Local food and drink: Ukranian cuisine naturally has a lot of similarities to Russian and a lot of Slavic cuisines, so expect to see plenty of Borscht (vegetable soup, commonly made with beets) and variations of Huliash (which is a stew/goulash sort of affair) on the local menus.
Oh, and vodka. Lots of vodka.
Main Drinking Areas
The majority of the bars in Donetsk can be found in the centre of the city – it doesn’t pay to go wandering too far off the beaten track, particularly if you’re alone, at night. The Artema area houses a lot of the bars and restaurants.
Irish & English Pubs
Richard Pub, at 87 Artema Str, offers over a dozen varieties of beer, as well as housing its own restaurant of serving English dishes, such as roast beef.
The Golden Lion is an Irish haven in central Donetsk – the Guinness flows at 76 vul. Artema.
Restaurants
The major hotel complexes offer their own restaurants, and these are often good places to find some decent grub. These are mostly aimed at the tourists, however if you’re after something local, try Shynok on vul Artema 127, for some good quality local dishes.
Brasserie des Artistes is a casual but stylish eatery serving good wines and plenty of beer reminiscent of Paris in the 1930s, located at 80 Artyoma Str (at the Donbass Palace). It’s far from being the only French-style restaurant in town, though. At the same address you will also find Fusion, an asian eatery offering teppanyaki style dining. The cooking is all part of the show, and something to be experienced.
Victoria Restaurant offers continental European cuisine, as well as an excellent wine list, and live music in the evenings. Go to 14a Mira Avenue, at the Victoria Hotel centre. Bassano del Grappa at 8 vul Hrinkevycha, on the other hand, is a little piece of Italy in downtown Donetsk.
