Progress Cafe

The coffee shop opened near Zoloti Vorota might become one more popular spot for expats: the fine dining spot has various magazines and books in English that visitors are welcome to read while enjoying a cup of steaming coffee. Interior keeps to the pastel grey and pink, which sets the general of Progress Cafe - no rush, just enjoy the drink. The menu is convenient for any time of the day: granola yogurt bowls for breakfast, classical French quiche with spinach for lunch and a whole array of desserts to enjoy in the evening. One of the place's specials is matcha latte - a popular Japanese drink with a bittersweet taste. An open terrace with a view on downtown Kyiv is a good spot for contemplation.
Address: 6, Patorzhynskoho Street
Menya Musashi

The new location of the popular ramen chain has opened in the recently opened Smart Plaza shopping center right in front of the Politekhnichnyi Instytut metro station. Visitors are welcome to explore Japanese cuisine and especially ramen - a classical soup with noodles and various fillings. The peculiarity of Menya Musashi is that you can 'construct' your own ramen: choose broth from pork to vegetable, fillings from meat, seafood and vegetables and hotness of the dish, which can be quite spicy or mild. Apart from ramen, Menya Musashi offers a classical array of sushi, seaweed salads and matcha ice cream. Many regulars use the restaurant's mobile app to earn points that allow further getting dishes or drinks for free.
Address: 26, Peremohy Avenue
Read: Best Japanese Restaurants in Kyiv
Sarra.Coffee&Food

A notable mentioning on the summer list goes to Sarra.Coffee&Food - the minimalistic and healthy spot on Holosiivskyi Prospekt. Located near the Demiivska metro station, the restaurant is a cozy haven tucked away from the downtown noise. Those who love late breakfasts will appreciate the wide range of options from omelets with three types of cheese and couscous with mushrooms and poached egg to French toasts with Nutella and granola with homemade yogurt. Various recipes from Italian, Georgian and Israeli cuisine are presented in the Instagram-worthy cafe with a chef's spin.
Address: 84, Holosiivskyi Prospekt
Trishky Bilshe

Another spot near Zoloti Vorota, Trishky Bilshe offers the simple yet delicious choice of international dishes: burgers, pizza, and noodles. Sure enough, vegetarians are catered for as well: quinoa salad with fresh vegetables and honey & mustard sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and gluten-free chocolate-banana cake. The must-try among desserts are Snickers cheesecake and Ukrainian honey cake medovyk. Trishky Bilshe has board games for families and friends to have fun while waiting for the meals to arrive. The café is pet-friendly.
Address: 40/2, Volodymyrska Street
Read: Kyiv Restaurants with Cozy Inner Yards
Saravsari

Finally, the trend of Pan-Asian cuisine has turned into a new direction: following the opening of Balu cafe, one more Indian cuisine spot has appeared in Kyiv this summer. Saravsari is located in a quiet corner of Lvivska Ploshcha, reachable by many trolleybuses and metro. The restaurant's menu is simple yet has everything to introduce locals to classics of Indian cuisine: for instance, paneer cheese with nut sauce and mint, chicken rice with an array of spices or a traditional entrée samosa with vegetables or chicken. Four types of bread, including paratha and naan, are also available here. A must-try among drinks, Mango Lassi, is a refreshing cocktail made from mango, milk, yogurt and a dash of cardamom. The restaurant is pet-friendly.
Address: 4B, Sichovykh Striltsiv Street
Pacific

It's no secret that oysters are one of the most delicate summer specials, especially topped with a glass of wine. Kyiv connoisseurs now have one more spot to enjoy the trendy seafood - Pacific restaurant located in downtown Kyiv. The menu has six types of oysters, including the famous Fines de Claire and Speciales Gillardeu. A special section 'Chef's recommendations' has twelve special toppings from British, Asian and European culinary traditions. Lovers of spice may try oysters with kimchi sauce, while bacon and Worcestershire sauce will be a milder option. The wine menu is heavily concentred on champagne, prosecco and white wines to match seafood.
Address: 19B/1, Institutska street
Read: Places with the Best Oysters in Kyiv
KUZEN falafel

One more addition to the vegetarian and vegan restaurants, KUZEN falafel offers a healthy spin on popular street food. Here falafel isn't fried in oil but baked in the oven, making it less greasy while preserving the delicate taste. Any of the five flavors falafels in a pita bun costs UAH 65. Besides, there are convenient lunch options: BBQ falafel with asparagus beans, Korean carrots and cucumbers + soup of the day + peanut sherbet or Tahini falafel with tomatoes, mushrooms and Korean carrots + baked potatoes + apple & pomegranate drink. Vegans are offered the special vegan milk and a summer special - vegan ice cream.
Address: 4, Shota Rustaveli Street
Photo sources: Facebook pages of businesses mentioned above, unsplash.com. All images belong to their rightful authors.