The 10 best traditional restaurants in Warsaw
One of Poland's leading fine dining restaurants, and a place worth visiting for almost every new set. Chef Marcin Przybysz of Epoka finds inspiration in ancient Polish recipes and interprets them in a modern way. Everything is on the table: forgotten dishes from three centuries ago, ancient folios, and unexplored regional ingredients, resulting in interesting, educational, delicate, and incredibly beautiful dishes.
In Polish, this name means »Without Stars«, but the restaurant owners are definitely being a tease. Literally every detail here is designed with a clear focus on freshness, locality, and minimalism, with the influence of New Nordic Cuisine evident in the dishes and approach. The menu at Bez Gwiazdek changes monthly and suggests sets, with the main idea revolving not only around Polish cuisine but also representing a specific region.
The local atmosphere can rival that of the nearby Grand Theatre and National Opera (Teatr Wielki). Elaborate rounded chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a series of halls spread across two floors complement the perfectly balanced and creative cuisine.
It's hard to imagine a more suitable location for a Polish cuisine restaurant than the main park of Warsaw – Łazienki Królewskie (Royal Łazienki Park), At Belvedere, which is located in the historical building of the New Orangery, they serve elegant and aristocratic Polish dishes, the kind that would have easily graced the table of the Polish monarch several centuries ago.
Modern Polish cuisine with all the conveniences. Inside, minimalism reigns – with a lot of white color, tons of round lampshades, marble tabletops, and precise geometry. In such settings, modern but intelligently crafted Polish cuisine looks particularly appealing. So much so that The Eatery is rightfully considered one of the main ambassadors of the new wave of Polish cuisine.
A wonderfully crazy synthesis of traditional Polish cuisine and modern culinary approach: with bold flavors, unconventional dishes, clever twists, and vintage porcelain serving. In addition to the elaborate, yet very Polish in spirit, cuisine, there's an extensive selection of natural and biodynamic wines and an irresistibly unobtrusive atmosphere.
Polish vodka and Polish cuisine complement each other perfectly – this has been proven over centuries. You can (and should) experience this for yourself at Elixir by Dom Wódki, a restaurant that focuses on food pairing. Here, you will find not only clever Polish recipes but also a vast selection of local distillates, liqueurs, and infusions that perfectly suited to the local dishes. Additionally, there's a whole museum of spirits with over 700 samples.
Stary Dom is a cult and timeless place. The name, which translates to «Old House», accurately reflects the essence of the restaurant – it truly resembles an old Polish mansion. The interior features noble wood and stone, with antique chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the menu offers iconic Polish dishes, simple and refined. Of course, such surroundings wouldn't be complete without old-fashioned details like a fancy dessert display and a bar trolley for digestives.
Located in a Szucha Palace, the restaurant boasts a sophisticated atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, but without excessive pomp. On the shelves, plump bottles of tinctures glisten, above the marble fireplace hang portraits of the bygone era, and the menu features exquisite dishes from Warsaw and Lviv cuisines, such as crayfish soup and obligatory caviar.
Mozaika is a cult place for several generations of Warsaw locals. The cafe appeared here in the 1960s, and at that time, it was the meeting place for the entire local bohemian crowd – with dancing, lively parties, traditional Polish cuisine, and a decent amount of alcohol. The new owners decided not to completely break the concept but to merge the old and the new into a unique and incomparable mix. The menu now focuses on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes (although some classic items, including the Warsaw-style tartare, remain).