Known since 1837, this street led from Kontraktova Square to Obolonskiy Luky and connected with the road to Vyshgorod. Over the years of its existence, it changed its name several times. The street received its current name in 1869 in honor of the church of Constantine and Helena, which was located nearby and was destroyed in 1930.

The architecture of Kostyantynivska Street, as well as Podol in general, is characterized by the fact that the oldest buildings stand at the beginning of the street, closer to Kontraktova Square, and further, to the north of Shchekavytska Street, buildings from the second half of the 20th century dominate. Among the monuments associated with the street are the Guest Courtyard, the Samson Fountain, and the estate of the Kyiv voyt Yan Bykovsky.

Since 1891, a tram line has been running along Kostyantynivska Street — first horse-drawn, and since 1894, electric, connecting Podil with Kurenivka and Pushcha-Vodytsa.

It connects Kontraktova Square in Podil with the Dnieper embankment. The first mentions of Spasskaya Street date back to the beginning of the 17th century. At that time, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior was located here, the rector of which was the future Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galicia and All Russia Job Boretsky. In fact, the street was named in honor of the shrine. During Soviet times, it was renamed several times, but in 1992 the historical toponym was returned.

The street began to take on its modern appearance after the fire of 1811. A number of historical buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries have been preserved in the development, including:

• the estate of the famous confectioners Balabukhov;
• the mansion of the merchant Apshteyn;
• Mazepa's house - one of the few architectural monuments that survived the fire of 1811 in Podil.

One of the most important transport arteries of Podil, Mezhyhirska Street, received its current name in 1869. It is associated with the Cossack farmstead that existed in this area and belonged to the Mezhyhirska Monastery.

The street originates from the main square of Podil, so its history is largely connected with contract fairs. House No. 1 on it is the famous Kontraktovaya Dom.

Mezhyhirska is clearly divided into two parts. The first is actually Podilskaya near Kontraktovaya Square, where wealthy burghers lived. The second is behind the Ramparts, where workers, the so-called proletariat, lived. This greatly influenced the architecture of the buildings on the street.

Since 1963 and till the early 1990s, the luxurious restaurant Metro had been located in the building above the exit from the Khreshchatyk metro station. It was a real food palace, its four floors housing 13 halls and a summer terrace, with a total capacity of 1,600 visitors.

The establishment was very popular, famous for its delicious cuisine and was considered one of the most visited and most expensive restaurants in Kyiv. In the evenings, there was a variety show and live music. Celebrations, weddings and birthdays were arranged here. Metro was decorated with the panel Blooming Apple Tree and coloured stained-glass windows. Signature dishes were Metro cutlet (Chicken Kyiv made of minced turkey and pork), Metro salad, and Khreshchatyk cocktail.

Next to the Liadski Gate, there is The Last Barricade, a complete artistic and gastronomic space with its own museum, bars and a stage for cultural events. The main idea of the concept is 100% Ukrainian local gastronomy and 100% Ukrainian bar.

The restaurant’s menu includes a large selection of simple and refined dishes, including salo (Ukrainian lard), Ukrainian pickles, matzyk, dumplings, red borscht, chicken fricassee in cream sauce, Chicken Kyiv. Among the desserts, it offers its own ‘green’ version of Kyiv cake. The product mix of bars includes a huge selection of liqueurs and bitters and ciders, which have become the hits of recent gastronomic seasons in Kyiv and Ukraine.

In the 19th century, the Swiss started working in large cities of Ukraine, opening their own cafés and pastry shops. One of them was Bernard Semadeni, who came to Kyiv in 1877 and engaged in the ‘sweet’ business. The confectionery café, which Bernard later opened in the building opposite the City Duma, became the most famous brand of old Kyiv. Thanks to the successful placement, stockbrokers, merchants, politicians and other wealthy people gathered at Semadeni’s for a cup of excellent coffee or a game of billiards and resolved business issues here. People came to the café to read newspapers and magazines from all over the world. Young people made appointments here. A trip to the pastry shop was a real event for the Kyivites.

The pastry house sold the best varieties of cocoa and chocolate, chestnuts in syrup and pineapples, bonbonnieres with sweets, signature cakes, butter rolls, various ice creams, ice cream cakes, coffee and kefir, which was rare at the time. For celebrations, multi-tiered cakes of incredible shapes and decorations, edible sweet baskets with flowers, pyramids and bouquets of sweets were ordered.

Semadeni very creatively advertised his establishment and products. Semadeni’s sweet ‘kicker’ was Katty-Boss caramel seasoned with extracts from medicinal herbs, which was promoted as a remedy for throat diseases. The pastry house became one of the first establishments in Kyiv to have a landline phone installed. It had existed until 1925.