Ukraine is a diverse Eastern European nation rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. From the golden-domed churches of Kyiv to the charming cobblestone streets of Lviv, Ukraine offers travelers architectural marvels, vibrant cultural traditions, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Ukraine through its food.
Kyiv Old Town Food Crawl
A guided walking food tour through Kyiv's historic Podil district and Andriyivskyy Descent, sampling borscht, varenyky, salo, and local street food at 6-8 stops. Includes Ukrainian craft beer and horilka tasting with historical storytelling.
Besarabka Market Morning Tour
Expert-guided tour of Kyiv's magnificent Besarabka Market discovering local cheeses, artisan honey, fresh produce, pickled vegetables, and dried mushrooms. Includes cooking demonstration and tasting of a prepared Ukrainian dish.
Lviv Chocolate and Coffee Tour
Explore Lviv's legendary coffee and chocolate culture visiting the Lviv Coffee Manufacture, Lviv Handmade Chocolate factory, and historic café Masoch Café. Sample multiple chocolate varieties and specialty coffee preparations unique to the city.
Lviv Old Town Gastronomy Walk
Taste Lviv's diverse culinary heritage reflecting its Polish, Austrian, Jewish, and Ukrainian influences. Visit traditional delis, artisan bakeries, cheese shops, and restaurants sampling dishes at each stop through the UNESCO-listed historic center.
Ukrainian Fine Dining Experience
An evening of elevated Ukrainian cuisine at Kyiv's finest restaurants including Kanapa or Odesa, featuring a curated multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings showcasing the best of modern Ukrainian gastronomy with culinary storytelling.
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Ukraine's food scene.
Street food tours
Street food crawls in Podil district covering pyrizhky, shaurma, borscht takeaway cups, and local fast food at Kyiv markets and food stalls — typically $20-35/person self-guided or $35-50 guided
Market tours
Guided market tours at Besarabka Market (Kyiv) and Halytskyi Market (Lviv) with vendor introductions, tasting of local specialties, and knowledge of seasonal Ukrainian ingredients — $30-50/person
Restaurant tours
Multi-course tasting menus at restaurants like Kanapa, Veterano Coffee, and Odesa Restaurant showcasing modern Ukrainian cuisine — $60-120/person with beverages
Specialty tours
Dedicated Lviv chocolate tours, craft horilka distillery visits, Ukrainian wine tastings, and artisan honey farm experiences — $30-70/person depending on format
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Ukraine home with you.
Ukrainian Home Cooking Class, Kyiv
Learn to prepare classic Ukrainian dishes including borscht, varenyky with various fillings, and deruny (potato pancakes) with a professional Ukrainian chef in a teaching kitchen. Includes market shopping, hands-on preparation, and sitting down to eat what you've cooked.
Pampushky and Ukrainian Bread Baking, Lviv
A fun hands-on class focusing on Ukrainian baked goods including pampushky (garlic bread rolls), paska (Easter bread), and traditional sweet pastries. Learn sourdough and yeast techniques used in Ukrainian village baking traditions.
Varenyky Masterclass
Dedicated workshop teaching the art of making Ukrainian varenyky (dumplings) with multiple traditional fillings including potato and cheese, sauerkraut and mushroom, and seasonal berry fillings. The quintessential Ukrainian cooking experience.
DIY self-guided food tour
Self-guided food exploration through Kyiv's Podil district and Andriyivskyy Descent, discovering authentic Ukrainian cuisine independently at local prices
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Stop 1: Besarabka Market for fresh local produce, artisan honey tasting, and pickled vegetable samples (8AM-11AM)
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Stop 2: Pyrizhky street vendor near Kontraktova Square for fried dough pastries with potato or cabbage filling ($0.50-1 each)
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Stop 3: Puzata Hata cafeteria for authentic Ukrainian lunch including borscht, varenyky, and holodets (aspic) at local prices ($5-8 total)
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Stop 4: Lviv Handmade Chocolate shop (multiple Kyiv locations) for artisan chocolate tasting and souvenir purchase
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Stop 5: Kyiv craft beer bar in Podil (Varvar or Pravda) for Ukrainian craft beer alongside traditional snacks like smoked meats and pickles
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Stop 6: Evening dinner at Kanapa or Odesa restaurant for elevated Ukrainian cuisine and horilka cocktails
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
The best borscht in Ukraine is dark red, thick, and served with a dollop of smetana (sour cream) and a slice of garlic pampushky — don't accept watery orange imitations
Varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) are served fresh, not frozen — look for restaurants making them in-house; potato-cheese and sauerkraut-mushroom fillings are classics
Lviv has Ukraine's most developed café culture with the Lviv Coffee Manufacture and dozens of specialty coffee shops — the city takes coffee extremely seriously
Ukrainian supermarkets (Silpo, Fora, Novus) are excellent for budget eating and have excellent deli sections with prepared borscht, salads, and ready-made varenyky
Puzata Hata cafeteria chain offers the best-value authentic Ukrainian food experience — a full meal with borscht, main, and kompot costs $5-8
Salo (cured pork fat) is a Ukrainian staple eaten on black bread — embrace it at least once; good salo has a clean, mild flavor and is not greasy
Ukrainian craft beer scene has exploded since 2010 — Varvar Brewing in Kyiv and Pravda Beer Theatre in Lviv are world-class microbreweries worth visiting
Horilka (Ukrainian vodka) infused with honey, pepper, or herbs is best enjoyed as a shot with a pickle or herring — the traditional way locals drink it
Markets are best visited in the morning (8-11AM) when produce is freshest and vendors are most willing to share samples and recommendations
Look for the Halychyna or Galychyna dairy brand — Ukraine produces exceptional smetana, tvorog (farmer's cheese), and kefir sold at market stalls