Kyiv Cocktail Delivery in 2020
I miss going out for a drink. I miss watching cocktails get made and pretending like I know anything at all about drinks. I miss my bartenders. With the COVID quarantine, bars in Kyiv have been shut for over a month. And while I’ve been getting better at shaking up my own concoctions at home, there’s something missing (expertise, I’m guessing). So I did some research to find out exactly what kind of Kyiv cocktail delivery is happening under quarantine.
Well, it turns out that you can still get a drink.
During quarantine, the Kyiv cocktail bars are working. They are hustling in different ways to keep business going and making sure we are not thirsty. And while my US readers might be shocked to hear that you can get cocktail delivery in Kyiv — well, now you know why I love living in Ukraine.
Here is a list of my favourite cocktail bars working in quarantine. Some of them offer Kyiv cocktail delivery, others are selling vouchers for when they reopen. If you find yourself needing a drink during quarantine (or are thinking ahead for to the bars are finally open), your bartenders are still at the ready.
Pink Freud
A good psychologist knows when what you really need is a stiff drink. Pink Freud delivers (for free!) premade cocktails, complete with garnishes and ice, in an hour. Perfect for when you don’t have the resources you need at home to make your own drinks. I personally recommend Aviation and Tommy’s Margarita.
Loggerhead
Loggerhead is so popular that even with its speakeasy status it’s stupid hard to get in — so maybe quarantine will actually make getting a drink easier. They currently have five cocktails for delivery in Kyiv, all of which showcase Loggerhead’s priority on subtle flavors and intriguing tastes. Extra bonus? They’re actually delivering everywhere in Ukraine.
Talkies
Talkies is a place I’ve passed a handful of times, and every time I’ve regretted that I didn’t have time to stop. At the start of quarantine they offered vouchers and bottles of milk punch, but they have recently expanded their cocktail delivery to include other house favourites. Can we talk about that cocktail with hop syrup, please?
Who&Why Drinkery
Ready for a quarantine house party? Order a .5L cocktail mix from Who&Why Drinkery and add your own liquor. (Be careful — your home bartender might have a heavy hand.) The Who&Why team is also very busy on Instagram, answering questions and making cocktails.
Wood You Like
For the preppers out there, Wood You Like has you covered with three different drinking kits for you to make your own cocktails at home — they even include the glasses! The Old Fashioned set is tempting for the elusive Angostura bitters alone. If you are interested in a custom set, message them to see if they can arrange it for you.
Beatnik
My favorite cocktail bar in Kharkiv relocated to Kyiv in 2019, which was, personally, thrilling. Its chic interior design (carpet in a bar?! How gutsy!) makes it the place I take my out-of-town friends when I want to impress them. Beatnik is one of the first places I’ll go to when things reopen. You can buy vouchers from them to be 100% prepared.
Parovoz
Parovoz was my gateway into the delightful Kyiv speakeasy culture years ago. It’s survived the closure of the movie theatre where it’s hidden, so I know it will survive this. They are offering vouchers for when they reopen, and they are posting photos and recipes of their cocktails to get you thirsty.
Hendrick’s
My favorite Kyiv cocktail bar, Hendrick’s, isn’t offering cocktails or vouchers. However, the talented team is staying visible. One of the bartenders was just announced as the Ukraine brand ambassador for Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam, and he’s been doing lots of cool demos on Instagram. (Pst, if you ask them nicely via Instagram, you can purchase a Hendrick’s branded cocktail shaker. Mine is on order!)
Barman Dictat
Barman Dictat is an institution in the Kyiv bar scene, but they’ve decided to keep things quiet — that is, until the end of quarantine. After we all get released, they are planning to throw a massive party, which they’ve started selling tickets for. Barman Dictat was already a great place to both have a fantastic drink and party, so I can only imagine how epic this one will be.
Bar Trigger
Not a bar — but a bar supply store. If you (like me) are getting more into mixoooology yourself, this is a great place to stock up your home bar with the necessary instruments. They also offer books in both English and Russian.
Did I miss your bar? If you offer cocktail delivery in Kyiv, please leave a comment and I will add you to the list!
If beer is more your style, you have plenty of options. Check out craft beer delivery in Kyiv over at my friends’ blog, What Kate and Kris Did.
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