NOON COFFEE ROOM
Pozniaky isn’t usually associated with intimate specialty cafés, but NOON COFFEE ROOM is changing that perception. The project was created by experienced head bartender Oleksandr Rodionov together with his wife. The concept is simple and honest: everyone has their own perfect time for coffee. Before noon or after — it doesn’t matter.
They prepare specialty coffee here while also treating the space as a living environment. By the way, the café regularly hosts exhibitions: for example, in December, the NOON gallery presented a series of works by architect and artist Dana Smurova.
Where: 16 Urlivska St.
«Kashtan»
During the cold season, you especially appreciate places where you can spend a gray day over coffee and a warm conversation. «Kashtan» on Reitarska Street is exactly that kind of spot. It operates in a well-known Kyiv courtyard near the Golden Gate, which locals call the “courtyard with the crows,” and also “the courtyard where «Kashtan» is.”
The café appeared here in 2017. It was founded by three friends. The space was in poor condition, but they decided to take a risk and renovated it themselves.
From the very beginning, «Kashtan» grew without advertising — through word of mouth and a community of friends. In winter, it becomes even cozier: the quiet courtyard shields visitors from city noise, and inside it’s warm and intimate.
Where: 9 Reitarska St.
OctoTower
OctoTower is a creative space in central Kyiv where you can have coffee, work, and enjoy a view of the city from above at the same time. In winter, it’s a cozy location with scenic views; in warmer months, there’s also a terrace for meeting friends.
The café operates on a self-service system, and the coffee is valued for its consistent quality and signature drinks. Head barista Nazar Nikolaichuk once introduced espresso martini and cold brew sour — the idea was simple: to create drinks that resemble alcoholic cocktails but function as energizing coffee beverages.
Where: 5 Mechnikova St.
«Zhyvy»
«Zhyvy» on Lobanovskoho Avenue is a café whose name sounds like a statement. According to co-owner Rodion Dragun, it was born out of gratitude to those who give us the opportunity to live our lives — to meet friends, work, enjoy simple things, and drink coffee together.
«Zhyvy» is not just about a drink. It’s about socialization and a small community formed around quality products and service. It’s comfortable here for moms with children, fashion lovers used to the vibe of Reitarska, and local retirees alike. The coffee menu caters both to demanding coffee enthusiasts and to those who simply want a tasty latte.
Inside, it’s cozy and genuinely warm: sometimes there are more guests than seats, but it doesn’t create tension. On the contrary, it brings a sense of closeness and unity.
Where: 6V Valerii Lobanovskyi Ave.
Vagabond
A small cozy café and vintage corner in Podil — Vagabond. It’s a place with character: part bar, part café, part gallery. They serve coffee, cider, beer, wine, and strong spirits, and mix cocktails — drinks are served not in identical modern cups but in vintage tableware from familiar tea sets, with thin handles and gentle traces of time.
The walls are always filled with works by young artists and photographers — you can not only admire them but also purchase them.
In the evenings, Vagabond hosts stand-up shows, poetry readings, and intimate concerts. On weekends, flea markets sometimes take place in the courtyard. In winter, the space feels especially cozy: warm light, a small hall, and conversations that last longer than planned.
Where: 7 Hryhorii Skovoroda St.
The Blue Cup Coffee Shop
The Blue Cup Coffee Shop has been operating in central Kyiv since 2015 — just a few minutes from “Teatralna” and “Khreshchatyk.” Over the years, the café has become a steady point of attraction for those looking not just for coffee, but for a place to relax.
The space is small and bright, in recognizable blue tones. It’s easy to stay longer than planned here — with a laptop, a book, or simply in conversation. In the warm season, there’s a terrace; in winter, the intimacy of the space is especially tangible — warmth, the aroma of freshly ground coffee, and the life of the big city outside the window.
Where: 5 Yevhen Chykalenko St.
«Harms. City Café»
«Harms» is a city café and bookstore that appeared in 2013 in a cozy courtyard near the Golden Gate. At that time, there were almost no bookstores in Kyiv offering non-fiction literature on art, design, and architecture where you could read, listen to vinyl, and drink coffee. Entrepreneur Pavlo Horak decided to fill this niche and opened «Harms» as a bookstore with a café on Mykhailivska Street.
Later, the venue moved to 45A Volodymyrska Street and transformed into a full-fledged city café. A format that seems familiar today was almost new to Ukraine in the mid-2010s. They launched their own bakery and confectionery production, expanded the kitchen, and updated the bar. The venue was among the first in Kyiv to work with alternative brewing methods — Chemex and AeroPress — as early as 2013.
«Harms» is an example of a café people visit not only for a warm drink but for a sense of home: with friendly service, a community atmosphere, and a space where retirees, IT specialists, and diplomats can share the same table.
Where: 45A Volodymyrska St.
Nuance Coffee
Another specialty café in Podil — Nuance Coffee. It’s a space where coffee and mixology are combined into a distinct concept.
The coffee direction here was led by Ukraine’s Best Barista 2020, Oleksandr Benytskyi — who is also a co-founder of the venue together with Andrii Pustovit and Oleksandr Kochmarskyi.
Nuance offers a wide selection of desserts and snacks, and its approach to coffee is highly personalized. The team selects beans, recipes, brewing methods, and roast profiles based on their own experience and vision. In winter, it’s a great choice for those seeking coziness in venues and flavor in coffee — not just a habit.
Where: 24/26 Yaroslavska St.
Slou Coffee
Slou Coffee is a café from the owners of the “Franyk” chain that opened on Hospitalna Street. The team calls Slou the “Ukrainian Starbucks of the future,” but focuses not on scale, rather on the philosophy of slowing down.
“People are tired of being productive and are looking for meaning in simple things. For us, Slou is not only about coffee and a bun, but about a culture of rituals and slowing down,” explains co-author of the brand Dariia Kuriliuk.
The interior, designed by the Specific studio, follows Scandinavian minimalism: wood, concrete, and metal, without “visual noise.” Large bookshelves create a relaxation area, while communal tables provide a workspace overlooking the city center. The venue has 50 seats.
Slou is an option for the cold season when you crave not only coffee but also a sense of slowing down.
Where: 2 Hospitalna St.
Guana Coffee
Among cozy cafés for the cold season, Guana Coffee in Rusanivka is a story of its own. The venue operates on the ground floor of a residential building with an entrance from the courtyard, so people come here not by chance, but “for the mood.”
The café was opened by Vladyslav Zinoviev and Maksym Subbotin — they are also behind the bar. This is the third location of their chain, combining coffee, Chinese teas, and Ukrainian natural wines.
The owners designed the interior themselves: some elements, including concrete lamps, were handmade.
Guana is a format for a quiet winter meeting: coffee during the day, a glass of wine in the evening, minimal noise, and a maximum sense of a “place of your own.”
Where: 2/8 Rusanivskyi Blvd.
