I think it's safe to say that Lviv is the true cultural capital of Ukraine. With its many cozy and atmospheric coffee houses, mysterious-looking decors, and the charming culture of independence and entrepreneurship, Lviv is by far one of the best places in Ukraine to go cafe-hopping and explore the authentic and vibrant cafe culture that is no longer easy to come by in Central and Eastern Europe.
I spent almost a week in Lviv when I was traveling in Ukraine. During my first week in the country, I was caught by surprise when I realized how awesome the café culture is in Kyiv. When I learned that Lviv is even better in that regard, I was ecstatic.
After spending several days scouring Lviv for cafes that are cozy, atmospheric, and serve great coffee, here are 10 of my favorite cafes and coffee houses in Lviv that you should try out when you are traveling in the city. Let's begin with my most favorite one, Lʹvivsʹka Kopalʹnya Kavy (Львівська копальня кави).
- Lviv Best Cafes Itinerary Map
- 1. Lʹvivsʹka Kopalʹnya Kavy
- 2. Black Honey
- 3. L'viv Coffee Manufacturer
- 4. Na Bambetli
- 5. Svit Kavy
- 6. Virmenka
- 7. KREDENS CAFE
- 8. Canlviv Candles Manufactory
- 9. Druzi Cafe
- 10. Viennese Coffee House
- Ukraine Travel Video
- Further Reading for Ukraine
Lviv Best Cafes Itinerary Map
1. Lʹvivsʹka Kopalʹnya Kavy (Львівська копальня кави)
Location: Palats Latynsʹkykh Arkhiyepyskopiv, Rynok Square, 9, L'viv
Opening Time: 8 AM - 12 AM
Price Range: 32 - 87 UAH (1.5 - 3.4 USD)
Lʹvivsʹka Kopalʹnya Kavy or Lviv Coffee Mining Manufacture is one of my favorite cafes in Lviv. This is one of the largest establishments in the area with many seating areas, including an outside garden, cozy interior with wood furniture, and even a cave. Yes, you heard that right!
Lʹvivsʹka Kopalʹnya Kavy is the only coffee mining company where they claim to extract the coffee from the underground of Rynok square right in front of you, hence the cave part.
They are well-known for their freshly roasted coffee beans, which you can also buy from a souvenir shop attached to the café. They also serve a variety of coffees for different occasions, such as Lviv Rainy Day Coffee, For Lovers, etc.
If you go into the cave, you can also order the Flaming Coffee, where they bring out a blowtorch and literally set your coffee on fire. Nothing wakes you up like a fire in front of your face!
2. Black Honey
Location: Halytska St, 20, L'viv
Opening Time: 8 AM - 10 PM
Price Range: 29 - 89 UAH (1.15 - 3.5 USD)
Black Honey is another great cafe that I really like in Lviv. It has clean, minimal, and modern decor, tasty coffee beans, and a very friendly and cozy atmosphere.
Other than freshly brewed coffee, they also have a small breakfast, such as granola, and pastries like cheesecakes and strudels, to go with your delicious cup of coffee.
If you are looking for a nice, clean, cozy place to sit in the morning or for a bit of relaxing time during the day, Black Honey has many cafes scattered around the city center, so be sure to check them out.
3. L'viv Coffee Manufacturer
Location: 7, Brativ Rohatyntsiv St, L'viv
Opening Time: 8:30 AM - 10 PM
Price Range: 33 - 79 UAH (1.5 - 3.1 USD)
L'viv Coffee Manufacturer is the place to be if you are a coffee snob. This place has an entire wall full of coffee bean dispenser machines where you can pick and try them before buying.
They do not just have coffee beans, though, as they also serve plenty of pastries, cakes, and more to go with your favorite cup of coffee.
They also have a nice, cozy atmosphere with wooden furniture, good lighting, and plenty of places to sit. If you are looking for a place to chill in the middle of the city center, this is the place to be.
4. Na Bambetli (На бамбетлі)
Location: Rynok Square, 29, L'viv
Opening Time: 10 AM - 10 PM
Price Range: 43 - 74 UAH (1.7 - 3 USD)
Tucked away in a hidden alleyway in the middle of Rynok Square, Na Bambetli is another nice and cozy café where you can sit and chill away from the crowds.
Na Bambetli has one of the most authentic-looking cafes out of all the cafes I recommended here. Walking into Na Bambetli is almost like walking back in time to a mysterious cafe of old. Its wooden furniture, old paintings, and candle-lit atmosphere just exude magic, unlike any place I've seen.
They serve a great selection of alternative coffee, as well as plenty of options for strudels and other desserts. A quiet place, yet centrally located, Na Bambetli is truly a hidden gem of Lviv. If you have the time, be sure to drop by there.
5. Svit Kavy (Світ кави)
Location: Katedralna Square, 6, L'viv
Opening Time: 7:45 AM - 11 PM
Price Range: 40 - 250 UAH (1.6 - 10 USD)
Svit Kavy used to be a hidden gem in Lviv. Now that everybody knows about it, it has become less of a secret. However, if you are looking for a cozy space to sit with a book and enjoy a cup of coffee either inside or outside, Svit Kavy is still a good option.
It gets crowded fast, though, so I would recommend you go in the morning for a cup of coffee to beat the crowd. They serve all kinds of coffee and pastries, as well as breakfast, a delicious Belgian Waffle with salmon, bacon, and more.
The interior of Svit Kavy is very cozy with wooden furniture and warm lighting, which is perfect for both summer and winter. It also has an outside seating area with a view of the alleyway of Rynok Square, Lviv Latin Cathedral, and the beautiful Chapel of the Boim Family.
6. Virmenka (Вірменка)
Location: Virmens'ka St, 19, L'viv
Opening Time: 9 AM - 11 PM
Price Range: 24 - 48 UAH (1 - 2 USD)
Virmenka is another small, cozy, authentic-looking cafe that serves a great selection of coffee and a ton of pastries to choose from. The cafe is also centrally located right in the middle of Lviv city center, making it a great stop for a quick cup of coffee in the morning.
One of the best things about Virmenka is how cheap the coffees are here. You can get a great cup of coffee for only 1 - 2 USD! That is not easy to come by in the city center of Lviv.
The place is a little small, with an even smaller outside seating area, but if you come early enough, you should have no trouble finding a place to sit. Virmenka is a great place to sit outside with a cup of coffee and read your favorite book or watch people walk by.
7. KREDENS CAFE
Location: Valova St, 5, L'viv
Opening Time: 8 AM - 11 PM
Price Range: 28 - 70 UAH (1.1 - 2.7 USD)
KREDENS CAFE is the place to be if you are a digital nomad and are looking for a spacious modern space equipped with fast WIFI and power sockets for you to work from with your laptop.
They serve good coffee and croissants at a decent price. They also have tables and comfy sofas on both floors, as well as a spacious outside seating area. So, if you are looking for a place where you can find space at any time of the day, KREDENS CAFE is what you are looking for.
8. Canlviv Candles Manufactory (Львівська свічкова мануфактура)
Location: Muzeina St, 1, L'viv
Opening Time: 10 AM - 9 PM
Price Range: 35 - 40 UAH (1.4 - 1.6 USD)
Canlviv Candles Manufactory is a candle store that is also a cafe serving a great selection of coffee and pastries for you to indulge yourself in. They have the best eclair in town and the best spot overlooking Lviv's stunning Dominican Cathedral.
The interior is very cozy, with vintage decoration and furniture inside, while nice atmospheric music quietly plays in the background. There is also a seating area outside, where you can enjoy Lviv's fresh air while looking at the stunning facade of the Dominican Cathedral.
9. Druzi (Friends) Cafe
Location: Krakivska Street, 5, L'viv
Opening Time: 8 AM - 12 AM
Price Range: 29 - 79 UAH (1.15 - 3.12 USD)
If you are looking for an all-purpose cafe where you can hang out for any occasion, Druzi (Friends) cafe near Rynok Square is the place to be. They open quite early, so it is perfect for breakfast (you will also get a discount if you stay at the DREAM Hostel above it).
They serve a proper breakfast (scrambled eggs, oatmeal, and pancakes, etc.) as well as lunch and dinner (salads, burgers, and kebabs), so you can always rely on Druzi to serve you.
They are open until midnight and have a really nice outside seating area with cozy lighting, making it the perfect place to meet with friends and hang out with a glass of beer during the summer months.
10. Viennese Coffee House (Віденська кав'ярня)
Location: Svobody Ave, 12, L'viv,
Opening Time: 9 AM - 12 AM
Price Range: 28 - 78 UAH (1.1 - 3.1 USD)
Last but not least, the Viennese Coffee House is one of the oldest coffee houses in the city. The Viennese Coffee House, also known as the Wiener Kaffeehaus, opened its doors in 1829 during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and it has been serving delicious coffee and creamy cakes ever since.
There is nothing quite like the atmosphere of the Viennese Coffee House. With its wooden furniture, giant drapes across large windows, and a portrait of Franz Ferdinand, the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, walking into the café almost feels like walking back in time.
They serve a wide selection of coffee (Viennese-style, Eastern-style, and Tallinn-style, etc.), milkshakes, and hot meals, making it a great place to drop by for just a cup of coffee or lunch/dinner.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Ukraine
Looking for more information for your trip to Ukraine? Here are a collection of articles about Ukraine that might help you with your trip planning.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Here is the 3-Month Itinerary for Europe.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Ukraine is one of the few hidden gems left in Europe, and to see the country and all it has to offer, you will need a complete travel guide. Here is a One Month Itinerary for Ukraine.
- Ukraine has recently loosened up its borders a little for non-European travelers with an E-Visa program. Here is my experience applying for an E-Visa for Ukraine and things I wish I knew before applying.
- Of course, one of the reasons why you are visiting Ukraine is to learn more about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and what better way to learn about it than to go into the field and see it with your own eyes. Here is a complete guide on how to visit Chernobyl.
- If you think Kyiv is only suitable for Chernobyl and Brutalist architecture enthusiasts, then you will be pleasantly surprised to discover how amazing the city is. Here are the top 18 things to do in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- Are you a coffee snob like I am? If so, then you will love Kyiv and its unmatched indie cafe culture. Here are 8 best indie cafes you should check out in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- The Tunnel of Love is one of the most photogenic attractions in Ukraine, and it would be a shame to miss it on your trip to Ukraine. Here's a complete guide on how to visit the Tunnel of Love independently.
- Thinking of visiting the Tunnel of Love and not sure where to base yourself? I would recommend Lutsk, and here are 8 best things to do that will make you fall in love with Lutsk.
- Lviv is the cultural capital city of Ukraine. It is what St. Petersburg is to Russia, Prague is to Czechia, and Krakow is to Poland. It is the most European city out of all Ukraine, and it has so many things to do that you will need a great guide to navigate it. Here are 10 Best Things you should do in Lviv, Ukraine.
- Getting bored of cities? How about we go and hike some of the stunning trails in the Carpathian Mountains? Here is a complete hiking guide to Yaremche and the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains.
- One of the most impressive architectural wonders in Ukraine is Chernivtsi National University in Chernivtsi, a remnant from the Austro-Hungarian Empire time that still survives today. Here are 7 Best Things to Do in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.
- Kamianets-Podilskyi, an island city home to Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Ukraine, is a place that seems like it came straight out of a fairy tale and a place that you should not miss. Here’s a backpacking guide and the top 8 things to do in Kamianets-Podilskyi.
- Odesa is known as the Pearl of the Black Sea, and in order to understand why, you will need to dive deep into its history and even further down underground into its infamous catacomb. Here is a complete guide on tourist attractions and 8 great things to do in Odesa.
- You may not have heard of Kharkiv before, but once you see what I saw when I was traveling in that city, your mind will be blown away by how beautiful it is. Here are the 10 best things to do in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
- Did you know that Kharkiv is also home to the prettiest metro stations in Ukraine? Here are 8 of the most beautiful metro stations to check out in Kharkiv.
- My words are not convincing you about traveling to Ukraine? How about you see it for yourself with my Ukraine travel video? Ukraine Beyond Travel Video
- Want to know where to go after Ukraine? How about visiting Poland? You could also drop by Kosice in Slovakia or go bar-hopping in Budapest, Hungary. We have travel guides for those destinations too.
- For all articles about Ukraine, visit the Ukraine Travel Guide page.
- You can see all of my Eastern Europe-related articles on my Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- You can also see all of my Europe-related articles here: Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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