Lviv, where to eat and much more
- Donotbelievemejustwatch
- Apr 9, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 10, 2019
Let's talk about food. A trip to Lviv was definitely a getaway under the food sign. Honestly speaking, I do not remember when I last ate or drank as much as in Lviv. It is a feast for the palace and paradise for our pocket. There are plenty of bars in the market area, not only better tasting but also cheaper than anywhere else in Europe.
For most of us, the Slavic part of Europe is a real undiscovered gem of our continent. This is one of the reasons why I decided to change the direction and go to the Eastern side of Europe. You also don't have to worry about the language barrier as almost everyone in Lviv speaks basic English, what makes it even more attractive for tourists.
Say yes to all of the new foods. Try the traditional galician cuisine and local Slavic specialities like borscht, a salad made of sour cabbage, potato pancakes topped with sour cream, blood sausage, and my favourite steak tartare.
Conversion rate:
£1= 35UAH (Ukrainian hryvnia)
1zł=7UAH (Ukrainian hryvnia)
Disclaimer: For the curious part of my people :) Just to give you heads up how cheap it was. We've spent £100ish each on food for 6days in Lviv. We didn't hesitate to order whatever we felt like having. Sometimes meal would include 5sides and 2main dishes, the other time it would be 3coctails and 4beers.
ATLAS
The restaurant is based at the main square with windows facing Rynok Square. In my opinion, the food is fantastic, typical Polish and Ukrainian cuisines. Reasonable price but if you manage to visit the place from 12 am to 3 pm you can sneakily ask a waiter for an exclusive 4-course menu which includes a salad, a soup, a main course and a dessert for 95UAH (the menu is not usually offered to tourists but if you ask, you've got the bargain sorted).
THE BACZEWCY
The Baczewscy restaurant is known for its famous breakfast provided with a shot of vodka/ a glass of prosecco with live piano music. It is a place for lovers of Polish, or Ukrainian and Jewish cuisine. Each dish is served in a very creative way - salads, desserts, meats served with colourful sauces, and soups are poured onto a plate only after being brought to the table. Luxury feels at every step. Regarding drinks, do not forget to order the one which is served with your picture on it! And, unsurprisingly, they play Polish music on loudspeakers.
CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Yum, yum, yum. It is a great place for a break after having a 2-courses Ukrainian lunch. The factory has several floors, including a chocolate industrial unit on the ground, where you can peep how your favourite chocolate is made, two floors with unique shop where freshly manufactured products can be purchased. Some of the creations are really beautiful and it is heartbreaking to eat. Porno chocolates in the closed cabinet are interesting. On the top floor, you can find a cute café with a terrace. I won't lie, it is an adorable place for a romantic date.
DRUNKEN CHERRY
This a small and probably the most popular spot around Rynok Square (and there're two of them!) You can try cherry liqueur (homemade cherry brandy), which is the only drink served there. The alcohol is reasonably priced, decent and jolly good. Smiley people standing around, mingling and chatting. Great place to start your night! Positive vibe.
GASOVA LAMPA
Unique and must-go place! The best liqueur tasting place in Old Town. The remarkable shots unusually served in test tubes, but please avoid the horseradish flavor. The bar is located in a very cool building, lots of quirky levels and steps and, obviously lamps everywhere. This fantastic place got a stylish restaurant on the roof, where you can get something to bite. Make sure you don't miss it!
HOUSE OF LEGENDS
The house is very interesting on the outside and has an extraordinary interior inside. We were welcomed by a chimney sweep, who has treated us with a shot and a cookie. Feel free to get him some spare change! Very charming chap!
Dedicate some of your time to explore all the levels and hear all the stories. Don't hesitate to get a drink on each floor and make your way up to the rooftop. Especially if the day is sunny. And do not forget to toss a coin for good luck. The latter is said to make wishes come true.
KRYIVKA
The hidden gem on Rynok Square. It is a bit of fun but first, you need to find the huge wooden door and, know the password and then you will be welcomed with a complimentary vodka shot. ( known as ''turtka na moskali'' ).
This restaurant is designed as a bunker of the Ukrainian Liberation Army (gorillas who fought with the Soviet army after the WWII) and tries not to preach history but to offer a new conceptual way of serving food and drinks to a various group of people. Positively surprised, the place is opened 24/7, offers a lot of different types of typical food and snack served in a very interesting way, for example, a meat board is really a board, and as an ax is being used to grip the board. All of it is available at any time, during the day and night!
Great value for money. In addition, it offers some really great history artifices (old UPA coats, German WW2 weapons, pictures of anti-Stalin propaganda). If you like history you will enjoy this place!
MASOCH-CAFE
You can have a drink and have dinner in the cafe, but this not the main feature of the place. Everything in the place is connected with the creation of the famous writer Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch and BDSM-aesthetics, who was born, lived and created his masterpieces in Lviv.
Kinky stuff is consensual, whipping on arrival and departure is a must, fun place to visit, it definitely creates good stories to share. I won't reveal more secrets. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the place is full of life and excitement!
OPERA UNDERGROUND
This is not only a bar but also a museum dedicated to the history of Lviv Opera House. The underground streams river of Poltva that the Lviv Opera House was built on. A huge number of live crayfish is displayed in an aquarium at the entrance. There are glass panels on the floor and wooden bridges across the river.
After the performance at the opera, we decided to go and find some uncovered nooks. Well, we didn't need to walk far to find this hidden treasure. We settled on a plan of action to pop in for a drink and make a fairly quick move to our favourite bar.
Nothing could be further from the truth! Very ingenious and exceptional way of presenting drinks made us adjust our plan accordingly. No regrets!
THE MOST EXPENSIVE GALICIAN RESTAURANT
We took a staircase up to the restaurant's nondescript door, you wouldn't even have guessed that there was a restaurant there. I won't be saying anymore, do not want you to lose all the fun finding another Ukrainian hidden gem. For the future reference,
this is the address: Rynok pl. 14 2nd Floor, Lviv 79008 Ukraine. Have fun!
The decor is lush and old-fashioned, creating the atmosphere of 18th-19th-century salons, you will easily fall in love with past century style. Make sure you get seated near the window to observe people at Market Square.
Outrageous prices for everyday food (10x almost). Definitely, not an affordable restaurant for everyone. When I received the check, I was so surprised and couldn’t stop laughing. The original amount was 14,000 UAH but they knocked off 90% and it was just 140 UAH, jokers, the waiter said this is the biggest joke here, which is why tourists love this place. Also, do not forget to check out the toilet!
I can't forget to mention one more place which is worth visiting and I'm talking about the PRAVDA BEER THEATRE. The bar reminds me of Hard Rock Cafe. This is a very nice place to drink beer, their speciality, and listening to live music, but, in my opinion, it is nothing too special in comparison with all the other bar/restaurant which I've wholeheartedly recommended.
To summarise our trip to Lviv, I have not visited a place with such wonderful food for a long time (or maybe I'm saying it because I miss my mum's home food). The place where on every corner there is a unique, cozy and charming restaurant with nice service and great prices! The city is not yet flooded with tourists so I advise you to visit it sooner than later to enjoy the tranquility and urban life, yet the time is right.
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