Dana Liss One of the many aerial views from Hotel Ukraina restaurant's patio.

   In the past the Best Of team has doled out advice on the best spot for breakfast, where to get a good burger and how to satisfy your sweet tooth. But let's face it, it's not just about the food. Like most Kyivans, we enjoy dining in an establishment that doesn't serve its grub on plastic trays. Since ambiance is as essential as the meal, the team often dines at restaurants with sprawling aerial views of the city.
    Considering that Kyiv has plenty of tall buildings and gigantic landmarks that you can see from miles away, you'd think it would be crammed with high-rise restaurants overlooking the numerous monasteries, monuments and other sites.
    Instead, most restaurants are tucked away in basements or in storefront buildings.
    But there are exceptions.
    Panorama, located on the 12th floor ot the Dnipro Hotel, hosts a stunning view of the Dnipro River that stretches from St. Sophia's Cathedral in the west to the Friendship Arch in the east.
    The view from Panorama at night sets the stage for a romantic evening, as the restaurant hosts a piano player who can perform a mean rendition of Frank Sinatra's "Return to Me." And the Dnipro itself is so serene that you'd forget you're in the city if you weren't staring at it. Unless you don't mind others eavesdropping, it's best to keep your conversation to a whisper because the dining area is small, with only four tables that are practically stacked on top of each other.
    If it weren't for the green metal bars that obstruct the view, requiring diners to stand up to take in the scene, Panorama would have won our hearts over for the best view. But an obstructed view is hardly better than no view at all.
    Concord, which resides on the eighth floor of the Kiev Donbass complex has neither the height nor a spectacular view of the city. The panoramic scene it hosts consists of decrepit and not-so-decrepit residential buildings at eye level. The only noticeable landmark in the abyss is the lights from Olympic Stadium. What the Concord does have that many fine restaurants in the city don't is a large verandah.
    The Hotel Ukraina restaurant, located in Ukraine's first so-called rive-star hotel, has an expansive view that goes from the university metro station to Horizon Office Towers. And it's not just a few select tables that get treated to the vista. Every seat at the swanky restaurant has a great view. Although there is no outdoor seating, there is a small patio to get a breath of fresh air or have a smoke.
    From its perch on the 12th floor of the hotel, the restaurant offers glimpses of St. Sophia, Maidan Neza-lezhnosti, Besarabska, Horizon Tower and the Lipky heights.
    Sipping on Bloody Mary's on a recent Sunday afternoon, we were enraptured and enchanted.