Ah yes, the glitz and glamor of nightlife. For many people, nothing beats a great night out on the town, both for having fun and as a way to meet hot Ukrainian girls. As such, no true informational resource on the great nation of Ukraine would be complete without a guide to Kiev nightlife. This is one of the most expansive posts we’ve ever published here, and is completely updated for 2020 and the new venues that have found their way into Kiev. Without further adieu, we present to you Expat Ukraine’s #1 Guide to Kiev Nightlife!
Table of Contents
Introduction: How Is The Nightlife in Kiev?
Kiev often gets a reputation of having lackluster nightlife. While this is true if you don’t do your homework, we’re here to tell you that Kiev is a city of hidden gems. Sadly, most other nightlife guides on the internet are written by people who hardly ever go out.
They grab a bunch of random places off of Trip Advisor and go to town. We, on the other hand, have been going out in Kiev for over 5 years. Every place on this list is a venue that our team frequently visits, and somewhere we personally vouch for.
Obviously, Kiev has the most variety of Ukrainian city. Countless bars, nightclubs, and restaurants await you. While places like Lviv are certainly good choices as well, Kiev takes the take when it comes to nightlife.
Some of Kiev’s downsides include the fact that it’s huge. As such, getting around can be somewhat difficult. Then again, with Ubers that cost $2-$7, this shouldn’t be much of an issue for you.
In either case, we suggest staying in one of two neighborhoods if you’re interested in frequenting the city’s nightlife.
Getting To Know Kiev
Best Neighborhoods For Nightlife
The best two places for nightlife in Kiev are either the direct city center, and a neighborhood called Podol. Obviously, the direct center of the town is where the hustle and bustle is concentrated, and Podol is the historic center of the town. Much to our liking, Podol is home to older architecture and a more laid back vibe than the direct center.
If you’re looking to wander around an area with a high concentration of venues, Podol is your place. Throughout the nooks and crannies of this historic district, you’ll find numerous bars that are great for stopping into, having a beer, and moving onto the next.
While I’d almost always suggest staying in the center for anybody new to Kiev, Podil offers a whole host of beautiful AirBnb’s and apartments, making it one of the city’s most sought after neighborhoods.
If you can’t already tell, Podol is more our style. It’s a bit more laid back, has a slight “hipster” vibe to it, and is relatively unpretentious when compared to the glamor of a super club.
Even still, for those looking to go all out and pop bottles, we suggest the following three places of interest…
Our Top Kiev Nightlife Picks: Nightclubs
CHI is the hottest nightclub in Kiev.
Many people don’t know that it’s actually operated by famous Ukrainian DJ duo Artbat. You don’t often see situations where famous DJs own their own club, but when you do, you can be sure it’s worth checking out.
As such, CHI is somewhat of a “super club.” Even still, it’s not done in an overly pretentious way. You can land a table and a bottle for less than $100, with plenty of space for dancing and socializing alike.
Face control is not overly strict, either. While you should dress the part, if you don’t act like a total moron, you’ll probably get in.
Best of all, CHI books some of the world’s best DJ talent. As a result, you will see some of the hottest women in the city (and maybe the world) here.
If you plan on going with a group, calling ahead and booking a table is never a bad idea. It’s a hotspot, and can sell out quickly.
CLOSER is great for fans of underground Electronic music.
Kiev is sometimes compared to Berlin in terms of nightlife, and CLOSER is the reason why. CLOSER is consistently rated one of the best clubs in the world for Electronic music.
Now, let’s be 100% clear. This is definitely not a you put on a dress shirt for and pop bottles at.
It’s pretty grungy. Lots of people take drugs in places like this. And, it’s a strictly Electronic nightclub where they only play underground House and Techno.
If this is your vibe, go here. But, I’ll admit, it’s an acquired taste. It can get pretty crazy in there sometimes.
Skybar is, predictably, a very standard nightclub. That’s not a bad thing, either.
You could say Skybar is kind of like CHI, but it’s a lot more mainstream, and not quite as fancy.
Personally, we like CHI. But, if we’re with a big group of people who like Pop music more than Electronic, we’ll hit Skybar instead.
Some potential plusses include that it’s located in Kiev’s Arena City, an area sometimes called the city’s “red light district.” Skybar also has a super, super nice view of Kiev’s skyline.
For Ukraine, prices are high. It’s about $20 per person to enter. Like with CHI, you’re best off calling ahead to book a table.
And of course, you’re going to see more beautiful women than you would know what to do with.
An Honorable Mention…
I’ll be honest, it’s hard to call this place a favorite. I even hesitated putting it on this list, as so many people have had mixed experiences here.
Hangover is a total “meat market” type of spot. It’s not exactly a nightclub, and not really a bar either. It’s essentially where younger people go to get as drunk as possible and dance in a weird, open floor plan type of space.
This spot reminds me of college bars in America. Thankfully, it’s slightly less dive-y on the inside, and has stronger face control.
In terms of “pickup” venues, this one isn’t bad, as it’s so incredibly packed every weekend. Even still, know what you’re getting yourself into before heading inside. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Our Top Kiev Nightlife Picks: Bars
This is one of our favorite venues in the entire city. Landing somewhere between a cocktail bar and an upscale club, this is possibly one of the best places in the city to have a nice drink.
The Bar is not only great for the weekends, but also for dates in Kiev. In many ways, this is perhaps the perfect destination for a second date with a cute Ukrainian girl.
Smokers can delight in the fact that there’s a smoking room. While the staff may not always be the most accommodating, the decor, vibe, and atmosphere of the venue are all top notch.
Pink Freud is another favorite of ours in Kiev. A bit less “fancy,” than The Bar, but still the same cocktail concept, it’s no wonder this is a local favorite.
Located right in the heart of Podol, you’ll find all sorts of libations on the menu. Fancy a Pisco Sour, or a Hawaiian Tiki Drink? You’re in the right place. Hitting a nice blend of tacky and fancy, Pink Freud is another fantastic place for taking a date, and perhaps even meeting girls as well.
Like most venues in Ukraine, most groups visit and sit at tables, so approaching groups can be a little challenging. Even still, this place is another clear favorite of ours.
Start your night off here, and venture around Podol for an eclectic night out.
RockFellow is home to one of our favorite outdoor beer gardens on earth! Located right next to the Hyatt, they serve a combination of quality beers, and actually sport a decent food menu too.
In fact, this place probably has some of the nicest service we’ve had in Kiev. For a city not known for having friendly bar staff, we’re always pleasantly surprised at how cool everyone is here.
This venue is a great place to kick back for an afternoon with some friends. That being said, we prefer to go there during summertime for their outdoor terrace. While it’s not the most social of venues, it’s convenient location make it a great place to have a quick bite to eat at before going out.
Meeting Women At Night in Kiev
If you’re in Kiev, it’s absolutely worth hitting the town and meeting the city’s hotties in real life. Approaching women you don’t know an important skill for any man to learn. Plus, each of the above venues are honestly a pretty good time.
Then again, relying soely on “night game” is never a good strategy if you’re going to put your best foot forward with meeting women in a new city.
First off, you have to remember that most girls in Ukraine can’t really afford to go spend $7 on a cocktail. While this may seem like peanuts to you, you must remember that salaries in Ukraine are extremely low when compared to the West.
Furthermore, let’s not forget that most normal Ukrainian girls aren’t party animals. If anything, most girls in Ukraine will go out a few times a year for a special occasion like a friend’s birthday, a graduation, or other social event. Furthermore, most girls in Ukraine go out as one big, mixed gender group.
The Annoying Table Service Culture in Kiev
Plus, don’t get me started on the “table service” culture in Kiev. Most bars in Ukraine lack a common area where everyone stands, socializes, and orders drinks. Naturally, this makes approaching women harder, as you’re forced to walk up to a table of people all sitting with each other.
While it can certainly be done, and each of the above bars is better than the average spot, meeting women at night isn’t exactly as great in Ukraine as it is elsewhere. It is absolutely still having a go at, but can be a little trickier than in other countries.
Conclusion – Kiev Nightlife Is Worth It!
Kiev nightlife gets a bad reputation. But, we believe that if you know what you’re looking for, the nightlife in Ukraine rivals that of any other country.
It’s important to keep in mind that picking up girls at the clubs and bars is possible. But, it’s not optimal.
Instead, we tend to suggest guys use a combination of dating apps, daytime approaches, and fun nights out sprinkled in as well.
Have fun out there!
-Expat Ukraine
PS: If you’re planning to go to Kiev and are interested in meeting Ukrainian women, I highly suggest you check out this website.
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