Somebody is knocking on the door. I know who it should be, but still look into the peephole. I open the door and hug this cheerful young Britishman whom I have not seen for 5 years.  “Come on in Johnny, why so late, have you been walking from London?” Jonathan Heap, my friend from Leeds, wanted to come again to Ukraine in July 2022. And here he is, in my apartment, gathering with my friends and my boyfriend, playing Monopoly, chatting and rushing back home before 11 PM. It’s a curfew time, it’s war in Ukraine and Johnny made it to Kyiv, for the 5th time, despite the russian aggression.&nb ..read more

I usually mute my phone before going to sleep. I was joking that even if the bomb falls, I will not hear it. It’s not that funny anymore. I would not hear my best friend calling me at 6 a.m. on the 24th of February, if I was not sleeping in my AirPods listening to some “Relaxing music” on YouTube. The phone rang and rang in my ears. I had a gut feeling that my friend was gonna tell me something bad. I did not reply to her calls – can you imagine how much my brain wanted to protect me from what I felt already happened. Instead, I quickly checked the news: Russia started a full-scale invasion of ..read more

The world was actively discussing the fake news about how the nature is taking over due to Coronavirus quarantine: the crystal water of Venice channels, the return of swans into the city’s channels, the drunken elephants in Yuhan province and many more. Kyiv managed to go through many “environmental” changes too, but it recovered from them even faster! Read what changed in Kyiv during quarantine, how locals got used (or did not) to new reality, and how the city was struggling to come back to good old days. Disclaimer: the article is made to check if the sense of humor was not killed by long qu ..read more

I’m strolling the streets of Kyiv at dawn. The sun’s early rays are reflected in the puddles: the roads of the Pechersk district, with the most expensive real estate, are cracked with the potholes. The sun goes up and shines on the Arsenal factory: its walls are cracked no less than the roads. All the contrasts come together in unbelievable harmony. Seems like if they polish this city till it shines, build ideal roads here, wrap it as the New Year present and then grant it to me, I will give up this gift: it would be too perfect and fake. My well-worn Kyiv is not always groomed, it’s ancient a ..read more

Coronavirus pandemic caused the lock down of most public institutions in Kyiv. Most everything, except pharmacies, grocery shops, gas stations and hospitals in Kyiv is closed. While many people who support the #stayathome movement are thinking how to survive at home, small businesses in Kyiv and other places are thinking how to survive at all. For many of them the only chance left is going online and offering deliveries. Here’s how you can support small businesses in Kyiv and enjoy your favorite food, drinks and everything else without leaving home. FOOD&DRINKS DELIVERY IN KYIV Mama Manana ..read more

While everything in Kyiv is locked down due to Coronavirus quarantine in Ukraine and worldwide, and many of you can’t enjoy exploring Kyiv right now, I offer you to look at some awesome films, cartoons, documentaries, commercial or music videos filmed in Kyiv. Stay home and enjoy Kyiv on the screens! Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom Nominated for Oscar, Winter on fire shows how over 93 days peaceful student demonstrations turned into a violent revolution and fight for the freedom. In this documentary about Euromaidan 2014, you will see the revolutionary Kyiv and citizens of Ukraine ..read more

Are you a huge beer fan or simply thirsty after exploring Kyiv? Thankfully, craft beer in Kyiv is getting more and more popular. So here is a list of some of the finest craft beer bars in Kyiv – from the most central ones to those located in the most godforsaken districts (because who knows where you can end up, right?) ProRock If you are searching for craft beers in Kyiv combined with live music, welcome to ProRock. A centrally located 24/7 bar, that welcomes everybody, especially those who are into music. Come here Friday or Saturday night (around 21:00) and find yourself dancing to amazing ..read more

Recently, on 16th of May, Ukrainians celebrated the day of Vyshyvanka. Yes, that special embroidery national clothing my tour guests always want to bring as a souvenir!  And that special clothing, that “Vogue” called “the hottest trend of a season” in 2015. Special holiday….just for an outfit? Yes! A day when you can see the diversity of vyshyvanka, get a bit jealous if you do not have one, and start searching for places where to buy one. So, what is exactly Ukrainian vyshyvanka? It’s a national embroidered shirt (dress, T-shirt) that has a variety of symbols, and was initially worn to pr ..read more

So you skipped my advice on why you should never visit Kyiv and already on your way to here? Here is a list of ways to humiliate yourself in Kyiv and feel really embarrassed – have fun, but take it with a grain of salt! Fail to know jokes about Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitchko Kyiv city mayor, Vitaly Klitchko, is not only a boxer. He’s a symbol of Kyiv, and simply a legend. Every public speech of Vitaly Klitchko turns into a joke or tons of memes. So make sure to ask who is Vitaly Klitchko to feel really ashamed and embarrassed. Forget that Kyiv is a big village Thinking that Kyiv is a million ..read more

We, locals, love official holidays in Ukraine. Days off, good food, drinks and wonderful women (because who rule the world? – girls!) Last one is important component of every good party, but it’s a must have component, if we’re talking about International Women’s Day. So where to celebrate this holiday, if you happen to be in Kyiv on 8th of March (or one more cool Friday night in Kyiv, if you are not into celebrating)? Jazz Concert in Bar №7 Are you searching for a jazz concert in Kyiv? Welcome to the Bar №7 on March 8 – enjoy delicios food and drinks in the warm welcoming atmosphere. Dj and l ..read more