Lviv restaurant holding !Fest is preparing for its first entry into the German market: in December 2026, the first "Pyana Vyshnya" (Drunken Cherry) venue will open in Berlin. This was announced by the head and co-owner of the holding, Andriy Hudo, on his LinkedIn profile, which Ukrainian media outlets cited, referencing his post. For the company, founded in 2007 and developing several gastronomic brands at once, launching in Germany will be a logical continuation of the international expansion that began back in the mid-2010s.
Location Near the TV Tower: Why This Address Was Chosen
The network's first German establishment will be located at Rathausstraße 5 in the central part of Berlin, near the Berlin TV Tower. According to Andriy Hudo, this is a crowded location with high pedestrian traffic, and in the German capital itself, by his estimate, a significant Ukrainian community resides, which the company views as part of its target audience. The choice of address is thus explained by a combination of tourist and local traffic and the presence of the diaspora.
Renovations, Announcements, and a "Worn-out" Door Handle
At the time of preparing this material, interior renovations are ongoing, but announcements about the upcoming opening are already displayed on the windows, attracting the attention of passersby. Hudo shared that future guests approach the door and try to open it by tugging on the handle, joking that the handle is "already a bit exhausted" even before the bar opens. According to him, "winter will come, and in December 2026" the company plans to launch its first business in Germany. The opening is thus positioned as an event for which the location has effectively been "warmed up" by public interest.
From Rynok Square to a Dozen Countries: Brand History
The history of "Pyana Vyshnya" began in 2015 with the first venue on Rynok Square in Lviv. The core product of the brand became cherry liqueur, around which the bar concept is built. Since its launch, the chain has developed both in Ukraine and abroad. According to data published by the brand in October 2026, "Pyana Vyshnya" unites about 80 establishments in ten countries; a number of publications use a more rounded estimate of "over 70 locations" in Ukraine and abroad, including the UK, France, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova.
!Fest Holding and Its Other Projects
"Pyana Vyshnya" is part of the !Fest holding portfolio, founded in Lviv in 2007. The company's co-owners are Andriy Hudo, Yuriy Nazarchuk, and Dmytro Herasymov. In addition to the cherry liqueur chain, the holding's portfolio includes well-known projects such as "Rebernya" (Ribs House), "Lviv Chocolate Workshop," and "Lviv Croissants" (Platsky). The holding develops restaurant, bar, coffee, and retail formats, allowing it to scale successful concepts into new markets.
Franchise as an Expansion Tool
Parallel to preparing the Berlin venue, the company is promoting its franchise format: in October 2026, "Pyana Vyshnya" presented its franchise at the Franchise NEXT exhibition in Cologne, held on October 15–16. This indicates that entering Germany for !Fest is not a one-off opening, but part of a broader strategy of European presence, where, according to the holding's previously published plans for 2026, a launch in the Czech Republic was also considered. The Berlin bar will thus become the network's first "anchor" establishment in Germany and a benchmark for further work on the German market.
