Ukraine’s Kyiv made it to and international guide On the Grid created by representatives of Brooklin design agency Hyperakt.
Also known as “guide for hipsters”, On the Grid helps exploring cities of the world and their most unusual and hidden corners.
Ukraine’s capital is represented here by seven districts: Andriivskiy Descent & Vozdvizhenka, Podil, Universytet, Lypky, Olimpiyskiy, Stare Misto and Zoloti Vorota (with the latter still in progress). The guide’s authors picked around dozen places from each district.
Euromaidan Press team found it extremely hard to pick even 12 of them, so if you feel like Kyiv has gotten your heart, too, go to the On the Grid and enjoy it at fullest!
Here is our 12 must visit hipster places (as suggested by On the Grid):
Andriivskiy Descent & Vozdvizhenka
Vozdvizhenka Every house, every facade is a work of art, which in details reproduces the architectural style of the end of the century before last: mostly Baroque and “Kiev” Art Nuevo with Gothic variations. Even the fashionable shops, cafes, galleries, which are located at the first floors of the houses, are designed to transmit the spirit of the old Podol.
GARA concept store
The store has no sales or two-for-ones, no orange flavored, or buy a carpet with this. You wont find anything useful or practical. Nothing effective or multifunctional. And no, they aren’t here to help you. They can only sympathize with those who don’t understand why this store is necessary. You are never welcomed here. Except for those who made an effort to warn us about their visit. Warn yourself before your visit Here
Kanapa restaurant
The new Ukrainian cuisine. Kanapa is not just an Ukrainian restaurant. Kanapa is located in a legendary part of the town – Andriyivskyy Descent, in a wooden building of the nineteenth century. The restaurant’s salon has an avant-garde style. The idea of Kanapa is to reflect a feeling of sheik vintage. Like good wine, it was developed by the restaurateur Dima Borisov and the musician Oleg Skrypka. The menu comprises of a modern interpretation of pre-revolutionary recipes from different regions, sometimes combined with elements of molecular gastronomy. Make sure you find the secret yard!
Podil
We could’ve said how Podil is the heart of Kiev, how it’s utterly vibrant, vivacious, and other pretentious words; how it’s a place where you get to meet the real underground city life, but we won’t waste your time telling you this. That is the first thing you notice when you arrive there. What we’d like to say, is that you definitely should arrive there, be it a mid-winter morning or a long summer night. Podil is simultaneously ages old and ever-young. It’s a whirl of beautiful places popping up every few months right around the XII-century churches and the oldest university in Eastern Europe.
Closer
The most controversial and magnetic place in Kiyv; the ever boiling mass of youth, rave, and all-nighters. You need a guide to find the entrance, but aim at the old tape factory and look for a checkpoint. If you’re looking for a Party with a capital P, you’re on the right track. Just in case you missed the Saturday night, try Sunday morning, there’s a good chance the vibe still goes on. There are occasional (and a bit more moderate) jazz nights, check the schedule on the FB page.
ArtPrychal
ArtPrychal used to be a hotspot for skaters and graffiti artists. Now it’s a gallery and a concert venue right on the Dnipro river bank. All sorts of clothing fairs, master-classes and festivals take place every few weeks throughout the spring and summer. Check their website or Facebook page to see what’s on the calendar or just visit the place to enjoy a great view of the river and hang out.
Universytet
This district is a perfect mix of old and new. It’s a business and cultural center. Every corner here is something special, and it is that area where true history of Kyiv happened. Take a look around, rear your head. The architecture of old Kyiv districts is incredible! With so many good bars, young and hip Kyiv are fill the streets on a Friday night. Short films are shown in the lovely cinemas, the restaurants offer a variety of delicious food, with concerts happening all the time. Lva Tolstogo square is said to be the place to meet the best girls. Are you ready to check it out?
Chasopys
Chasopys is a great co-working space. Here you can work, read book in silence, or meet up with friends to play board games. They hold lectures on different topics such as science, communication, and technologies. This space has a lot of rooms so you can find your special place. You can even rent a room with projector and watch movies with friends. A simple pay by the hour system, first hour costs 43 uah, next hours are 33 uah each. You get an unlimited access to tea, coffee and toasts. You should try toasts with apricot jam – they are awesome!
Sentrum
One of the most popular venues in Kiev, where the most iconic concerts take place. Here you can enjoy the incredible performances, with booming sound and great light shows. Split-level hall admits about 1,000 people. Bands like Balthazar, Fink and IAMX will all be gracing the stage this year.
Lypky
Named after Linden Alley this neighborhood was the fashionable nouveau district from the start during the 18th century and still keeps that spirit alive.
House with Chimeraes
Famous Kyiv architect Horodetsky was brave enough to buy a part of a land on a very sharp hill to built this apartment house. His engineering talent brought a building which has 3 stories from one side and five from another but the main attraction here is a facade covered with a vast array of monsters. Everything is made with concrete, a surprising choice as for 1900s. The choice was a result or a dealing with concrete enterprise to promote that material. Tours inside are rare, but try to ask your local friends to arrange you one in advance.
Vegano Hooligano
When VeganoHooligano appeared on Bessarabskyi market in 2015 it seemed like a joke on everything that surrounds this little cafe. Butcher’s knifes can be visible 10-15 meters from this kiosk with 2-3 young cooks at open kitchen busy rolling grilled tofu, falafels and other season rolls. You can see them making green burgers, mixing perfect salads, and humus plates until late. You can take everything away but its better to sit or stand next to the kiosk, enjoying your no-animals-were-harmed meal listening to butcher axes still doing their job like they did 100 years ago.
Olimpiyskiy
Street life extends to the South. At a first glance it may seem, the focal point of the district is the Olympic Stadium. No way! In fact — the neighborhood considered, as a rising star of the capital’s cultural life. The majority of local cafe & pastry shops work no more than one year in a row and some of them were opened just a few months ago. Their proximity to business centers and cultural sites has created an unusual mix, proving that interesting places are located not only in the heart of the city.
Planetarium
Not just for fun, but rather for expanding your outlook. Spotlight rays fall on the huge scope and simulate various astronomical effects. Here you can watch meteor showers, comets, the changing phases of the moon, eclipses, bolides and auroras.
Lvivski Plyatsky
A place that attracts you through its smell, and were you leave with the most delicious memories. You can watch the pastry process just from the street through the establishment large windows.
Bakers knead dough solely in the air so that it becomes thin. This is necessary for a great strudel! I also recommend the cheesecake. Pour different sauces on your pastry, for no extra cost.
The distinctive feature of this sweet-shop is master classes. You can order it for the price of a large strudel, and you will carry out handmade sweets.
Stare Misto
Stare Misto is the oldest part of Kyiv. It was founded in 10th century by Vladimir the Great. Than destroyed by Mongol invasion and rebuilt again in 19th century. Here you can find historical architecture sites, governmental institutions, as well as embassies of foreign countries. It is a great part of Kyiv to walk around. Talented youth like to spend their time here. There are lots of places to eat and drink nearby the ruins of the Golden Gate. The Yaroslavov Val street became home to many “speak easy” bars.
482 Store
482 Store is located in a beautiful old building constructed in 1816, where the grape branches are grown around the entrance.
482 are the first 3 digits on the barcode for goods produced in Ukraine, which pretty much implies that the clothes sold there are 100% Ukrainian made. They are designed by talented Ukrainians, and the batches are very limited (1-2 pieces of each item).
Here you can find shoes, dresses, blouses, pants, as well as accessories and little every-day goodies. The style of clothing sold there can be described as “smart casual”.
Pod asphaltom plag
Here you can chill in a boat, or enjoy a cocktail at the table made out of a surfing board. “Everyone needs a beach” – say the owners, and offer a completely overhauled concept of a “bar”. You can find lots of things from the owner’s home collection: books, pictures, figurines, weird music instruments etc. Many of these things were bought at flea markets abroad.
People come here when they want to go home, but don’t really want to go home. You can try various signature cocktails at the bar, and the menu varies by the season.
Photos from On the Grid
