What can 1 euro buy in a bar? In some of the Kyiv bars, anything.
A new craze for 1-euro bars, where all or most items on the menu cost just around Hr 30, is sweeping the capital, with new venues popping up around the city center.
Bilyi Nalyv
Kyiv’s first cider house can be recognized by the long queue of customers on Khreshchatyk Street patiently waiting to place an order. The line usually moves fast though, because the orders are processed quickly.
Most of its beverages are based on apples, hence the name Bilyi Nalyv — a popular apple variety in Ukraine similar to the White Transparent. The bar’s specialty is apple cider made by a Ukrainian manufacturer in Cherkasy Oblast.
The bartenders pour cider from the barrels hanging from the wall one meter away from the glasses. This way, the bar claims, the cider becomes saturated with oxygen, enriching its flavor. For colder seasons, Bilyi Nalyv serves up homemade-style apple liqueur and hot apple punch with cinnamon and anise.
The food menu has regular and vegan hot dogs seasoned with caramelized onions and apple chips. There are also apple pies and chicken pies. The most gourmet item on the menu are oysters, which come from Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast. They are served with a slice of lemon.
The bar is part of the Gastro Family chain by the well-known Kyiv restaurateur Dmytro Borysov.
Bilyi Nalyv has about 50 indoor seating places and several high bar tables shaped like barrels for standing outside. It’s pet-friendly, but doesn’t take reservations.
Prices: apple cider, liqueur, punch — Hr 29; regular and vegan hot dogs, apple and chicken pies, oysters — Hr 29 apiece.
Bilyi Nalyv. 23A Khreshchatyk St. 10 a. m. — 11 p. m. (10 a. m. — 2 a. m. on Fri, Sat) +38098 885 8744
Customers wait in line to place an order at Bilyi Nalyv cider house in Kyiv on Oct. 10, 2018. The bar is located on the central Khreshchatyk St. and offers seats both inside and outdoors. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Dogz & Burgerz
Although not a classical bar, Dogz & Burgerz has all the drinks and food available at Bilyi Nalyv plus two kinds of burgers. The street food venue is also part of the Gastro Family chain.
Most items on the menu also cost Hr 29. Its double-patty beef burgers, however, are Hr 39. There are burgers in a classic bread bun, and breadless ones with two patties wrapped in lettuce.
Dogz & Burgerz is located in the food court inside the Globus Mall under Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Its owners call it a perfect location to get lunch or grab a bite before a party.
Prices: apple cider, liqueur, punch — Hr 29; regular and vegan hot dogs, apple and chicken pies, oysters — Hr 29; regular burger and lettuce-wrapped burger — Hr 39.
Dogz & Burgerz. 1 Maidan Nezalezhnosti (food court at the Globus Mall). 10 a. m. — 10 p. m. facebook.com/dogz.and.burgerz.
Flowers Mafia
Spring is ever-present in Kyiv bar Flowers Mafia, which is housed inside a flower shop. Everything in Flowers Mafia costs Hr 28. In addition, every female customer gets a small flower as a present.
Besides coffee and tea, the bar offers white and rose wine from Zakarpattia Oblast, cherry liqueur and three types of cider: apple, grapefruit and a cider of the day which could be one of a variety of flavors. One can also buy a variation of Aperol Spritz with tonic for Hr 28, and the real thing with Prosecco wine for double the price.
For food, Flowers Mafia has a classic American hot dog and a Dutch hot dog with herring. However, the bar plans to develop its food menu with vegetarian rolls and snacks. For the cold season, Flowers Mafia will also add mulled wine.
Another addition for the cold season will be some 40 seating places on the bar’s second floor. Currently, Flowers Mafia has around 100 seats outside with small tables, barrels for standing and chaise lounges for extra comfort. Pets are welcome.
Prices: apple, grapefruit cider, cider of the day, white and rose wine, Aperol Spritz with tonic — Hr 28; Aperol Spritz — Hr 56; American hot dog, Dutch hot dog with herring — Hr 28.
Flowers Mafia. 69 Volodymyrska St. 9 a. m. — 11:30 p. m. (10 a. m. — 11:30 p. m. on Sat, 12 p. m. — 11 p. m. on Sun) +38066 517 0144
Rozkovbas
The newest 1-euro bar opened on Kyiv’s central Khreshchatyk Street just last week. Almost all of its dishes and beverages cost Hr 29, except for one cocktail — a crazy alcohol party mix for Hr 79. It fits the essence of this bar, which is reflected in the name Rozkovbas — an untranslatable word with a meaning close to “partying very hard.”
The bar offers Belgian-style wheat beer with a hint of coriander and citrus peel, produced by a craft brewery in Kyiv. Other alcoholic drinks are cherry punch, mulled wine and Jägermeister.
The food menu offers regular and vegan hot dogs, three-piece shrimp, slices of margarita and pepperoni pizza. For snacks, Rozkovbas has rye rusks and fries. Visitors can also treat themselves to cheesecake for dessert.
The bar has 30 indoor seating places and three tables for standing. It doesn’t take reservations, but welcomes people with pets.
Prices: wheat beer, cherry punch, mulled wine, Jägermeister — Hr 29; regular and vegan hot dogs, shrimp (3 pcs), margarita and pepperoni pizza, rue rusks, fries, cheesecake — Hr 29.
Rozkovbas. 27A Khreshchatyk St. 10 a. m. — 11 p. m. (10 a. m. — 2 a. m. on Fri and Sat) +38067 474 7557
The Drinkery
This minimalistic bar inspired by the bar culture of Poland and the Czech Republic has light drinks and liquor shots for Hr 30. There are brand spirits for Hr 80 a glass and imported wines for Hr 500 a bottle. All food items cost Hr 60.
The bar has three kinds of beer, regular and mulled wine, vodka, and liqueur. But its specialty are shots, of which it has 10 kinds. With names like “Beast Master,” “Profit Troll” and “Squid Dreams,” these can enliven almost any party.
The food menu has a variety of meat snacks, deep fried cheese, toasts, and vegetables. For the especially hungry, the Drinkery offers zurek, a Polish sour rye soup, and rice pilaf with pork, all for Hr 60 a portion.
The Drinkery has about 70 indoor seating places, and offers reservations.
Prices: beer, wine, vodka, liqueur, a variety of shots — Hr 30; beer snacks, zurek, pilaf — Hr 60; brand spirits — Hr 80; imported wine — Hr 500.
The Drinkery. 6 Sofiyivska St. 12 p. m. — 11 p. m. (2 p. m. — 2 a. m. on Sat., 2 p. m. — 11 p. m. on Sun.) +38066 901 2296
