This is part two of our winter visit to Lviv. This time we explore the Armenian
Quarter, get our bill hacked in half, get festive at the Christmas market, grab a
couple of unusual cocktails. Head to an underground coffee mine, and spend New
Year's Eve at the most expensive restaurant in Lviv and its
million $$$dollar toilet!!!
We are at the entrance of under the Opera which is a cocktail bar under the
Opera House a beautiful opera house here in Lviv. Let's go check it out.
The bar opens at 4:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. daily.
The interior is an eclectic mix of musical instruments and other oddities.
It only just opened when we arrived but soon became pretty busy. There are 200
cocktails to choose from and 20 signature drinks with an added element
of theatrical serving. It's good fun just watching the barman rush around
preparing the clever drinks. Will chose the signature drink "on the go" vodka, lime
fresh mint, Lillet Blanc.
[Simon] What have you got to do with this.
[Will] Add these secret ingredients to my cocktail and give it a stir.
[Simon] What have I got?
[Will] A Coffee Martini extra froth!
The waiter also recommended this salty sweet, cheesy snack to complement our
cocktails.
Kind of like, semi soft, salty cheese, its good!
The Christmas market is pretty new and is spread over two areas.
Rynok square and in front of the Opera House. Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on the
6th and 7th of January following the Orthodox calendar, so the market runs
from mid-december to meet January unlike other cities. There are around a 100
huts selling crafts and local produce relating to the Ukrainian winter.
During the month-long celebrations there are numerous parades, concerts and events
taking place we found our information from LvivBuddy.com
Meat and Justice restaurant is hidden around the back of the monastery of the
Bernardine church we visited in part one. This was on our list from last summer
but we couldn't find it. This time we had better luck but being unable to book
online we had to queue outside on a very cold night.
Whilst the queue was long we were seated within about 30 minutes.
As the restaurant name suggests and by the hundreds of skewers on the grills,
this place is all about MEAT. The justice side is covered by lots of torture
paraphernalia dotted around the place. It just adds a little bit of fun!
We started with the cheese and breadstick board and some dried apricots
whilst we waited for our main course to be cooked on the very hot grills.
We've come for the mixed grill shashlik. It's got pork, chicken, Lavashi type bread
salads, dips, a massive chili hanging around under there
and back potato.
They have a novel way of serving your bill but keep your fingers out the way!
[Will] See how much it is now.
The Armenian Quarter where Armenians lived in medieval times is easily missed
as it's tucked away in the side streets, but it has some lovely old cobbled roads
and the Armenian Cathedral and a few cozy bars and restaurants hidden behind
courtyard gates Just explore and enjoy the views in this quieter area of town.
The cathedral apparently has a beautiful fresco but we didn't go in this time round
The Pravda beer theatre brings together all the best brewers from
Ukraine, Belgium, Czech Republic in the USA to brew beer at Pravda. The place has
a nice vibe with a shop in the lower levels and a bar and restaurant. On the
middle level is a Bandstand and the Pravda Orchestra brass band performs
almost every night. We stopped for a beer and a snack to tide us over until our
New Year's dinner.
We covered Lviv coffee manufacture in our summer guides but only the upper
level. Here you'll find a traditional coffee
house with links to great coffee stretching back to Vienna. Check out our
full review on our summer guide.
It was busy due to New Year's Eve but our interest was in the lower level coffee mine!
Climbing down a few stairs under the coffee house you first have to
grab a hard hat from the attendant, then wandered around a very small but cute
set of corridors in near darkness looking at some mining exhibits which
was fun and good for a few Instagram posts!
Once you find the seat, you can order cake and the famous flaming coffees!
So it's the last day of the decade and it's New Years Eve, of course.
We're heading off for a special meal this evening here in Lviv and Will know's
nothing about it so hopefully it's gonna be a really good surprise and we'll see
how it goes!
We were heading for the most expensive
Galician restaurant in Rynok Square, there was a real buzz about the
city walking to the restaurant all the shops bars and Christmas stalls were still open.
Hidden away we found a black apartment door and knocked!
Hello we have a reservation.
2 person, come in
Having been welcomed into the restaurant by a guy in his dressing-gown we were
taken to our seats by the waiter.
[Simon] oh lovely yes thank you.
The majority of the restaurants in Lviv require a booking and deposit in
advance from Year's Eve. I did some research back in November and emailed a
few before securing our table. It does require a bit of effort, and a bank
transfer which I was a bit nervous about doing but everything turned out fine and
it meant we did have a firm booking for the night celebrations.
if you don't know the exchange rate it's 31 to the £
and Ukraine is a cheap country so this is pricey.
Gift waiting for us on arrival ,bottle of beer.
We have our starters waiting for us. We have both gone for some kind of smoked salmon dish, I think.
Nice old fashioned plates
amazing view over into the town square.
Nice surprise that, and we have a glass of champagne each so fantastic.
[Simon] What have we got here then.
[Will] Nemiroff honey and pepper vodka also número which is a brand original.
Pravada lager wheat kind of style standard beer for Lviv, made round the
corner. [Simon] and what's left in his chambers [Will] Yess and what's left of my Salmon.
Amazing the horseradish cream underneath, is sensational!
What a great end to the year hey?
In between courses we had a look around and it may appear like it's a small flat
from the outside but inside the place is extensive with a Masonic theme.
It was time to visit the toilet and yet another surprise!
Oh God that's insane!
So this is the million $ dollar toilet a million dollar poo!
Very bizarre, but I am going to have to switch off now as I need the loo!
[Simon] What's happened so far Will?
We have had our starters and some vodka.
We have been to the loo, there are two loo's in the entire restaurant. One is a Throne seat.
and the other is the million dollar
filet mignon, yes, are you ready. GO!
Thank you!
Oh wow this looks delicious
Before we knew it 2020 it arrived and our videoing skills took a bit of a dive
as we got quite drunk!
Happy new year, but 32 is OAF
it's very late Memoryseekers very late!
The entertainment ramped up, a live band started strumming some tunes taking us
into the small hours.
[Simon] What have we got for desert.
Hicups and icecream, I don't know what flavour it is.
Raspberry maybe
And then you have Lviv cheese cake
With that it was time to head back to the hotel. Can't recommend this
restaurant enough the entire meal was under a hundred euros for the entire
evening with all the drinks and three courses and entertainment it was
absolutely brilliant!
We hope you've enjoyed our Lviv two parter make sure
you check out some of our other Ukraine videos and like and subscribe and click
that bell to be notified of future videos but for now from the
Memoryseekers happy travels!!!
you