Since it was first founded in the middle of the thirteenth century, on the scale of things Lviv has only recently been part of Ukraine. Poland occupied it from the 1400's and then again between the two world's wars, before being absorbed by The Soviet Union until '91. There is a strong sense of nationalism as a result and in many establishments, speaking the local lingo is very much the only way to get a warm response in return. It charms visitors like that of any central European town, cloaked in colourful, Baroque and Renaissance style town houses, paired up with scores of cobbled stone streets. My first and last experience of Lviv involved dipping into a medley of chocolate shops and cafés all with a march to their own beat. Attempting to sense the overall pace of the city wasn't hard and even less difficult to keep up with. The core of the town quite rightly deserves its name in the UNESCO world heritage list. It's a wonder how the city survived both Soviet and German occupations. A touch of magic bestows its squares and alleyways. Lviv - the heart of the Ukrainian soul sits in a quiet corner of the country, 700 years since its foundation. #breakfast #fine-dining #cheap-eats #food #open-late #bar #beer