The cafés in Zaporizhia are all so different and amazing in their own ways. From trendy coffee shops with invigorating drinks, to cosy bakeries with summer terraces, to design confectionaries where each dessert is a work of art, here are the ten best cafés in this southwestern Ukrainian city.
The spacious caféVilla Oliva is located in the city centre. Therefore, it is a great place for a quick lunch or dinner. Its colourful interior makes the place very attractive for locals and tourists alike — panoramic windows, traditional tin-glazed, Venetian-style décor and a cosy courtyard. Villa Oliva’s dishes are also quite delicious, including what is surely the best pizza in all of Zaporizhia.
Zappa’s doors are always open for true coffee addicts. The café is famous for good coffee drinks, both hot and cold. The menu consists of different European dishes, along with an abundant assortment of homemade desserts and fresh pastries. Whether sitting inside the café or outside on the summer terrace, it is an atmospheric place for a friendly chat. Zappa also serves hearty breakfasts from the early morning hours.
This popular chain of café-bakeries has also made its way to Zaporizhia. Lviv Galician Cheesecake and Strudel Bakery, or Lvivski Plyatski in Ukrainian,is a café that brings together the dishes of traditional Ukrainian and Galician (Galicia being a region in western Ukraine) cuisine. It specializes in syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes) and strudels, the variety of which will surprise you as soon as you step inside. Sweet tooths can order some sugary dishes with chocolate or caramel toppings, while fans of savoury flavours can get salmon or meat options accompanied by greens.
The name of this café, O’Cacao, is an ode to chocolate. It is a place where you can find all kinds of sweet treats, presented in the 12-metre-long (39 ft) showcase: delicious cakes, fresh pastries, crispy cookies, marzipan and much more. In addition, at O’Cacao you can also order festive cakes with your personal design. Besides the desserts, there are light snacks and a wide selection of non-alcoholic drinks.
Wave 3 is a popular café in Zaporizhia. The venue’s interior is modern and arty, while the kitchen features a wide variety of dishes from around the world, from classic European to Georgian and American ones. Here you can pop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner and grab some tasty khachapuri (cheese-filled bread), a burger with fries or your favourite pizza. The broad selection of dishes will make you want to taste everything from the menu and return to Wave 3 again soon.
Another giant chain of cafés all over Ukraine, Puzata Hata is known for extremely affordable prices and traditional Ukrainian cuisine. For just US$2, you’ll be able to get a three-course meal with a drink. For example, you may order borscht with bread and salo (pork fat), vareniki (dumplings) filled with potatoes and onion, a spring salad made of cabbage and one of the drinks you can try only in Ukraine. Note, though, that Puzata Hata operates in a self-service format.
If you’re among those who definitely need a cup of strong coffee in the morning, then Cholla & Joshua is a café to put on your list. Properly prepared coffee and mouthwatering desserts will immediately make you resilient to take on those long walks. Moreover, the size of the dishes will pleasantly surprise you. The caféis the perfect destination for those who’d like to spend time in a calm atmosphere, reading a book or just looking out the window.
Art Café Teplo is a cosy spot for lunch or a business meeting. In Zaporizhia, it is one of the most visited eateries because of its amazing combination of European and Japanese cuisine and special dishes from the chef. The friendly staff will help you make the best choice and will always make you feel welcomed. For good reason, Art Café Teplo is always crowded, so it is a good idea to book a table in advance.
Shelest occupies a two-storey building and consist of two dining rooms and a summer terrace, filled with daylight. Like most of the cafés in Zaporizhia, Shelest’s menu is not limited to a single cuisine and offers Italian, French, Japanese and Thai dishes at the same time. You can come here not only for lunch or dinner but for late-evening cocktails and hookah, while in the background you’ll hear a DJ spinning pop songs.
One of the reasons to go to Fishcafé is its stylish interior and convenient location — on Sobornyi Avenue. Another reason is for the top seafood cuisine in Zaporizhia. All kinds of delicacies from different types of fish and seafood make up the basis of the menu. Most importantly, all the food is cooked from fresh catch from the Black Sea, delivered to Fishcafé daily. Additionally, specialities of Mediterranean, Italian, French and Japanese cuisine are also served here.
