Why this Ukrainian city is inviting Canadian tourists: ‘Welcome to Lviv’
Global News
Ukrainian leaders say one of the best ways for Canadians to support the embattled country's economy is to pack their bags and come see it for themselves.
Two women sit at a table near the front door of a small, nondescript bar in western Ukraine.
Speak the password, and they will escort you to a closet, inside which is a staircase that leads down to a stone cellar.
As they descend, they’re greeted with bass music from the chic restaurant below. It’s decorated with modern art installations that represent Ukrainian independence and the Russian occupation. On the menu is elevated traditional Ukrainian cuisine. All the ingredients and beverages are sourced from within the country.
The speakeasy restaurant in the thriving entertainment district of Lviv is an astonishing sight; certainly not what most people associate with a country at war.
Ukrainian leaders say one of the best ways for Canadians to support the embattled country’s economy is to pack their bags and come see it for themselves.
“If you’re brave, welcome to Lviv,” says mayor Andriy Sadovyi, spreading his arms wide to gesture to his beautiful city.
The mayor spoke to The Canadian Press from his office in the city’s town hall, in the heart of the cobblestoned streets of Old Town.
The area is relatively safe compared to the rest of the country. The streets sparkle with twinkly lights around the doorways of independent shops and vibrant restaurants, as small crowds of people bustle past ornate neo-Gothic and renaissance buildings.
