Hiroki and Sara Oda: Kyiv Ramen, Specialty Coffee, and Techno Clubs

Hiroki and Sara Oda are members of Heavenphetamine. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, they have supported Ukraine by organising charity tours and concerts across Europe and in Ukrainian cities. Their music blends 1960s and 1970s psychedelic rock, krautrock, post-punk, new wave, and traditional Japanese music.

Over the years, Kyiv has become a second home to them — a city they return to regularly to support the local music scene, spend time with friends, and draw inspiration from its atmosphere.

In an interview with VisitKyiv.com, Hiroki and Sara shared the places they return to whenever they are in Kyiv.

Hiroki and Sara’s Picks

• GO Japanese Cuisine is a restaurant serving Japanese dishes prepared using traditional recipes and locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes ramen, gyoza, donburi, and other Japanese classics, along with signature desserts served in handmade ceramic bowls. Hiroki and Sara particularly appreciate the restaurant for its traditional ramen and familiar Japanese flavours.
• Closer is one of Kyiv’s best-known techno clubs, located in the Podil district. It regularly hosts DJ sets, live performances, and electronic music festivals. Hiroki and Sara often spend their evenings here when they are in Kyiv and occasionally perform live as part of themed nights and music events.
• CafeBoutique is a speciality coffee shop and roastery serving coffee made from freshly roasted beans under its own brand. Visitors can order coffee to go or buy beans to brew at home.
• St Andrew’s Church is an 18th-century Ukrainian Baroque landmark known for its turquoise-and-white façade, ornate details, and gilded domes. Hiroki and Sara often come here to take in the panoramic views of historic Kyiv from the observation deck  and walk along Andriivskyi Descent.
• Peaberry is a small coffee shop in Podil that has become one of Hiroki and Sara’s favourite places for morning coffee and peanut butter cookies.
• Spaska 13 is a cultural space in the heart of Podil where locals and visitors come to meet, relax, and attend events. It includes a tearoom, a coworking space, and a film club, and regularly hosts lectures, creative gatherings, and outdoor concerts. Hiroki and Sara have also performed live sets there.
• Silpo is a Ukrainian supermarket chain offering a wide selection of local and imported products, as well as baked goods and pastries made in-store. Hiroki and Sara visit Silpo to look for Asian ingredients for the Japanese dishes they cook at home.