Cabinet is the embodiment of Lviv’s coffee culture: laid-back, intelligent and delicious. The defining feature is the quaint library, which contains a small selection of works in English (mostly guides and souvenir coffee table books). The coffee is distinctively rich and the offering of Ukrainian cuisine hearty. This is a perfect pit-stop for those perusing the area’s numerous sites of interest including the Arsenal Museum, the Dominican Cathedral and the Assumption Church.
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With a great location and mellow mood, this coffee house attracts a diverse crowd: giggly high school girls, buttoned-down business types, mom and pop and even wannabe radicals all feel at home here. Choose from coffee and beer cocktails, light snacks and rich desserts. The vanilla cappuccino and steaming hot ham and cheese crêpes go great with a cold day. Don’t forget the beans to go on your way out the door.
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This popular Eastern European café chain catches your eye with its wonderfully illustrated menu. The selection of coffee and coffee cocktails is impressive as are the tempting dishes and snacks: crêpes, sushi, soups, salads, pasta and sweets. For something familiar and quick for breakfast, try one of the delicious omelettes with crunchy toast.
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As you take your seat the charming server will place on the table a cute little bell that you can ring for service. Revered for their classic Lviv-style coffee (rich and aromatic) and extensive tea card, they’re even more renowned for their uniquely delectable candies, cakes and chocolate fondue. The pleasant atmosphere and summer terrace perched on Krakivs’ka vul., a lively pedestrian thoroughfare, make this a fine choice for indulging in a local’s favourite pastime of lounging for hours on a café stool.
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This romantic hotspot is located within the Kornjakt Palace on Rynok ploshca (Market Square). Lvivians, visitors to the palace’s museum and random pedestrians are magnetically drawn to this open-air coffee lover’s oasis. Completely severed from the complexities of the outside world, the carved stone and shaded balconies reek of Italian Renaissance. Mellow music, delectable fragrances and stunning art and architecture make for a truly special café experience. The coffee is rich and tasty. Throughout the summer patrons beat the heat by sipping frosty beers, cool cocktails and frothy milkshakes. If it all looks familiar, you’ve probably seen this courtyard in one of the many local and foreign films that shot scenes here.
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This hipster hangout is located above Pid Klepsydroyu café (you actually order off the same menu). The feature that sets this snug loft apart is the live Jazz featured just about every night. We arrived late Saturday afternoon and a jazz pianist was already pounding the keys. Some locals had smuggled in litres of beer in plastic bottles, but this is blatantly unnecessary. The menu has everything you need and then some. We had a cappuccino and a feri-fire (flaming rum doused with an espresso) and did our best to blend with intellectuals, artists and university kids trying hard not to fit in. Seating is limited, but it’s worth waiting for a free table. Once settled, you’re likely to discover swift and cheery service.
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This titillating theme café/restaurant is dedicated to writer and original freak Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch who was born in Lviv in 1836. Masoch enjoyed playing the role of the slave and insisted that his dominatrixes wear furs. In fact, the word masochism was coined from his name. The menu, which can be purchased as a souvenir (in Ukrainian only), is loaded with fabulous and unusual dishes. If your husband is having difficulties deciding on a meal, he’s probably too distracted by the pornography that appears on the menu and you should order for him. He’s sure to appreciate the bull’s testicles in an oil and sweet pepper sauce. They boast the best fondue in town and the waitresses will handcuff and whip you free of charge. On your way out the door, don’t forget to reach into Leopold’s pocket for this café’s version of a fortune cookie.
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Through an alleyway, under a staircase and beyond a decrepit yard you’ll find a hidden coffee house where everything seems to be slowly caving in on itself. (If you’re looking for sparkly, new and trendy keep walking.) Though they welcome outsiders, everthing is geared for locals. However, the service and coffee are first-rate and the atmosphere is one of a kind. We noticed that most of the food items were being warmed up in the microwave: stick to coffee or beer, enjoy the ambiance and then get out before the whole place turns to ruble.
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If Sonata doesn’t already have a motto they should consider: great prices and friendly ambiance! The aroma of roasting Krakow pork fills this quaint two level café. The soups are scrumptious, the salads are tasty and their vareniky (Ukrainian-style dumplings) is top notch. The popular outdoor seating is located across from the café at Halyts'ka pl. and offers a close up view of King Danilo's horse's ass.
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An ideal location, limited space and great coffee mean that you might have to wait for a table. The café is actually divided into two sections that have separate entrances next door to each other, so if one place is full hop over to the other. The smaller room sells beans to go and displays an interesting array of antique grinders and other coffee paraphernalia. The fact that the place is tightly packed intensifies the awesome aromas. A small yet delicious selection of cakes and treats is also available.
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The tiramisu, Praga cake and euphoria cake are all unrelentingly gorgeous. The laid back atmosphere provides the perfect compliment for the frothy cappuccino. Indeed, this is a fine choice if you just want to unwind with pleasant conversation, i.e. you won’t be bombarded with dance music and Fashion TV. This is also one of the more spacious coffee shops you’ll find in centre. Place your order at the counter and divchina (girl-waitress) will bring your order to the table.
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Tucked away in a quiet courtyard just off Svobody prosp., this cosy café’s most notable aspect is its quite reasonable prices. Flipping through the menu, our Ukrainian colleague mumbled, "A typical mix of Ukrainian and who knows what." She must have been referring to the “shrimp under mayonnaise.” It’s definitely worth popping in if you need a break from the crowds and/or are in the mood for something from their affordable selection of coffee and coffee cocktails.
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Located in the basement of the historic Vening's House, the décor harkens back to the building’s Gothic roots. The menu offers a hearty selection of tasty Ukrainian morsels. They have a great selection of veal and pork dishes, homemade sausages and enticing oddities such as tongue and brains. We tried the pork in beer, which turned out to be a nice treat - both filling and refreshing.
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