Where to Go on a Date in Kyiv If You Don’t Want a Restaurant: 8 Alternative Ideas

A Date in a Private Jet

A date that begins like a scene from a movie. In the very center of Kyiv, at the Museum of Photo Illusionsthere is a “Private Jet” location — one of only two in the world (the other exists only in Los Angeles). The format is all about the feeling: a VIP cabin, a glass of champagne, music, and massage chairs — no actual takeoff, but full immersion in the atmosphere.

This is an option for those who don’t want standard romance — but instead want to surprise their loved one. The atmosphere at the location is intimate, yet with a wow effect.

By the way, the story doesn’t end after the “flight.” You can continue to the museum’s photo illusion halls: the installations transform visual reality, and every shot looks like a ready-made art object. As a result — not only impressions, but also a series of creative photos that capture the moment and make this date memorable for a long time.

Swings with a View

Sometimes a view and silence are enough for a date. In Kyiv, there are at least three swings people visit not for развлечения, but for the feeling of a special moment.

Trukhaniv Island is a perfect option for sunset. The swings are easy to reach on foot, by bicycle, or by scooter. It’s better to come a little earlier, take a walk around the island, and wait for the sun to set over the Dnipro.

31 Berezniakivska Street — a large wooden swing with open space around it. People often come here in the evening: to sit, talk, and watch the water.

13B Alimpiya Halyka Street — a small swing for intimate meetings. No panoramic “all of Kyiv” views, but with the feeling of a quiet, cozy corner for two. It works well for spontaneous dates — when you don’t want to travel far or plan something complicated.

A Starry Date at the Planetarium

Sometimes all you need for a date is to look up. On Velyka Vasylkivska Street, the Kyiv Planetarium operates — one of the oldest in Ukraine. The first shows took place here in the 1950s, and today it is a modern space with a large dome where the starry sky appears regardless of the weather.

Beneath a spherical screen about 23 meters in diameter, programs about the Universe and full-dome films are shown. When the lights go out in the hall, the conversation fades on its own. All that remains is darkness and stars slowly moving overhead.

This is a date for those who want to slow down a little. There’s no need to come up with topics — just sit next to each other and look in the same direction. After the show, you can step out into the evening street and continue the conversation under the real sky.

Jazz Concerts: A Date Where Listening Comes First

Jazz is a convenient date format when you don’t want restaurant noise. The music sets the mood, and the pauses between sets leave space for short remarks and exchanged glances.

At Caribbean Club, jazz concerts take place in a classic club format: stage, lights, cocktails, and the feeling of a night out. It’s an option for those who want a clearly structured evening — come, listen, and stay for another drink afterward.

Pepper’s Club offers a similar stage but with a more intimate atmosphere. Jazz here often plays for an attentive audience: close proximity to the musicians, minimal noise, and the feeling of a “members-only” club.

32 JazzClub is a place for those who come specifically for the music. A small hall, focus on sound, and almost no background noise. After such concerts, you usually don’t want to continue the night elsewhere — just to have an honest conversation, calmly and without rushing.

A separate scenario is jazz events at St. Catherine’s Church. The space itself is impressive. This date isn’t about a social outing, but about an experience that stays with you.

Drive-In Cinema: An Open-Air Movie in Your Own Car

A format for those tired of the standard movie theater experience. The drive-in cinema offers watching a film outdoors without leaving your car — at your own pace, in comfort, and without strangers nearby.

The drive-in cinema in Kyiv is located on the territory of the Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studio. Several screenings are held daily at different times, featuring films currently in distribution. You arrive, park, tune your radio — and the evening begins.

The venue features a large 20×10 meter screen, HD-quality projection, and sound transmitted through your car radio. You can bring snacks, get comfortable in your seats, and enjoy the movie — and each other.

Romantic Express: A Date in the Format of a Journey

In February, Ukrzaliznytsia traditionally launches Romantic Express trains in Kyiv and Lviv. The train departs from the Central Railway Station, makes a loop around the city, and returns back. The journey lasts over two hours.

The express is pulled by a steam locomotive. Inside, there’s a luxury carriage with a private compartment for two and music. The format is simple: you enter your compartment, close the door, and spend the evening without other passengers nearby.

This is a restaurant alternative for those who want a change of scenery while staying within the city. The sound of wheels on the tracks, dark windows, soft light in the compartment — and time that doesn’t need to be shared with anyone else.

An Intellectual Date at the Vernadsky Library

The National Library of Ukraine named after V. I. Vernadsky is one of the largest libraries in the world and an unexpected yet perfect location for a meeting for two.

The date scenario here is simple: choose books, sit next to each other in the reading room, and spend a few hours in silence. You can each read your own book, or take a poetry collection and read aloud to one another.

This kind of date suits those who are comfortable being silent together. And those who want to talk not about work or weekend plans, but about texts, ideas, and things that inspire and resonate.

A Picnic in Nature: A Date with a View of Kyiv

Kyiv is a city where dates often begin near a metro station. People live on different banks of the river, so they meet somewhere in between and then go for a walk — through the Old Town, hills, and embankments. That’s the uniqueness of Kyiv dates: thanks to its hilly landscape, the city always reveals itself from above.

One of the simplest scenarios is to take a blanket, light snacks, wine or kombucha, and head up to the lawn near the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. From here, you can see Podil and the historic hills. On weekends, street musicians play nearby, and the road there is already part of the route: Andriivskyi Descent, St. Andrew’s Church, the 400-year-old linden tree of Petro Mohyla, and Peizazhna Alley.

For those who want more space, there’s Shchekavytsia — a hill overlooking Podil and the Dnipro. Another historic spot is the Park Bridge. From here, you can head to Trukhaniv Island — to the beaches on both sides of the bridge. In the evening, it’s almost a front-row seat in a theater called “Evening Kyiv”: illuminated Poshtova Square, the Dnipro, and the lights of the right bank.

If you want more greenery, Natalka Park and Holosiivskyi Park are great options. It’s nice to walk along the water here, and in warm weather — to have a picnic in the shade of the trees. In autumn — with a thermos of tea or mulled wine.

For long walks without crowds, head to the M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden. And on the left bank — to the “Rusanivski Fountains” embankment or the beach near the Paton Bridge, where you’ll get a view of the Dnipro and the city’s evening lights.

If after these Kyiv dates you crave not new impressions but silence and open space, consider a short escape from the city. For such a scenario, save our подборку “TOP 5 Places for Slow Leisure Near Kyiv”: featuring A-frame houses in the forest with hot tubs and saunas, views over the Dnipro, and places where it’s simply good to “switch off” for a day or two.

Ирина Маймур

Редактор новостей и Телеграм-канала

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