Bizarre. As you stroll along the swanky Nowy Swiat toward trendy Foksal Street, look through an archway and you’ll spy an oversized garden shed. Located in a back alley right in the heart of Warsaw’s swishest nightlife district, serving strong Polish beer and a great atmosphere late into the night, this bar is delightfully out of step with its surroundings. For those who like their socialising on the downbeat side.

Location: Through an archway off Nowy Swiat, near the turn into Ulica Foksal.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Bunker chic, or a hipster’s fallout shelter perhaps, this underground pub on the Old Town Square tries hard but still manages to be very cool. The funky décor and beats, the lack of natural light, the strong alcohol, all combine to make you feel like you have entered another dimension.

Location: Old Town Square, at the south-west end, downstairs.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Prohibicja is ideally placed on Podwale not far from the Royal Castle and Old Town.

In keeping with its name the restaurant has a mock up of a still above the bar downstairs and the white washed walls are pock marked with fake bullet holes. A suitably theatrical design for somewhere that is owned by four Polish actors.

The menu has both Polish and American influences - including dishes such as Spare Ribs with French Fries and Pike/Perch with Mashed Potatoes, Spinach and Caper Sauce - the food is simple but well cooked and tasty, the service excellent, friendly and efficient.

Podwale 1
www.prohibicja.com.pl

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Cheap and cheerful, if not exactly charming. Great location and nice rooms, this hostel stands out simply by being such in a city dominated by pricey hotels. The staff are friendly, but Oki-Doki perhaps takes its unique status for granted, often requiring guests to change rooms. But it really is just 10 minutes’ walk from the Old Town, less to the Palace of Culture and Science, and its in-house bar is good craic till the wee hours.

Plac Dabrowskiego 3, Corner of Marszalkowska and Swietokrzyska;
Getting there: Taxi from the airport costs about 30 Z/;
tel: 48 22 826 5112;
okidoki@okidoki.pl;
www.okidoki.pl

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A good place for refreshment after the museum and film. Modern, music a bit loud, handsome Polish barmen will correct your pronunciation.

Rynek Starego Miastra

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Features 70s décor and young customers, but there’s no discrimination against over 40s, perhaps the seats are rather low, which makes getting up out of them a bit of an effort, but that might have been caused by the half litre of Zwiec and the shot of Wyborowa.

Ul Freta 51

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends