Ok, too much time on my hands this evening ...Zaporojie, short data (seems to be the first one here), been there many times since three years, but last time was last summer, and just for a week, therefore to be updated :
- Getting There:
Zapo is a city of about 800 000, but they have just a crappy little airport with almost no activity. Even Ukrainian Airways has stopped its flights to Zp (nonetheless there's some flights to Turkey). So you have either to fligh to Kiev and then take a train ( "Intercity" fast train takes about 7 hours), either to fligh to Dnipropetrovsk (flights via Kiev, Moscow and Vienna) and then take train or taxi (80 km) to Zapo. Zaporojie is definitely still off the beaten tracks.
- Getting Around
You'll probably spend all your time in the center. Lenina prospekt (now Soborniy)is the main avenue, and in fact is one of the longest avenue in Europe, with some 24 kms. The real center stretches on about 2 or 3 km, from the Intourist hotel to Shevshenko Park. Everything is at, at most, two blocks from Lenina, so it's very easy to navigate. Depending on the situation, you may be able to walk pretty much everywhere (except to go to Banana - see below "nighlife")
- Accommodation
You can easily find centrally located aparts for about 4/500 €/month or 25/30 €/day on Airbnb. Focus closely on location. Ideally, get a place near the Ukraine mall on Lenina prospect, best is around Stalivarov Ulitsa (many nice cafes with terraces), as you'll probably spend a lot of time in the vicinity. I have contact of a woman who manages a dozen of apartments there, in case someone is interested.
- Eating
Surprisingly, there is many good eating options in Zapo. I'd recommend:
* Fish Cafe (on Lenina): One of the most trendy cafe/restaurant in town, lot of good fish dishes, very nice outdoor terrace. Expensive by Zapo standarts. Great for dates. I dined there at least three times a week.
* Rozmarin (Shevshenko av): My headquarter, very enjoyable summer terrace. Chic, good italian food.
* Fiesta (next to Rozmarin): Huge summer terrace (with DJs from 5pm) on the Shevshenko park, most often packed in the evening. Decent food, best place for pre-dinner game.
* Nair (far from the center): A chic Armenian venue, in a stylish two storeys building with courtwards, terraces, hidden corners, ect. Good food, and enjoyable decor.
* Aristokrat (on Lenina): A pretentious place that looks like a roman temple, but open 24 hours and "in" with party-goers. Huge summer terrace, DJ, good food.
* Pinta (Lenina): Also a nice terrace, one of the best ukrainian restaurant in town - good saussages and soups.
* Jolly Rogers : On the river, huge summer restaurant with an immense terrace, very nice, gorgeous views on the river and on Khortitsya island. Great to have a romantic quiet late lunch or diner with your GF. There is maybe a dozen of restaurants with terraces on the Dniepr by the way, but Roger is definitely the most enjoyable. There is sometimes live music at night, then the place becomes very busy - lot of girls.
- Night Venues
In Zapo, no P4P and sleazy sex-tourists - except Turks and your occasional "Italianos". There is nonetheless a club - Banana - that the locals call "our little Kiev" and this is where sluts congregate. Drinks are a steal (vodka bottle costs 25 €, Corona 3 €), no charge for tables. Efficient table service, good atmosphere, everyone drinks a lot, but the guys are not aggressive and I've never wittnessed a brawl, but I've been involved in a (light) fight outside with gopniki who couldn't go in. By the way RVF member Lika said it is one of his fav club in Ukraine.
Many videos of Banana on youtube:
Other clubs:
* Caroussel (near the Ukraine mall): an upscale venue, but quite nice, with good live music. All tables, so difficult to open. Ratio w/m about 3/1 (no cheating). Classy women, 25-30 years old. Been also involved in a fight there with Chenchen guys (I'm a quite sanguine person after vodka lol), broke a chair on the head of one of those bearded dicksuckers - I was with a RVF member.
* Crown Bar (Intourist hotel): the "in" club of Zapo for 18/22. Shitty techno music, too loud, but of pretty girls dressed to kill.
* Orbita (didn't visit)
* Mixx (on Lenina) : big club, well-known spot to pick-up late-teens girls.
* Kapitalist (same block as Mixx) : upscale and "in" place, club and bowling under one roof, filled with classy women in their mid/late 20s.
* Music Hall (didn't visit)
- Impressions
You have to like the "frontier" destinations to enjoy a place like Zapo. Dnipro or Kharkov, per exemple, seem more "civilized". Zapo has a "old style FSU" atmosphere. Personally, I like it a lot. It's one of the greenest city in Ukraine BTW. Also the White God Factor works in Zapo (as in Dnipro for that matter) much more than anywhere else I've been in Ukraine. I think anyone with a decent look, moderate game, a decent wardrobe, and at least two weeks there could be quite successful. It's also culturally more interesting than most other East Ukraine cities - Zaporojie region, and especially Khortitsya Island, was the largest Cossack "sich" (republic) of the russian empire - don't miss the Museum of History of the Zaporozhzhya Cossacks on the Island.
At least two well-repped members have spent time in Zp, so they might have other feelings or tips about the place.
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