Ukrainian WORLD WAR II Restaurants Experience!! Medieval Building Tour | Lviv, Ukraine

My incredible time in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine continued with a one-of-a-kind medieval building tour! Come with me as I hit up three awesome spots in one building, including a mind-blowing Ukrainian World War II restaurant!

My friend and guide Diana from Tours by Locals and I started our afternoon at the former Venetian Consulate in Rynok Square. It’s called the Holding of Emotion Complex and is home to three businesses: Kryivka Restaurant, Freemason’s Lodge, and Pretty High Kitchen.

You have to know a special password to get into Kryivka, which is said to be the most-visited restaurant in Europe! Exploring the entire building is a super unique experience!

After saying the password back to the guard and passing the “test,” you enter Kryivka,
a bunker-style World War II restaurant. It’s part restaurant, part museum!

There are also lots of guns on the walls, a cell for captured Russians, several small dining halls, and a bar. At the bar, Diana and I enjoyed some horseradish horilka and cranberry horilka. The cranberry was easy to drink, but the horseradish was scary strong!

Then, we headed to the bunker where the nationalists lived and stored their weapons. There’s also a gift shop where you can buy war-themed souvenirs!

Then, we headed up to the Freemason’s Lodge. To get inside, you must go through a Soviet-style bachelor’s apartment and be approved to go through.

Inside is lots of Freemasons imagery. They have Colonist wine there, which is roughly 250 hryvnia/$10 USD. There are more pictures of 19th-century Ukrainian Freemasons and a unique BMW from the 1920s!

The bathroom is plastered in money and even has money under the toilet! The menu prices are 10 times higher than anywhere else.

We tried some Cabernet Grande Reserve wine and enjoyed the amazing view of the city. It was delicious and felt like a Bordeaux. Then, we headed up to Pretty High Kitchen for lunch!

Pretty High Kitchen is large and spacious, with high ceilings and even vinyl records. There’s no menu, so the chef comes and asks what you like and offers suggestions based on that.

I went with a James Bond Martini and Diana got the Violet Spritzer. My grandmother loved martinis and drank one with two olives every day. She lived to be 97!

Then, my pulled pork and Diana’s sea bass arrived. My pulled pork contained blue cabbage, cheese from the Carpathian Mountains, and greens. Pork is very common and affordable in Ukraine.

It reminded me of Texas barbecue and was so moist and juicy! The fresh ingredients were phenomenal.

The creaminess of the cheese, moist pork, and crunchy beetroot were incredible. I tried a bit of Diana’s sea bass with arugula, blue cabbage, and tomatoes. It was so tasty and flavorful

Each dish costs roughly 300 hryvnia/$12 USD each. It’s one of the best restaurants in the city. You have to taste the food here for yourself! The cinnamon in the glazy, marinated blue cabbage was unreal!

Then, it was time to go! Before we left, though, we visited the rooftop terrace. The tables were surrounded by plastic tents.

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#Davidsbeenhere #Lviv #Ukraine #DavidInUkraine

About Me:

My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 13 years, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,200 destinations in 83 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media sites.

I focus a great deal on food and historical sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning about the local history and culture.

P.S. Thank you for watching my videos and subscribing!

[johnavery]

Diana is so cute when she tells David to enjoy his meal at the 15:33 mark, that seemed like it was off script and comes off so natural.

[FoodieMeatsFood]

You are finding the best places to go to! I love the concept of reciting a password and getting a free drink before entering an establishment

[michelleevans]

I'm enjoying these Ukrainian videos! With what happened the last day, so many videos on Ukraine started popping up on my recommendations. It's a bittersweet day. I'm really hoping this country will not become unrecognizable and ruined. That would break my heart. My last husband was from Kyiv. The marriage didn't work out, but the interest and love of the food and culture stayed with me. I hope there's a chance someday for me to visit. With these videos from the last few years, I get a chance to see that country before the tragedy. Peace to you, your family and love to the people of Ukraine. Stay safe out there everyone ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[Xlawghter]

I'm from Brazil and i love these places and your videos

[IgorGrytsenko]

Thanks for this tour. It's kinda revisiting Lviv with You

[sugreev]

Lviv is absolutely amazing. It’s so fun. A shame how American and British media portrays the country. I’m legitimately considering taking a vacation in Lviv because of your awesome videos.

[mikedelacruz]

Loving the Ukraine series Brotha ✊🏼🧐!! This tour of the museum, bunker rooms, bars, & food was pretty Frick’n Dope. Cheers from California Bro 👊🏼😎🤙🏼

[faizyfy]

Ukraine has a very interesting history i see...very very interesting.

[harlzberg]

Ukraine looks good on you man, you seem natural out there

[vt]

The guide lady is lovely, ,, love her💐❤️😘. David hi mate😎🤟 big fan

[UAkovalchuk]

I'm Ukrainian born. but live in Missouri USA ... You should visit my hometown of Chernivtsi ..south west of Ukraine... beautiful city

[jeminpatel]

thanku for this amazing experience i just get through my screen

[bitcoinman]

You go some of the most interesting places and eat the most delicious food. The beer must be very fine overseas.

[pmskyV]

May I say SHout out to the Lady who is so COOL Dobry Zovitz I AM Slav ROOTS, 100 yrs in USA .... FREEDOM SLAVA!

[jgilmo]

Nice! Dave you should visit the Holodomor museum when back in Kyiv... very touching the history there.

[rnava]

I’m going in the summer because of this video

[jamiemacklin]

It’s so sad to see this now. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine🇺🇦

[rajivharidasan]

david this world war 2 experience look is awesome..

[AndyRhye]

It's cool that they played Queen's A night at the opera album at the 3-d restaurant

[JASMINITALISVITAL]

LUV LUV LUV THE UKRAINIAN CENTURY! AHAHAH