Category: Beer

As our time in Kyiv and 6 years on the road was coming to an end, we decided to do one last cycle of the best beer bars and locations in Kyiv. The truth is this became a rather stretched process and numerous locations were visited several times during the process of packing and preparing to move. Kyiv and Ukraine has some great craft breweries and spots to relax, so we wanted to keep enjoying these one last time. As we visited each of the spots, we took some notes and photos to share our thoughts. So in this post you will find our thoughts and recommendations for our top locations to sip craft beer in Kyiv. Unfortunately, these visits aligned with Covid restrictions, so some of the photos strike a more somber tone and we missed out on a couple of places which were closed, so did not make the list below.

Central Location

Tsypa- inside Besarabsky Market – Bessarabs’ka Sq

If you are not looking for a glamourous location for a beer, this is a great choice. They have a range of Tsypa beer on tap and normally carry a selection of bottles from a few Ukrainian suppliers. The location is more like a cabin in the market, so it is cosy and small, but you can pick up a pint of the cheaper craft beers like an ale or weizen for just over a pound or a Plombir milkshake IPA for £1.50. Plus it is an interesting experience to sit in Besarabsky Market and watch the world go by. This became a regular location for me on the way to the Olympiyskiy stadium.

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Mokri Vusa / Cat Bar- Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd

This become a regular staple of ours that we have informally labeled the cat bar as the logo has a cat in a pint glass. It has a wide range of local craft beers, a reasonable number of imports from Europe and the US, normally a cider, and a cocktail menu. The beers are not the most competitively priced in Kyiv, but the domestic craft beer is still reasonable. There is also a wide range of food offered and the normally the place is not packed. Whilst nice, clean, and modern, it can feel a little sterile at times.

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Just Beer Bar (JBB) – Hospitalna St

A short walk from the center and there are a lot of beers on the menu, although there often seems to be a reasonable amount out of stock so have a few top choices ready when you order. They have a couple of Ukrainian craft JBB-branded beers, but the menu is mainly imports. The bar has a large capacity and it has lots of sports screens, but the service is often slow. It is a good place if there is a particular game you want to watch as they show different games on the different screens. It has slightly odd decor, mixing genres of Germany, Ireland/UK and the US, but hey what do you expect from a slightly cliché Ukrainian international genre sports bar. The bar is often busy with away soccer fans on European football night given its proximity to the Olympiyskiy stadium, so can offer a good vibe or not, depending on what you are looking for. It is normally smokey inside, so reminds me of past times, which thankfully are gone.

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Podil District

Punkraft – Ihorivska St

You’ll step down into a basement bar that is both hip and pricey (for Kyiv). Old-school arcade and pinball machines are there to entertain you and neon lights illuminate your stay. Order a domestic pint and you’ll have enough left for a snack, which are tasty, but an import may empty your beer funds. One could argue it’s a little ‘too cool,’ but it’s a great place to take visitors who want a taste of how cool and trendy Kyiv can be without being ‘too’ anything.

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Gonzo – Kostiantynivska St

Another basement but with a minimalist approach. Bare walls and cool colors both welcome you and tell you that you’re somewhere that people take themselves seriously. Gonzo is also a brewery so you can get their branded beer fresh from the tap or grab a few reasonably priced bottles to take with you. They are not afraid to take some chances with their beer varieties and you can find some fun and unique brews such as grape milkshake IPA. Their food menu is not huge but quite varied such that you may think they have stretched themselves too far. However, everything we tried was of good quality and very tasty. In addition to all their beers, they offer many choices for non-beer drinkers with a satisfying cocktail menu.

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Dux Bar – Spaska St

A tiny place you could almost walk right by if not for the huge sign outside beckoning you in. This establishment features beers from KF Brewery and about 6 inside seating options. A few additional tables are outside on the sidewalk where the people watching is calm but still interesting. KF Brewery have a wide range of beers, some of which are on tap, along with some guest beers. Many of their beers are relatively pedestrian, but they have some crazy and interesting flavoured beers such as their Mint Double Milkshake IPA and Blueberry Black IPA, which are well worth a try.

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Slightly Further Removed

Varvar – Saksahanskoho St

This bar/restaurant offers a huge outdoor deck for seating and a very nice interior, which is why we think it’s the best all-around place for venue quality at a reasonable price. It offers great people watching from the deck, but the flip side is that you are seated quite close to the road. A wide range of beers will pique your curiosity, and you can stock up on bottles to-go. The big trade-off is that it is a reasonable walk from the city centre, so plan to take some time here, as the next bar won’t be next door. However, there is a large food menu, so you can make an afternoon of it if you are so inclined. Your walk back can go through the beautiful botanical gardens on the way either downtown or to the metro.

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Solomianska Brewery – Solom’yans’ka Sq

If you’d like more of an adventure, consider this brewery. It’s a bit far from the city center, southwest of the main train station, but the location means they can afford more land and offer a large biergarten-type patio. It is a bit set back from the busy road it sits off, and you can sit outside and watch people enjoying a small park nearby. The brewery offers its own beers, which you can try by the pint or in a sampler. There are also tasty snacks that will leave you with enough money left over for another beer. The food is less trendy and a touch more local here. They also offer cocktails and spirits. If you make it out there, go a little further and visit the Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum where you can get up close to massive helicopters and interesting Soviet-era aircraft from World War II and after.

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Other Notable Mentions – More than Beer Options

Kyiv Food Market – Moskovska St

Housed in the former State Armory building, the market features many food and drink venues to satisfy whatever craving you may have. Seating is both indoor and outdoors and the atmosphere is relaxed, even when busy. If you are out with non-beer drinkers, you can go to the Varvar stand inside to get your beer while they peruse the cocktail bar on the first floor or the wine bar on the second. Everyone can find what they want for lunch, be it Italian, seafood, Chinese, Vietnamese, a burger or dog, or even just a great slice of cake from Milk Bar, which makes American-style desserts that ease a bout of homesickness.

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Bilyy Nalyv / 1 € inside Gastro Family Market – Baseina St

Within Gastro Family Market in the center of Kyiv, you can find lots of beverages on tap, although the one-euro logo is a bit stretched with today’s exchange rates. Nevertheless, the drinks are good value. A few beers are on tap, but don’t expect too much information beyond a one-word description like ‘light.’ There is also normally four types of cider on tap, some of which can border on cloying (looking at you, rose), but for the price are a nice afternoon refreshment. Interestingly, there is also a few types of wine on tap, or you can choose a bottle of Ukrainian fizz for a reasonable price. While in the market, there are about a half dozen food places to try as well, all of which are connected to larger restaurants around the city.

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