Holidays in Warsaw and a Food Guide through the City
Twice to three times a year I am visiting
the city, in which I partly grew up and went to school. Back then, I wasn’t
interested as much in food and restaurants as I am now, but I always enjoyed
getting to know new places around town. However, during these times there
weren’t a lot of places to explore; a few coffee chains (OMG, a Starbucks
opened!!), food chains and other small restaurants that were pretty good, but existed
already for ages; which was good – I am a fan of traditional places that
haven’t changed over the last 50 years, but there were no new culinary things
to explore...
Since I moved away in 2009 the city has
changed a lot and even now, when I come back every 6 months, there are plenty
of new restaurants, cafes and bars that appearing from nowhere. To be honest the city reminds of Berlin.
Food markets, Scandinavian-styled cafes, own coffee roasters, brunch and
bagels, all this seems to be available everywhere around Warsaw. This is what I
am not sure about, I really can’t decide – I do like new places popping up,
coffee getting better and better and restaurants serving amazing dishes
influenced by Italian, Middle Eastern, French or US and South American cuisine.
BUT, even though there are still some traditional spots and little so called
“milk-bars” (serving proper Polish dishes at small prices) that have been
polished (ha-ha) up and have been given a nicer and more modern outlook, I have
the feeling that some places are
starting to lack this individual touch they had a few years ago.
Well, nevertheless I do like a lot of
places that opened since I left and I just hope that this
lovely city, full of life and potential will keep its flair that makes it so
special to me.
You can view and download a PDF version of the restaurant list HERE.
Żoliborz:
Fawory: Breakfast/Snack cafe and evening-chill out place for young people; serving a variety
of fried eggs with e.g. spinach, jalapenos or other fresh ingredients; 10-20PLN
(2,5-5€); easy-going, friendly atmosphere & offer all kinds of brewing techniques
Location: Mickiewicza 21, Warszawa
Domagoj: Kroatian restaurant serving traditional kroatian dishes, perfect for dinner;
40-50PLN (10-13€); good wines
Location: Pawła Suzina 8, 01-586 Warszawa
Winny Przystanek: Wine bar; serving all kinds of wines per glass or bottle and small
appetizers like olives or cheese; 15-70PLN (or more, depending on wine)
(3,5-18€)
Location: Adama Mickiewicza 20, Warszawa
Website: http://winnyprzystanek.pl
DOM: Modern Polish restaurant serving Polish dishes with a little twist; good lunch menus;
20-80PLN (5-20€); they have seating outside in a lovely garden
Location: Mierosławskiego 12, Warszawa
Centrum/ Śródmieście:
Mandala: Indian/Thai restaurant with a plain but cozy interior serving the best
Indian food in town; 25-40PLN (6-10€); great mango lassi, go for the lamb
vindaloo or the green chicken curry
Location:
Website: http://mandalaklub.com/Menu.aspx
Bibenda: Modern Central European cuisine with Middle Eastern influences; stylish, simple
interior, dimmed light, New York style; very friendly waiters; 30-60PLN
(7-15€); menu changes frequently, if you have the chance, try the
sage-pine-nuts koftas in cherry sauce
Location: Nowogrodzka 10, Warszawa
SAM: breakfast and lunch place serving all kinds of sandwiches, salads and breakfast combos; 25-50PLN
(6-12€); try their homemade bagels with cream cheese and salmon;
co-working-place atmosphere, very relaxed
Location: Lipowa 7a, 00-313 Warszawa
Bułkę przez Bibułkę: breakfast and lunch place; 20-40PLN (5-10€); great coffee, several locations
Location: Puławska
24, 02-512 Warszawa
Niezłe Ziółko: breakfast and lunch place; 15-30PLN (4-8€); great coffee, smothies and
sandwiches; relaxed atmosphere, nice waiters
Location: Krucza 17, 00-525
Warszawa
Słodki Słony: café
serving traditional, but also not so traditional polish cakes and pastries and
also small lunch dishes; 15-60PLN (4-15€); cakes are rather expensive, but
extraordinary; try the “Malinianka”, a yeast pastry with raspberries; kitschy,
cozy atmosphere
Location: Mokotowska
45, Warszawa
Website: http://www.slodkislony.pl
Smaki Warszawy: café with cakes and small dishes; 15-50PLN (4-12€); try one of their
pavlovas (“biala dama”)
Location: Żurawia
47/49, Warszawa
Website: http://www.smakiwarszawy.pl
Kaskrut: Modern, regional polish cuisine; great price-value, 49PLN (12€) for a four-course
vegetarian menu, 69PLN non-vegetarian; regional ingredients, detail-loving and
fancy menu changes every week; not very comfortable seating, nice waiters
Location: Poznańska
5, Warszawa
Ministerstwo Kawy: coffee place; 8-25PLN (2-6€); delicious ice-tea, mocca and coffee;
wood-dominated interior & offer all kinds of brewing techniques
Location: Marszałkowska
27/35, 00-639 Warszawa
Cafe Karma: coffee place with own roaster also serving small dishes; very relaxed place to hang
out for a while; 10-30PLN (3-8€); buy some of their coffee beans or ground
coffee for around 3€ per 100g
Location: Mokotowska
17, 06-640 Warszawa
Charlotte: French-inspired breakfast place; 8-30PLN (2-8€); very hectic, waiters quite unorganized
and confused but friendly; non-pretentious, simple interior; try their
croissants and the charcuterie
Location: aleja
Wyzwolenia 18, 00-001 Warszawa
Prasowy: Traditional Polish “Milk Bar”; serving all kinds of polish food; 5-25PLN (2-6€);
canteen-like, but modern interior; you get your receipt and have to wait until
the number of your order is called; try leniwe pierogi, pierogi ruskie and
their pancakes
Location: Marszałkowska
10/16, 00-590 Warszawa
Tuk Tuk: Thai restaurant; Thai curries and dishes; 25-40PLN (6-10€); take-away/bistro
atmosphere staff quite hectic; try the Phad Thai
Location: Mokotowska
17, 00-640 Warszawa
Saska Kępa:
Kuchnia Funkcjonalna: Modern Polish cuisine; regional dishes with a special twist; 20-60PLN
(5-15€); modern interior with dimmed light and dark colours; attentive and
friendly waiters
Location: Jakubowska
16, Warszawa
Wilanów:
Złoty Król: Traditional Polish pub; Polish dishes in an old self-service restaurant; 5-20PLN
(2-5€); good, traditional food, but don’t expect the older lady to be friendly
Location: Stanisława
Kostki Potockiego 27, 02-952 Warszawa
Website: -
Mokotów:
Przystanek Piekarnia: Bakery; fresh and tasty bread and pastries; 4-10PLN (1-2,5€); try the
cranberry-rye bread
Location: Koszykowa 58, Warszawa
Other things you shouldn't miss (Click on the names to get to the respective website):
Park Wilanowski - Lovely park a bit outside from the city center
Łazienki-Park - Another lovely and big park; you can have swim with little boats or listen to a free
Chopin concert on Sundays at 12 o'clock
Muzeum Narodowe - National Museum with a lot of interesting exhibitions
Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej - Contemporary Art Museum
A stroll through Francuska street in Saska Kepa, on the other side of the river
The Old Town and the castle, Krakowskie Przedmiescie, Nowy Swiat
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