If you were to visit only one restaurant in Warsaw, this would be an excellent choice. Tropical plants, flowers in bloom, high ceilings and walls of glass all contribute to making the interior stunning and unforgettable. This restaurant offers sophisticated and creative interpretations of international cuisine. The European dishes are first class and no cost has been spared to ensure that everything is of the highest quality. The food looks good and tastes great. It is beautifully presented and professionally served. The wine and drinks menu offers many tempting choices.
Grand Kredens has improved the quality of Warsaw's restaurant interiors. Check it out and see what everyone's talking about. To describe the decor at Grand Kredens is almost like talking about several different restaurants: there is a section which is styled like a Parisian bistro, another that feels like a seaside restaurant and yet another which resembles an Italian trattoria. It may sound impossible, but somehow it actually works. Like the decor, the food, too, is extremely varied. Italian pasta dishes stand side by side with steak and designer salads. A fair selection of wines and other drinks is also available. The restaurant is open daily from 11a until the last guest leaves.
Boathouse overlooks the Vistula River and used to be a real boathouse, thus the high ceilings and natural wooden beams. There are several large dining rooms to choose from, as well as fantastic outdoor seating. The food is beautifully presented. Pastas are excellent, as are the salads and desserts. The wine list is similar to its sister restaurant ( Blue Cactus) and features wines from Argentina, California and South Africa. Neither the food nor the drink comes cheap but all of it is top quality.
Pub Lolek, which looks like a stone-age fort from the outside, is known locally as the "Flintstone Bar." Local bands perform regularly on a small stage. There is a large outdoor section, complete with a playground for the kids. A lot of people come here for the type of Polish food that they crave: grilled sausages and the like. Unusual dishes such as potato pancakes with tzatziki sauce and classic Polish bigos are also available. The drinks selection is extensive and includes beer and cocktails. A local beer costs around PLN8. Open all days of the week from around noon.
El Popo was Warsaw's first Mexican restaurant. It caused quite a stir upon arrival, bringing Mexican food lovers in by the droves. These days it's still popular, attracting a mixed crowd of Poles and expats. Its location makes it a downtown favorite. El Popo success is evident; the owners now have three other equally excellent places in town (Mekong, Santorini and Chianti). The decor consists of bright colors contrasting with the dark wood furniture, cute clay ashtrays and a bar with a smoking grill. It's just dark enough to be romantic, as candles are included and there is a private upstair seating section as well. The food at El Popo is a mix of favorites such as burritos and tacos, and other dishes made while you wait by the smoking grill. El Popo introduced the Margarita to Warsaw, and there is also a good selection of beer and wine.
The entrance to this traditional, historical restaurant is under a wrought-iron dragon in Warsaw's famous Old Town Square. It is not out of line then to expect an abundance of dragon motifs throughout the restaurant. The cutlery and tableware are all in the old, formal Polish style. The menu consists of lots of roast meat dishes, pickled salads and other traditional dishes. Everything is prepared according to old, tried and true recipes. There is a good selection of wine and beverages, as well as the ubiquitous range of vodkas.
When this place opened it caused a fairly big stir. Zanzibar is a modern, chic and stylish place on two levels. Everything has been set up so that you can see and be seen, and feel good about yourself while doing it. Trendy cocktails are available here, as well as imported beer and expensive vodka. However, you can still get a good Polish brew for a mere PLN8, which is a bargain considering the fancy atmosphere. Some food is also available, as well as very good coffee.
This Indian take-away was what Warsaw desperately needed. The quality of the food here is excellent. The decor is café-style, but with only a few very small tables. A lot of the action is take-away, featuring mostly Indian food, which the average Pole has no idea about. Nevertheless, the staff are patient and willing to explain. Not strictly Indian, the menu also features a wide range of vegetarian options. If you love samosas then this is the place for you. Your plate could also be packed with crispy, piping hot pakoras that will have you coming back immediately. It should be stressed that this take-away offers the best value for money in town.
This is an upmarket, basement restaurant partly owned by Michalczewski, the Polish world-champion boxer. The walls are tastefully decorated with sports memorabilia and there is a (fairly) large screen on which important sporting events are shown. Boxing and football tend to dominate. The food is Mediterranean and a little pricey but they also offer set lunches (soup and main course). The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and many customers seem to be regulars.
Morgan's is a family-run business dedicated to customer care, Irish style. The unique atmosphere is mainly due to Ollie, the most famous landlord in Warsaw, who knows most of the regulars by name and can often be found on the other side of the bar telling jokes or giving advice. This is a dark, smoky, three-roomed pub with a welcoming atmosphere. There is loud live music most nights and the place is great for a late night out. The usual range of beers and spirits (and reportedly the best Guinness in town) are offered, along with bar food and snacks.
Taking inspiration from the Balkan's distinctive culture and delicacies, Tawerna Tabaka beckons patrons to get away from the big city life and enjoy a sumptuous feast in an exotically relaxing, cozy setting. Rustic decor elements such as stone-layered walls, hardwood tables and chairs, Turkish lamps, rugs and floppy fishnets make this underground space, comforting and warm. The restaurant captures the essence of royal Ottaman cuisine, with prominent Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Greek and Turkish influences. The well-informed staff will point you in the right direction menu-wise. You won't go wrong with the massive Mixed Fish platter, or the rich and extra sweet Turkish dessert baklava, that will soothe your palate after a spicy meal.
Despite the growing diversity of culinary emporiums in Warsaw, it's still a refreshing change to find a restaurant that effortlessly combines a consistent concept, comfortable atmosphere, skillful and swift service and inspiring food. This is exactly why Instytut, a relative newcomer stationed on a side street of the city's historic Old Town, is such a revelation, one that is still yet to discovered by discerning diners and style-conscious tourists. The gallery-like decor is of the clean, understated perfection achieved only by meticulous attention to detail, with seating arrangements separated by large columns and shelves stocked with funky designer accessories. There are no conventional meet-and-potato meals here; instead, the dishes present a thrilling complexity of flavors. - Anna J. Kutor