Restaurants open 24 hours welcome all those who have been clubbing all night and are ready for a bite
Let’s face it: though Kyiv is absolutely stunning during a bright spring day, with the ubiquitous leafy foliage making even the drab Socialist high-rises appear to smile, a lot of us know the city much better by night. For if the daylight reminds us that the capital is an impressive matrix of Ukrainian culture and European architecture, partying until dawn here is also as true to the spirit of the country as a stroll around the botanical gardens. And what better way to end an evening of drinking and dancing than with a hot meal before bed, something warm to soak up all that excess? After all, an empty stomach does a hangover make. And while we don’t claim that filling up before bed is guaranteed to cure the pain, we’re still sure you’ll thank yourself in the morning. The 24-hour food options in Kyiv are already extensive – and they’re only growing. So no matter what club you’re at (and we’ve conveniently told you which eatery is closest to which popular clubs), you’re likely to be just around the corner from a meal.
Continental Snack
Fellini, the film-themed eatery situated right next to the Ukraina movie theater, is not only a stylish refuge for film buffs but it’s also a good restaurant with quality food open 24 hours – a rarity so close to Maidan Nezalezhnosti. The walls are tastefully covered in black-and-white photos of American and European movie stars, and the menu includes French and Italian standards, good pastas (arguably the city’s best Bolognese sauce) and even a decent wine list (but remember, you’re here to sober up, after all). French-style breakfasts are available from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. Stop by after a night at PaTiPa or just a warm evening on the Maidan sharing a few beers among friends.
Fellini (5 Horodetskoho, 229-5492)
PaTiPa (10 Muzeyny, 253-0150)
Chillin’ in Pechersk
A favorite with Post staff (proximity being the main driver of our love. It’s literally downstairs from our office), the Hairy Lemon Cafe has an extensive menu with cuisine from no place in particular. Let’s just call it pan-something. But they do have Ukrainian standards here and there, and we think nothing fills you up with homemade goodness better than a plate of varenyks. For Hr 15, they’re a good meal and a good deal. If you’re looking for more of a gut bomb, though, the cheeseburger (Hr 19) isn’t bad either. They’ve got larger and more hearty meals for about Hr 35, and, well, they’ve also got an incredibly well-stocked bar – so if you need a bit of the hair of the dog even before it bites, a drink here will probably damage your wallet a lot less than that really expensive mojito you just picked up at hip nearby club Sochi.
Hairy Lemon Cafe (34 Lesi Ukrayinky, 230-6017)
Sochi (44 Shchorsa, 202-0260)
Everything at once
Arena pretty much has it all: a huge nightclubbing outfit and a restaurant open till 6 a.m. (Yes, we know that’s not truly 24 hours – but if you’re out past six you probably won’t mind waiting the two hours until 8 a.m. when the place reopens). Make sure to try their handmade German sausages and the pork leg. And it might also be a good time to switch from vodka with Red Bull to their home-brewed beer. Enjoy lots of American-style appetizers such as fried calamari and Buffalo wings in the Hr 40-50 range. They also serve burgers, pasta dishes and sushi – probably for the high-rolling clubbers coming downstairs for a bite to eat after dancing all night. Great service; somewhat pricey, but overall worth it.
Another famous high-end spot situated in the same building is Orangerea. Perhaps slightly less popular than Arena among clubbing big-spenders, the place still holds great parties from time to time. So, after dancing, you can easily move back to Arena if you need a bite or two.
Arena (2A Baseyna, 492-0000)
Orangerea (4 Baseyna, Mandarin Plaza, 8th flr., 230-9500/2)
Underwater eats
Avalon is another entertainment complex that consists of a lounge bar, a night club and a restaurant that is open all night. Watch the mermaids waft about in the super-sized fish tanks while you endure an extensive menu of what is reputedly fresh fish, crab, lobster and other seafood. The decor of the place reflects its underwater leanings, with lots of abalone and seafloor-reminiscent minutiae. The seats are comfortable and the service is pretty good. The average price of a main dish is Hr 70, and its good reputation is thanks to head chef Volodymyr Latushko. Its club Azhur was designed to resemble American clubs of the ‘60s and ‘70s with its chic simplicity and flights of retro style. Bartenders and waitresses comply with the interior, dressed as Elvis and Marilyn accordingly.
Avalon (3 Leontovycha, 234-7494)
Face control and fresh fish
Kaif, one of the newest Kyiv clubs on our list, left a bad taste in our mouth at its grand opening party (too many people had been promised free admission, and, well, let’s just say it was an unpleasant situation trying to get in). However, the fact that the club keeps bringing in the stars of the electronic scene such as Sister Bliss of Faithless (who comes in this Saturday) ensures its continued popularity.
Right next to Kaif is one outpost of the popular Kyiv Japanese chain, Yakitoria. Its menu is moderately priced and the sushi has always been at the very least decent (few things could be worse for an impending hangover than bad raw fish). What’s more, if a slab of uncooked salmon doesn’t seem like the best thing to eat at four in the morning, they also have an extensive collection of cooked Japanese mainstays like teriyakis and steaming bowls of rice (the latter might be just the thing for your belly). They also close at six for a few hours, but if you find yourself outside of Kaif at dawn with the doors of Yakitoria locked for a quick cleaning, head for coffee and a snack at Chaykoff situated right by the city Circus at Peremoha square. A low priced cafe with cozy interior and a decent though relatively small menu, the restaurant has 9 kinds of pancakes (from Hr 12), a bakery, sandwiches, soups (Hr 8 for chicken bullion) and grilled dishes (veal steak for Hr 38).
Kaif (20 Artema, 482-0001)
Yakitoria (20 Artema, 216-3198)
Chaykoff (1 Pobedy, 238-0041)
Eggs Benedict at dawn
Recently opened Wenzel was at first considered a pre-party spot, but it’s already turned into one of the highlights of the city’s clubbing scene. And when you’re done dancing, head one street over to Timeout, one of the most “Americanized” restaurants in town (that’s both good and bad, of course, depending on your mood). For very reasonable prices, feast on burgers, fries and this year’s Best Of team winner for the choicest eggs Benedict in town. What better way to inoculate against a hangover than by gorging on Hollandaise sauce and poached eggs? Also, they have some of the best home fries in Kyiv.
Timeout (50 Horkoho, 287-3229)
Wenzel (66 Chervonoarmiyska, 287-2520)
Relaxed respite
After hanging out all night at places as laid back as 44 and Docker’s ABC, you need a similarly relaxed atmosphere for a little breakfast. Head from Kreshchatyk up Khmelnytskoho street and you’ll find Opera Cafe, situated – logically enough – right next to the Opera. Opera Cafe is in fact a brother of the Hairy Lemon, so if you know one of them you know both. This place was among the first spots in the city to stay open round the clock. On the menu you’ll find a selection of burgers, steaks and salads, none of which are priced above Hr 50. This is cheap fare that caters to a mixed late-night crowd of students and more modest gamblers (the casino upstairs has a Hr 5 minimum).
If Opera Cafe isn’t your thing and you still have strength enough to do some climbing, you’ll eventually reach Shalena Mama, the Thai fusion diner near Shevchenko Park that largely caters to students and features dishes named for Rolling Stones songs. Enjoy spring rolls, fried rice variations and even some sweet and sour pork. The non-Asian foods are decent as well: chicken wings, cheesy fries and steak ranging from Hr 30 to Hr 40. There’s also a dish you might find useful called the “Good Classic Breakfast.” And it almost was: The eggs were fine, the spicy fries were crispy and light, but with two thin pieces of dry toast and only miniscule flecks of bacon, ham and sausage, we thought perhaps the “Okay Classic Breakfast” was a bit more honest.
44 (44 Kreshchatyk, 279-4137)
Docker’s ABC (15 Khreschatyk, 278-1717)
Opera Cafe (51/53 Volodymyrska, 228-2836)
Shalena Mama (4A Tereshchenkivska, 234-1751)
