is not the same taking into account the time spent.
Address: 85 Mayakovskogo Ave., 3 M. Grishka St
Furshet

Many citizens of Kiev have already highly appreciated the convenience of the Furshet supermarkets that under one roof have gathered many departments. Today the Furshet supermarkets are well-known all over the country and even abroad. But just recently, in the 1990s, La Furshet stores were just small groceries scattered around Kiev.
Address: 4 Basseynaya St.

MegaMarket

If you don't want to make the food shopping the stressful trip around local stores or if you are too busy to waste plenty of time on shopping, then try out shopping with a difference at the MegaMarket supermarkets. Any of the MegaMarket supermarkets has a full range of grocery and household wares and offers attentive service, meeting European standards.
Address: 50 Gorkogo St., 6 Krasnykh Kazakov St., 3 Surikova St

Silpo

Low prices, great assortment of groceries and household wares, high quality of the wares offered, quick service, favorable location, 24-hour work and always a rich selection of fresh meat, poultry, fish, bread, vegetables and fruits are inestimable advantages of the Silpo supermarkets that are very popular among citizens and guests to the city.
Address: 21 T. Draisera St.

Gift Shops

Amber House

Nebozhatko Zoya and Novikov Aleksandr, Ukrainian artists known far beyond the boundaries of their native country, were enchanted with the sunny stone years ago and are still under the spell of this magic stone. Their original works in author's unique technique representing the interesting combination of painting and incrustation you could see in the Amber House Salon.
Address: 11 Semyi Sosninykh St.

Andreevsky Spusk

Today Andreevsky Spusk features numerous gift shops and small art galleries, selling oil and watercolor paintings, sculptures and works of applied art by modern Ukrainian artists. This historical street covered with noble patina of many centuries also hosts outdoor souvenir bazaar, where one can find quite both traditional and very unusual objects.
Address: Andreevsky Spusk
ARTEast

One of the best, if not the best art gallery in Ukraine, the ARTEast has been promoting and selling exclusive artworks of leading Ukrainian artists since 1992. Art interests of the ARTEast stretch from classical and contemporary arts, socialist realism to folk art. All the artists, whose works you can see in the gallery, are members of the Ukrainian Union of Artists.
Address: 13 Reytarska St.

Fial

The Ukrainian jewelry firm, Fial, was founded in 1993 and is considered to be rather young. But more than a decade of successful work, state-of-the-art technical basis of the firm, high professional level of personnel, large clientele and prestigious prizes at several international jewelry exhibitions make Fial a notable figure in jewelry production and sale market of Ukraine.
Address: 16 Institutskaya St. (Bosco gallery)

Interio

The Interior Design Studio specializes in selling gifts and souvenirs provided by leading European producers. The extensive collection includes glass, porcelain, metal and leather wares. Stylish vases and lamps, nice paintings and statuettes, classic writing-materials and decorative knick-knack can beautify any interior.
Address: 7 Zhilyanskaya St.

Matiola

The Matiola provides an exclusive collection of handmade items, lovingly created for you by artisans of Ukraine. The standard assortment includes tablecloths of different size, rushniki, tracks, chemises, blouses, shawls and scarves, pictures embroidery, knitted tablecloths, napkins and collars. Each item is individual and reflects the country style and charm.
Address: 4 Hospitalna St. (Rus Hotel)

Milain Limited

Nowadays when everything changes so quickly and so drastically many people cling to the traditions and values of the past. That's why the retro style is as popular as the ultra modern design. Milain Limited, the exclusive representative of the Authentic Models Company in Ukraine, offers the unique collection of gifts, each of which has its own history and soul.
Address: 8 Malaya Zhitomirskaya St., office 1

Kiev Jewelry Factory

Kiev Jewelry Factory, producing almost the half of all jewelry in Ukraine, is the indisputable leader in the production of gold and silver wares on the territory of Ukraine. It dates back to 1936 when on the basis of a small clock and jewelry hospital a jewelry factory was established. The assortment of Kiev Jewelry Factory numbers about 3,500 items and is enriched monthly.
Address: Nezalezhnosti Sq. (Globus shopping center, 3d line, 1 floor)
Present

Are you searching for some great gift ideas for your friends or colleagues? Visit any of the Present shops that are situated in the leading department stores and shopping centers of Kiev. The Present shops offer a wide range of quality giftware from knick-knack to terrestrial globe adorned with semiprecious stones, all at very moderate prices.
Address: Nezalezhnosti Sq. (Globus shopping center, 3d line, 1 floor)

Shopping Centers

City Center

Globus Globus is one of the most interesting architectural projects of the present. The innovative shopping and recreation center, constructed in 2002, is just enormous, but it doesn't disrupt the historical ensemble of Kiev, as the main part of the Globus is hidden under the ground.
Address: Maidan Nezalezhnosty Square

Mandarin-Plaza

The Mandarin-Plaza shopping center is conveniently located quite close to the city center. The modern hi-tech glass and metal construction crowned with the conical tower arose above the historical Starokievsky district in the first years of the new millennium. Adorned with granite and ceramics, the facade corresponds to the baroque surrounding of the Bessarabsky area.
Address: 6 Basseynaya St.

Metrograd

The largest shopping and recreation center in Kiev was generously provided with the state-of-the-art equipment. The spacious and light halls became venue for all kind of stores, express-cafes, fast foods, restaurants, discos, slot machines halls and centers of consumer service.
Address: Bessarabskaya Square

Ukraine
One of the oldest department stores of Kiev, the Ukraine, was built in 1960-1966. It was closed in April 2002 and opened again a year later, in April 2003, amazing citizens and guests to the city with the beauty and up-to-dateness of its interiors. The general reconstruction turned a typical soviet department store into ultramodern recreation and shopping center.
Address: 3 Peremogi Sq.
Food

You won't die from starvation in Kiev - that is for sure. Today Kiev boasts hundreds of restaurants serving various cuisines and offering their customers comfort and style. Whether you are seeking for traditional Ukrainian restaurants or restaurants serving classical French and Italian cuisines, you will find the most suitable establishments. Restaurants, bars and cafes are available throughout the city, particularly in the center of Kiev and near the places of tourists' interest.

At Panikovsky's

Situated a few steps from the monument to Panikovsky, the restaurant of the same name is a modern and fresh establishment that aims to offer its diners a pleasant eating experience. The original interior is decorated with the objects and furniture of the first decades of the 20th century. The cozy dining hall is not very big, just for 36 guests.
Address: 8 Proreznaya St.

Capuchin

The Capuchin Restaurant, named in honor of the medieval order of the same name, offers its guest an extensive menu that without any doubt would have been highly appreciated by the gourmets of the past. The cuisine of the restaurant is European with a distinctive French accent. Guest to the Capuchin Restaurant will find something to his taste in the generous menu.
Address: 81 Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St.

Chico

Not far away from the city center the Chico Restaurant that introduces itself as a "cafe-gallery" is situated. The owners of the Chico, Komarov and Motreyko, launched the cafe in 1996 and named it Chico in honor of the very interesting historical character - a court jester Chico, who entertained French kings Henry III and Henry IV.
Address: 27 Ivana Franko St.

Corsair

The dining experience at the Corsair is one of the most romantic Kiev has to offer. Enter the Corsair Restaurant and you'll find yourself on board an ancient ship. Stylish design recreates the interior of a mess-room. Heavy wooden furniture, chains, cordage, beamed ceiling and deal floor make you believe that you have somehow become the guests of pirates.
Address: 14B Sagaydachnogo St.

Dixieland

All will be jazz at the Dixieland Restaurant, located not far from Kiev downtown and hidden in the shade of old poplars. The Dixieland has been reckoned as one of the most stylish restaurants of the Ukrainian capital. Like jazz improvisation the sophisticated menu embraces exotic motifs and the best of classic and new cooking.
Address: 14/2 Kyrylo-Mefodyivska St.

Egoist

Enter the restaurant and you'll find yourself in a stylish bar, above the counter of which there is an incontestable statement that can be called the motto of the Egoist: "Love for Yourself is Always Mutual!" To please an egoist is a difficult task but the chef of the restaurant does his best to offer the fastidious guests a menu that is rich enough to satisfy any whim.
Address: 44 Moskovskaya St.

Fruktopia Baboon Cafe

The Fruktopia is a cafe, a restaurant and a nightclub. There at least five of your senses - smell, sight, taste, sound and touch - will be pleased. The original design of the most fashionable cafe of Kiev matches well the status of the establishment. Bursting with bright fruit colors, the interior is split into two levels with a variety of little side-rooms and balconies.
Address: 2 Taras Chevchenko Blvrd.

Grand Plaza

The highly versatile restaurant, that is open 24 hours a day, has a friendly environment, bursting with genuine Ukrainian hospitality. At the Grand Plaza you would be offered a large and varied menu including various dishes to suit all tastes. Salads and hors d'oeuvres, soups, meat and fish dishes are mainly of "old good" European cuisine.
Address: 1 Peremogi Sq.

Le Grand

Le Grand Cafe is divided into two halls - Lounge Bar and Restaurant Hall. The walls of the main dining hall are adorned with the reproductions of outstanding Ukrainian artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which were discovered in art collections in France and other places in Europe.
Address: 4 Muzeyny St.

Miami Blues

The restaurant offers an extensive menu, where dishes of different cuisines from all over the world have been gathered, for each guest of the Miami Blues could choose something to his taste. The Miami Blues is situated just minutes away from the city center. If you decide to get there by car, just say "Miami Blues" and any taxi will get you to the right location.
Address: 114 Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St.

Mikado

Japanese cuisine differs greatly both from European cuisine and oriental culinary traditions. The fundamental rule of Japanese cuisine, which is not only techniques, but mainly traditions and art, can be formulated as following: "Do not create, but find and reveal". It perfectly suits Japanese philosophy, according to which people shouldn't try to change the world.
Address: 55 Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St.

Nobel

In 1867 Alfred Bernhard Nobel invented dynamite, that became a turning point in the world history, and in 2002 the Nobel Restaurant was opened in Kiev and blew up the nightlife of the city. The trendy restaurant boasts a delicious fusion of style and taste. For its excellent food and atmosphere the Nobel is reckoned as one of the best establishments of Kiev.
Address: 65 Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St.

Nobu

The Nobu, one of Kiev's favorite venues for sushi, sashimi and many other Japanese specialties, is well located close to the city center, Dvorets Sporta, or the Palace of Sport, metro station. The Nobu has earned a solid reputation among the citizens and guests of Kiev for excellent food, friendly and attentive service and reasonable prices.
Address: 12 Shota Rustaveli St.

Pantagruel

The Pantagruel is not just a restaurant, but an osteria that is a popular Italian establishment, where one can eat and drink. The restaurant is renowned for its first-class Italian cuisine, which is of exceptional quality as the chef of the Pantagruel, virtuoso Costantino Passalacqua, is Italian. The Pantagruel Restaurant is a place with everything exuding quality.
Address: 1 Lysenko St.

Poseidon

The restaurant, as it is clear from its name, specializes in marine cuisine and offers the fabulously rich menu, so each guest of the Poseidon could find something to his taste. The menu is regularly enriched with new dishes, some of which are proposed by the guests of the restaurant. The Poseidon Restaurant can be recommended for a banquets and solemn occasions.
Address: Navodnitsky Park

SSSR

The restaurant is divided into several thematic zones, corresponding to geographic regions of the former USSR. Without leaving the restaurant you can travel to Central Asia, Siberia, Far East, etc. The idea of the restaurant is not only to preserve the immediate past but also to offer the citizens and guests of Kiev the delicious cuisines of the former soviet republics.
Address: 42/1 Sichnego Povsstaniya St.

Swing

Swing is unthinkable without constant improvisation. At the Swing Restaurant the improvisation is the credo. There musicians improvise, creating the original variations of classical, jazz and swing compositions; the chef improvises, making up a new dish. The restaurant is happy to offer a new collection of drinks and cigars, directly connected with jazz.
Address: 11 Vladimirskaya St.

Tsarskoye Selo

The Tsarskoye Selo Restaurant, situated in the very center of the historical part of Kiev, next to Pecherskaya Lavra, has a very interesting history. During the time of Kievan Rus on this place there was a rather small village Berestovo where the palace of Kiev Prince and the monasteries Pechersky and Nikolsky were situated.
Address: 42/1 Sichnego Povsstaniya St.

Tsentral

The menu of the Tsentral Restaurant caters for all tastes, offering the best classical cooking with a leaning towards fish in season and fresh local vegetables. The restaurant also serves a variety of traditional Ukrainian dishes such as stuffed pike with horseradish, herring with pickled onions and potatoes, Kiev Chicken, pickle, Ukrainian borsch, etc.
Address: 28 Mezhigorskaya St.

Walter's

The Walter's Restaurant has gained an extremely good reputation for excellent homemade cuisine, good friendly service and wonderful interior design. The restaurant often serves as a venue for many interesting Ukrainian and International events. For example, in July 2003 Walter's played host to the EBA's traditional EuroDrink Party.
Address: 21 Sagaydachnogo St

Domashnyaya Kukhnya

If you are in the center of Kiev, which is crowded with luxurious and expensive restaurants, and do not have heaps of money to waste on dinner or are dressed too informally to enter a prudish establishment, don't worry - you won't die from starvation, as there is a nice reasonably-priced Domashnyaya Kukhnya fast-food restaurant in Khmelnitskogo Street.
Address: 16-22 Bogdana Khmelnitskogo St., 2A Konstantinovskaya St.

Dva Gusya

The Dva Gusya is one of the most popular fast-food chains in Kiev. Launched at the end of 1990s, it has become a real hit. The first restaurant Dva Gusya was opened in Kiev at 46 Bogdan Khmelnitsky Street in 1998. Then it was a restaurant in the full sense of the word: a classic style establishment with waiters and ordering from menu.
Address: 1 Pecherska Sq., 42 Kreshchatik St., 46 Bogdana Khmelnitskogo St

Il Patio

Although the name Il Patio seems rather new for the citizens of Kiev, the restaurant itself is familiar to the majority of them. This paradox can be simply explained: up to April 2004 the restaurant had been known as Patio Pizza, which is the largest and the oldest Italian restaurant chain in the countries of the Former Soviet Union.
Address: 5a Bessarabskaya Sq.

McDonald's

McDonald's, the world's largest chain of fast-food restaurants, has been treating the Ukrainians with its famous burgers and sandwiches since 1997. The first McDonald's restaurants were a real sensation, customers traveled kilometers to visit them. Nowadays there are about 50 McDonald's restaurants in 16 Ukrainian towns.
Address: 19 Kreshchatik St., 2 Privikzal'naya Sq., 3 Mel'nikova St., 2 Borshchagovskaya St...

MacSmack

People have become more time-conscious over the years and often can't afford themselves to waste an hour or two to dine. Offering prompt service and casual dining experience MacSmack welcomes customers at numerous pizzerias, many of which work around the clock. If you don't have time to dine or just don't want to leave your home or an office call MacSmack delivery service.
Address: 2 Bessarabskaya Sq., 32 Vorovskogo St., 90 Stolichnoye Highway, 21 Draizera St., 7 Pobedy Pr., Bessarabskaya Sq.

Pan-Pizza

With their interesting interiors, delicious pizzas and friendly service the Pan-Pizzas can't be called simply the fast food restaurants. The Pan-Pizza positioned itself as the newly designated and already extremely popular Quick and Casual restaurant category that combines quick service with the food quality and more comfortable seating found in casual dining restaurants.
Address: 25a Druzby Narodov Blvrd., Maidan Nezalezhnosty, 25 Sagaidachnogo St., 5 Komminterna St.

Pechiona Kartopelina

The speciality of the Pechiona Kartopelina (Ukrainian variant of the Kroshka-Kartoshka), the delicious baked potato, is cooked before customers' eyes. The smoking potato is taken out of the oven, cut, added butter and cheese and mashed into appetizing soft puree. The filling is of the customer's choice: herring, pickled or fried mushrooms, crab meat, brynza, etc.
Address: 1 Nezalezhnosti Sq., 1 Privokzalnaya Sq., 23 Moskovsky Ave.

Potato House

The cuisine of the Potato House restaurants can be classified as rather eclectic collection representing popular dishes of different cuisines from all over the world. In its rich menu one can find best Russian, Ukrainian, American and Mexican dishes. The special accent is made on popular Mexican cuisine that has been adapted to the tastes of local customers.
Address: 49a Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St., 6/5 Malaya Zhitomirskaya St., 37 Nizhny Val St

Puzata Khata

The recently opened Puzata Khata (literally "Pot-bellied Peasant House"), presenting Quick and Casual restaurants, has at once declared itself as a strong competitor to all existing popular fast food brands. Decorated in a traditional style, these restaurants have a friendly, family environment, bursting with genuine Ukrainian hospitality and charm.
Address: 1/2a Basseinaya St.

Rostik's

The specialty of the Rostik's restaurants is famous Rostik's fried chicken cooked to the original patent know-how which is kept in the strictest secret. Besides, the menu, representing American and Russian cuisines, features such dishes as Velikan specialty sandwich, French fries, salads with croutons and shrimps, homemade ravioli, mushroom soup and others.
Address: 57/3 Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya St., Maidan Nezalezhnosty Sq.

Shvydko

The Shvydko restaurants are the fast foods serving national Ukrainian cuisine. The first restaurant of this brand was opened in Kiev in 2000. Favorable location in the city center and popular walking places with a lot of people who would like to have a quick and tasty snack is the advantage of the Shvydko restaurant.
Address: Slava Sq., 20 Gnata Juri St.