Despite the ongoing war, more and more interesting bookstores with diverse formats and content continue to appear in Kyiv. You can find collectible, professional, rare, foreign, and popular publications there. Here are the literary hotspots in the capital that have emerged after the full-scale invasion by Russia. Almost every one of them also offers aromatic coffee beverages.
Rodovid: coffee, literature, and a museum
At the end of September, the RID coffee-literary space opened on Independence Square with select books and the tastiest (no exaggeration) coffee. The establishment's owners position it as a coffee shop, bookstore, and museum all in one place.
In the Rodovid bookstore, you can buy books from Ukrainian publishers such as "A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha," "Folio," "Zelenyi Pes," and "Vydavnytstvo Marka Melnyka." The Rid café offers classic coffee drinks, handcrafted coffee, teas, lemonades, and homemade pastries.
Various events are held in the space. They also arranged an exhibition of paintings by Ukrainian artist Oleksandr Sukholit.
- Address: Khreshchatyk St, 7/11
- Opening hours: Daily from 09:00 to 21:00
"Skovoroda": a bookstore dedicated to Hryhoriy Skovoroda
The "Skovoroda" bookstore opened on the eponymous street in April. The format of the bookstore can be understood from the name - Hryhoriy Skovoroda and everything related to him.
In creating this space, the owners aimed to create a place not only for books but also for intellectually stimulating conversations.
However, one of the establishment's features is the colorful murals by Bohdana Davydiuk dedicated to the work of Hryhoriy Skovoroda.
- Address: Hryhoriya Skovorody St, 6
- Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 to 20:00
"Zhovten" cinematic bookstore
In April, a cinematic bookstore opened in the iconic Kyiv cinema "Zhovten." It was opened by the founder of the "Zakapelok" bookstore located on Verkhniy Val.
This is a relaunch of the bookstore that was opened in the cinema before the coronavirus pandemic.
In the establishment, you can not only buy books but also attend various events: poetry and prose evenings, presentations, lectures, and meetings.
- Address: Kostyantynivska St, 26
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 to 20:00
Readellion: a place of rare editions and unconventional interior
At the end of August, the Readellion bookstore, which has been operating online since 2019, opened its first offline space. According to the owners, they decided to introduce the audience in Kyiv to the bookstore and its products in person.
The architectural bureau prototype worked on the design of the space. The interior was arranged so that it could be adapted to the needs depending on the number of editions presented.
Various events are planned in the space, such as presentations of magazines or other projects. Currently, the establishment is observing the working schedule and operates in test mode.
- Address: Voznesenskyi uzviz, 23
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 14:00 to 19:00, Saturday and Sunday: 16:00 to 19:00
Vivat: coffee, books, and board games
In October of last year, the first bookstore in Kyiv was opened by the Kharkiv publishing house Vivat.
You can buy books from the publishing house, play board games, enjoy aromatic coffee, or view art exhibitions there. Literary discussions, author readings, and meetings of psychological and historical clubs are also held at the establishment.
- Address: Petra Sahaidachnoho St, 8
- Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 10:00 to 20:00, Friday to Sunday: 10:00 to 21:00
ReadEat by Dmytro Felixov
In September, the ReadEat bookstore-café started operating on Antonovycha Street. It was opened by the founder of Concert.ua, Dmytro Felixov.
The space has two floors and covers an area of 460 square meters. ReadEat accommodates almost 8000 books. In addition to the bookstore, there is a café and a location for various artistic events in the building.
Vinyl records will also be sold in the bookstore.
Dmytro Felixov has very ambitious plans: he plans to create a network with at least five bookstores in the capital.
- Address: Antonovycha St, 50
- Opening hours: Daily from 09:00 to 21:00
"Knyzhkovyi Lev": a bookstore dreamed of since childhood
In the summer of 2022, the "Knyzhkovyi Lev" bookstore opened on Podil. This network is not new and has been operating in Lviv since 2016.
The owners of the establishment, who dreamed of it since childhood, say that their goal is to "create a space that will intellectually and emotionally stimulate people who are ready to become a community." In the bookstore, you can not only buy books but also enjoy coffee, tea, cold drinks, and wine or order dessert.
The establishment has two doors. If you enter one, you can see shelves with selected books. If you enter the other, you will find a location where sommeliers and baristas work.
Also, "Knyzhkovyi Lev" hosts readings, lectures, art exhibitions, and other events.
- Address: Mezhyhirska St, 13/34
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00 to 21:00, Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 to 21:00
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