You're reading: A man’s place: Barbershops that cut hair, serve whiskey

Looking for a place to get your beard trimmed or a quick haircut without having to share space with female clients? Then look for a barbershop. Some will even pour you a glass of whiskey.

Firm barbershop offers a basic range of services for men – haircuts, an old-fashioned shave with a straight razor, trimming a beard or a mustache. A haircut or shaving will set one back Hr 300, while trimming a beard or a mustache will cost Hr 120 and Hr 60, respectively. All the barbers are men.

The barbershop also sells professional soap and wax for mustaches and trendy colorful socks by Ukrainian brand Sammy Icon. The barbers here take clients’ photos after the cut and post it to their Instagram page www.instagram.com/firmbarbershop, so one may check the cuts’ quality there.

Where: 9B Mykhailivskiy Alley, 40/52 Tarasivska St., 3 Antonovycha St. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. www.firmbarbershop.com/kyiv

Tommy Gun Barbershop offers men’s haircuts for Hr 300, a beard trim for Hr 100, and a straight-razor shave for Hr 200. A special offer invites fathers and sons to get haircuts together and pay just Hr 400 for both cuts.

Tommy Gun appreciates traditions, therefore the barbers use cosmetic oil brilliantine to soften one’s beard and make hair glossy, like in Elvis Presley’s time. Guests may also buy a bottle of brilliantine (Hr 200) that will last up to six months.

Where: 4V Tarasa Shevchenka Blvd. (entrance through an arc at 25 Pushkinska St.). 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. www.tommygunbarbershop.com.

Another barbershop Chop-Chop is part of the international chain, founded in Russia in 2001. It offers unlimited amount of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, beer, or strong coffee, all included in the price of the service. A haircut with scissors goes for Hr 300, while a trimmer cut is Hr 150.

“We don’t serve women, no matter how persistent they get or how pretty they are,” the official barbershop webpage says.

Chop-Chop has recently opened a new location at Antonovycha Street (formerly Gorkoho), where 11 men can be served simultaneously.

Where: 48 Antonovycha St., 13 Mykhailivska St. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. www.ukraine.chopchop.me/city/kiev

Gentlemen’s Club is yet another downtown men’s-only hair salon. They offer to dye over grey hair for Hr 250, a mustache or a beard cut for Hr 100, and a kid’s cut for Hr 200. All the services are provided with a glass of beer or Tullamore Dew whiskey. According to the barbershop’s co-owner Andriy Murzanovskyi, the most popular haircut among his clients is a classic one with shortened sides and back.

Where: 12 Pankivska St. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. www.gentlemensclub.kiev.ua

Unlike other barbershops, Yes Barber Man has female barbers. They offer “a gentleman’s package” that features three employees working simultaneously with one client – cutting hair, giving a manicure, and massaging his feet – all for Hr 950. Curiously, a smaller package without a foot massage goes for Hr 1,000. A client may also order SPA procedures for body or face.

Where: 22 Volodymyrska St. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. To reserve a place please call +38067-279-7818

Customers about Kyiv barbershops:

Mykhailo Ilchenko, automation test developer

“I liked the Gentlemen’s Club barbershop. I have no complaints. They have a nice atmosphere. They offer drinks, including fresh ground coffee. But (the quality of the cut) very much depends on the barber you get.”

Anton Odaryuk, head of bank’s press service

“My experience with barbershops is negative. I tried several, but was disappointed and returned to my previous hairdresser. He is muscular, bearded, and tattooed as well as the barbers, but there are no marketing tricks like the masculine interior design of a salon or the whiskey that dulls the fear of getting a bad haircut.”