My Favorite Craft Cocktail Bars in Kiev

I have a new updated list of the best bars in Kiev, including the best cocktail bars.

Where I am greatly influences what I choose to drink. In the center of hipster Brooklyn it was craft beer at the bar and chianti at home for dinner. In Singapore where wine was horrifically expensive, it was bottles of cheap Tiger beer while we sat on plastic stools in sweaty hawker centers. In Cuba we got a welcome mojito everywhere we crossed a threshold.

But in Kiev, things took a shift again, as I finally found a place where my drink of choice wasn’t prohibitively expensive…

Kiev is cocktail heaven.

Not only do you have craft cocktail bars popping up all over the place, but restaurants also have their own list of house concoctions. Even the burger joint I went to had a handful of tasty looking drinks. In New York, where cocktails are frequently between ten and fifteen dollars, even ordering a gin and tonic felt like an indulgence. In Kiev, where cocktails were regularly four, five, maaaaaybe six dollars if I splurged, a whole world of affordable cocktails was open to me. Oh I was sipping fancy all three months.

It was my vision to rope all my friends into a Kiev cocktail crawl, and though it never happened, I put a big dent in the research required. If you’re also a cocktail aficionado, here’s a partial list of craft cocktail bars in Kiev to get you started.

(A quick note: In my posts I choose the spelling “Kiev” as that is what most travelers use when researching. However, the transliteration from Ukrainian is “Kyiv,” an important distinction to note.)

Lost & Found

This is my favorite of the cocktail bars in Kiev. A tiny basement with an eclectic interior design (things found), Lost & Found is run by a husband and wife team. It’s a little bit away from the center, but it was one of my happy places in Kiev. The first time I went, I sat alone for a few minutes waiting for my friends, and the friendly owners chatted with me to pass the time.

They have a list of rotating cocktails behind the bar and they’re always happy to help with suggestions. There’s outdoor seating, which would have made Lost & Found my cocktail home if I had stayed over the summer.

Barbara Bar

Located next to a happening music venue, Barbara Bar is where all the hip young things go to hang out. While you can hang out in their main room, if the weather is nice I recommend going up to the roof. Nothing’s better than sipping a cocktail outside at golden hour on a Kiev summer evening.

Parovoz

I impressed my Ukrainian friend when I suggested we go to Parovoz, since it’s a Kiev speakeasy (ok, one with a website, but a speakeasy all the same). The bar list is comprehensive, with classic cocktails and creative reinventions. The bartenders, complete with leather aprons and ties, have a theatrical flair as they mix drinks.

Even if you have the address on Google maps, in true speakeasy fashion it’s a trick to find, as it’s actually inside a movie theater. Go inside, turn left, walk down the stairs, and turn left again. Now, the noise of a good time will guide you the rest of the way. Paravoz is on the pricier side of Kiev cocktail bars, with drinks starting at five and six dollars, but it’s totally worth it for the Ukrainian speakeasy experience.

Here’s a clip from my Snapchat story “24 Hours in Kiev.”

If Parovoz is a speakeasy, how did I know about it? Research! One of my favorite websites is Spotted by Locals, a wealth of information written by locals of cities all over the world. I’ve used in Saint Petersburg and Montreal, and it’s one of my first go-to websites when I’m visiting a new place. I heard about four of the cocktail bars on this list through Spotted by Locals – and I’ve still got some ‘must try’s for when I return to Kiev.

Kosatka

Equal parts restaurant and bar, Kosatka has a sleek, warm interior, complete with DJ turntables (vinyl, obviously) and communal table. The food here is pretty tasty (macaroni and cheese! with bacon!) so if you’re looking for a place to break up your cocktail crawl with some eats I’d suggest Kostaka. I had a gin and ginger cocktail here which was amazing. I’ve been trying to find a follow-up to an incredible ginger cocktail I had in Ann Arbor five years ago, and the one at Kostaka got pretty damn close.

KO&KO

I have a thing for pink drinks, especially when they’re accompanied by chocolate covered almonds. KO&KO specializes in whiskey and prosecco cocktails, mixing the spirits with delicate flavors. And their presentation is top-notch. I saw one cocktail served on a coaster of astroturf, complete with golf ball. You can also get a shisha to enjoy with your drink.

Whisky Corner

With over 700 hundred kinds of whisky, Whisky Corner will impress the connoisseur in your crawl. But even for those who don’t like to drink it straight, there’s a lengthy list of traditional and creative cocktails. The bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly, and though this is more of an upscale place with more expensive food, the drink prices are affordable.

Here’s a clip from my Snapchat takeover for Alex and Ashley of In Pursuit of Adventure:

If you come to Ukraine, I hope you try out at least one of these cocktail bars in Kiev. Not only can you be sipping fancy at affordable prices, but Kiev buzzes at night! And for my fellow solo female travelers out there, all these places are perfect for a drink and a book (or a chat with the bartender, if you prefer).

Cocktails not your thing? (First of all, what?) No problem — here’s a fantastic list from Megan Starr about where to find craft beer in Kiev!

Are you a cocktail fan? What’s the best cocktail you’ve ever had? Let me know so I can put it on my ‘must try’ list!

Get more of my advice on what to eat and drink here from my Ukraine travel guide page — and start making your reservations!