Hotels, Cities & Things To Do

The Hotels
Hotel George in Lviv
Nadia Hotel in Ivano-Frankivsk
Hotel Ternopil
Hotel Rus in Kyiv

Lviv
Overview of Lviv
General Information
Tours & Museums
Side Trips
Restaurants of Lviv
Shopping

Ivano-Frankivsk
Overview of Ivano-Frankivsk
Tours & Museums
Side Trips

Ternopil
Overview of Ternopil
Places of Interest
Side Trips

Kyiv
Overview of Kyiv
General Information
Tours, Museums & Side Trips
Food & Drink
Shopping

Hotel George in Lviv

Address: 1, Mickiewicz Square

Overview
Centrally located in the city of Lviv, the George Hotel is widely known for its friendly welcome, simple charm, relaxed atmosphere and attentive personal service. The hotel was built in 1901 in the eclectic Neo-Renaissance style according to the project of Vienna architects Felmer and Helmer. It is considered to be an architectural monument of Lviv.
Situated in the very central part of the city, the hotel overlooks the monument of famous polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. It is within walking distance to the Opera House and City Hall square (called Market place) with its numerous historical buildings and architectural monuments


Restaurants & Bars
Restaurant George, known in Lviv for its tasty cuisine, serves delicious Ukrainian food and an exclusive assortment of European dishes. While the restaurant is open for guests at any time, meals may also be served in rooms. After dinner, guests can enjoy a drink at one of the hotel two bars.

The hotel restaurant consists of 3 halls: Central, Oriental and Banquet. All of them are designed in the lofty style and impress every guest with its decoration and solemnity.

Other Facilities
Guests can exchange currency, book and buy airline and railway tickets, get serviced at the hairdresser or garment repair shop, utilize the laundry facilities, visit the hotel newsstand.
Fax and copying machines are available.

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Nadia Hotel in Ivano-Frankivsk

Address: 40 Nezalezhnosti-st.

Nadia Hotel is located in the very center of the Ivano-Frankivsk city. This is the largest and hopefully the most comfortable hotel of Ivano-Frankivsk. Every room has all conveniences, including telephone, TV-set, refrigerator, shower or bath room.

The hotel is located in the center of the city near the musical and drama theatre named after a well-known Ukrainian writer and poet Ivan Franko.

The hotel can offer you a number of wonderful trips throughout picturesque corners of the Carpathian mountains, visiting the unique museum in the world - museum of Easter eggs "Pysanka", as well as museum of local culture and folklore "Hutsulshchyna" in Kolomyia town (60 km far from Ivano-Frankivsk), visiting of one of the oldest monastery in the region - Manyavskyi cloister, as well as Yablunetskyi pass, small regional towns - Kosiv (famous as a center of Hutsul handicrafts), Halych (famous as a center of former Halych-Volynien kingdom with ruins of old castle), Yaremcha (well-known as a tourist center, the pearl of Carpathain mountains - the city of waterfalls and rocks of the famous rebel, fighter for freedom Oleksa Dovbush like Robin Good). All excursions are accompanied by professional guides and interpreters, so you can not only enjoy the beauty of landscapes but also get acquainted with the history, tradiotions, habits and legends of our region.

Amenities: All rooms are equipped with TV-sets, telephones, fridges, shower or bath rooms.

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Hotel Ternopil

Address: 14, Zamkova str.

Hotel Ternopil is situated in the historical center of the town, near a beautiful lake, in the park zone, 10 km from the airport and 1 km from the railway terminal.

Hotel Ternopil was built in 1965 and reconstructed in 1987. The Hotel is located in the city centre near Christovozdvizhenska Church, Voskresenska Church, Museum of Local Lore.

FACILITIES
All rooms offered for accommodation have private facilities and are equipped with TV and telephone.

DINING
The restaurant of the hotel serves Ukrainian and European cuisine.

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Hotel Rus

Address: 4, Hospitalna St., Kyiv , Ukraine
Tel. (38044) 2204255
Fax. (38044) 2204396

Overview

3-star Plus Hotel Rus, located in the heart of Kiev, only a footstep away from the Palace of Sports (Palats Sportu), and the city's main and extremely famous Kreschatyk Street, is a preferred place for business and leisure travelers. Many tourist attractions and fine restaurants are only a short distance away. The name RUS comes from the Kievan Rus, once a country uniting Slavic principalities with the capital in Kiev.For over 20 years, the hotel has been the venue for the city's important functions and events. The majority of its guests are international business people, conference delegates, and tourists.

Restaurants and Bars

There are 7 restaurants and bars on the site. Whether it's a private dinner or a banquet, the hotels extensive restaurant facilities offer a wide choice of menus tailored to suit your personal needs.The restaurants can accommodate up to 800 people for cocktails. The restaurants offer a selection of the most popular dishes of European and Ukrainian cuisine. Live music adds to a nice atmosphere and makes your evening a real enjoyment.

The interior design of VENETIAN hall with an onyx fireplace is a surprising mix of Italian motifs and modern style influenced by paintings of XIX century.
The Blue Hall features distinctive wall sculptures to create an elegant venue for private dining.

The Tea Hall is nicely decorated with carved wood panels and is ideal for intimate catering of small groups up to 20 persons.

The Russian Hall with a seating capacity of 150 persons is used for buffet breakfast every morning and catering of groups during the day.

The Lobby Bar with a stylish white piano creates a unique relaxing atmosphere for the guests. Adding the classic touch to the atmosphere, the Lobby Bar presents live performances every evening. Open 7:00 - 1:00.

The Terrace Bar on the 2nd floor of the hotel is open round the clock and is good for informal meetings. Panoramic windows emphasize a feeling of visual transparency and space. Its cozy interior reminding of medieval times creates a warm relaxing atmosphere. Open 24 hours.
Restaurants are open from 7am till 11 pm.
Room service is available 24 hours.

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Lviv  

Overview

Founded in the 13th century by Prince Danylo Ghalytskiy [Daniil Galitskiy], Lviv was for another hundred years the western gateway of the Kyiv Rus. In the 14th century the area was seized by the Polish Kingdom and remained under the Polish reign till 1772. Then it came under the power of the Austrian (from 1867 on - Austro-Hungarian) Empire. In October 1918 the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) was proclaimed. However, it existed only few months. In summer 1919 western Ukraine and Lviv were annexed to Poland. In September 1939, as the result of the division of Poland by Berlin and Moscow, western Ukraine became a part of the USSR. In June 1941 Lviv was seized by the Nazi, occupation lasted till July 1944. From that time the western Ukraine together with the rest of Ukraine was a part of the USSR till August 1991. 

Cosmopolitan Lviv is the capital of western Ukraine. Until 1939 it had never been ruled from Moscow, and it was here that Ukrainian nationalism re-emerged in the late 1980s. Having escaped the urban devastation of WWII, Lviv is a living museum of Western architecture from the Gothic to the present. Almost half of the architectural monuments located in Ukraine are concentrated in Lviv.

When touring Lvov, one might considered visiting the historical city centre. The center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is fascinating to see. It includes the Ploscha Rynok Market Square with its Black House, the Armenian Cathedral, the Greek Cathedral, the Latin Cathedral, the Dominican Abey and the Boim Chapel. Or you can walk to the top of the Vysoky Zamok hill which overlooks the historical centre. This is where the Union of Lublin mound is situated. For entertainment, the Philharmonic orchestra and the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre are a real cultural treat. On a more macabre note, the Lychakivskiy Cemetery is one of the biggest and more scenic in the region.

Just east of the modern downtown is Old Town, centred on the broad Rynok square, once the hub of Lviv and still the best preserved urban square in Ukraine. At its heart is the 19th century town hall, and around the perimeter are beautiful 16th to 18th century buildings with ornate stone carvings.

Most of the old architecture (16th to 19th centuries) remains intact. It is a treasure of many architectural styles: Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Byzantine, German Baroque, rococo, classicist and many more.

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General Information

Car Rental
Car rental with a driver:
260 UAH per day + petrol cost

Guide / interpreter service
1 hour - 60 UAH
half a day (<4 hours) - 130 UAH
a day (>4 hours) - 190 UAH

Emergency Phone Numbers

· 01 - Fire
· 02 - Police
· 03 - Medical/Ambulance

Telephoning

· 073 - Local
· 079 - International

Taxi

· 79-90-71 - to order a taxi

Train Station

Ploscha Vokzal'na 13
tel: 005
to order tickets: 39-0051, -52, -53

Main Post Office

vul. Slovats'koho 1
tel: 065

Favorite Bookstore

Druzhba
Ploscha Myts'kevycha 10

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Tours & Museums

• Lviv Tour - The standard city tour includes the following major sites: the High Castle or Prince Hill, where the fortress used to be, with the panorama lot; the Church of St.Nicholas (13th century); the Church of Assumption and the Kornyakt Belfry (16th century); the Church of St.Parasceve (17th century) and its unique 70-icon iconostasis; the Cathedral of Dominicans(18th century); the Old Pharmacy; Market Square (over 40 14th-18th-century buildings enough for a separate 2 to 3-hour tour); St.George's Cathedral (18th century); St.John's Cathedral(14th century); the "Vienna-like" Prospekt Svobody(Liberty Avenue); the magnificent Opera House(exterior), etc.
  
• Three Museums Tour - History Museum, Medieval & Renaissance sections; Museum of Furniture & Porcelain, the only museum of the kind in ex-USSR; Armory. 
  
• Shevchenkivskiy Ghay - The city-located open-air Museum of Traditional Rural Architecture and Every-Day Life (historical park), shows how country people lived in various ethnographic zones of the western Ukraine, the biggest sections being those pertinent to the Carpathian region. 
  
• The National Museum of Fine Arts - Apart from good Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and Western paintings, it has a remarkable collection of 14th-18th-century icons (Christian sacral paintings).
  
• Museum of Ethnography - has world famous exhibits of traditional folklore crafts. The collections of embroidery, "pysanky" (decorated eggs) and Hutsul wood carving are of special interest.
  

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Side Trips

• Olesko - Usually visited together with Pidlissya (optional) in the form of a day-trip from Lviv (78 km one way) or en route Lviv- Rivne.

Visit to the Olesko Castle, one of the former summer residences of the Royal family of Poland (14th-17th centuries); Museum of Markiyan Shashkevych, one of the founders of the Ukrainian literary language, in Pidlissya (the latter mostly for tourists of Ukrainian ethnic origin). Lunch in the village of Biliy Kamin nearby. 

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• Pochaiv - The Pochaiv Monastery (16th-20th centuries), also known as Pochaiv Lavra , is a major East European Christian sanctuary always full of pilgrims from all over Ukraine and neighboring countries. The tour usually includes visits to the Assumption and Trinity churches , and the cave chapel of St. Iov of Pochaiv .

Day-trip to Pochaiv usually includes a visit to the village of Pidkamin located about 45 min drive from Pochaiv. This is a place that undoubtedly deserves to be on the front page of The National Geographic Magazine. It derived its name from a huge hanging rock. In the 17-th c. a wonderful Baroque church was built there by the Dominicans, which made the view even more impressive. The Dominican  Monastery in Pidkamin was turned into asylum by the Soviets, and just recently returned back to the church (though a part of it still belongs to the psychiatric hospital). Right by the monastery stands a pillar with the gildedstatue of the Virgin Mary of Gdansk

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• Hrushiv - Village north of Drohobych (according to several guidebooks, Hrushiv is located in Yavoriv district; that is not "the Hrushiv"). The Holy Trinity Church (early 18th c.) in Hrushiv is not only a beautiful example of Galician traditional architecture, but also a place of pilgrimage from all-over the world. The church gained renown during the 1970-ies and 1980-ies after parishioners reported seeing a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

A day-trip from Lviv (75 km one way).

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• Berestechko - Also known as the " Graves of Cossacks" (Kozatski Mohyly) . The place of a major battle between Ukrainian Cossacks and the army of the Polish king Jan III in June 1651. Every year in June (exact dates confirmed every year) ceremonies in commemoration of the Cossacks who perished in the battle take place. Of particular interest for tourists of Ukrainian background. For average tourists the "theatrical simulation" of the battle in the authentic environment might be of interest.

Architectural monuments: Thekla's Chapel(17th c.; according to the legend, erected on the mass burial place of 500 girls tortured to death by the Tartars in Berestechko); Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church(18th c.).

An outing from Lviv (140 km one way).

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• Brody - Over 900-years old town that used to be a major trade center of Kyiv Ru s . One of the western Ukraine's biggest and oldest Jewish cemetery is located in the town. There is also a major mid-18th century synagogue . Brody is the native town of the prominent Yiddish writer Joseph Roth. 

In July 1944 a big battle of the Ukrainian Division "Halychyna" with the Red Army took place in the vicinity of Brody.

An outing from Lviv (95 km one way).

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• Univ - Univ Holy Assumption Monastery . The Monastery is the headquarters of the Studites (founded by Clementy Sheptytskiy). Under the Soviets the building was used by a psychiatric hospital and gradually turned into ruins. Recently, due to the efforts of the Studites, the Monastery has regained its original splendor. Today it is a major place of pilgrimage and a unique sample of medieval (14th c.) fortress-like monastery architecture. Tourists also visit the 14th c. Assumption Church , house of Clementy Sheptytskiy (restored fall 1999), rich collection of sacral objects at the Monastery's museum. They may visit the graveyard in the woods, where monks were secretly buried during the Soviet rule. Visitors will also see how the monks live now in their daily prayers running a small cattle farm, bee hives, helping orphans and disabled. 

Day-trip from Lviv.

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Restaurants of Lviv

• Na Soborniy - Small, but very nice. Very tasty, but inexpensive traditional Ukrainian food, marvellous desserts, interesting interior recreating Ukrainian folk ambience.

Opening hours 11:00 - 23:00
Address 2a, Soborna Sq.
Phone +380-322 798.878

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• Italian Yard - A very tranquil, classic place to have a cup of coffee and a snack in a courtyard reminiscent of Italy, as this establishment's name implies.

Opening hours 10-21
Address 6, Rynok Sq., Lviv, 79008, Ukraine
Phone +380-322 720.671

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• King's Cup - A wide variety of tasteful traditional Ukrainian dishes, stylish interior decorated in the traditions of old Ukrainian times, in a bare-bones hunter's lodge setting. In summer you will be entertained in the courtyard with live jazz in the evenings.

Opening hours 11-23
Address 16, Svobody Prospect
Phone +380-322 723.939

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• Simex - Elegant café with a Western European feel, delicious desserts and appetizers.

Opening hours 10-23
Address 17, Kopernika St.
Phone +380-322 726.681

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• Randevou - Good variety of authentic Armenian shashliki (barbecue meat dishes) and grilled meat in L'viv made on open fire, new outdoor summer terrace.

Opening hours 12-23
Address 8, Bereznya St., L'viv, Ukraine
Phone +380-322 340.649

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• Light and Shadow - Nice art cafe with interesting photo gallery featuring best photos of L'viv, delicious Ukrainian food, live music - Flamenco nights, evenings of romantic music, and much more.

Opening hours 9:00 - 23:00
Address 14, Shevchenko Av.
Phone +380-322 729.1

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• Merchants Tower - During a visit to this unusual 4-story restaurant you can experience Ukraine of 19th century - dine in the Hunters, Ukrainian home rooms. If you prefer modern style - stop at the café with open gallery on the first floor, or in the pub with pool on the ground floor. Rich choice of dishes of Ukrainian and European cuisine, good service and live violin and piano music will all contribute to your comfort.

Opening hours 11-23
Address 16, Svobody Prospect, Lviv, 79000, Ukraine
Phone +380-322 723.939

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• Neptune - The white stucco walls of the sparkling-clean, wine-colour interior, delicious seafood selection and excellent service make this a very pleasant place to dine.

Opening hours 11:00 - 23:00
Address 30, Rynok Sq.
Phone +380-322 744.305

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• Europa - You will like everything here: from the range of tasty dishes of European and Ukrainian cuisine, to the opening hours and internal ambience. Ukraine's favourite beer - Slavutych - is always on tap here, and it's a special place for football fans to gather to watch their teams on TV.

Opening hours 8:00 - 23:00
Address 14, Shevchenka Prospect
Phone +380-322 725.862

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• Flamingo - You can guess the colour scheme of this place. Typical local fare is served in both the cafe and the more formal banqueting room.

Opening hours 11:00 - 23:00
Address 25, Krakivska St.
Phone +380-322 720.594

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• Bristol - Very good Ukrainian food in an immaculately clean restaurant and grill swamped in green fluorescent light. Adjoined with a pool hall.

Opening hours 11:00 -24:00
Address 19/21, Svobody Prospect
Phone +380-322 720.520

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• Coffee World - This specialist coffee shop serves numerous varieties of superb coffee, delicious desserts.

Opening hours 9:00 - 21:00
Address 6, Kathedralna Sq.

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• Tsukernia - Possibly the best desserts and confectionery in the city, nice cozy interior.

Opening hours 11:00 - 23:00
Address 3, Staroyevreyska St.
Phone +380-322 740.949

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• Amadaus - Located in the heart of L'viv, in Cathedralna Square, internationally renowned Amadey has become a very special meeting place for people of good taste of all nationalities. An intimate ambience, warm and elegant decor, live evening jazz played by professionals.

Opening hours 11:00 - 23:00
Address 7, Kathedralna Sq.
Phone +380-322 978.022

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• Kolyba - Part of an attractive small residential resort, built in the romantic lakeside garden of an old villa district on the outskirts of L'viv, this unique restaurant serves authentic old-Ukrainian-style fare - fabulous chanakhy (thick bean & meat soup with garlic), shashlyky (barbecue meat in Ukrainian style) cooked on an open fire. Facilities include a large indoor restaurant for 120 people, banqueting room for 20 people, little restaurant for private parties - with the spirit of an old Ukrainian mountain hut, several individual outdoor booths and a picnic area.

Opening hours 24 hours
Address 14, Burdenka Str. L'viv-Briukhovychi
Phone +380-322 593.141

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• Grand Club Sofia - Within this luxurious sports and leisure complex, the exclusive " Beaumonde " restaurant offering a large variety of fabulous fish and seafood, fine wines, as well as popular worldwide specialties.

Opening hours 12:00-24:00
Address 10, Shevchenka Prospect
Phone +380-322 729.000

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• Grand Hotel Restaurant - An elegant restaurant in L'viv's premier hotel offering beautifully presented international cuisine with wines to match. Excellent value and impeccable service.

Opening hours 8:00 - 23:00
Address 13, Svobody Prospect
Phone +380-322 724.029

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• Kupol - A unique and warm ambience with the spirit of a L'viv pre-war home, with flowers, candlelight and original artworks. Antique china, silver and furnishings and soft music provide an unforgettable backdrop for a cuisine that has come to be recognised by both Ukrainian and international critics as the best L'viv.

Opening hours 9:00 - 23:00
Address 37, Tchaikovskoho St.
Phone +380-322 744.254

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• Viennese Coffeehouse - In stylish surroundings of L'viv of Austrian times you will be treated to the most popular local national specialties - deruny (potato pancakes) with meat, pancakes with caviar, Viennese schnitzel, over twenty kinds of coffee and homemade desserts.

Opening hours 9-23
Address 12, Svobody Prospect
Phone +380-322 722.021

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• Oselia - Classic Ukrainian hospitality, in a splendid interior of an old Ukrainian country home, with an evening folklore show.

Opening hours 11:00 - 23:00
Address 11, Hnatiuka St.
Phone +380-322 721.601

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• Bar Mleczny - This plainly tittled 'Milk Bar' is a trusty option for a no-frills lunch. Haute cuisine it ain't, but what you will get is tasty, traditional nosh in a cozy, unpretentious setting. If you like eating local when you're on holiday and getting an authentic flavour of everyday life in the city, this is one to drop into. Root it out just round the corner from the fantastic Potocki Palace.

Address : Kopernika 9

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• Kilikia - Kilikia is squirreled away down a little side alley that runs off Virmenska (Armenian st.), one of the most beguiling stretches in the Old Town. Snatch an outdoor table and prepare for an intro into the unfamiliar (yet ingratiating) world of Armenian cuisine. During the colder seasons, a cosy baroque interior is on hand, and the waiter can offer you some fiery drinks to warm the cockles.

Address : Virmenska 13/3
Telephone : 380 322 726201

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• Vezha Kramariv - In this case, Vezha Kramariv ('The Guards Tower') is not such a fanciful name as it sounds. The hearty restaurant is spread across a carefully restored medieval bastion on the fringe of Lviv's Old Town. Unlike previous inhabitants of the tower, you needn't worry about having your dinner interrupted by a horde of invading Tatar warriors. Instead you can settle back in a huntsmen’s style interior and tuck into a variety of Ukrainian and European dishes. Regular jazz and classical concerts.

Address : Prospect Svobody 16

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• Celentano - This pizzeria takes it's name from the legendary Celentano brothers, who were veritable pizza tycoons back in the 1950's. If you've got a soft spot for the mozzarella marvel that is pizza, Celentano is arguably your best bet in town. You can find it just round corner from the opera house, and once inside you are free to construct your own masterpiece by picking out the various toppings that take your fancy.

Address : Prospect Svobody

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• New York Street Pizza - A New York themed pizzeria in Lviv may not be your number one choice if you're coming in search of something out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, this den gets our vote as a reliable and cheerful spot, especially if you've been having nothing but dumplings and goulash for a week. The pizzas may be the main feature but we also warmly recommend the salads. And if you've got a sweet tooth, the chocolate and banana pancakes are not to be sniffed at.

Address : Stefanyka 4

 

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SHOPPING

• Folk Art Market - Just round the corner from the National Museum you'll find this treasure trove of all things folkish. Potter about the stalls and you're sure to discover numerous goodies. Our favourites are the embroidered shirts for some Cossack adventures. It's worth having a bit of a haggle as the first asking price may be a mischievous roll of the dice from the point of view of the seller. Don't miss it.

Address : Vicheva Square

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• Letter Bookshop - Booklovers should head for the orange house off the south western corner of the Rynok. There you'll find the smartest bookshop in town, which has a good range of titles in English including guidebooks to the city as well as glossy coffee table numbers to pore over once you get back home. The cozy little cafe alongside may keep you longer than you expected - delicious snacks are to be had and very decent coffee.

Address : Shevska 6

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• Switoch - Switoch is Ukraine's leading chocolate firm. The principal Lviv outlet is housed in the mansion that once housed the legendary pre-war Polish Confectionery Zalewski. Inside you can still find much of the pre-war art deco furnishings. Besides more chocolates that you could possibly count, you'll find this is a good spot to pick up some other local delights such as the highly prized Niemiroff Honey vodka and other tasty liqueurs.

Address : Shevchenka Prospect 10
Telephone : 380 322 726741

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• Bam - Bam. It's a great name for a supermarket, but before we get carried away with Batman jokes (Kapow would also be a fine name for a megastore) we have to soberly confess that Bam is actually pronounced Vam in Ukrainian. Well, no matter, this is your choice if you are stocking up on an extended stay. They have enough sausage to keep you going for many moons, as well as all the essential clobber that citizens might need.

Address : Vygovskogo 100

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Ivano-Fankivsk

Overview

Ivano-Frankovsk (Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukrainian), is the capital city of the Ivano-Frankovsk Oblast which lies to the west in the Ukraine. It is a relatively small city with a population of roughly 205 000 people. The smallness of the city only adds to its charm.

Ivano-Frankovsk started life as a fortress which was built to protect the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth from repeated Tatar invasions. This is did quite well and it wasn’t long before the city-fortress began to grow under the safety provided by this fortification. It was first mentioned in history in 1662 when it was granted the Magdeburg rights. The city went on to survive not only Tatar attacks but also those thrust upon it but invading Turkish and Russian forces. The Renaissance was a period of extensive growth and rebuilding which lead to it becoming a somewhat more picturesque city. In fact it gained the nick-name “little Leopolis” – Leopolis being the Latin name for Lviv. It was also at about this time that Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine, became an important center of Armenian culture.

After Poland was divided up in the ‘Partitions of Poland’, it came under Austrian rule before falling under the domain of the autonomous Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. 1919 was a turbulent time for Ivano-Frankovsk as it was the subject of many Polish-Ukrainian skirmishes. It eventually ended up as the Second Polish Republic, serving as the Stanislawow Voivodship capital. Eventually, in 1939 it was invaded by German and Soviet forces and was attached to the Ukrainian SSR. Much of the Jewish population was murdered during the Nazi occupation which was a very sad period in the city’s history.

Eventually, in 1962, the name was changed to Ivano-Frankovsk after the Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko. The 1990s saw it become one of the centers of the Ukrainian independence movement. Today the city stands up proudly in its own right. It is a pretty city with both a victorious and sad history which is interesting to explore should you have the time. Why not visit Ivano-Frankovsk next time you are in the country and find out what it has to offer for yourself?

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Tours and Museums

The standard city tour usually includes: Roman-Catholic Cathedral (1672-1703); Armenian Church (1742) and Resurrection Cathedral (1753) - samples of baroque style; the City Hall (1695).

There are also tours to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Local History.

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Side Trips

• STARIY UHRYNIV - The birthplace of Stepan Bandera, the leader of Ukrainian nationalists. The Memorial Museum. Mostly for tourists of Ukrainian background.

An outing from Ivano-Frankivsk (43 km one way). Can be combined with the visit to Hoshiv.

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• HOSHIV - The place blessed by Our Lady, where in the 16th century a monastery was founded. A popular place of Christian pilgrimage.

An outing from Ivano-Frankivsk (80 km).

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• MANYAVA - A place, where in a picturesque location in the thick woods a secluded monastery was founded in 1611. Recently the monastery has been restored, and is now a major tourist attraction of the area.

An outing from Ivano-Frankivsk (60 km one way).

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• KOLOMYA - The town of Kolomyya, the center of Pokuttya region, is situated at a distance of about 70 km far from Yaremche.
  
  Three wonderful museums are placed in Kolomyya. The first one, which is worth being mentioned, is the Museum of Folk Art of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttya named after Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi. This Museum was opened in the year of 1926. Nowadays it possesses the biggest collection of the articles of everyday use, metal and ceramic articles, national clothes and embroidery of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttya.
  
  The Museum of Pysanka (Easter Egg), which is unique and the only one all over the world, is placed in the very heart of the town. It has the original architectural form of an egg and owns the extremely rich collection of pysankas. Here you will have a chance to admire the beauty of Easter eggs and try yourself out in the technique of wax decorations. This extraordinary work of art, which is also being called the eighth world wonder, is a glass pysanka. The extraordinarity of the project lies in the fact that the museum is made in the form of an egg which is fourteen meters high and the diameter of which reaches ten meters. It is made completely out of coloured glass with the total square of the glass surface more than 600 square meters.

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• KOSIV - For a long time this town has been a well-known center of folk Hutsulian craft, woodcarving, manufacturing of leather and metal articles, ceramics and embroidery.
  Wondrous souvenirs made by the folk tradesmen are being on sale here for tourists and guests. The best shopping for souvenirs! Only weekends!
  
  Kosiv is a real capital of folk Hutsulian art. The evergreen peaks of the Carpathians, swift mountain rivers, hospitable people all these things leave the unforgettable impression in everyones memory. In any season either, when the polonynas are in blossom or, when the white fresh snow covers all the paths, the Carpathians will enchant everyone, who has at least once glimpsed over them, with their majestic beauty. The picturesque mountain ranges, the coniferous and mixed forests created here the healing microclimate that, together with plants and mineral resources have long been used for medical purposes, curing and improving of ones health.

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• ZARVANYTSYA - According to "Sun Herald" columnist Atanas Kobryn, "for Ukrainians of Western Ukraine... the Zarvanytsya place of worship was equivalent to Fatima in Portugal or Lourdes in France". It has been a major pilgrimage place for centuries. The shrine of a miraculous icon of Mary, Mother of God, was destroyed during the war and the Soviet communist occupation. As of fall 1999, construction of a new Basilica Of Blessed Virgin Mary In Zarvanytsya was under way. It should be completed in 2000. 

Zarvanytsya can be visited on a day-trip from Ternopil (90 km one way), Ivano-Frankivsk (90 km one way).

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Ternopil

Overview

The administrative center of Ternopil Province (ethnographers call the area Podillya). The population of the province - 1,178,000. The area of the province - 13,800 sq.km. The population of the city - 170,000. It is a quiet, relatively small, nice city with a big man-made lake in the very center. 

The city is mainly visited by tourists of local ethnic background, all the rest usually stay for just one night. For longer, hectic tours it is sometimes good to make it two nights to let the group relax for a full day just doing nothing in a quiet place by the lake. 

Notwithstanding multiple devastations, the city used to rise up like the fabulous Phoenix from every ruin to become at last the real capital of the Halitsian Podillya. Entering the city, you’re met by new multi-storied dwelling and industrial buildings, intermixed with nice neat houses, surrounded by beautiful well-trimmed gardens full of bright flowers. Fruit trees, line the quiet streets, and cosy parks and then there is the blue reach of the Ternopil Pond. The few architectural masterpieces of the former epochs that remain as rare diamonds, add to the beauty of the city.

Among those oldies but goldies the medieval castle built in 1540 as a fortress to protect the city. However, it is not the only one to astonish you by its story.

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Places of Interest

Their History Museum has a nice section dedicated to Ukrainian national costumes.

For those interested in history of music the Memorial Museum of Solomiya Krushelnytska, famous opera singer, in her native village in the vicinity of Ternopil might be of interest.

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Side Trips

• POCHAIV - The Pochaiv Monastery (16th-20th centuries), also known as Pochaiv Lavra, is a major East European Christian sanctuary always full of pilgrims from all over Ukraine and neighboring countries. The tour usually includes visits to the Assumption and Trinity churches, and the cave chapel of St. Iov of Pochaiv.

Day-trip to Pochaiv usually includes a visit to the village of Pidkamin located about 45 min drive from Pochaiv. This is a place that undoubtedly deserves to be on the front page of The National Geographic Magazine. It derived its name from a huge hanging rock. In the 17-th c. a wonderful Baroque church was built there by the Dominicans, which made the view even more impressive. The Dominican  Monastery in Pidkamin was turned into asylum by the Soviets, and just recently returned back to the church (though a part of it still belongs to the psychiatric hospital). Right by the monastery stands a pillar with the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary of Gdansk

Day-trip from Lviv, Ternopil.

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• ZARVANYTSYA - According to "Sun Herald" columnist Atanas Kobryn, "for Ukrainians of Western Ukraine... the Zarvanytsya place of worship was equivalent to Fatima in Portugal or Lourdes in France". It has been a major pilgrimage place for centuries. The shrine of a miraculous icon of Mary, Mother of God, was destroyed during the war and the Soviet communist occupation. As of fall 1999, construction of a new Basilica Of Blessed Virgin Mary In Zarvanytsya was under way. It should be completed in 2000. 

Zarvanytsya can be visited on a day-trip from Ternopil (90 km one way), Ivano-Frankivsk (90 km one way),

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Kyiv  

Overview

Situated on the Dnipro River, Kiev (also Kyiv) is the capital city of the Ukraine. After a rough and turbulent history, the town has become an interesting array of old and new buildings. More and more of the culture is being influenced by the characteristics of both Western and European customs, yet the Ukrainians that live here still cling proudly to tradition. Once catapulted onto the world scene by the nuclear reactor blast at Chernobyl, the stunning city of Kiev is a world away from the tragedies of the past.

The modern city of Kiev is home to roughly three million people. Some of these people are foreign diplomats while others are students from other parts of the world. Thus, Kiev has a somewhat cosmopolitan feel. While many of its greater architectural and art treasures were destroyed in the second world war, that which was left has been restored and now proudly adorn the face of this picturesque city. For a while there were understandable concerns about the safety of living in such close proximity to the destroyed nuclear reactor plant but most scientists agree that the city is safe from the effects of radiation.

There is really so much to see and do in Kiev, you will be kept busy for days. Known as the ‘ Green City’ for its many botanical gardens, parks and beautiful trees, the city is a wonder to behold in summer and spring. The nearby river provides hours of leisure activity in the form of swimming and boat rides while many enjoy leisurely strolls and cycling trails along its banks. In the winter the lake freezes over to make way to ice fishermen and ice-skaters. The many theatres and opera houses provide indoor entertainment and craft markets selling and abundance of traditional Ukrainian goods can be found in various city squares. There are art galleries, beautiful old buildings and even catacombs to see. Kiev is a charming and majestic city that should not be missed.

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General Information

Emergency Phone Numbers

01 - Fire

02 - Police

03 - Medical/Ambulance

Telephoning

071 - Local

(8) 191,-2,-3,-4,-5 - International

09 - Directory assistance

Taxi

058 - to order a taxi

Main Post Office

vul. Khreschatyk 22

tel: 065

Boryspil Airport

tel: 295-2252

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Tours, Museums & Sidetrips

Of the most interesting sites the standard city tour includes: the magnificent St.Sophia's Cathedral, consecrated in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise (he was buried there in 1054); the Golden Gate of Kyiv built in 1307; St.Andrew's Church (18th century), designed by Rastrelli, the famous architect who built the world famous Winter Palace in St.Petersburg; St.Volodymyr's Cathedral (19th century); St.Volodymyr's Hill and the Monument to St.Volodymyr; Khreshchatyk [Kreshchatik] Street, the city's elegant main boulevard; Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square); Kyiv University; Opera House; etc. 

Museums

• Pyrohovo - A picturesque open-air museum of old Ukrainian lifestyle and folk culture. The museum is divided into areas representing different regions of Ukraine, recreating authentic village atmosphere: clay huts roofed with grass or wooden shingles, archaic barns and wells – everything is meant to bring you back to the Ukraine of 16th to 19th century. There are plenty festivals and celebrations going on in Pyrohovo the whole season, main national and religious holidays are celebrated according to the folk traditions here. Open 10:00 - 17:00. Admission 10hr. English-speaking guides available.

Address: Chervonopraporna (from metro Lybidska by bus)
Tel: 266 55 42

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• Museum of the Great Patriotic War - This World War II memorial complex, which opened in 1981, includes a museum with 18 different galleries, an eternal flame, plaques honouring particularly heroic Soviet cities and an outdoor display containing military planes and other equipment from various wars. The centerpiece of it all is of course the massive titanium statue of a woman, 62m tall to be exact, grasping a 12-ton sword and a shield. Honouring Soviet defenders during World War II, its Socialist Realism style is an interesting contrast to the nearby ancient golden domes of Pecherska Lavra. If you're just slightly worried about the `Mother of the Motherland' being a tad too top-heavy, you're not the only one. There have been scattered reports that the whole structure was not build very soundly and is danger of falling over, but so far so good. Admission 4hr.
  
  Address : Sichnevoho Povstannia 44
  Tel : 285 94 52
  
  Open daily :10:00-17:00
  except:
  Monday: Closed

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• Museum of Russian Art - Outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, one of the largest collections of Russian art is housed here. The building belonged to the upper-class Tereschenko family and was built in the 1880s. Private artwork confiscated and nationalized by the Soviets along with the Tereschenkos' holdings formed the bulk of the museum's exhibits when it was opened in 1922. The most prized displays are a collection of exceptional Russian icons dating back to the late 13th century. The museum features artwork from many famous Russian painters such as I Repin, M Vrubel and N. Rerikh, as well as sculptures, handicraft and graphics. Kids should be kept on a tight rein as the staff can be rude if little people get too close to exhibits.
  
  Address : Tereschenkivs'ka 9
  Tel : 224 62 18
  Open daily :10:00-17:00 except:
  Wednesday: Closed
  Thursday: Closed

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• National Art Museum - Built in the late 19th century in the style of a Greek temple with a six-column portico designed by Kyiv architects Horodetsky and Boytsov, valuable collections largely unknown to Western visitors are contained in the museum's 21 galleries. Pieces include Ukrainian icons, paintings, and sculptures from the 14th century through the early 20th century. Works of revered artist and poet Taras Shevchenko, N Pymonenko, K Kostandi and H Narbut are some of the highlights of the museum. Open10:00 - 18:00, Mon, Fri, 11:00 - 19:00. National Museum of Chernobyl This museum does an excellent job of actually making you feel like you are at the site of the infamous nuclear accident. Road signs from towns and villages near Chernobyl greet you as you ascend the stairs, and as you descend the signs are crossed out to signify your departure. From the hundreds of pictures of emergency workers and affected children to the abundance of metal and outdated computers with `don't touch' signs, the whole place has a sort of run-down feeling, though it only opened 12 years ago. Considering that the government can't make full regular payments to families who have suffered from the explosion, it's understandable why this museum is in the shape it is. It's usually rather empty, but then again so is the contamination zone. Bring a big group and make the attendants show you the diorama and video. A few exhibits could be a bit scary for kids, such as life-sized costumes with gas masks and pictures of deformed animals.
  
  Open 10:00 - 18:00, Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. Admission: foreigners 5hr, students 1hr. Open 10:00 - 17:00. Admission 3hr. English-speaking guides available.

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• CENTRAL BOTANICAL GARDEN - Timiryazevska 1. (Tel: 295-4527). Hours: 10am-8pm Mon-Sun. Founded in 1936 the gardens offer a glimpse of a collection comprising nearly 13,000 varieties of trees, bushes, and grass from five different continents. The 11th century Vydubychi monastery is still open to the public on the garden's grounds.

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• CENTRAL PARK - Volodymyrska Uzviz 2. (Tel: 228-3092). This park stretches throughout the center of the city and houses a number of parks and historical complexes including the Mariyinsky Palace, Askold Grave, and the monument to Prince Volodymyr. A breathtaking view of the Dnipro River can be seen from the park's terraces.
  

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• HYDROPARK - Peredimska Sloboda 10. (Tel: 517-1492). Over 900 acres stretch along this riverside park with sandy beaches along the Dnipro River banks. One can enjoy swimming, volleyball, tennis, badminton, sun bathing, or sailing on a rental boat. There is an open-air theater, coffee shop, restaurant, and beer bar. No entrance fee.

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• MUSEUM OF UKRAINIAN FINE ARTS - Vul. Hrushevskoho 6. (Tel: 228-6429). Hours: 10am-5pm, closed Friday. Spend an afternoon discovering Ukrainian folklore and tradition through art. One can get a glimpse of a valuable collection of ancient Ukrainian icons, paintings, and sculpture.
  

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• KIYEVO-PECHERSKA LAVRA , cave monastery founded in 1051 by monks Anthony and Theodosius, in the catacombs where one can see the "holy relics" of the most spiritually advanced monks. It comprises a whole series of churches, cathedrals and monuments. Among them are: the Trinity Church, built over the entrance gate, which dates from 1108; the walls of the Upper Monastery, built between 1698 and 1701; All Saints' Church (17th century), built over another gateway; the unimaginably high monastery belfry, built in 1731-45. Outside the complex of buildings stands the ancient church, built early in the 12th century by Prince Volodymyr [ Vladimir] Monomakh as a burial place for the princes of Kyiv. . 

The Monastery also houses several museums, among them Ukrainian Folk Crafts Museum and Museum of Historic Treasures. 

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• REPUBLICAN CENTER OF EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS - Prospekt Akademika Hlushkova 1. (Tel: 261-7365). Hours: 10am-6pm, break 1-2pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Located in a big cozy park the center is the main site for major exhibitions and fairs taking place in Kyiv. The lovely tree- covered grounds is a nice place to take a stroll especially in summer when a variety of flowers are in bloom.
  

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• REPUBLICAN STADIUM - Vul. Chervonoarmiyska 55. (Tel: 221-5775). With a capacity of 100,000, this stadium is the largest in Ukraine, which includes a soccer field, running tracks, indoor stadium, gymnasium, an artificial surface ski-jump, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a sauna.
  

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• ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL - Vul. Volodymyrska 24. (Tel: 228-6152). Museum has been closed for one year because of political problems. To enter museum, you must go with tour guide. Built by Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1037, this church was established to glorify the wisdom of Christianity. One of the most interesting sights is the collection of frescoes and mosaics inside the cathedral.
  

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• UKRAINIAN MUSEUM OF FOLK ARCHITECTURE AND PEASANT HOMES - Pyrohovo Village. (Tel: 266-2416). Open daily 10am-5pm; closed Wed. Entrance fee $1.00; $10.00 per person for English-speaking guide. Located in the outskirts of Kyiv, this open air museum takes you through Ukraine's history as you walk through the original homes of the past which have been moved here from all corners of Ukraine and restored. Traditional Ukrainian costume and ceramics are on exhibit.
  

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• THE ZOO - Prospect Peremohy 32. (Tel: 274-6054). Hours: 9am-6pm, closed Monday. Founded in 1908, Kyiv's zoo is one of the largest in Eastern Europe. One can see over 3,500 specimens of animals and birds here. Amusement park and snack-bar.

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Cultural Events

• Folk concerts at the KYIVSKIY HOTEL (former INTOURIST HOTEL). In high season the performances are held on regular basis offering shows of top class choirs and ensembles such as Veryovka Choir, Cherkasy Folk Dance and Music Ensemble, Bukovyna Choir, etc. 

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• Kyiv Opera House has an excellent company. Opera is especially good.

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Food & Drink

• 77 Shapito - Ukrainian - Continental Circus theme family restaurant. Relatively expensive.

Address : Vul Olesya Honchara 77

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• Albena - Ukrainian - continental. Low prices, good food, and attentive service make this a place to visit when you are in the neighborhood (of even if you are looking for a nice out of the way place to have lunch).
  
  Address: Kyshynivska 2,
  Tel: 295-8161

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• Aragvy - Are you in the mood for zesty Georgian food, warm Georgian hospitality, and delicious Georgian cuisine? Then head to this family restaurant that boasts that mainly products made or grown in Georgia are used. According to the Kyiv Post review of 23 May 2002, "Aragvy offers all categories of entrees: meat, poultry, and fish. But, due to the zesty nature of the food and generous portions, it's more than possible to construct a meal on appetizers alone." Try the traditional specialties such as: lavash, chakapuli, lobio, khachipuri, and tkemali. Prices are reasonable and the Georgian wine selections delectable.

Address: 50 Velyko Vasylkivska (Chervonoarmiyska)
Tel: 451-7875

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• Art Club - Snacks. Loud, noisy, smoky, crowded, but still a fun place to be (unless the drug dealers are in). Great place for Jazz and meeting friends (just don't try to have serious conversations here). Sometimes the music gets a little too loud (as in most of Eric's places), but then I'm no longer a 20 year old that can take it. Food is good (surprising for a place this crowded) and the drinks very reasonably priced. Definitely recommended for a fun evening out. The music is usually outstanding but the newly established "entry fees" on weekends are annoying. This only started and has markedly changed the clientele.

Address : 44 Khreshchatyk 44b
Tel: 229-4137

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• Askold - Ukrainian. Reasonably prepared food at higher than reasonable prices. Interesting Ukrainian decor. A favorite of the locals.

Address : 43/16 Velyko Vasylkivska (Chervonoarmiyska).
Tel: 227-0702

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• Atlanta - Cool newly renovated bar with live music and great service. I really suggest it. If you are from  Atlanta it will make you miss home but please notice that the waitresses are wearing maps of New York and not Atlanta. All in all, a great place.

Address : 56 Red Army Street (Chervonarmiyska)
Tel: 220-0091.
Open from 8:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

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• Arizona - Classical American breakfast, great American-Mexican food, just like at home. On Saturdays the English-speaking community of Kyiv gather for pizza parties at " Arizona" Cafe. Decorations are cool and you will feel like you are back home. It is hard to tell you are sitting in the Ukraine in this bar! Has pool tables and darts too!

Address : 25 Naberezhno-Khreschatytska
Tel: 416-24-38

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• Baraban (Drum) - Ukrainian. Took me 5 years to find it (if it has been around that long) but it was worth it. Nice, friendly little place with a warm atmosphere, good food (reasonably priced), and lots of local and ex-pat clientele. Definitely difficult to find even if you have good directions. Due to its location it is frequented by most journalists and media-types in Kyiv but it has enough varied clientele to make it interesting.

Address : Prorizna 44a
Tel: 229-2355

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• Bilyj Skorpion (White Scorpion) - Ukrainian. Once my favorite place for Sunday morning Crepes (blintzes, nalysniky, thin pancakes). Enjoyed with some cold Ukrainian champagne, fresh orange juice, and strong coffee, makes every Sunday a unique holiday. Unfortunately the place is very inconsistent. Sometimes no apple blintzes, sometimes no cheese (tvoroh) ones, sometimes no fresh orange juice, and usually no cold champagne (requiring a wait till it cools in an ice bucket). Nevertheless, it is a nice enough place with reasonable prices, but don't expect much from the neo-Ukrainian-modern decor.

Address : Baseina 19
Tel: 246-4125

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• Black and Orange - In central Kiev. If you want to take some friends to a reasonably prices cafe and still have fantastic food in a cool atmosphere, this is the place, look no further. You can get in and out of here for $5.00 to $10.00 per person!

Address : 29a Saksahanskoho.
Tel: 416-35-67
Open 10:00 AM until the last customer.

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• Budynok Kavy - (Coffee house) Only coffee and desserts, but definitely a great place to hang out with the "in-people" if you can afford it. Prices are those of upscale coffee shops in Berlin, Paris, New York, and London. Why? Rated as No. 2 in "Best Cup O' Mud" category by Kyiv Post readers.

Address : Passage, Khreshchatyk 15

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• Carmen - Ukrainian – Continental. With a name like Carmen and the Spanish decor, you would expect Spanish fare. This is not to be (although I think I saw one or two Spanish dishes on the menu). However, this place has the best varenyky I have ever eaten in Kyiv. It has been a while since I have been there so I must make it a point to go back.

Address : Moskovska 7
Tel: 251-1128

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• Deja Vue - This has got be the coolest cafe I have ever been in. Deja Vue has a wild interior that includes antique Harley Davidson, Indian and other motorcycles, as well as, ejector seats from Soviet Planes and Propellers hanging from the ceiling. You have to see this cafe. Deja Vue has live Jazz music playing every night and has a menu with dishes from Chinese to American.

Address : 30 B. Khmelnytskoho Street
Tel: 235-9802.

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• Djui Long (Nine Dragons) – Chinese. Perhaps this is the Chinese restaurant that I have been looking for in Kyiv. According to one of the guides it has Chinese chefs, an authentic Chinese atmosphere, and good dishes. However, with over 300 dishes to choose from - I tend to doubt this. My all time favorite Chinese restaurant in NY only had 30 items on the menu (several of which were desserts and teas). I usually found that the smaller the menu - the better the food. However - trust the guides and visit this establishment, then write me and tell me I was wrong.

Address : Shevchenko Boulevard 46B
Tel: 235-7350

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• Dva Husya (Two Geese) - Ukrainian. Cafeteria style Ukrainian kitchen. Reasonably priced.

Address : Bohdana Khmelnytskoho 46
Tel: 221-1201

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• Eric's Bar: - Stop what you are doing and go to Eric's Bar NOW. If you only hang out in one place, this is the place. Eric's is your local neighborhood bar. The atmosphere is like the bar you always wished was near your home. The service is fantastic. The manager Vladimir will great you like an old friend if you come there more than once. Even the owner Eric shows up and greats the guests regularly. This place is hard to find. You can be on top of it and miss it. No address needed.

Address : It is across the street from the Kinotheater Kiev on Chervonarmiyska street ( Red Army Street). Just walk through the arch on the opposite side of the street from the theater.

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• Friday's - What do you want me to say, it is Friday's The Friday's here in Kiev is just like the one back home. The same great food, great atmosphere, and great service at a reasonable price, well reasonable for Westerners.  Location is right off Khreschatyk next to Bessarabskaya market. Open noon to midnight. I suggest the chicken fingers. Fantastic and only 28 Hrivnas with fries!

Address : 5a Bessarabskaya Square 
Tel: 235-42-64

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• Golden Gate Pub - Wonderful Pub atmosphere which belies the tasty, plentiful and diverse food. If you are expecting traditional Pub food (that tasteless variety you find in other places) then you are in for a treat. Just about every dish is very good to exceptional. The steaks are large, tasty, and well prepared. The sandwiches are the best in Kyiv. The duck dishes are outstanding as are all of the appetizers (with the exception of the Irish potatoes). The salads are most interesting - especially the Caesar's salad which is not the classical kind but it fills you up and tastes great. Live music on weekends at the lower bar which tends to fill up quickly so come early.

The " Shannon" lounge bar has two pool tables and a darts board while the "Bothy" public bar hosts live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 PM and on Sunday evening from 8:00 PM shows on large projection screens. American sports live including NFL. Identify yourself as a Kiev Connections client and receive a 10% discount on your bill.

Address : 40/2 Vladimirskaya Street. (Across from Golden Gate Metro)
Tel: 235-5188

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• Hostynnyi Dvir (Hospitable Yard) - Hostynnyi Dvir boasts a large and unique menu of Ukrainian soups and dishes made according to traditional recipes. Tablecloths are embroidered by hand and are changed to match different holidays. The authentic-looking interior was painted by artists who worked on St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral. Address : Kontraktova ploscha 4
  
  Tel : 416 68 76
  Open daily :12:00-01:00

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• Khutorets - Foreigners flock to this floating restaurant offering traditional Ukrainian décor and food. The portions are big and tasty, and the prices are very reasonable. Service can be a bit slow, but you'll be OK as long as you don't get seasick. Live music nightly. From the moment you walk in onto this restaurant, you feel that you are in for an adventure. The decor and atmosphere is definitely Ukrainian (until you are spoken to in Russian by the staff). Food is very good and plentiful. This is a good place to sample Ukrainian fare at its country best. Music on weekends and the outdoor section is booked solid during the summer months. Address : Podil, Naberezhno- Khreschatyts'ka, pier 1
  
  Tel : 416 80 39
  Open daily :12:00-24:00

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• Kozac Mamai - Centrally located across from metro Khreschatyk, the interior's river setting and waiters in authentic, baggy Cossack trousers distinguish this place from other Ukrainian restaurants. This restaurant features a large number of authentic Ukrainian dishes from borsch to varenyky, everything comes in hearty portions and at moderate prices. Whenever my friends come in from the US or Canada, this is one restaurant that they always visit. If I want to know who is in town from the "Diaspora" all I need to do is talk to the waiters and waitresses. The service is excellent and attentive; the ambiance - pleasant; and the decor, with its "Cossacks on the river" settings, very interesting. You can't go wrong when you are in the center of town by visiting this establishment. Great place for business lunches also. Strolling Ukrainian musicians on most evenings and weekends. Recently rated as one of the best for Ukrainian cuisine by What's On in their 13-19 December 2002 issue.
  
  Address : Prorizna 4
  Tel : 228 42 73
  Open daily :09:00-23:00

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• Kozachok - I was recently visiting a friend who lives in the neighborhood of Kozachok and was invited there for diner. What a treat! This is the type of food that you imagine enjoying if you were living in a Ukrainian village. Hearty, tasty, filling, and conducive to good times. Try the "deruny" or pancakes and varenyky here. You won't be disappointed (unless you are trying to maintain a diet). The musicians, the rustic setting, and the country cuisine make for a most memorable evening. The restaurant is designed as a local Ukrainian village pub or "shynok" and in the summer it offers outside seating. Prices are most reasonable.

A traditional-looking Ukrainian village pub, Kozachok has an authentic pondside atmosphere and delicious inexpensive food to boot. The menu features various meats grilled on an open fire. Deserving special mention are the varenyky (dumplings) with strawberries or sweet cherries, as well as different homemade fruit drinks.

Address : Kirovohrads'ka 118
Tel : 250 93 52
Open daily :00:00-24:00

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• Le Cosmopolite - It is also known as the Belgian Beer Cafe. It is famed for it's beer but I like it for the food. I am not a fish eater and I highly suggest the mixed seafood entrée. The service here is great. The quality is first rate and this is not a cheap restaurant but not one that will kill you either. It is located directly across from the entrance to Golden Gate metro station adjacent to the opera house.

Address: 47 Vladimirskaya Street 228-7278.

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• Lypsky Osobnyak ( Lypsky Mansion) - This mansion is probably the world's only home to Ukrainian `haute cuisine', but on this basis there should be more. Located in the political heart of Kyiv, its sophisticated and elegant atmosphere befits the capital's privileged classes. Wild game such as rabbit and duck are expertly prepared, and the wine collection is unmatched in the city.

Address : Lyps'ka 15
Tel : 254 00 90
Open daily :11:00-01:00

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• Lvivska Brama (The Gate Of Lviv) - Ukrainian. Lviv is famous for its roast chicken and this place does not disappoint. Nice decor of the Carpathian themes. Very inexpensive.

Address : Vorovskoho 1/37
Tel: 212-3558

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• O'Brien's Irish Pub - "The first and only Irish pub in Kiev". This is one of the bars where the local foreign residents hang out in. The food and service is fantastic. I suggest the chicken boxy a chicken pancake dish that is excellent. If you are lonely for the English language come here after work hours and hang out at the upstairs bar. There will be dozens of Americans, British and Irish. 

Address : 17a Mykhailivska
Tel: 229-15-84
Opens at 8:00.

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• Ostannya Barikada (The Last Barricade) - Ukrainian – Russian. Favorite among the politicos- particularly the young and up-coming crowd. Yuschenko often is seen here as are many from the Nasha Ukraina party. Ukrainian/Russian cuisine with plenty of local fish dishes. Interesting place with exhibits of young artists throughout. They even have their own web site: http://www.oksamyt.org.ua/ob/index.epl

Address : Suvorova 4 Vul. Pechersk
Tel: 290 52 22

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• Patio Pizza - Located in the same building as Fridays. Again, great food, great service, and great price. A Patio Pizza is 58 Hrivna. I can't tell you the number of toppings. There are too many to count! Best pizza in Kiev. This pizza will feed two average people, or one very hungry Canadian. The restaurant also has a large selection of great Italian food. Authentic  Italian atmosphere inside.

Address : 5a Bessarabskaya Square
Tel: 235-44-46.
Open noon until midnight.

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• Pechera - This is on of the most unique restaurants in Kiev and maybe the world. The interior of this Kiev Restaurant is a cave and the waitresses are dressed as cave women! The food was fantastic and the service was friendly and on a level unequaled in Kiev. If you would like to have fantastic food in a unique intimate atmosphere this is the place.

Address: 10a Tarassivska Street
Tel: 244-3372. Look for the " Easter Island" columns.

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• Pechersky Dvoryk - The refined bourgeois atmosphere of turn-of-the-century Kyiv is effectively recreated here for the capital's present-day power players. Bright yellow-clad waitstaff deliver traditional Ukrainian dishes with extravagant names - boiled tongue is called `Charming Chatterbox'. A reasonably-priced business lunch is served from 12:30 to 16:00.
  
  Address : Kriposnyi prov. 6
  Tel : 253 26 67
  Open daily :11:00-24:00

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• Pervak - Take a trip back in time to early 20th-century Kyiv. The decor includes the showing of silent movies, and the restaurant itself is on the site of a famous merchant's house. Friendly waitstaff in costumes serve up a variety of hearty Ukrainian dishes with inventive names. Twenty per cent family discounts on Saturdays until 17:00.

Address : Rohnidyns`ka 2
Tel : 235 09 52
Open daily :11:00-24:00

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• Skhody (Stairs) - Ukrainian. The best thing about this restaurant is the owner (Volodymyr Hryhorovych) who greets you with a warm smile and/or a handshake. He is most attentive and pleasant and the ONLY restaurateur in Kyiv who will send over a free drink or glass of wine to your table if you are a regular customer. (Please make note of this all you restaurateurs or would be restaurateurs out there. This is how you keep clients.) I have never had a bad meal there and I recommend it. The food is very good Ukrainian and most nights there is a violin player that can make you shed a tear or two).

Address : Hrynchenka 7
Tel: 229-8029

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• St. Petersburg - If you want to see how Ukrainians celebrated evenings and days off before the advent of the International restaurants, go to St. Petersburg. This is a throwback (now nostalgic) to the Soviet times. Interesting to say the least. Good Russian and Ukrainian fare and dancing on weekends to local bands.

Address : Shevchenko Blvd. 4,
Tel: 229-7417

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• Scythia - Busy tourists can kill two birds with one stone at Scythia, where it's possible to dine whilst observing museum pieces behind glass. The Scythians roamed Ukraine many years ago, and their decorative artifacts like the famous gold pectoral (not a well-oiled muscle but a large necklace) are on display here.

Address : Chervonoarmiys'ka 98
Tel : 269 51 42 Fax: 227 45 14
Open daily :11:00-01:00

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• Stonned Baboon - Ukrainian – Continental. Unusual - interesting - exiting - hippie - yuppie - etc. What can you say of a place that is a little of everything for everybody. You can trade or buy a book (or video) here. You can dance, drink, eat, relax, read, people-watch, or just listen to the music. Great variety of live music on most nights. Not to be missed.

Address : 39 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho
Tel: 224-1503

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• Taras - Taras restaurant in Taras Shevchenko Park has garnered enough votes – and beets – to be crowned the Kyiv Post readers’ choice for having the city’s best borshch. For those of you who want the Ukrainian experience this is the place. This restaurant looks like a village home. The interior is traditional Ukrainian and so is the food. The prices are very reasonable; the service is good and if you want local food come here. Popular with the University crowd (one block away) and tourists (some as far as 12550 miles away). Taras (Shevchenko) would turn over in his grave if he heard all the Russian spoken here.
  
  Tel : 235-2132

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• Tsarske Selo ( Tsarist Village) - A bit expensive, but the colourful village décor and traditional singing are quite entertaining, especially if you have no plans to go near a real Ukrainian village. The food is traditional and tasty, and don't forget to take your picture.
  
  Address : Sichnevoho Povstannia 42/1
  Tel : 290 30 66
  Open daily :11:00-01:00

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• USSR - Tourist oriented restaurant - part of the Tsarske Selo complex. Interestingly done. The food is good if not exceptional. The service is excellent. Good place to relax in the warm weather and to enjoy the tourists and the area around Pecherska Lavra.

Address : 42/1 Sichnevoho Povstannia,
Tel: 573-9775

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• Viola's Bierstube - If you are looking for this place and don't know exactly where to go, you will not find it. Go up Shevchenko Blvd. As if you were going to Premier Palace Hotel and make a left at the first archway. At the end of the Arch there is a new wood door on the left side. Open the door, go down the stairs and you are at Viola's. (They don't make it easy). However once you are there, you will thoroughly enjoy the good snack type food (fried mushrooms, fried mozzarella, fried calamari, potato salad, and an assortment of meats, poultry, fish, etc. All are surprisingly good and the accompanying sauces to the snacks are just right.. The prices are reasonable. The decor is well thought out with bare brick walls and vaulted ceilings. The atmosphere and service - warm and friendly. Viola and Eric have the formula for success and it certainly works in this place. Far, far better than The Wall which is just down the street from it.

Address : Shevchenko Boulevard, to the left of the Lenin Statue.

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• Vitriak (Windmill) - Ukrainian. A wonderful place to take your local or foreign friends for some authentic Ukrainian cooking, atmosphere and music. Rustic, but pleasant. Don't order too much, as you will never finish it all. The food is basic but very good. Highly recommended for the "local" flavor.

Address : Prospect Akademika Hlushkova 11
Tel: 266-7138

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• Vulyk -  Does Ukrainian cuisine seem exotic to you? Whatever your answer, it will definitely seem so when visiting here. Order pickled cucumbers with honey and spring onions, and try a drink of “Ukrainian bouquet” (thyme, chamomile and mint drawn in apple juice). How do you like it? Is it exotic?

Address : Chervonoarmiys'ka 44
Tel : 230 26 42
Open daily :11:00-22:30

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• Wagon Restaurant - If you want to drop some bucks (Hrivnas in Kiev) and have a great experience this is the place. The restaurant is made up of train wagons and platforms. My favorite is the turn of the century British wagon but the Tsar Nicolas wagon is only for parties. The locals tend to like the cowboy wagon. The food is great too. Have the steak with tiger shrimp inside.

Address : 52 Red Army Street.
Tel: 227-0490.

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• Yaroslav - Great food at very reasonable prices. Interesting decor of the Kievan Rus period. The downstairs is decorated with a castle-like ambiance. Pleasant and well worth it.

Address : Yaroslaviv Val 13,
Tel: 212-4260

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• Za Dvoma Zaytsami (After Two Hares) - As you go down Andriyivsky uzviz, a man in early 20th-century attire welcomes you to this delightful restaurant. It is one of the most pleasant and interesting restaurants in Kyiv. Lovingly decorated by the owner and boasting attentive service. The food is Ukrainian but delicious (I have been criticized for saying this, but I find most Ukrainian fare outside of "Lypskyj Osobnyak" to be uninspired and bland). A great place for a leisurely coffee, tea, or drink when visiting Andriyivskyj Uzviz. The restaurant also features shows (currently "Moulin Rouge") which will add to your entertainment and dining pleasure. Delicious and inexpensive Ukrainian dishes are served with old-fashioned cutlery - the kind that was a sign of prosperity in Soviet times. Tourists can have a relaxing drink here after a taxing afternoon of souvenir shopping. Several rooms so it is ideal for parties. Not to be missed.

Address: Andriivs'kyi uzviz 34
Tel : 416 35 16
Open daily :11:00-23:00

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• Zamok Vydubychi - Although it was difficult to find, the restaurant ancient castle decor and river-side location are interesting and promise a pleasant experience. The nicely done menu offers the dishes of Ukrainian and European cuisines. Besides they organize the outdoor parties at the picturesque Dniper Island.

Address: Naberezhno-Pechers'ka 5
Tel: 286 27 07 Fax: 286 27 07
Open daily :12:00-24:00

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• Zolota Rybka (Golden Fish) - Outstanding Fish. I have never had a bad meal here (although in winter months I was so cold that I had to rush through the meals). The decor is cold (good for summer months, but not pleasant in the winter), lots of marble, fish tanks in the floor, even marble seating (with cushions) in places. The prices are reasonable; the wine selection is good, and the service attentive.

Address : Vul. Arsenalna 9/11,
Tel: 294-9180

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