Where to Try Odessa's Most Famous Dishes

The greenery that encapsulates Franzol makes this restaurant a cosy oasis on Derybavsivska Street, which is in the middle of the city. Franzol’s menu offers the chef’s take on Odessa cuisine, and the dishes are cooked according to home recipes. Be sure to try the forshmak (salty minced fish) and fried mullet. Locals love the airy atmosphere that is conducive to spending time with family and friends. In the evening, Franzol transforms into a more exquisite venue that is perfect for a fine romantic dinner and a glass of good wine.

On the outskirts of Odessa, the Dacha restaurant complex is a great family weekend getaway. There are summer cottages with gardens (which Ukrainians call dacha), a large green area, a terrace and a playground. The menu features authentic Ukrainian food, as well as the most popular Odessa specialties, such as the Black Sea sprat with new potatoes, a bowl of mussels with a crispy baguette, fresh grilled fish with vegetables or boiled crawfish with greens and lemon.

Klarabara is styled as a 20th-century literary saloon, where pictures hang in old frames and thick academic publications and antique furniture have become yellowish over time. The combination creates a unique glimpse into Odessa during the last century. Guests can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine, as well as a range of popular Odessa delicacies. The Black Sea sprat is popular, so be sure to try the cutlets. The goby fishes in a golden crust is also a treat, as well as the extremely tasty snack plate with sprats.

Gambrinus, in the very heart of Odessa, is much more than just a pub with an amazing selection of beer—it’s also a historical place in the port city. The pub first opened in 1868, and though the location has changed a couple of times since, it remains a must-visit place for tourists and locals. In addition to alcoholic drinks, they offer local delicacies, such as sprat fried in corn flour, herring fillet with baked potatoes and fresh herbs, and pike caviar with black toast and butter.

Maman is near the Opera House—the main attraction in Odessa—which makes it a convenient place to stop for lunch and to try Odessa’s delicious specialties. The bar features an extensive list of local and European wines, as well as drinks that you can only try in Ukraine, including ginger, berry and horseradish infusions. As for food, there are such dishes as sweet carp with pasta, the Black Sea rapana with creamy mushrooms, sprat cutlets and the well-known Odessa okroshka (a cold soup).

Tavernetta is an Italian restaurant that serves homemade pasta with a touch of authenticity that is seldom found in non-Ukrainian restaurants in the city. The mosaic flooring in the entrance and the blue car full of flowers near the open-air terrace make this an extraordinary and attractive venue. Most of the dishes are cooked with a fresh local catch. Try the seafood pasta and the snacks with the Black Sea tuna.