Glorious coffee

For me, Gloria Jean’s Coffees was love at first sight, even though it’s “coffee-to-go” options don’t work for me so far.

My office is nowhere near the place, and I prefer drinking hot drinks at a table rather than on-the-go. However, it’s perfectly suitable for that as well.

In fact until recently, I had only heard of the other top coffee-to-go brand Starbucks (thanks to American films such as “You’ve Got Mail” and “The Devil Wears Prada”). The latter has already announced its coming to Ukraine, so we can expect it to appear in Kyiv soon. In the meantime, Gloria Jean’s will remain my favorite.

Once you enter, you find yourself in a neat cafe made up in dark brown shades, with a long counter, a glass display filled with sandwiches and desserts, and a number of tables, some of them supplied with tempting big armchairs (naturally, the latter are the first to be taken).

Besides the main hall, the cafe also has a larger basement hall for smokers, and among other things, a big square table to host a company of friends and a hideout for romantic couples with a big couch.

The first thing to do when entering Gloria Jean’s Coffees is to pick a drink for yourself, which is a tough task if you’re unfamiliar with the chain.

As you stand scanning the list of drinks hanging above the counter, one of the amiable members of staff will offer you their advice. When you agree to listen, you’ll be first of all asked what kind of drink you’d like – hot or cold; tea or perhaps a fruit cocktail; do you like chocolate, caramel, vanilla flavors, etc. – which will make your choice just a little bit easier.

Having finally picked and paid for your order, you’ll have to proceed to the other side of the counter, where the young men will be busy preparing your coffee.

According to the “to-go” format, it comes in a disposable cup, and depending on what you plan on doing with it – drinking it on the spot or taking it to-go – you have a selection from an assortment of plastic tops, straws, spoons, sugar packs and other additions.

My very first choice was a medium-sized Caramelatte (Hr 24) and a tiramisu (Hr 18), and I thoroughly enjoyed both. Carefully poured to form a heart shape on the surface, the coffee was strong and balanced, richly flavored, blended with whipped milk and the sweetness of caramel. Tiramisu was also among the best I’ve had in Kyiv.

The next time I visited Gloria Jean’s, I went for a Nut Irish Cream (the alcohol-free version) for Hr 24, another success, and the yogurt cake. The latter tempted me as a sweet that seemed to fit well with my post-vacation diet.

Apart from being merely low-cal, it was also an original and tasty dessert – a yogurt souffle topped with a slightly sour jelly of cherries and blueberries.

Having spent about two hours at Gloria Jean’s this last time, I left already anxious to come back and try some more original drinks.

After all, the wide selection leaves plenty to explore – espressos, cappuccinos, lattes and other types of coffee; various flavors – caramel, white chocolate and vanilla; hot chocolate; and chillers, which are shake-like drinks with chocolate, mint-chocolate, strawberry-cream and exotic fruit flavors.

I’m sure quite a few months will pass until I’ve tried all the drinks that I fancy.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees (43 Chervonoarmiyska, 289-6277). Open 8 a.m. until the last customer.

English menu: Yes

English-speaking staff: Yes

Average meal: Hr 50

Georgia invades former Kvartira

Once a cozy book cafe and at times a live music club, Kvartira (Apartment) ceased to exist some time ago and its patrons couldn’t help wondering what was to appear in its place.

About two months ago, the mystery was revealed. Kvartira was replaced by a jazz club called Georgia. If you made a connection with the American state, you can forget that right away, for it’s named after the other, much closer Georgia, which happens to be the motherland of the club’s owners.

So far, among the most famous musicians performing at Georgia are Boombox (not exactly a jazz band), the other, lesser known include Con Amore, Bells, Amsterdam and Aleksandr Blum. The musical program is supposed to include various hits from the 1980s to present day. The main hall’s interior changed little – its striped walls and stage are mostly the same, while the library was replaced with a bar. A hookah bar was also mixed in. The cuisine at Georgia is predictably European and Ukrainian, featuring Georgian dishes. Georgia may well become something of a traditional venue of the Georgian Diaspora in Kyiv, but if they keep up with the originally set trend for quality live music, its former popularity as a gathering place for artsy, young Ukrainians may easily attract varied clientele, some of whom will at times sigh, look at the walls, and recall where the bookshelves used to be.

Georgia (1/2 Khoryva, 463-7330). Open 10 a.m. till the last customer.