Kyiv has a lot of popular spots and streets you can find in every tour guide. But there are even more places which are not that known but are really interesting and have a great ambiance. One of those places is Kostyolna street.

This is one of the streets near Maydan Nezaleshnosti up to Vladimir Hill. It’s not long, but it’s nice and cozy, with a lot of intimate cafes, old houses and St. Alexander Cathedral. The cathedral itself is an interesting Kyiv spot. It’s built in a neoclassical architecture, which is not really typical for Kyiv, and contrasts to similar buildings. The cathedral adds a special note to the street atmosphere and makes Kostyolna street worth visiting.

I like walking around and drinking coffee on Kostyolna street, because it feels different: just 100m from Maydan you can experience an absolutely different Kyiv. You can find local showrooms here and hidden coffee houses, eat French croissants and just listen to the silence while being in the very heart of Kyiv.