A month after opening, Gnezdo (Nest) Bar is fast becoming a must-see spot on Kyiv’s nightlife scene.
It is a mix of nightclub and summer terrace in the shade of trees, located in a small courtyard at Andryivsky Uzviz Street, one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations. The place is hard to find as it has no sign.
The bar has no walls, and is basically a redesigned courtyard. It offers lots of cozy bean bag chairs and some white wooden benches with warm blankets. Bikes are offered for rent near the entrance and board games are piled in the corner.
Gnezdo offers a party atmosphere during the weekend, while the weekdays are calm and mostly quiet, making it an ideal place for bookworms to enjoy their reading far from the city rush. Also film screenings are scheduled for every Tuesday.
On Sunday night, we found Gnezdo noisy and crowded, with some 70 guests busy drinking, chatting, filming videos or dancing on the stage. It feels a lot like a communal apartment where everyone knows each other. Almost all the tables were already taken when we arrived. Booking a table in advance is probably a good idea, if you’re aiming to spend a weekend night here.
We squeezed through the crowd to the spot next to the stage where a DJ was playing. The music was loud enough to feel the electronic beats and at the same time we could talk to friends without shouting.
The bar guests were mostly hipsters under 45 years. Some of the visitors were sitting with their legs on the benches tucked in blankets. The majority, however, were warming up on the stage. People were in the mood for dancing, so we joined.
The live show was entertaining as well. Five female dancers looked rather provocative, but not too vulgar with their skin-colored costumes. The highlight suddenly comes when they finished their trance dance and offered free hugs for all the clubbers.
After the DJ set, it was time to eat. The prices are normal. Cocktails vary from Hr 30 until Hr 70, while salads go for Hr 45-65. Soups and sandwiches are available also. The choice of desserts was somewhat disappointing but they were tasty enough. Ice cream, apple strudel (Hr 45) and Italian tiramisu (Hr 45) are available. Since it is outside, Gnezdo is not technically a café, so smoking is allowed.
Unfortunately, the birds that flock here will leave the nest in autumn. Gnezdo is for summers only.
Gnezdo Bar
21 Andriyivskiy Uzviz St.
Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 a.m.
Tel.: 096-318-7112
www.facebook.com/gnezdobarkiev
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected]
