While watching football at the stadium is the best experience for fans, watching games live with friends in bars also has its appeal.
Those who didn’t manage to get tickets for the final match but still came to enjoy the soccer festival atmosphere in the host city will be able to watch the game on big screens in bars, cinemas and fan zones.
The Kyiv Post has picked some of the best local bars and cinemas screening the Champions League final.
Tolstyi Lev
The small and always crowded pub Tolstyi Lev got its name because of its proximity to the Lva Tolstoho Square metro station, a popular meeting place for Kyiv youths. The bar often screens sports games, and the Champions League final is no exception. Tolstyi Lev has TV screens hanging around the place, comfy couches by tables, and seats at the bar. The pub offers five signature draft beers, as well as other beers from all over the Europe, ale, various kinds of cider — including traditional apple cider and the more rare grapefruit and cranberry varieties. The food menu has a wide choice of appetizers such as cheese sticks, onion rings, BBQ chicken wings and more. They also serve burgers, salads and meat dishes. The bar is only 15 minutes walking from Olympic Stadium, which means the visitors will be able to quickly join in all the post-match celebrations right after the game.
Prices: beer — Hr 39–99, onion rings — Hr 77.
Tolstyi Lev. 18 Velyka Vasylkivska St. +38067 547 8930
Copper
This pub is one of the favorite spots of local fans who enjoy watching football with friends. There are big TV screens all over the place, and while its separate halls are pretty small, this actually contributes to the atmosphere. Located right in the heart of Kyiv on Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square, Copper offers draft and bottled beer, apple cider and spirits. They serve five kinds of large platters to go with beer, mixing fries with either chicken or sausage, as well as all kinds of appetizers, burgers, kebabs, fish and meat dishes. The bar provides round-the-clock service.
Prices: beer — Hr 36–60, beer platter — Hr 182–206.
Copper. 2 Mykhailivska St. 15A Velyka Zhytomyrska St. 24/7. +38044 278 8855
O’Brien’s Irish Pub
O’Brien’s Irish Pub will screen the main match of the Champions League season on two large projector screens and multiple TVs. The bar has a wide choice of draft beers, cider, and also offers a rare find — beer blends. O’Brien’s gives a 10 percent discount to those who order a pitcher of draft beer. They serve over 15 appetizers including cheese and meat platters, grilled shrimp and sausage, spicy pork ears and chicken wings. O’Brien’s’ food menu has a range of various main courses such as burgers, salads, sandwiches, and steaks. The bar is located in the city center close to Kyiv’s main square — Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
Prices: beer — Hr 35–115, chicken wings — Hr 129, hot cheese plate — Hr 330.
O’Brien’s. 17A Mykhailivska St. 11 a. m. — 2 a. m. +38044 279 1584
Golden Gate Pub
Golden Gate Pub is a well-known expats’ spot where foreigners living in Kyiv meet up for a glass of beer and a good talk. Located in the central part of Kyiv right next to the Zoloti Vorota metro station, the bar has spacious halls with a plenty of seats and TV screens all around. They sell 19 kinds of both local and foreign draft beer, whiskey, cocktails and more. The choice of appetizers includes a salo (raw pork lard) set, pork ears, chicken nuggets and onion rings. They also serve three kinds of large appetizer platters for groups, as well as burgers and sandwiches. The pub will also be a meetup point for Liverpool fans visiting Ukraine. They will get together on May 25 at 7 p. m.
Prices: beer — Hr 37–115, appetizer plateau — Hr 225–365.
Golden Gate Pub. 15 Zolotovoritska St. 11 a. m. until the last customer. +38044 235 5188
Andrew’s Irish Pub
Andrew’s Irish Pub is a five-minute walk away from the Kontraktova Square metro station, which is only two metro stops from Kyiv’s center. The bar is located in the charming Podilsky district, which has a different vibe from the rest of the city and is very much loved by locals. Andrew’s Irish Pub offers draft beer from Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and France. They also serve beer cocktails, whiskey, vodka and more. Apart from serving multiple traditional Irish cuisine dishes, the bar has a list of beer appetizers such as fish and chips, sausages, as well as sets of appetizers mixing chicken fingers, fried mushrooms, French fries, onion rings and more. They also sell salads, burgers and grilled meat dishes. The Champions League final will be broadcast on TV screens and a big projector screen.
Prices: beer — Hr 45–95, chicken wings — Hr 85.
Andrew’s Irish Pub. 22/17 Kostiantynivska St. Sun-Wed, 11 a. m. — 11 p. m. Thu-Sat, 11 a. m. — 2 a. m. +38067 103 6767
Goose Gastro Pub
Another pub in Podilsky district, Goose Gastro Pub, will also offer clients the chance to enjoy the big game, screening the Champions League final on a large projector screen. Goose’s drinks menu includes a wide range of cocktails, whiskey, rum and, of course, beer. The bar serves both local and foreign draft beer and cider, and also offer a beer tasting set with six kinds of beer for Hr 100. Goose’s appetizers include calamari, fried cheese and mushrooms, prosciutto, chicken wings in various sauces and black pita chips. They also offer three kinds of snack platters, which combine different appetizers and are large enough to satisfy a big group. Apart from that, the bar sells salads, sandwiches, soups and burgers.
Prices: beer — Hr 45–75, snack board — Hr 550–1,100
Goose Gastro Pub. 19 Mezhyhirska St. Sun-Thu, 10 a. m. — 1 a. m. Fri-Sat, 10 a. m. till the last customer. +38044 425 2505
Planeta Kino, Multiplex
For those who want to be able to watch the twitch of every muscle of the players as they battle for victory on the soccer pitch, Kyiv cinemas will arrange screenings of the Champions League final on large cinema screens. Planeta Kino cinema will show the match in four cinema halls. They offer tickets for both regular and lux halls with large, comfy chairs. The multiplex cinema chain will also screen the match in three of its cinemas located in various districts of Kyiv.
May 26. 9:30 p. m. Hr 100–400
Planeta Kino. Blockbuster entertainment mall, 34B Stepana Bandery Ave. Hr 150–400. Check it out here.
Multiplex. Lavina Mall, 6D Berkovetska St..SkyMall, 2T Henerala Vatutina St. Prospekt Mall, 1B Hnata Hotkevycha St. Hr 100–220. Visit the website of Multiplex here.
Official fan-zone. Khreshchatyk St. Free
Also watch the final match on Ukrainian TV channels Football 1, Football 2 and Ukraine. Online access to live stream by Football 1 costs Hr 59 or about $2.30.
