Go for a coffee and Italian sweets at O’Cafe and Espressamente
Italian expansion into Kyiv’s restaurant scene continues – Italian cuisine has already become a favorite of restaurant goers, and in order to satisfy the growing demand, new Italian restaurants keep opening every now and then. Now the trend is for real Italian cafes, and though there still aren’t that many of them in Kyiv, there are some which are certainly worth visiting.
Though still a relatively new establishment, O’Cafe (opened in August) had a good reputation from the start. Reason being that it was closely related to Pizzeria Napule, which is presently dubbed one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Their close relations are visible in their close location to each other as well – both are placed in the same building, part of which is occupied by Kiyanka Nova store. Napule is upstairs and O’Cafe is downstairs, so basically you can come down for a coffee and a dessert after you’ve had your Italian lunch or dinner. But of course, the cafe is worth a visit on its own and there are quite a few reasons for it.
Desserts at O’Cafe are prepared by Adelaide, an Italian confectioner, who is also the author of the main dishes offered at Napule besides pizza.
Accordingly, the sweets at the cafe are cooked according to home recipes: tiramisu with light sponge cake (Hr 39), “baskets” with Chantilly cream and fresh strawberries (Hr 31), profiteroles with three kinds of cream under chocolate sauce (Hr 39), croissants, cold mousses from La Pasticceria Italiana and cookies. There is also Pastiera Napoletana, a traditional Campanian Easter pie with ricotta, candied fruit and sprouted grain on a thin layer of pastry – O’Cafe is probably the only place in Kyiv where you can try it. And make sure to try Babba Al Rum – one of the most popular offerings at the cafe, prepared with special confectionary rum brought in from Naples. But of course, no Italian cafe, no matter how delicious the desserts, could be properly appraised without good coffee. And O’Cafe won’t disappoint you in this respect – a common set of espresso, ristretto, decaffeinato, macchiato, cappuccino and cafe latte (all for Hr 10 to Hr 12) – is served the Italian way, with a carafe of water and milk, so that the guests are able to create the desired consistence themselves.
Finally the interior of the cafe well conforms with its casual style – soft lighting, a long wooden table by the window providing you with plenty of space to set your laptop and papers if you wish to work over a cup of coffee, or a book, but if all you want is to lay back and relax for a while, choose one of the cozy padded stools.
O’Cafe (9 Mechnykova, first floor (Klovska metro)). Open 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. Average meal: Hr 60
For espresso gourmets
While O’Cafe is all about great desserts, Espressamente – as you can guess by the name – is all about coffee. Located on the second floor of Arena City, the cafe became just another outfit of a wide chain of Illy-bars, which now count 120 in all the biggest cities of the world – from New York to Sidney. The design of all Illy-bars is created by Italian architects Luca Trazzi and Claudio Silvestrino, and Kyiv’s Espressamente is no exception. Its bar, shaped as a ship, was delivered from Italy, but as at any decent Italian cafe there are no stools by the bar – you’re to enjoy your coffee at neat tables scattered around a big well-lit room.
But of course, what matters most at Espressamente is coffee – its espresso and cappuccino have already been dubbed among the best in Kyiv by local coffee connoisseurs, and it’s hardly surprising, since all coffee-based drinks, as well as alcoholic cocktails, at the cafe are created by Irina Mashihina, winner of the Bacardi-Martini Grand Prix 2007. Apart from about 16 kinds of coffee drinks, Espressamente has a small but appropriate menu: a few breakfast offers, Greek and Caprese salads, appetizers and soups. In terms of sweets the caf? serves Arena’s own homemade pastries, including baked pudding, strudels and pies with cherries, apples and spinach, as well as traditional desserts like chocolate cake, cheesecakes, tiramisu and glazed profiteroles. Espressamente is also provided with Wi-Fi, which is certainly a good idea for a cafe located in the midst of Kyiv’s business center.
Espressamente (3-5 Chervonoarmiyska, Arena City, 2nd floor, 492-1623). Open 10 a.m. till 11:30 p.m.
English menu: Yes
English-speaking staff: Yes
Average meal: Hr 60
