A busy day checking out all Odessa has to offer is sure to work up quite the appetite. Here is a look at some recommended local restaurants ranging from fine dining to casual eating, each guaranteeing a taste of Odessa’s unique heritage in its own individual way.
- Assol Situated in the upscale Arcadia beach area and housed on an old wooden warship inside the local yacht club, the Assol provides not only a touch of class, but a breathtaking view to complement every bite. The restaurant is lit by candle light from stern to aft, serving dually as both a romantic and recreational dining experience. The menu features a mouthwatering sampling of traditional Ukrainian cuisine, while the diverse beverage list includes pirate rum, fresh from the ships basement. Read the rest of this entry »
Among Odessa’s most iconic images is the Potemkin Stairs, a giant stairway that has come to be most recognizable emblem of the city. Known as the Boulevard Steps, the Giant Staircase and the Richelieu Steps throughout various times in the city’s history, the Potemkin Stairs date back to 1825, when the first 200 stairs were originally designed. In the years spanning from 1837 to 1841, the staircase was expanded to more closely resemble the colossal stairway that still stands today.Serving as a formal entrance into the city of Odessa from the from the Black Sea, the stairs scale 27 meters high, extending for 142 meters. To the human eye, the stairs actually appear vary in appearance. In their innovative planning, the Potemkin Stairs were designed to create an optical illusion. Read the rest of this entry »
For tourists looking to get beyond a mere surface scratching tour of Odessa and delve deep into the heart of the city’s history, the Odessa Catacombs offer a unique chance to do just that. Stretching for an estimated 2,500 kilometers beneath the city’s streets, the catacombs are the remains of 19th century stone mines that served the city and the surrounding region of the Ukraine. The numerous limestone homes and buildings that have become of staple of Odessa’s classic architecture trace their roots to just below the ground on which they stand.Once stone mining was banned and the mines were shut down after the Russian Revolution of 1917, the catacombs still continued to play a large part in Odessa’s cultural heritage. During World War II the catacombs served as hiding places for resistance groups struggling against fascist invasion at the hands of the Axis powers. Read the rest of this entry »
Odessa enjoys the Black Sea as its southernmost border, historically serving as a port city for continental Ukraine, with trade routes to other seaside countries. Odessa also regularly sends passenger ships to coastal cities such as Istanbul, Turkey, Haifa, Israel and Varna, Bulgaria. Tourists, however, might most enjoy Odessa’s waterfront locale for its beaches. Here is a look at the area’s most popular places to enjoy a little sand and sun.
- Arcadia Beach About a 15 minute ride from the city’s center, Arcadia is not only the largest beach in the Odessa area but also the most frequented. From the beaches main entrance stretches a long boulevard, home to numerous cafes and restaurants allowing beach goers to make a full day trip, staying for lunch and dinner. After dinner, a wide variety of nightclubs and hotspots run along the strip, making it particularly popular with the younger single crowd. If you’re looking for the most happening beach in the Odessa area, Arcadia is your best bet. Read the rest of this entry »
