Te Amo Lviv café (location).
The café Te Amo Lviv has become a hub for Lviv’s expats and English-speaking locals. In this column Café Society, Te Amo regulars offer their perspectives on the city of Lviv.
By Tim Rhodes
Coming to Lviv for the first time, I was struck in awe by the kindness of the locals, amazing architecture, and traditional culture. Wandering the streets is also an experience in itself, as I found myself spending hours exploring the local shops or randomly running into an evening event that I didn’t even know was going to happen.
Yet like all newcomers, anyone who has never ventured to this side of the world may find themselves without a social circle. Fortunately, this problem can quickly be resolved, as the expat community in Lviv is quickly growing.
A street scene in Lviv
After only just a few days in Lviv, I met a local at an event who told me that Te Amo Lviv Coffee Shop (which means «I love you Lviv» in Spanish) frequently hosts events. With the urge to meet fellow expats like myself and other Ukrainians, I quickly went on to their Facebook page to see the upcoming events. The next event on their calendar was an international meetup for locals and foreigners alike. Not knowing many people in the city, I decided to give it a go.
That same night, I went to the city center not knowing what to expect from the event being held at Te Amo. I walked in and was greeted with a smile from an extremely well-dressed man. He introduced himself as the owner of the café (Tanmay Naskar, or «Dew,» a native of India), and after a quick chat said to me, «Welcome to Lviv, and go ahead and take a seat.» I ordered a ginger tea and sat down at one of their many tables.
Read more: Te Amo Lviv Café Becomes English-Speaking Hub
To my surprise, most of the tables were full. No, they were packed. I would estimate that around 30 to 40 people showed up that night. Locals were extremely eager to engage in conversation with anyone who was willing to give their city a try, and I was excited to meet some new people.
My first conversation was with a girl from Kyiv who also happened to be visiting the café for her first time that same night. We talked about who we are, our interests, and what brought us both to Lviv.
After that, I met a Canadian who comes to Lviv off and on.
«I’m an oil engineer and sometimes get called to work when it’s least expected. Since I’m working on this side of the world, I try to spend most of my time in Lviv whenever I’m not working. I fell in love with the city right away, and I’m sure you will too.»
A few hours had passed before I realized that I was having a great time getting to know locals and foreigners alike.
But do you know what the best part was? I hardly had to make an effort to try and make any future plans. Locals were asking me for my contact information and already started scheduling activities for us to do together. In less than a week, I was already starting to feel at home.
Lviv is an incredible city. It has amazing food, beautiful architecture, and interesting streets to explore. However, it’s much more than that. It’s the people.
Their charm, kindness, and willingness to make you feel welcome left me in shock, as I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt this way in a new city. For anyone looking for a new place to call home, Lviv could be your next destination.
Tim Rhodes is a long-time traveler and freelance writer for multiple travel blogs and Frugal For Less. He enjoys surfing, taking care of cats, and exploring the path less taken.
For more information about Lviv:
Midnight in Lviv: The Story of Ukraine’s American Exiles
«The Americans in Lviv are looking for new ideas.»
Virtual Tour of Lviv: A City of Spiritual Nourishment
With a mix of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, and Jewish temples, Lviv is a city that appeals to seeking souls. And it also gave birth to a legendary Muslim thinker.
From the swans of Stryiskyi to the views of the High Castle, Lviv is a city full of varied parks: some landscaped, some wild.
Top Ten Lviv Attractions: Like Paris in the 1920s
Here are things to see and do in a city of conversation culture.
Arriving in Lviv: Practical Tips
Here’s what to do at the airport, along with some suggestions about cash, tip etiquette, SIM cards, event schedules, and info to orient you to the city.
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Lviv Now is an English-language website for Lviv, Ukraine’s «tech-friendly cultural hub.» It is produced by Tvoe Misto («Your City») media-hub, which also hosts regular problem-solving public forums to benefit the city and its people.
