On summer evenings, the Dnipro River in Kyiv shimmers under the lights of its bridges, boats and barges, and wisps of wood smoke rise from its lush green islands, carrying with them the toothsome scent of grilled meat.
No wonder those looking for relaxation and delicious food flock to the Dnipro’s riverside restaurants. But which to choose? The Kyiv Post has picked out some of the best Dnipro River restaurants in Kyiv and its suburbs, based on their cuisine, design, service and view.
Gintama Breeze
The out-of-town Gintama Breeze restaurant, surrounded by a pine forest, has an excellent location on the banks of the Kyiv Sea, the vast water reservoir 56 kilometers north of the capital. The restaurant offers a mix of Ukrainian and European cuisine at affordable prices. Traditional Ukrainian dishes include varenyky (dumplings) with meat and sour cream for Hr 52, deruny (potato pancakes) with mushrooms (Hr 45) and Ukrainian borscht with pampushka buns (Hr 45). For those who prefer standard European cuisine, veal medallions with forest mushroom sauce (Hr 142) or chicken with nuts and Brussels sprouts (Hr 92) might be a good choice.
Gintama Breeze has an impressive drinks menu. Prices vary from Hr 3,369 for a bottle of Hennessy X. O. cognac, to Hr 180 for a bottle of Ukrainian sparkling wine Artemivske.
The restaurant is part of a five-hectare resort complex, where one can enjoy quad bike riding, water skiing or a pleasant walk along the banks of the reservoir.
8 Zeleny Bir St., Hlibivka village, Kyiv Oblast, open daily 9 a. m. – 11 p. m.
Khutorets na Dnipri (Little Farmstead on Dnipro)
This much-loved restaurant, located on a ship moored on the banks of the Dnipro River on Naberezhno-Khreshchatystka Street, is famous for its authentic and delicious Ukrainian cuisine. Its interior, with wooden furniture and Ukrainian vyshyvanka embroidery, resembles that of a traditional 19th century Ukrainian house. But for a romantic evening, it’s better to sit on the restaurant’s terrace, which offers splendid views of the river.
Khutorets na Dnipri serves Ukrainian meals from all regions. Visitors can sample nine types of varenyky dumplings stuffed with meat, cabbage, potatoes, mushrooms, liver and cherries for Hr 94–295. Rack of veal with spicy tomato sauce costs Hr 296, and a pot of red borscht with smoked pork ribs goes for Hr 198.
On the drinks side, the restaurant offers more than 80 types of vodka.
10A Naberezhno – Khreshchatytska St., Kyiv. Open daily 11 a. m. – 12 a. m.
Kyiv’s upscale Mayachok restaurant locates on the picturesque shore of the Dnipro bay in Holosiyivsky district and serves French and Mediterranean cuisines. (Courtesy of Mayachok)
Mayachok (The Little Lighthouse)
Located on the picturesque banks of the Dnipro River in the southern part of Kyiv, this restaurant is an ideal place for those seeking refined cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant is a two-storied building. On the first floor there is a small dining area and a terrace, while a luxurious banquet hall takes up the second floor. The interiors are designed in an understated marine style, with expensive woodwork and elegant forged metal decor.
Mayachok serves French and Mediterranean cuisines. Some of the highlights of the menu are asparagus cream soup with quails’ eggs and paneer cheese (Hr 143) or tuna with polenta and vegetable ratatouille (Hr 697). To complement the meal, choose Pere Magloire calvados (Hr 930) or Grappa Berta (Hr 260).
58A Liutneva St., Kyiv. Open daily 12 p. m. – 12 a. m.
A waitress takes orders from a visitor of Grand Piano Café on March 24. The restaurant perches on the first floor of Bakkara Hotel and offers a wonderful view on Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra domes and the gigantic Mother Motherland Monument. (Anastasia Vlasova)
Grand Piano Café
The restaurant perches on the first floor of Bakkara, Kyiv’s largest and most romantic hotel-ship, moored on the left bank of the Dnipro. Grand Piano Café offers a breathtaking view of the city’s right bank – visitors can feast their eyes on the Dnipro’s calm flowing waters, the majestic domes of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the gigantic stainless steel Rodina Mat (Motherland) monument.
The restaurant offers mostly European and Ukrainian cuisine, but gourmets can also enjoy there Georgian, American and Chinese treats. Georgian eggplant rolls with walnut paste and garnet grains cost Hr 158, while penovani with suluguni go for Hr 128. American rib steak is Hr 450, while Chinese stir-fried noodles with vegetables and meat goes for Hr 135–225. Those with sweet tooth will be tempted by puffy profiteroles with hot chocolate sauce (Hr 67) or juicy cherry strudel with ice-cream (Hr 89).
Live music performances are held every evening in Grand Piano Café.
1 Venetian Island, Hydropark, Kyiv. Open 24/7
La Provincia
When planning to visit La Provincia Italian food restaurant be ready to devote an entire day to this place. The eatery has lots to offer besides tasty food – swimming in Verblyud Bay, enjoying the sunset on the cozy terrace, or savoring barbecued dishes in an arbor.
The restaurant serves more than 30 types of pizza for Hr 139–249. Meanwhile, lovers of Japanese cuisine can also find a good choice of sushi there. European cuisine is represented by tasty broth with veal and baguette (Hr 33), pork medallions with mashed potatoes and mushroom sauce (Hr 87), and fried champignons with tartar sauce (Hr 58). To drink, the eatery offers herbal liquors for Hr 130 and various beers for Hr 27–42 per half a liter.
26A Bohatyrska St., Kyiv, Open daily 10 a. m. – 11 p. m.
Uzhnyi Bereh Kieva
Uzhnyi Bereh Kieva (UBK) is an outdoor beach club and a cafe located on Trukhaniv Island beach, diagonally opposite Poshtova Ploshcha Square on the right bank. To get to the place, one has to cross Podil’s Pishokhidny Bridge, turn to the right, and walk south for about 200 meters.
The café has a simple design, but is lavishly decorated with wood fixtures. It is often used for seminars, lectures and movie screenings.
In the evenings, guests can smoke a hookah water pipe for about Hr 250 and enjoy Kyiv’s night lights. UBK’s food menu is rather small, but the venue’s liquor list is very impressive – a bottle of Martini is Hr 800, and the price of a bottle of cognac is in the Hr 2,800–3,700 range. Wines go for Hr 200–3,000 a bottle, while cocktails cost Hr 80–150.
The eatery doesn’t have a website, but information about upcoming events and DJ parties is available on the cafe’s Facebook page at facebook.com/UBKbeach.
Parkova Doroha Street, Trukhaniv Island. Open 24 hours.
Zamok Vydubychi
Zamok Vydubychi restaurant is located in a picturesque spot between the right bank of the Dnipro River and Vydubytske Lake, not far from Paton Bridge. It is an ideal place to escape Kyiv’s hustle and bustle. The restaurant has three cozy rooms – one in the style of a medieval castle, and the second in a simple, rustic, and cozy provincial style. The third room, a large banqueting room, is richly decorated with wood and light fabric, and can seat up to 150 guests. The restaurant’s open summer terrace offers a great view of Kyiv’s left bank and the impressive span of Paton Bridge, the world’s first all-welded bridge, named after its designer and constructor Evheniy Paton.
Zamok Vydubychi is famous for its exquisite fish dishes. The restaurant’s specialty seafood salad (Hr 160) is a must-try. Gourmets will also appreciate the carp with sour cream and mushrooms (Hr 35) and crayfish boiled in beer (Hr 105). To drink, the restaurant has a fine choice of white wines.
5 Naberezhno-Pecherska St. Open daily 12 a. m. – 12 p. m.
Villa Riviera
This top Kyiv restaurant is great for a romantic dinner or for a quiet family outing. The eatery’s interior, with its huge stained-glass windows, spacious summer terrace and stylish wooden decorations, recalls the luxury of an ocean liner.
Villa Riviera’s menu, with its mix of European and Asian cuisines, also allows clients to take a gastronomic trip without getting up from the table. European food lovers can treat themselves to the tasty salad with lobster, avocado and tomatoes (Hr 1,865), stake tartar with beef, pine nuts and capers (Hr 375) and cream soup with asparagus and mascarpone cheese (Hr 165). The Asian meals are presented with extended sushi rolls and sashimi varieties for Hr 139–235, salad with eel and avocado (Hr 329) and tom yum Thai soup (Hr 228). For the last course, try vanilla panna cotta (Hr 89) or pear tart with ice-cream (Hr 119).
Asian meals are presented with extended sushi rolls and sashimi varieties for Hr 139–235, salad with eel and avocado (Hr 329) and tom yum Thai soup (Hr 228). For the last course, try vanilla panna cotta (Hr 89) or pear tart with ice-cream (Hr 119).
14D Dniprovska Naberzhna St. Open Mon. – Thurs. and Sun. 12 p. m. – 11 p. m., Fri. –Sat. – 12 p. m. – 1 a. m.
Melange
This family restaurant boasts tasty food and good service. Melange has a main hall, a banquet hall, a room for private parties, a sushi bar and a special playroom for children. Located on the Obolonska embankment, its cozy terrace offers a splendid view of the River Dnipro. The eatery serves a mix of European and Asian dishes. The menu’s highlights include warm salad with veal and scallops and a spicy sauce for Hr 125, or shrimps, baked with goat cheese for Hr 185. Salads and snacks go for Hr 65–195.
Melange offers a good choice of Thai dishes – various stir-fried noodles go for Hr 69–198 while tom yum kung soup is Hr 136, and Laksa soup is Hr 89.
Melange also has a small store selling confectionaries and cakes.
14G Heroiv Stalingrada Ave. Open daily 11 a. m. – 2 a. m.
People sit in deck chairs and enjoy the view on Kyiv’s Podil district in Skvorechnik café on July 27. The eatery works during the warm season only. This year Skvorechnik is scheduled to open on May 1. (Anastasia Yarovaya)
Skvorechnik
Skvorechnik, which means a “birdhouse” in Russian, is a café in the trees on Trukhaniv Island. The dining area consists of the four small treehouses. There are comfortable chairs in the small dining areas among the trees, but one can also relax on the hammocks and swings located in the area of this outdoor café.
Skvorechnik offers splendid views of Kyiv’s right bank and the Poshtova Ploshcha embankment. The café serves vegetarian cuisine only, with the menu including couscous with feta cheese and vegetables, hummus, vegetarian rolls and lots of different types of teas. The price of dishes ranges from Hr 50–90.
The café holds movie screenings, yoga classes and music performances, and in the mornings, one can enjoy lively birdsong there. Skvorechnik opens on May 1. To check out its schedule of upcoming events, visit facebook.com/skvorechnikcafe.
Skvorechnick. Trukhaniv Island. Central Beach. 9 a. m. – 11 p. m.
There are plenty of great places to explore along the river as it runs through Kyiv. Here are 10 of them.
