12TH MAYOR OF WARSAW'S ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2026 WINNERS
Grand Prix
Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw
Public Architecture
Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw
Residential Architecture
Home for Young Mothers and Their Children (Fundacja Po Drugie)
Public Space Design
Żerański Park
New Life for Buildings
Nowa Skra Centre
Commercial Architecture
FI Office House
Architectural Event
The Best City in the World. An Opera about Warsaw (joint winner)
Architectural Event
Home Staging. Behind the Iron Gate exhibition (joint winner)
Residents' Award
CD Projekt RED Headquarters
Mayor's Architecture Awards: Warsaw's Best New Landmarks
Looking for Warsaw's most impressive contemporary architecture? The winners of the 12th Mayor of Warsaw's Architecture Awards offer the perfect sightseeing itinerary. Celebrating projects that combine outstanding design with everyday usefulness, this year's honours recognise everything from university buildings and sports facilities to parks and public spaces. Rather than rewarding iconic skylines alone, the awards highlight places that improve daily life through sustainability, accessibility and thoughtful urban planning. For architecture enthusiasts—and anyone curious about Warsaw's remarkable transformation—they provide a ready-made guide to some of the capital's newest destinations worth exploring.
In the news
ARCHITECTURE
A new life beneath the bridge
The space beneath Warsaw's Poniatowski Bridge could soon become one of the capital's most unexpected public spaces. As part of a design competition exploring new uses for the bridge's vast concrete undercroft, architect Martyna Jaworska imagined a tranquil urban oasis where cascading water curtains, reflecting pools and lush planting transform an overlooked passageway into a destination.
ARCHITECTURE
Spyville reimagined
One of Warsaw's most intriguing Cold War landmarks is entering a new chapter. The City of Warsaw has selected JSK Architekci to lead the transformation of the former Soviet diplomatic housing complex at 100 Sobieskiego Street, better known as "Szpiegowo" ("Spyville"). Chosen through an international architectural competition, the Warsaw-based practice will oversee the modernization of the landmark complex while preserving its distinctive modernist character.
The redevelopment will convert the long-abandoned estate into around 180 municipal apartments for key
public-sector workers, including teachers, healthcare staff and other essential city employees, while adding new residential buildings and ground-floor services. Once a symbol of Cold War secrecy and decades of legal disputes between Poland and Russia, the estate is being reimagined as a vibrant residential community. The city plans to negotiate the final design contract with JSK Architekci before detailed design work begins, marking a remarkable transformation from one of Warsaw's most notorious addresses into a place that will once again serve the people of the capital.
What's in for August
The Weeknd
Few artists have redefined modern pop quite like The Weeknd. Blending R&B, synth-pop and cinematic production, Abel Tesfaye has spent the last decade turning deeply personal songs into global anthems, with hits including Blinding Lights, Starboy, Can't Feel My Face and Save Your Tears. His latest stadium tour is a full-scale spectacle, pairing towering visuals, elaborate staging and immersive lighting with one of the most recognisable voices in contemporary music. Whether you're a longtime fan or simply want to experience one of the summer's biggest live events, this promises to be an unforgettable night under the Warsaw sky.
When: August 4–5
Where: PGE Narodowy
Andrea Bocelli
The legendary Italian tenor returns to Warsaw for one of the year's biggest concerts. Expect an evening of opera favourites, crossover classics and cinematic production at Poland's largest stadium.
When: August 16
Where: PGE Narodowy
Joji
The Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter brings his atmospheric blend of alternative pop, R&B and electronic music to Warsaw. His emotionally charged live performances have earned him a devoted international following.
When: August 23
Where: COS Torwar Arena
HYPE Summer Festival
Dust off your low-rise nostalgia and prepare for a night of unapologetic singalongs. HYPE Summer Festival celebrates the infectious dance-pop that dominated clubs, house parties and radio stations throughout the early 2000s, bringing together artists including Morandi, Akcent, O-Zone, Lucenzo and other favourites from the era. Expect the kind of songs everyone still knows by heart, complete with booming basslines, Eurodance beats and choruses that transport you straight back to the days of flip phones and burned CDs. Designed as one giant open-air party, the festival embraces the fun of nostalgia without taking itself too seriously. Whether you're reliving your youth or introducing a new generation to the soundtrack of the millennium, it's an evening built for dancing, singing along and celebrating some of pop's most enduring guilty pleasures..
When: August 30
Where: Letnia Scena Progresja
Moby
More than three decades after redefining electronic music with albums like Play and 18, Moby remains one of dance music's most influential artists. His concerts blend ambient soundscapes, soaring vocals and infectious beats with spectacular visuals that celebrate both nostalgia and innovation. Whether you've followed him since the '90s or discovered him through countless film soundtracks, this rare Warsaw performance promises an evening that moves effortlessly from intimate reflection to euphoric dance-floor moments.
When: August 4
Where: Letnia Scena Progresja
August brings peak tomato season to BioBazar in the Norblin Factory, alongside stone fruits, berries and the first mushrooms—perfect for savoring now and preserving to brighten the colder months ahead.
August Farm Finds
PANTRY WORTH WAITING FOR
There's a reason preserving remains such a beloved tradition. Every jar represents a little insurance against winter's grey days. When the tomatoes are bland, the berries long gone and the forests asleep, opening something you bottled yourself becomes more than dinner—it becomes a reminder that summer always returns.
In Poland, preserving isn't simply about reducing waste; it's about capturing a fleeting moment. The sweetness of August raspberries, the rich perfume of sun-ripened tomatoes, the earthy aroma of wild mushrooms and the juicy abundance of stone fruit can all be enjoyed long after the market stalls
have emptied. A well-stocked pantry becomes a collection of edible memories, ready to inspire everything from a quick pasta dinner to a Sunday breakfast months later.
So this August, bring an extra bag to BioBazar. Fill it with tomatoes first, then berries, stone fruit and mushrooms. Eat plenty now, save some for later, and let your pantry tell the story of one very good Polish summer. If you're new to preserving, YouTube is full of excellent step-by-step guides for bottling tomatoes, making jams, drying mushrooms and preparing preserves, making it easy for beginners to get started with confidence.
TOMATOES: Poland's other national treasure
There are few ingredients that inspire as much quiet devotion in Poland as a perfectly ripe August tomato. Thick slices sprinkled with salt. Tomatoes on rye bread with butter. Chopped into salads. Simmered into sauce. Everyone has a favorite way to eat them, and everyone insists this year's harvest is especially good.
They're also fleeting. Within weeks, these sun-ripened beauties will disappear, replaced by the pale supermarket versions that remind us why tomato season is worth waiting for. That's why August is the time to buy generously. Eat them every day, but don't stop there. Turn them into passata, roasted tomato sauce, or jars of slow-cooked tomatoes that can brighten a February pasta or rescue a gloomy winter soup. If you've never preserved tomatoes before, now is the perfect excuse. Search YouTube for tomato preserving, passata-making or Italian-style bottling. Watching someone demonstrate the process makes it far less intimidating—and you'll be rewarded every time you open a jar months later.
MUSHROOMS: The essence of the forest
Late summer also marks the welcome return of wild mushrooms. Chanterelles usually appear first, followed by porcini and a growing variety of woodland treasures as the season progresses.
Fresh mushrooms are wonderful simply sautéed with butter and herbs, but many Polish kitchens have another tradition in mind. Drying intensifies their earthy aroma for winter soups and Christmas dishes, while pickling and preserving extend the season well beyond autumn. Few ingredients capture the forests of Poland quite like a jar of mushrooms waiting patiently on a pantry shelf.
STONE FRUITS & BERRIES: Summer in a Jar
Tomatoes may steal the headlines, but August belongs just as much to peaches, plums, apricots, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Their season is short, their fragrance unforgettable.
Some are destined for pies and galettes, others for breakfast yogurt or an afternoon snack, but the smartest shoppers always leave with a little more than they planned. A pantry lined with homemade jams, fruit compotes or preserved peaches is more than practical—it becomes a reminder of summer on the darkest winter mornings.
BioBazar The Norblin Factory, Żelazna 51/53, biobazar.com.pl
Centrum Praskie Koneser
Lato Konesera
SUMMER
CONTINUES AT KONESER
Stand-up comedy takes center stage this month as Centrum Praskie Koneser welcomes some of Poland's funniest comedians for a series of openair performances beneath the Factory Chimney. Combined with outdoor cinema, theatre, Chopin concerts, live music, yoga sessions, dance workshops and weekend markets, August offers another packed programme of free events in the heart of Praga. Whether you're looking for culture, relaxation or simply a great summer evening with friends, Centrum Praskie Koneser remains one of Warsaw's best places to spend the season.
AUGUST 1 (Saturday)
18:00
Open-Air Theater –Puss in Boots
AUGUST 2 (Sunday) 10:00
Outdoor Yoga with Zdrofit
14:00–16:00 Swing Step Dance Workshop
AUGUST 3 (Monday)
18:00
Open-Air Theatre –Szelmostwa Lisa Witalisa
AUGUST 4 (Tuesday)
18:00
Indian Henna Painting Location: Bombaj Masala
AUGUST 5 (Wednesday) 19:00 Evening Yoga
AUGUST 6 (Thursday) 19:00 Chopin Concert –Andrzej Wierciński
AUGUST 7 (Friday)
19:30
Open-Air Cinema –EVERYTHING FOR SALE
AUGUST 8 (Saturday) 10:30 Morning Yoga 11:00-19:00 Art Market Poland
AUGUST 9 (Sunday) 10:00
Outdoor Yoga with Zdrofit
15:00-16:00 Radio Show –La Pausa Italiana
11:00-19:00 Art Market Poland
AUGUST 10 (Monday) 20:30 Stand-up Comedy – Tomek Kołecki
AUGUST 11 (Tuesday) 18:00
Indian Henna Painting Location: Bombaj Masala 20:30
Stand-up Comedy Bartosz Zalewski
“
From open-air stand-up and cinema to yoga and live music, August at Koneser is where Warsaw comes together
Chopin Concert
Open-air stand-up comedy
AUGUST 12 (Wednesday)
19:00 Outdoor Yoga
AUGUST 13 (Thursday)
19:30
GQ Music Stage –Leon Krześniak
AUGUST 14 (Friday)
19:30
Open-Air Cinema –The Maids of Wilko
AUGUST 15 (Saturday)
10:30 Morning Yoga
18:00
Open-Air Theatre –Politics
AUGUST 16 (Sunday)
10:00
Outdoor Yoga with Zdrofit
14:00–16:00 Swing Step Dance
AUGUST 18 (Tuesday) 18:00 Indian Henna Painting Location: Bombaj Masala
AUGUST 19 (Wednesday) 19:00 Evening Yoga
AUGUST 20 (Thursday)
19:30
GQ Music Stage –Weronika Drybs
AUGUST 21 (Friday)
19:30
Open-Air Cinema –Hunting Flies
AUGUST 22 (Saturday)
10:30 Morning Yoga
20:30 Stand-up SynMojegoTaty
11:00-19:00 SHOP LOCAL!
AUGUST 23 (Sunday) 10:00 Outdoor Yoga with Zdrofit
11:00-19:00 SHOP LOCAL! 20:30 Stand-up Comedy Adam Sobaniec
AUGUST 25 (Tuesday) 18:00 Indian Henna Painting Location: Bombaj Masala
AUGUST 26 (Wednesday)
19:00 Evening Yoga AUGUST 27 (Thursday)
19:00 Chopin Concert –Yehuda Prokopowicz
AUGUST 28 (Friday) 19:30
Open-Air Cinema –Kill It and Leave This Town
AUGUST 29 (Saturday) 10:30 Morning Yoga
AUGUST 30 (Sunday) 10:00
Outdoor Yoga with Zdrofit 14:00–16:00 Swing Step Dance Workshop
swimming pools
SUNTAGO AT A GLANCE
#1 Europe's largest indoor water park
35 Water slides, one of Europe's biggest indoor collections
700+ Real palm trees from around the world
32°C Tropical air temperature maintained year-round
15 Themed saunas for relaxation and wellness
102 Fully equipped bungalows at Suntago Village
30 minutes From central Warsaw by car
3 Themed zones: Jamango, Relax and Saunaria
3 Dead Sea salt pools
5 Mineral pools
14 Massage treatment rooms
1,750m Deep geothermal well helping heat the complex
4 Restaurants plus multiple swim-up bars and cafés
16+ Minimum age for the Relax and Saunaria zones
A tropical escape, whatever the weather
From adrenaline-filled water slides to tranquil thermal pools, Suntago delivers a resort-style getaway that feels worlds away from Warsaw.
Only half an hour from central Warsaw, Suntago has redefined what a day trip can be. Rather than simply being Europe's largest indoor water park, it has evolved into a destination where families, wellness enthusiasts and thrill-seekers can all find their own version of the perfect escape.
The first impression is one of perpetual summer. More than 700 towering palm trees, a constant 32°C tropical climate and expansive indoor spaces create an atmosphere that feels remarkably distant from the Polish seasons. Powered in part by geothermal energy drawn from deep beneath the ground, the complex offers an environmentally conscious take on yearround leisure.
For visitors chasing excitement, the Jamango zone delivers plenty of it. Europe's largest collection of indoor water slides is joined by a wave pool, rushing river, adventure river and the Surf-Air simulator, while younger guests can explore Pirates Playground and the interactive Crocodile Island, one of the park's newest attractions.
Adults, meanwhile, may find themselves gravitating towards Relax and Saunaria, where themed saunas, mineral pools, Dead Sea salt baths and a full Wellness & Spa programme create an altogether slower pace. The addition of a snow chamber and salt cave only reinforces Suntago's credentials as a wellness destination rather than simply a water park.
Those reluctant to end the experience can extend their stay at Suntago Village, a collection of fully equipped bungalows just steps from the park.
Whether you're planning a family adventure, a weekend wellness break or simply looking to swap grey skies for palm trees, Suntago proves that sometimes the best holiday is the one you never have to board a plane for.
Nowy Świat 1, Wręcza (30 minutes from central Warsaw by car)
swimming pools
Cool off without leaving the city
From Olympic-sized pools to leafy park retreats, Warsaw's open-air swimming spots offer the perfect way to beat the heat all summer long.
Inflancka
A Warsaw summer classic, Inflancka has welcomed generations of swimmers looking to escape the heat without leaving the city centre. The complex combines serious lap swimming with recreational pools, waterslides and dedicated children's areas, making it just as attractive to families as fitness enthusiasts. Its location, only minutes from the Old Town and Dworzec Gdański, means it's easy to fit into a day of sightseeing before spending an afternoon poolside.
• Recreational and lap pools
• Two waterslides
• Children's paddling pool
• Walking distance from Metro Dworzec Gdański
Moczydło
When Warsaw heats up, locals head for Moczydło. The city's largest outdoor swimming complex has something for everyone, from an Olympic-sized sports pool and twisting waterslides to shallow splash areas for younger children. Wide lawns provide plenty of space to spread out with a towel or picnic, making it feel more like an urban resort than a municipal pool. Located in Wola, it's easy to reach by public transport and remains one of Warsaw's most popular summer destinations.
• Olympic-sized swimming pool
• Waterslides and children's water playground
• L arge sunbathing lawns
Szczęśliwice
If you're after a quieter day in the sun, Szczęśliwice offers a more relaxed atmosphere than Warsaw's larger pool complexes. Set within leafy Szczęśliwicki Park, the outdoor pools are surrounded by walking paths, sports facilities and open green spaces, making it easy to turn a swim into a full day outdoors. It's a favourite among Ochota residents and a great alternative for visitors who prefer nature over crowds.
• Located in Szczęśliwicki Park
• Adult and children's pools
• E xtensive grassy relaxation areas
THE DIVER WHO DRIFTED INTO WARSAW'S HEART
From the streets of Minsk to walls across Europe, Mihas Mishuk aka ArtMihus's handdrawn diver has become an unlikely symbol of resilience, exile and the quiet joy of discovering a city one wall at a time.
Insider: I was genuinely surprised to spot one of your divers while I was on holiday in Greece. It made me realise your work has travelled far beyond Warsaw. Where else have your divers surfaced, and is there a city where you've secretly dreamed of leaving one?
Mihas Mishuk: The divers appear in cities and countries I'm lucky enough to visit myself, or through friends and people who connect with the story behind the character. Sometimes someone suggests placing one because they live there or are travelling there.
One place I'd especially like to leave a diver is Minsk. That's where the project began, but I can't travel there at the moment. I hope one day I can.
Can you tell us the story behind your divers? And I've noticed a few alongside the Mermaid. Is that a play on Wars and Sawa?
The diver was born in 2013, when I graduated from the Academy of Arts and had no idea what came next. I felt like I was being carried by the current of life, and the diving suit became a metaphor—a shell protecting you from the outside world.
I started drawing divers at home and pasting them around the city. Those walks helped me cope with uncertainty. Eventually I found work, stopped making art for almost eight years and nearly forgot about the diver.
Then came the 2020 presidential election in Belarus. After the protests and the violent crackdown, I was forced to leave my country. Suddenly I was living with the same uncertainty as before, and the diver returned. Now the current carries both of us from city to city. In a way, he's an immigrant diver. Today he can be found in 25 cities across 16 countries.
The Mermaid collaborations
came from wanting to make the project more accessible. At first I felt people didn't quite connect with the diver, so I began pairing him with local symbols. That's how the Mermaid appeared, followed by the Strelitzia in Madeira, the Owl in Athens and the Winged Lion in Venice. It's a creative challenge that encourages me to learn about each city's history while giving the diver a new context. And every single diver is still drawn entirely by hand.
At what point did you realise your little diver had stopped being a sticker and become part of Warsaw's visual identity?
It's flattering to hear people say that, but I don't really feel it myself yet. Perhaps it's because I still live here. The divers aren't even in every neighbourhood yet, although I hope to change that this summer.
Your divers seem to appear in places that feel perfectly
street art
chosen. Do you spend more time creating the artwork or scouting the city for the right wall? Choosing locations is difficult to explain. Sometimes a place reveals itself immediately; other times I can wander for hours without finding the right wall. There are locations I've watched for weeks before deciding they were ready.
Lately I've been experimenting with scale and creating installations in the water, but most of my winter is still spent drawing the classic divers. On a productive day I might complete 10 to 20 small pieces, while a larger work can take several days.
The diver has become an unofficial mascot for many people exploring Warsaw. Have you ever been recognised while putting one up, and what's been your favourite reaction? Yes, I have. One of the most memorable moments was receiving
a letter from a commercial diver in Australia. After I explained the meaning behind the character, he described descending hundreds of metres into dark, murky water where you can barely see beyond your own arm, relying entirely on your diving suit for protection. His experience mirrored the emotions that inspired me to create the diver in the first place.
Insider: If you could create one giant permanent ArtMihus installation anywhere in Warsaw, where would it be?
I already know exactly where. It would stand in the Vistula, near the pedestrian bridge, where my current installation is now. Only this one would be much larger and built from durable materials. The existing piece is made of wood, so I doubt it will survive more than a year. I hope one day I'll be able to build the version I've always imagined.
FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ARTMIHUS
• Every diver is drawn entirely by hand—nothing is printed
• The project first surfaced in Minsk in 2013
• The diver began as a metaphor for uncertainty before becoming a symbol of exile and resilience
• Today, divers can be found in 16 countries and 25 cities
• The largest installations can take several days to complete
Give Mihas Mishuk aka ArtMihus a follow
Build Better Teams
Swap presentations for pottery, emails for easels and meetings for memories.
The strongest teams aren't built during meetings—they're built through shared experiences. As companies place greater value on collaboration, communication and employee wellbeing, team-building has evolved far beyond trust falls and conference rooms. Warsaw now offers an impressive range of experiences designed to inspire creativity, encourage problem-solving and strengthen workplace relationships, whether through food, art, adventure or friendly competition. From hands-on workshops to unforgettable days on the Vistula, these ten standout venues prove that investing in your people is always good business.
BUSINESS EVENTS ON THE VISTULA
Can a corporate event impress guests, bring people together and strengthen a brand’s image at the same time? On the Vistula, absolutely. Warsaw River Cruises creates events that combine professional organisation with genuine emotion and a truly unique Warsaw setting.
Warsaw River Cruises is the largest river cruise operator in the capital and a leader in organising events on the water. Our fleet consists of five vessels: two restaurant barges and three passenger boats. We host both intimate meetings for 15 guests and large-scale events for up to 500 people.
Organising an event on the Vistula does not have to be complicated. Throughout the year, we provide comprehensive event services on board our boats and restaurant barges, taking responsibility for the entire production. We arrange the cruise, menu, catering, open bar, service staff, decorations, music, branding, live cooking and additional attractions. The organiser chooses the style and purpose of the event, while we take care of the logistics, coordination and delivery.
This approach saves time, reduces the number of subcontractors and makes it possible to create one coherent event tailored to the brand, budget and objectives of the meeting. With more than 350 events delivered each year, we can efficiently organise both an intimate board meeting and a large corporate event for several hundred guests.
Exceptional cuisine is an essential part of our offer. We serve elegant dinners, modern brunches and unlimited buffets filled with delicious dishes. Our menus include meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan, healthy and gluten-free options, while our open-bar packages provide the perfect complement to every occasion. Each menu is designed to accommodate the dietary preferences of all guests. Quite simply, the food is excellent.
The location of our vessels is another major advantage. We are moored at Jana Karskiego Boulevard, close to some of Warsaw’s most important landmarks. This setting combines the prestige of the city centre, views of the Vistula and a distinctive atmosphere that impresses guests from the very first moment.
team building
POLISH YOUR COOKING
HIGHLIGHTS
• Over 10 years of experience
• Team-building workshops designed with business psychologists
• A fun alternative to the traditional company dinner
• Relaxed, interactive cooking experiences
• 5.0 Google rating from more than 1,200 reviews
Polish Your Cooking ul. Długa 44/50, unit 903, polishyourcooking.com, tel. 784 624 221
BLACK CAT ESCAPE ROOM
Escape Together
HIGHLIGHTS
• Corporate events for groups of 5 to 70 people
• Immersive rooms tailored to every skill level
• A Warsaw Uprising-inspired adventure
• Delicious dinner for a complete company event
• Illusion show and handson magic workshops
Black Cat Escape Room ul. Grochowska 23/31, blackcat.pl/en tel. 881 612 321
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
more memorable than the traditional company dinner? Polish Your Cooking has been bringing teams together through hands-on culinary workshops in the heart of Warsaw for more than 10 years.
Designed in collaboration with business psychologists, each event encourages participants to naturally collaborate, divide tasks and solve challenges in a relaxed, informal atmosphere where job titles quickly disappear. As they like to say, the kitchen is exceptionally fair—when chopping onions, the CEO, manager and assistant all cry the same.
Working in teams before gathering around one table to enjoy dishes they've prepared themselves, guests discover that cooking together is one of the most effective—and enjoyable—ways to strengthen workplace relationships.
FEW ACTIVITIES REVEAL how a team works under pressure quite like an escape room. At Black Cat, colleagues must pool their ideas, communicate clearly and trust one another as they race against the clock to solve puzzles and unlock the next clue.
With a variety of highly detailed scenarios, every challenge feels like stepping into another world. Among the most distinctive is a room inspired by the Warsaw Uprising, offering a uniquely local setting that combines historical atmosphere with immersive gameplay. Whether tackling mysteries, cracking codes or searching for hidden clues, success depends less on individual brilliance than on working together—making every successful escape feel like a genuine shared achievement.
KONTAKT
Raise a Glass Together
HIGHLIGHTS
• Three dining rooms across two floors
• Private events for up to 70 guests
• Mediterranean-inspired sharing cuisine
• Around 400 wines from artisanal producers
• Wine tastings and workshops with Piotr Pietras MS & sommelier team
• MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023–2026
kontakt ul. Sandomierska 13 hello@kontakt.wine
SOME OF THE BEST business conversations happen around a shared table. At kontakt, a neighbourhood neo-bistro inspired by Mediterranean cooking, team gatherings are built around seasonal sharing plates, exceptional wine and a relaxed atmosphere that encourages conversation.
The menu follows the seasons and showcases the best available ingredients, while an extensive wine list of around 400 bottles celebrates artisanal producers from across Europe and beyond. Spread across three dining rooms on two floors, kontakt welcomes private events for up to 70 guests, making it equally suited to client dinners, company celebrations and team events.
For groups looking to add something extra, wine tastings and workshops led by Master Sommelier Piotr Pietras and the restaurant's sommelier team offer an engaging and memorable experience.
Recognised with the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand every year from 2023 to 2026, kontakt combines outstanding hospitality with one of Warsaw's most respected dining experiences.
team building
STUDIO ALIKE
Create Something Together
HIGHLIGHTS
• Creative workshops for corporate groups
• Pottery, painting and hands-on craft experiences
• Relaxed atmosphere suitable for all skill levels
• Encourages creativity and collaboration
• Everyone leaves with a handmade keepsake
Studio Alike ul. Jagiellońska 36 studio@alike.pl +48786332881
MOONSTREET
The City as Your Playground
HIGHLIGHTS
• Outdoor city games across Warsaw
• Custom-built scenarios for companies
• Teams solve puzzles and complete challenges together
• Blends sightseeing with friendly competition
• Suitable for groups of all sizes
Moon Street kontakt@moonstreet.pl moonstreet.pl
NOT
EVERY TEAM-BUILDING event needs a stopwatch. At Studio Alike, the focus shifts from competition to creativity, inviting colleagues to slow down and make something with their own hands. Whether painting ceramics, working with clay or exploring other artistic techniques, the workshops encourage conversation as naturally as creativity. No previous artistic experience is required, making the sessions accessible to everyone regardless of role or ability. The emphasis is on experimenting, sharing ideas and enjoying the process rather than striving for perfection. Better still, every participant leaves with a handmade reminder of the day—a small souvenir that continues to spark memories long after the workshop has ended.
FORGET MEETING ROOMS
and conference hotels. Moonstreet turns Warsaw itself into the venue, transforming streets, landmarks and hidden corners into the setting for interactive team adventures. Through a series of puzzles, challenges and missions, colleagues work together to navigate the city while discovering places they might otherwise walk straight past. Each game is tailored to the group's goals, whether encouraging communication, creative thinking or simply giving colleagues the chance to enjoy one another's company outside the office. Equal parts scavenger hunt, escape game and city exploration, Moonstreet proves that sometimes the best team-building exercise is simply getting everyone outside and letting the city do the rest.
team building
WANDAL
Gather Around Great Food
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
are often built around the table, and WANDAL offers a fresh take on contemporary Polish hospitality. Celebrating the country's culinary traditions through seasonal ingredients and modern interpretations, the restaurant pairs its cuisine with a distinctive wine list featuring producers exclusively from within 1,000 kilometres of Warsaw.
Awarded the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2026 and named Warsaw Insider's Best of Warsaw: Newcomer 2025, WANDAL has quickly become one of the city's most exciting dining destinations. Its lively atmosphere and versatile spaces are equally suited to business dinners, client entertaining, team celebrations and private events.
Founded by forward-thinking chef Adrian Bęben and Master Sommelier Piotr Pietras, WANDAL combines contemporary casual dining with warm hospitality. Two dining rooms— including a private dining room for up to 40 guests—and an open kitchen create an engaging setting for gatherings both large and small.
HIGHLIGHTS
• MICHELIN Bib Gourmand
• MICHELIN Opening of the Year 2026
• Contemporary Polish cuisine
• Wine list featuring producers exclusively within 1,000 km of Warsaw
• Two dining rooms
• Private dining room for up to 40 guests
• Main dining room accommodating up to 50 guests
WANDAL ul. Pańska 97 (THE FORM building), Event bookings: rezerwacje@wandal.pl
THE BEST TEAM-BUILDING DOESN'T HAPPEN AROUND A CONFERENCE TABLE
• Historic vessels including Werner and Loewentin from 1892
• Private charters for up to 80 guests
• Floating restaurants and cocktail bars on the Vistula
• Tailored corporate events and celebrations
• One of Warsaw's most distinctive waterfront experiences
Żegluga Warszawska
barkawarszawska.pl
+48 886 700 010
kontakt@barkawarszawska.pl
Looking for a team-building activity that gets everyone moving? At Pixel XL, the floor itself becomes the game. Interactive LED tiles respond to every step, transforming the space into a giant playground where colleagues race, strategize and compete through more than 30 games that reward communication, quick thinking and teamwork. Designed to be accessible regardless of age or fitness level, it's the kind of experience where laughter quickly replaces office hierarchy. Whether as a standalone event or part of a larger corporate celebration, Pixel XL offers an energetic alternative to traditional team-building—and one your team will still be talking about long after the scores are forgotten.
FEW VENUES CHANGE your perspective quite like the Vistula. Żegluga Warszawska has spent years introducing visitors and companies alike to Warsaw from the water, offering everything from intimate cruises aboard the historic Werner to larger events on Loewentin, one of the capital's most recognizable passenger vessels. Whether planning a team celebration, client reception or company dinner, every event can be tailored with catering, entertainment and flexible cruise options. Combined with its floating restaurants and cocktail bars along the river, Żegluga Warszawska transforms an ordinary corporate gathering into an experience guests are likely to remember long after they've returned to shore.
team building DWORZEC WODNY
River Escape
HIGHLIGHTS
• Home to Kalima, Warsaw's first floating beach
• Scenic Vistula cruises with Warsaw Boats
• Mediterranean restaurant with panoramic river views
• Live music, DJs and sunset events throughout summer
• Yoga, cocktails and one of Warsaw's best golden-hour spots
Warsaw Boats warsawboats.pl info@warsawboats.pl
WARSAW FOODIE TOUR
by Culinary Frontiers
HIGHLIGHTS
• Warsaw's highest-rated food tour with 200+ fivestar reviews
• Fully customizable corporate experiences
• Upgrade with premium restaurants, wine pairings or extra drinks
• Blends Polish cuisine, history and local culture
• Ideal for client entertainment and international teams
FOR YEARS, Warsaw turned its back on the Vistula. Today, the river has become the city's favorite place to unwind, and nowhere captures that transformation better than Dworzec Wodny WWA, Kalima and Warsaw Boats. Part marina, part restaurant and part social hub, Dworzec Wodny WWA offers sightseeing cruises, private charters and sweeping views across the river. Alongside, Kalima—Warsaw's first floating beach—pairs sand, cocktails and lush greenery with one of the city's most sought-after sunset settings. From morning yoga to live music curated by resident artist Shambalaya, every visit feels like a mini vacation on Warsaw's revitalized waterfront.
FOOD HAS A REMARKABLE way of bringing people together, especially when it's shared while exploring a city. Warsaw Foodie Tour has quickly become Warsaw's highest-rated food tour, earning more than 200 five-star reviews for its engaging mix of authentic Polish cuisine, local history and neighborhood storytelling. The experience doesn't have to end with the final bite. Corporate groups can continue the fun with post-tour refreshments, while optional live shows and illusion workshops add an extra layer of entertainment that transforms an already memorable outing into a complete team-building experience. For corporate groups, every experience can be tailored to suit the occasion. The classic route can be elevated with premium restaurant stops, expanded drink selections, wine pairings or a completely bespoke itinerary designed around your team's interests and schedule. Whether entertaining international clients or rewarding employees, Warsaw Foodie Tour offers a relaxed, memorable way to discover Warsaw—one delicious stop at a time.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Warsaw's overlooked historic neighborhood
BY DIANA BŁAŻEWICZ
PHOTOGRAPHS
If you’ve lived in Warsaw long enough, you develop a mental map of places to dodge. Old Town in peak season is ground zero—a chaotic sprawl you avoid unless you’re legally obligated to play tour guide for visiting relatives, or in a festive enough mood to subject yourself to the Christmas markets. You know the drill: elbowing through crowds of shivering tourists sipping scalding, mediocre grzaniec, all under the watchful gaze of wooden stalls hawking identical trinkets.
Yet, stand at the edge of Old Town and peer down over the right-side slopes, and you’ll catch sight of a quiet, time-warped wedge of the city: Mariensztat.
Tucked snugly between the tourist circus above and the Vistula banks below, Mariensztat feels remarkably uncorrupted. Originally an 18th-century merchant settlement named in honor of Queen Marie Casimire, it holds a unique place in Warsaw’s post-war rebuilding. It was the very first housing estate completed after WWII, deliberately reconstructed in a neoclassical, small-town style rather than stark socialist concrete.
It isn't exactly postcard-perfect nowadays, mind you. Because it sits firmly outside the city council’s primary tourist budget, Mariensztat has been largely left to its own devices. Yet, there is a distinct charm in that neglect: untouched by manicured municipal grandiosity or the sharp teeth of gentrification, the pastel facades wear their age honestly.
Despite its location adjacent to Warsaw’s busiest historic hub, Mariensztat remains remarkably free of tourist traffic. Part of this is pure geography: the sheer, calf-shredding incline of the stairs
Clockwise from left: The owl relief by sculptor Barbara Zbrożyna adorns the corner building at Mariensztat and Sowia (Owl) Street—a playful nod to the street's name. Zbrożyna also created the Woman with the Rooster, commemorating the bustling market that once occupied Mariensztat Square when the neighborhood was designed to resemble a traditional Polish town. The colorful mosaic clock was designed by artists Zofia Czarnecka-Kowalska and Jan Seweryn Sokołowski, becoming one of Mariensztat's best-loved post-war landmarks.
leading down from Castle Square acts as a formidable natural filter against the roving masses. Furthermore, Mariensztat was rebuilt intentionally as a quiet residential enclave, deliberately lacking the direct thoroughfares, souvenir strips, or coach drop-offs that feed tourist hubs.
Instead, it belongs to its locals. Home to beloved neighborhood anchors like Bliss and Mariensz-
tat Coffee, this isn't a district built for high-volume cash grabs. It’s a community rooted in quiet quality and earned loyalty.
And now there's another reason to make the climb—or rather, the descent. Tucked among Mariensztat's quiet streets, The Garrison (See page 48 for review) has quickly become one of the neighborhood's most compelling new destinations.
FAIRY TALE FEAST
Elevated comfort rooted in Polish tradition
When my family arrived from New York, there was only one request: "Take us somewhere that serves the best Polish food." That's a surprisingly difficult brief in modern Warsaw, where many restaurants either cling too tightly to nostalgia or dress tradition in so much culinary theater that the food loses its accent. Baba Jaga finds the sweet spot. It respects the classics while giving
them enough polish to remind you that Polish cuisine deserves a place in the city's smartest dining rooms.
The latest project from Kamil Kraszewski—the restaurateur behind the Bambino Group's Nicoletta, Medusa, Nicoletta Saska Kępa, Marcello Warszawa, and BANG BANG—turns its attention to Poland's culinary heritage. Chef Sebastian Zeger reimagines familiar dishes through seasonal ingredients and refined presentation. The result isn't deconstruction. It's restoration. Polish classics are elevated without losing the flavors that made them classics in the first place.
The dining room makes the first impression. Soaring ceilings, warm lighting, and elegant contemporary design create a space that feels sophisticated without becoming self-conscious. Then your eyes drift toward the hand-painted illustrations telling the story of Baba Jaga—the legendary Slavic witch whose house famously stands on chicken legs. One mural captivated my brother so completely that he pulled out his phone and dictated the legend into his notes while the rest of the table laughed. It's exactly the kind of thoughtful detail that transforms dinner into a lasting memory.
The beef tartare arrived looking almost too beautiful to disturb. Almost. Within seconds my brother and I were clashing spoons over the final bite, each convinced we deserved it more than the other. Perfectly
hand-cut, delicately seasoned, and beautifully presented, it's the kind of appetizer that ends conversations.
Then came the pierogi, proving these beloved dumplings still have plenty of surprises left. Alongside impeccable ruskie were delicate crayfish-filled pierogi and another stuffed with fresh fava beans and finished with caviar—luxurious without showing off. But dessert belonged to my mom. The blueberry pierogi, inspired by Poland's beloved jagodzianki, disappeared with childlike delight. Days after flying home to New York, they were still talking about them.
The schabowy arrives exactly as it should: enormous, golden, and stretching defiantly beyond the rim of the plate. Beneath its paper-thin, perfectly crisp crust lies juicy pork that avoids the dryness so often accepted as inevitable. Crowned with a rich farm-fresh egg, it becomes a masterclass in why Poland's signature comfort food has endured for generations.
Baba Jaga succeeds because it understands something fundamental. Polish cuisine doesn't need reinvention; it needs belief. Here, tradition is treated with affection rather than irony, and every detail—from the storytelling artwork to the refined cooking—reflects confidence rather than nostalgia. For visitors looking for their first real taste of Poland, or locals eager to rediscover familiar dishes, Baba Jaga already feels less like Warsaw's newest restaurant and more like one of its future classics.
WHAT WE ATE
Beef Tartare
Beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned
Fava Bean & Caviar
Pierogi
Creamy spring fava beans meet briny caviar in a combination
Pierogi Ruskie
Feather-light dough wrapped around a creamy potato and farmer's cheese filling
Schabowy with FarmFresh Egg
Paper-thin, golden, and impossibly crisp
Blueberry Pierogi
A playful dessert inspired by jagodzianki
Babajaga
ul. Wronia 10 (Wola)
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
Tradition, thoughtfully turned inside out PHOTOGRAPHS
AND TEXT BY KEVIN DEMARIA
“
Quietly confident from first course to last..
Named after the new moon—the lunar phase when the moon disappears from view, NÓW reveals itself the same way. Pulling back the charcoal drapes feels less like entering a restaurant than stepping behind the curtain moments before a performance. Except there is no backstage. Beyond the drapes, the entire restaurant opens into one dramatic room where the plating station occupies center stage. Beneath the warm glow of the heat lamps, every finished dish takes its final bow before making its way into the dining room.
Standing at its center, chef Adrian Bęben's small team moves with the instinctive confidence of a seasoned jazz quartet. Beneath the glow of the heat lamps, plates travel from one pair of hands to the next in an effortless call and response. No one appears to be in a hurry, yet every movement has purpose. Like musicians who have played together for years, each cook knows exactly when to step in and when to let the next take over.
Only then do you begin to notice the room itself. Designed by Michał Jagiełło, NÓW pairs cool gray tones with rich, dark wood, creating a dining room that feels more like a modern jazz club than a formal fine dining destination. Handcrafted stools by master
Review
craftsman Tomasz Omachel, shelving and furniture with soft, almost Antoni Gaudí-like curves, and beautifully crafted elm tables reveal an attention to detail that borders on obsessive. Before the first course even arrives, there's already the quiet confidence that every decision in this room has been intentional.
That feeling proves justified.
NÓW is the latest collaboration between chef Adrian Bęben and Master Sommelier Piotr Pietras, following the success of WANDAL, the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-winning restaurant just next door in THE FORM building. From the outset, both the tasting
AT A GLANCE
Chef
Adrian Bęben
Location THE FORM, Warsaw
Atmosphere
Contemporary, theatrical and intimate
Don't Miss
Inverted pierogi
Mazury zander with barley & pea miso
Pigeon with juniper and blackcurrant
White poppy seed dessert with Antonius caviar
House-made non-alcoholic pairing
Review
“
Honor tradition by looking at it from another angle
menu and the thoughtfully curated wine programme were conceived as equal parts of the experience, each designed to elevate the other rather than simply serve as a pairing.If WANDAL established them as one of Warsaw's most exciting hospitality teams, NÓW feels like the next movement, more refined, more personal, and more willing to challenge expectations without ever abandoning the familiar flavors that make Polish cuisine so deeply satisfying.
The restaurant's philosophy arrives almost immediately with one of the evening's smartest dishes.
The inverted pierogi is the kind of idea that sounds like culinary sleight of hand until you taste it. Instead of wrapping cabbage and mushrooms inside the dough, the filling becomes the dough itself while the familiar dumpling dough becomes the filling. It completely reverses the mechanics of Poland's most iconic comfort food, yet somehow every bite tastes exactly as memory tells you it should. Rich, earthy and unmistakably traditional, it sits against the dark elm tabletop almost camouflaged into the grain, a quietly beautiful dish that perfectly captures NÓW's philosophy: honor tradition by looking at it from another angle.
The menu builds patiently before arriving at its strongest stretch.
Peas with goat cheese and chanterelles arrive looking almost rustic, more like a late summer woodland stew than a composed tasting course. Sweet peas melt into creamy goat cheese while chanterelles contribute an earthy depth that anchors the dish. A delicate foam of fermented lemon cuts through the richness with just enough brightness to keep every spoonful feeling fresh. Noth-
ing screams for attention. Every ingredient simply knows its place.
Then comes the zander, arguably the finest dish of the evening.
Perfectly cooked fish from the Mazury region rests in an intensely savory sauce built around the restaurant's own barley and pea miso. Beans, wild mushrooms and a mushroom vinaigrette sharpened through lacto-fermentation deepen its forest-like character without overwhelming the fish's delicate sweetness. Then, almost as an afterthought, comes a warm brioche with one simple purpose: to soak up every remaining drop of sauce. It's a reminder that fine dining doesn't need to abandon simple pleasures.
The pigeon is presented with enough drama to briefly steal your attention before the first bite shifts the focus entirely back to flavor. Beautifully pink and wonderfully tender, it's paired with juniper and blackcurrant, ingredients that echo the pine forests and wild berries of the Polish countryside. The result is rich without heaviness, elegant without pretension, and easily one of the city's finest expressions of game.
Dessert closes the evening with the same understated confidence. White poppy seed ice cream hides a pool of silky caramel beneath its surface, rewarding the first spoonful with an unexpected rush of warmth and sweetness. Tiny pearls of Antonius caviar add delicate bursts of salinity that somehow make the dessert taste even sweeter. It shouldn't work as effortlessly as it does, but like so much of the menu, the surprise feels inevitable rather than forced.
Just as memorable as the food is what fills the glasses.
While the wine pairing confidently travels across Europe, the
non-alcoholic pairing deserves equal billing. Restaurant manager Magda Babik creates every beverage in-house rather than relying on commercial alcohol-free wines or spirits. Elderflower kombucha, blackcurrant infused with juniper and Assam tea, smoked apple and quince, and sparkling infusions made from strawberry tops reveal remarkable creativity. She even harvests lemon verbena growing just outside the restaurant, transforming it into one of the evening's most refreshing pairings. Listening to her explain acids, herbs, teas and fermentation feels less like hearing a sommelier recite tasting notes and more like
sitting with a woodland sage who instinctively understands how every plant speaks to another. Many restaurants chase innovation by distancing themselves from tradition. NÓW succeeds because it does the opposite. Adrian Bęben never forgets the dishes that shaped him; he simply turns them inside out, revealing familiar flavors from an entirely new perspective. Like the new moon that gives the restaurant its name, NÓW doesn't announce itself with spectacle. It emerges quietly, confidently, and leaves you convinced you've witnessed the beginning of something that will only continue to grow.
ul. Pańska 97 (THE FORM building)
Insider favorite
HOSTS WITH THE MOST
Where hospitality feels like home
Spend one evening at Niewinność and you'll quickly understand that what Michał and his partner Sara have created is less a wine bar than a standing invitation to a house party you never want to leave.
Michał has that increasingly rare talent of making every guest feel as though they've been coming for years. Glasses are never empty for long, introductions happen naturally, and strangers often leave having made new friends. He's always watching the room, anticipating what people need before they ask, whether it's recommending the next bottle or simply pulling up another chair.
Sara provides the other half of the magic. Warm, attentive and effortlessly welcoming, she somehow keeps an eye on everyone at once, making sure conversations are flowing, newcomers feel included and regulars feel right at home. Together they create the kind of hospitality that can't be taught.
On summer evenings, the atmosphere spills happily onto the street, transforming the pavement into something that feels like a neighbourhood backyard gathering. One week Michał is cooking an enormous pan of paella for anyone who turns up; the next, there's a small inflatable pool keeping guests cool through the Warsaw heat. It all feels wonderfully spontaneous.
In a city full of good places to drink wine, Niewinność stands apart because of its hosts. Long after you've forgotten what was in your glass, you'll remember how they made you feel—and that's the best reason to come back.
Niewinność
ul. Zgoda 5 (City Center)
Best of Summer
WHAT A NIGHT!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Blue Cactus to celebrate the launch of the Warsaw Insider Best of Summer 2026 issue. It was wonderful to see so many readers, partners, friends and members of Warsaw's hospitality community come together for an evening dedicated to the people and places that make summer in the capital so memorable.
From great conversations and new connections to outstanding food, refreshing drinks and plenty of laughter, the event perfectly captured the spirit of a Warsaw summer.
A special thank you goes to our presenting partner Valkea for helping bring the evening to life, and to our event partners Blue Cactus, Limonce Spritz, Inspire Real Estate Advisory and Inne Beczki for their generous support, hospitality and contribution to an unforgettable celebration.
Finally, thank you to everyone who continues to support Warsaw Insider. Whether you picked up a magazine, shared a recommendation or simply joined us for the evening, you're part of the community that makes this city such an exciting place to explore.
Here's to discovering even more of Warsaw together—we'll see you at the next Warsaw Insider event. Scan to see our Best of Summer in Warsaw 2026 winners
BEYOND BUTTER CHICKEN
At Delhi by Niranjan, every dish comes with a story, taking diners on a journey through India's regional flavors and culinary traditions
Warsaw isn't short on Indian restaurants, but few tell the stories behind the food quite like Delhi by Niranjan. Tucked among the office towers of Warsaw's "Mordor", the restaurant doesn't just serve familiar favorites—it digs deeper into the traditions and regional histories that shape India's remarkable cuisine.
Spend five minutes with owner Niranjan and you quickly realize he's as passionate about history as he is about spice.
"The best thing about people in Poland," he tells me with a smile, "is they're curious. If I explain the history behind a dish, they're genuinely happy to learn."
That philosophy explains why his menu stretches far beyond butter chicken and tikka masala. Yes, the classics remain—customers would revolt if they disappeared—but they're joined by dishes that rarely make it onto Indian menus in Warsaw.
One of the first to arrive at our table is the Chilli Momos, an answer to street food perfection. Originally from eastern India, the soft dumplings traveled to the capital where, as Niranjan puts it, "Delhi absorbed them and made them its own." Here they're tossed in a fiery chili sauce that's sticky, smoky, and dangerously addictive. You immediately understand why he calls them "the love of Delhi."
Then comes perhaps the most fascinating dish on the menu: the Galoti Kebab. Its origins lie in Lucknow, where a toothless Nawab still refused to give up his love of meat. His royal cooks responded by mincing mutton until it became impossibly tender. "If you put a
spoon on it," Niranjan laughs, "it almost breaks apart." The result is delicately spiced, buttery soft, and unlike any kebab most diners have experienced.
Another standout is the Aslam Chicken, inspired by the legendary food stalls surrounding Old Delhi's Jama Masjid. Traditionally prepared on the bone, Niranjan prefers minced chicken, allowing
the meat to soak up every drop of its rich, creamy sauce. It's indulgent without becoming heavy, and one of those dishes you'll find yourself thinking about days later.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, however, is vegetarian. Paneer Rarha Masala wasn't inherited from tradition at all, it was created here. Niranjan spent nearly a week perfecting the recipe after noticing vegetarian diners were often limited to the same familiar paneer dishes.
"I wanted something rich, flavorful, and comforting," he says, "without simply making another butter paneer."
Mission accomplished. Creamy without being overwhelming and layered with warming spices, it's proof that vegetarian Indian food can be every bit as exciting as its meat counterparts.
Before we finish, one more dish lands on the table: Chicken Sharabi, a celebration dish from
“
Every dish has a story worth telling...
Punjab. Marinated with spices and a touch of alcohol before hitting the tandoor, it's smoky, deeply caramelized, and built for sharing, exactly the kind of theatrical plate that turns heads as it crosses the dining room. Served with real flames ignited tableside, it arrives at the table on fire, adding a dramatic flourish before the first bite.
Like its owner, Delhi by Niranjan invites conversation. Every dish carries a story, every region contributes a flavor, and every recommendation comes with a history lesson. In a city increasingly full of Indian restaurants, that's what makes this one memorable. It doesn't simply feed you, it introduces you to India, one conversation at a time.
Delhi by Niranjan ul. Wynalazek 2/U10 (Mokotów "Mordor")
TAKESAN MISO
Nagano Soul in a Warsaw Bowl
It wasn't the aroma that stopped us on Marszałkowska Street—it was a glass display box mounted outside the building. Inside sat bowls of ramen so astonishingly lifelike that they looked ready to be eaten. In Japan they're known as shokuhin sampuru—painstakingly crafted food replicas that have guided hungry diners for nearly a century. They're more than clever advertising; they're often the first sign that a restaurant takes its Japanese heritage seriously. We took the hint and stepped inside.
That first impression proved to be remarkably accurate.
Takesan Miso traces its roots to Nagano Prefecture, home of Japan's celebrated Shinshu miso. Developed in partnership with the historic Kokuhei Miso Brewery in the town of Obuse, the restaurant is built around this centuries-old fermented soybean paste, allowing it to become the foundation of every bowl rather than simply another seasoning.
Our lunch began with the spicy tonkotsu miso ramen, a bowl that balances richness with remarkable restraint. The glossy broth carries the creamy depth of slow-simmered pork bones, while a ribbon of chilli oil brings warmth without overpowering the flavours beneath. The real star, however, is the miso. Earthy, gently sweet and deeply savoury, it lends a lingering complexity that reveals itself with every spoonful. The noodles remain satisfyingly springy, while generous slices of chashu are rich enough to indulge but tender enough to melt apart under the chopsticks.
Across the table, the vegan miso tantan-men proves that great ramen doesn't need meat to be memorable. Creamy sesame gives the broth its luxurious texture, while the fermented miso delivers layers of umami and depth that make the bowl feel every bit as comforting as its pork-based counterpart. Rather than existing as an alternative, it confidently earns its place alongside the restaurant's signatures.
Perhaps the most impressive quality at Takesan is its restraint. There are no oversized toppings, unnecessary theatrics or gimmicks competing for attention. Every garnish has a purpose, every ingredient earns its place and every flavour points back to the ingredient that defines the restaurant.
“ Authenticity begins before
you even open the door
Warsaw has no shortage of excellent ramen, but Takesan Miso has carved out its own identity by focusing on one tradition and executing it beautifully. From the shokuhin sampuru that first catches your eye on the street to the final sip of deeply satisfying broth, it's a restaurant that understands authenticity isn't something you announce—it's something you quietly demonstrate, one bowl at a time.
5 THINGS TO KNOW
Authentic shokuhin sampuru outside
Shinshu miso from Nagano roots
Spicy tonkotsu worth the trip
Vegan tantan-men steals the show
Miso is the star ingredient
Takesan ul. Marszałkowska 140 (City Center)
Cocktail Culture
THE GARRISON
Enter the Mariensztat's newest occupant
BY DIANA BŁAŻEWICZ
Visually, it leans into a full-throated Peaky Blinders motif—shadowy, atmospheric, and dressed in slick 1920s swagger. You almost expect Thomas Shelby himself to step out from behind the velvet drapes, demand a heavy pour of neat whiskey, and order a hit squad on the local council. There’s a theatrical thrill to the flat-cap aesthetic, but don't let the cinematic posturing fool you. Once you step past the front of house, it becomes immediately clear that the kitchen isn't playing dress-up.
Zero BS, Total Finesse
Behind the concept stands owner Paweł Wiktoruk, a restaurateur with deep roots on the floor, having spent years cutting his teeth as both head bartender and restaurant manager. That hands-on pedigree leaves a distinct mark on every corner of The Garrison. The sharp focus on detail, the elevated standard of hospitality, and the deliberate creation of a venue with real character are hardly accidental; they are the direct product of years spent working front-line operations. Wiktoruk set out to build a restaurant that places equal weight on kitchen execution, floor service, and atmosphere, with clear ambitions to establish a new landmark on Warsaw's culinary map.
To lead the kitchen, Wiktoruk brought in Chef Łukasz Waluś (ex-Dialog and Kuk at Verte, Autograph Collection), who champions a modern Polish
'slow food' ethos anchored by ruthless product integrity. There is zero smoke and mirrors when it comes to the menu claims: if the kitchen promises Podlasie heifer beef, that is precisely what hits your table. Waluś bypasses the easy convenience of wholesale suppliers like Makro, choosing instead to champion small-scale regional farmers and relentless provenance. No expense is spared, and no shortcuts are taken.
Yet, that literal, no-nonsense approach to ingredients doesn't mean the presentation is austere. The food arrives with a refined sense of drama and tableside theatre that honors the effort behind it.
Case in point: the amusebouche. A razor-thin, whisper-crisp filo pastry tartlet filled to the brim with vibrant, blanched fresh peas. It’s bound together by a zingy lemon emulsion, dotted with micro flowers, and bathed in a punchy herb oil. It is bright, lively, and delivered with laser precision.
When it comes to dessert, the menu proves that brevity is indeed the soul of wit. You aren't forced to navigate an overwhelming phone book of choices; instead, you get two brilliant, impeccably balanced creations:
Caramel/Blackberry/ Elderflower: a nutty brown butter sponge layered with tart blackberry jam and rich caramelized white chocolate cream, lightened by a delicate yogurt foam and fragrant lemon verbena oil. Indulgent, lush and 100% worth the workout you'll need the day after.
The Garrison
ul. Mariensztat 8 (City Center), thegarrisonmariensztat.pl
“ Behind the Peaky Blinders swagger lies a kitchen with serious intent
Oat/Gooseberry/Vanilla: a plant-based masterpiece featuring a silky oat panna cotta steeped with whole vanilla pod, topped with a torched aquafaba Italian meringue and a sharp, refreshing gooseberry sorbet. Perfect for those with a sweeter tooth.
The Room & The Drama
The physical space is undeniably smart and generously laid out. Refreshingly, management resisted the greedy urge to cram tables on top of each other. Instead, dining here comes with actual breathing room and a welcome sense of intimacy.
The open bar is undeniably moody, though it suffers slightly from a criminal lack of decent stage lighting, it's far too dark to properly admire the liquid alchemy happening behind the counter. Throughout the dining room, the Peaky Blinders nods feel thoughtful rather than tacky. My only real bone to pick? The thematic vintage glassware. It’s all a bit chunky and heavy-handed, clashing awkwardly with the delicate finesse of the plates and the sleek theatre of the service.
Speaking of service, Front of House is absolute poetry. The attention to detail is remarkable, delivered by proper, career waiters who clearly possess a genuine, burning passion for hospitality.
Drinks & The Verdict
While the venue currently lacks a dedicated beverage director or head sommelier to steer the list, the wine program is smartly structured, approachable on the entry level while housing some serious, high-end cellar bottles for those looking to open their wallets.
Behind the bar, the fundamental skill and technique are readily apparent. The play here? Let the team show off their classic bartending chops, pull up a stool, sit back, and tell them exactly how you like your martini built.
The Garrison isn't selling a cheap gimmick; it's an elevated, deeply honest hideout in one of Warsaw's most overlooked neighborhoods. Trot down those steps from Old Town, just ensure you arrive with a serious appetite.
The Buzz
Presenting the city’s most talked about venues, join us on a whistle stop tour of the cafes, pubs and cocktail dens and wine bars that you can’t afford to miss…
Best of Summer
in Warsaw 2026
Manto Cafe
ul Garażowa 4 (Mokotów), mantocafe.pl
Housed inside a converted petrol station on Garażowa, Manto Cafe has become one of Mokotów's most talked-about coffee stops. The sports-inspired concept blends specialty coffee with premium Japanese matcha, adaptogens and superfoods, creating drinks that feel as functional as they are photogenic. Signature creations, from coconut coffee to colourful seasonal matchas, are backed by polished branding and genuine attention to quality. Whether you're refuelling after a workout or simply chasing Warsaw's coolest caffeine fix, this is summer sipping done right.
WINE & DINE
Kontakt
Sandomierska 13
Weaknesses do not exist in Kontakt, and if they do, they have yet to be formally identified by any who visit. Looking glorious in its deep shades of blue, its look is complemented by a 400-strong wine list slanted towards natural, bio-dynamic and organic wines. The five-star experience is aided by wonderful food.
LOCAL WINES
Brać
Nowowiejska 1 & Sierakowskiego 4A Resistant as traditionalists may be to the very notion of Polish wine, Brać have made it their mission to showcase its unknown quality. Presenting on-edge sips from niche domestic producers (including collabs with the Funky Fluid craft brewery!), all this is done in a stylish space that feels good to be in. From 2023, this was our favourite wine-related find!
NATURAL WINE
Rascal
Moliera 6
Formerly a canteen for ballet dancers, this address now holds the largest bar in Europe specialising in natural wines – you weren’t expecting that! Entered past a lavish drape, this cool space has a suitably adventurous choice of rebel wines.
BEER GEEKS
Jabeerwocky
Nowogrodzka 12
Good old Jabbers will never let you down. A Warsaw institution, the adventurous choice of beers gives nods to international pioneers, domestic talents as well
The Buzz
as their own house beers. Pre-war floors and the welcome smell of spillage give it a great atmosphere that becomes a boisterous babble of international voices the later it gets. For something quieter, take your pint next door to their sister bar, Jabeerwocky Junior.
CUTTING EDGE CRAFT
Hopito Chmielna
Chmielna 24
Opened last year as the younger sister of Hopito’s Żurawia venture, this branch feels a little more mature in its target audience, though every bit as fun in its beer selection - radicalized drinkers will love Hopito’s own crazy brews.
CREATIVE COCKTAILS
Ave Pegaz
Piłsudskiego 9
Inside a lively interior that doesn’t take itself too seriously (check the ‘ceiling garden’), swivel about to gawk at a mighty collection of corkscrews and drinking implements. In this alchemist’s workshop find yourself enjoying some of the most creative cocktails in Warsaw.
COCKTAIL PORN
VHS
Poznańska 7
The shoebox sized VHS pays tribute to the 80s and 90s and is a model for good times –boasting a flamingo and pictures of Mr T., the toilet says it all. The drinks are among the wackiest in Warsaw, and they’re as fun to drink as they are to photograph.
THE ATMOSPHERE
Beirut & Kraken
Poznańska 12
Somewhere, amid all the junk relating to the Lebanese
conflict (sandbags, ammo boxes…), you’ll find the spirit of Poznańska contained within this long, skinny bar. As fashionable now as it was when it opened, finish the evening in their connecting venture, the Pirates of the Caribbean-style Kraken. Evenings dissolve into a wild, happy whirl of international voices.
INSIDER CLASSIC
Pardon, To Tu Al. Armii Ludowej 14
Despite the upgrade in surrounds, they’ve retained the leftfield spirit of their old haunt thanks to flexi hours, a commitment to obscure sounds, and a well-spaced interior that references their former venue through its decadent colour scheme and wall of favoured musicians. The air of friendly, unforced cool is unmatched!
FOR THE MUSIC
Młodsza Siostra
Dobra 14/16
Known for his ear for upcoming talent, the owner Michał isn’t averse to taking risks in order to broaden Warsaw’s musical palate. The scrappy backdrop of bike repair garages give a vibe redolent of the shadowy courtyards of Berlin and Budapest, whilst inside it’s all creaking floorboards, mismatched furnishings and a clientele sourced from the local Academy of Fine Arts.
REBEL SOUNDS
Chmury / Hydrozagadka 11 Listopada 22
Set in a fleapit courtyard, it’s hard to tell where one begins and the other ends, but both are spiritually cojoined
by a devotion to eclectic live music. Tight and crowded, it’s a place where audience and band become one, feeding off each other to generate an electrifying atmosphere.
A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Foton
Wilcza 9A
You know it’s been an epic weekend when you wake up on Monday knowing that Foton was involved. Conversation with strangers is natural after a few of Foton’s cocktails, and these are enjoyed to a cool backdrop made up of fleet of tumbling plants perched on steel-framed irrigational contraptions.
OLD TOWN PINTS
Same Krafty vis-à-vis Nowomiejska 11/13
Jammed between the Barbican gateway and the Rynek, Same Krafty’s pair of Old Town drinkeries face opposite each other to offer their own mini-pub crawl. Appearing as raucous and rugged tavern-like bars, the experimental craft beers are a league ahead of the mainstream fizz peddled by the other nearby bars.
PRE-CLUB DRINKS
Bar Pacyfik
Hoża 61
Based upon the kind of Tijuana dive bar you’d have happened upon during the Miami Vice era, Pacyfik is all candy floss pink and shades of teal: a raw-looking den that looks purposefully imperfect. Keeping the hip international crowd on the wrong side of drunk are kick-ass cocktails!
LATE NIGHTER
Republica de San Escobar
Poznańska 7
Lacking airs and graces, it’s a place where fun rules the roost. Tiny in size, find an interior filled with corrugated iron sheets, zappy neons, chunky woods and bike pedals on the footrests. The fun-loving spirits is irresistible, and the tight dimensions mean the party often spills onto the terrace outside.
STUDENT CARNAGE
Nowy Świat ‘Pavilions’ ul. Nowy Świat 26
For the highest condensation of bars in the capital head to ‘the pavilions’, a collection of ramshackle drinking cabins, shot bars and sheesha lairs inside a tight grid of shadowy back alleys. Adding to the gentle sense of confusion comes the realization that so many bars look the same –accessed through clattery, barred doors, visitors walk into murk and chaos.
ALT. ENTERTAINMENT
Worek Kości
Bagatela 10
Shamrock Irish Pub on Zgoda. Though a lot smarter than its sister, the raucous sense of fun has carried over – as has the quality Guinness.
ESSENTIAL CHECK-IN
Fabryka Norblina
Żelazna 51/53
Without fail, the big winner of 2023 was Norblin – hell, we even saw Kieran Culkin walk-
ing through over summer! In terms of nightlife, winners include the elite MOXO and the craft-minded Uwaga. Packed in the evening, the atmosphere is squared out perfectly by the live music that frequently escapes from the Piano Bar. The Insider fave though remains Piano Bar, a place with fancy cocktails, a 12-foot chande-
There is nothing ordinary about Worek Kości and that’s underlined by its collection of 400 replica skulls. Known for its burlesque nights, this passionate celebration of the beautiful and bizarre also has a busy roster of lectures dedicated to criminal profiling, forensics and serial killers. Oh, and the cocktails are good.
LIVE SPORTS
Shamrock Sports Bar
Krucza 51
At long last, Warsaw has the sports bar it deserves. Zapping in football, rugby and suchlike from around the world (but mainly Britain), this Irish-run spot is an offshoot of the atmospheric
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lier and a crowd that errs from late 20s upwards.
THE PRAGA VIBE
W Oparach Absurdu
Ząbkowska 6
Craft beers lurk within the fridge, but for the seminal Absurdu experience order a tray of vodka before bulldozing through the crowds that gather to listen to Balkan rock and Afro-Latin bands. Somewhere, hidden deep beneath the creaking antiques and moth-eaten Persian rugs, you might be lucky to find a wood-carved bar.
NORTHERN NIGHTS
Havana
Słowackiego 16/18
Set on the first floor of a PRL era tower, the super cool interior offers up a coherent display of retro posters, luscious plants and light wood trimmings that are respectful of this space’s former life as a 1960s cafe. Perched among hip freelancers and theater types learning their lines, sip away on trendy bio wines, adventurous lemonades, craft swigs or specialty coffee sourced from local roasters.
UPMARKET CLUBBING
Sen
Wioślarska 6
Some would say that Sen enjoys its heyday in the summer when the rooftop terrace opens to afford views of the illuminated bridges that span the river. But even outside these months it’s long enjoyed a reputation as Warsaw’s premier super-lux club. High class cocktails and a stringent door policy have helped maintain their name as the principal destination for glam, catwalk excess.
DESTINATION COFFEE
Café Pląs
Puławska 113A (Królikarnia)
Set inside the Króliarnia palace, it’s laidback and artsy-cool, something aided by the strategically placed plants, chillout beats and rare-find art books placed reverentially on the shelves. Specialty coffee, bio wines, alternative soft drinks and craft beer make it a highly versatile place to finish in after a brisk autumn walk around the palace grounds.
COFFEE OF LEGEND
Stor
Tamka 33 / Bracka 18
For many there is no better café anywhere in Poland than Stor’s original on Tamka. When the sunlight slopes in through the window, there are few finer feelings than idling away in this plant festooned refuge. Famed for their glorious coffee and detail-driven approach, recognition should also be handed to their devotion to local causes and zero waste philosophy.
FOR VINYL CHILLOUT
Hałas
Elsterska 10
Divide Hałas into two sections: first, a small chamber selling collectors classic vinyl and coffee sourced from some of Europe’s top roasters. Then, smuggled in the back, discover a Nordic-style living room arrangement that encourages afternoons spent sipping coffee whilst catching up on email.
FOR QUICK ESPRESSO
Błysk
Słowackiego 22
Served over a PRL era counter, Błysk’s super-tight confines generate a natural air of familiarity. Often standing room only, the buzz and hubbub owes itself not just to the delicious espresso shots, but
also the homemade cookies and dog-loving owners that will spoil your pet.
HIDDEN STAR
El Cafatero
Marszałkowska 27/35 & (ul. Emilii Plater 8)
Tucked behind the patinated domes and intricate steeples of Zbawiciela, chilling in this little café has you thinking you’re somewhere cute and quaint like Vilnius or Lublin. Specialising in roasting their own African coffees, the super-hip vibe is highlighted by the wall of Polaroid snaps.
CHAMPION BREWS
Forum
Elektoralna 11
Forum has it all: a fashionably frayed interior, a friendly dog nuzzling around (hi Apollo!), and a client base that expects nothing but the best – and at Forum, that’s exactly what they get. Marketing themselves as “the home of the Polish Aeropress and Polish Brewers’ Cup Champions”, these accolades say everything there is to know.
NEIGHBORHOOD FAV
Ciacho
al. Niepodległości 80
In Mokotów, Ciacho stands apart as a true neighborhood institution — a bakery and breakfast spot that quietly draws locals back year-round. Hidden near Jordanowski Park, it shifts with the seasons: a lively family terrace in summer, a warm, oven-scented refuge in winter. Breakfast is the anchor, from creamy scrambled eggs on house sourdough to a cult-favourite kimchi brioche. Add excellent pastries and breads to take home, and Ciacho reveals itself as something rarer than a café: a steady, glowing hearth.
Dine & Delight
When only the best will do, we’ve cut through the chaff to present a curated choice of Warsaw’s top eateries –from ethnic comfort foods and under-the-radar gems all the way up to the city’s most exclusive dining rooms…
THE MICHELIN STAR
Nuta
pl. Trzech Krzyży 10/14
Best of Summer
in Warsaw 2026
Wilcza 43
ul. Wilcza 43 (City Center)
Chef Wit Szychowski showcases Poland's finest seasonal ingredients with understated confidence at Wilcza 43. His signature finishing touch—a generous shower of chopped chives—appears throughout a menu that lets exceptional produce shine. Standout dishes, including the memorable fermented cabbage baba, are matched by an adventurous wine list featuring Polish labels and natural European producers. Relaxed, intimate, and unpretentious, it's neighborhood dining at its best.
Andrea Camastra’s restaurant is a magical enclave in which time stands still. Mixing his famed scientific techniques with artisanal processes, his tasting menu is expressive in its aesthetics and flavour, as if it were an extension of his own firecracker character. Even the cheeseboard is a mind-bender – on our April visit, jaws hit the floor as this arrived in the liquified form of a pear consommé topped with warm gorgonzola foam. A bold, world-class adventure, no other restaurant offers such a ride – a second Michelin star seems guaranteed.
FORMAL & EXTRAORDINARY
Epoka
Ossolińskich 3
Nineteenth century cornices and baroque drapes lend an enveloping sense of luxury to this A-Class space. Epoka’s menu is based on Polish cookbooks from different epochs, with the dishes reconstructed in a way that’s innovative, unexpected and a roller coaster of thrills. La Liste officially rank it among the world’s Top 100 Restaurants.
EXQUISITE
Nolita Wilcza 46
Winning our 2022 award last year for ‘Outstanding Achievement’, chef Jacek Grochowina’s enclave of class looks dashing with its monochrome colours and muted gunmetal shades, but it’s the food that has made it the place Warsaw heads to live the life of the 1%. Treasuring detail and finesse, Nolita demonstrates fine dining hasn’t died.
Dine & Delight
ECLECTIC & UPMARKET
Dyletanci
Koszykowa 47
Subtle and stylish with its muted, neutral colours and pops of art, amid the light woods and sky-coloured walls, the assembled fine wines have been selected to dance in tandem with the cooking of Rafał Hreczaniuk. His cooking is elegant, eclectic and never short on sensational taste.
FOR THE TASTING MENU
Rozbrat 20
Rozbrat 20
Fusing upmarket, casual styling with an exciting wine list, interactive service and the kind of atmosphere you can’t get enough of, Rozbrat 20 is a Warsaw gastro landmark. Under chef Bartosz Szymczak, the frequently changing menu has a real playful inventiveness to it.
DATE NIGHT
alewino
Mokotowska 48
Regularly adjusted to utilize the best items the season has to offer, the menu is a triumph of expertly balanced tastes and is admired for some of the most interesting cooking in the city – think elegant with a localized twist. Rounding out the experience is an intimate, labyrinthine design that’s ideal for when it’s cold and grim, and a decked courtyard terrace for when it’s not.
NEW WAVE
hub.praga
MEAT LOVERS IN WARSAW
ROTISSERIE BISTRO al. Rzeczypospolitej 14 (Wilanów)
Jagiellońska 22/LU1
Heading the kitchen is Witek Iwański, a chef whose past accolades include our very own ‘Top Talent’ title at our Best of Warsaw awards. The tan, beige and white interior is embellished with moon-shaped mirrors and statement art, and is twinned with tiny a’la carte courses that appear like miniaturised works of art.
CASUAL SCENE
Bibenda
Nowogrodzka 10
With no reservations accepted, Bibenda’s enduring popularity ensures that queues often build at the entrance – even at the height of the Polish winter. Augmenting the warm interiors of raw red brick and dim yellow lighting, guests flock for a menu that celebrates the fields, forests and farmsteads of Poland. honey and peanut chili crisps.
THE NEED TO KNOW
The Eatery
Koszykowa 49A
This attractive off-street space comes swathed in
white-on-white colours –blissfully cocooned from the outside world, and decorated orb-like installations, this chic but casual space gives Polish food a modernised translation. Visiting for our May issue, we were bowled over by the pork cheeks served with a punchy demi-glace and whirls of liquified peas and red cabbage.
NEW POLISH
Źródło
Targowa 81
Hardwood floors, exposed pipes and a flurry of plants equip an open area decorated with blasts of contemporary art, recycled furnishings and extravagant light installations. Menu-wise, the food lights the soul. But more than just celebrating the power of local produce, there’s a refinement at play that speaks of a kitchen team that aims for magnificence.
POLAND REIMAGINED
Bez Gwiazdek
Wiślana 8
Regarded as one of Warsaw’s gastronomic treasures, each month sees Robert Trzópek design a tasting menu inspired by a specific region of Poland. His creative interpretations of the nation’s culinary traditions are delicate, nuanced and beautifully balanced. The chic but casual setting reflects the philosophy.
TRENDING POLISH
Pod Gigantami
al. Ujazdowskie 24
Once seen as a classic restaurant for ‘old people’, Pod Gigantami’s reinvention stretches to 3 a.m. finishes come the weekend. Marrying heritage with hip, during more normal hours enjoy thoughtfully cooked Polish classics
including an old school schabowy the size of a small planet.
POLAND FOR INSIDERS
Oma Radna 13
Stepping into Oma is like entering Babcia’s house for a holiday—a warm embrace of Polish tradition with a modern flair. Oma, named after the chef’s grandmother, exudes
Oma-goodness. Nestled in Powiśle, it charms with its vintage Polish decor and fresh flowers. The menu offers classic dishes with a twist: schabowy topped with Parmesan and zupa pomidorowa with garlic. Desserts like knedelki—a cottage cheese dumpling with apples and orange peel—are irresistible. The thoughtful vintage design and caricatures of Oma on the
servers’ shirts add a personal touch. Make a reservation to avoid heartbreak, as Oma’s popularity often leads to a full house. Dive into this cozy haven and savor the best of Polish summer cuisine, where every bite feels like a warm hug from Babcia herself.
NEIGHBOURHOOD GREEK
Mr. Greek Souvlaki
Londyńska 16
Festooned with potted shrubs, the outdoor wooden deck is one of Saska’s finest outdoor check-ins. If that’s packed – and it often is –head inside where an atmosphere of gentle chaos reigns in the noisy open kitchen. Eschewing warmth and authenticity, the atmosphere fits well with the meaty skewers.
SOUTH AMERICAN FLAIR
Ceviche Bar
Twarda 4
With Argentine chef Martin Gimenez Castro injecting his passion and personality into the venue, this is an address that punches through the greyness of everyday Warsaw. Ceviche is naturally the default order, and here it’s served in around five different forms.
INSIDER FAVORITE
Tuna Elektryczna 2
Resembling the scales of a fish, Tuna’s core decorative element are 18,000 tuna cans that sheathe the walls. Smartly appointed in dark metallic colours, visit for an exhilarating menu that includes salmon jerky, tuna sausages, an elaborately reconstructed dorada tail and the best-selling chili con tuna.
CITY CENTER VEGAN
Peaches Gastro Girls
Stalowa 36
Peaches, Warsaw's vibrant vegan hotspot, serves up seasonal dishes with finesse. From their umami-packed grilled mushrooms to inventive cocktails, every bite and sip delights. The minimalist interiors and open kitchen make it an experience for both eyes and palate.
VEGAN NOODLES
Vegan Ramen Shop
Finlandzka 12 / Jana Pawła II 52/54 / Narabutta 43
Dubbed by some as “the best noodles in the world!” They’re definitely memorable, and the spicy miso ramen will for sure make new true believers.
BRUNCH ANYONE?
Seagull
ul. Dobra 1, (Powiśle)
The menu carries a subtle Asian accent — eggs Benedict with yuzu hollandaise and shrimp, harissa-spiked chickpea toast, bright matcha and thoughtful non-alcoholic drinks alongside mimosas. It’s a neighbourhood spot for plans, conversation and clarity, where morning isn’t rushed through, but properly lived.
SUSHI LOVERS MUST
Misaki Kawasaki
Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 43B/3rd floor (Powiśle)
Paula Mycka cooks with global confidence, fusing Japanese precision, Thai vibrancy, Middle Eastern depth, and Peruvian playfulness. Highlights include bold vegetarian dishes, scallops in brown butter, a Wagyu Katsu Sando, and toro tartare on a sesame waffle with yuzu crème fraîche.
WELCOME TO GREECE!
For authentic Greek food & hospitality, look no further than Mr. Greek Souvlaki!
Walecznych 68a/3 (Saska Kępa)
COMMUNITY HUBS & FOOD HALLS
CENTRUM PRASKIE KONESER
Plac Konesera 8, koneser.eu
Reopened in 2018 as a mixed-use project containing cultural sites, F&B outlets, A Class offices and loft-style apartments, no other investment has had a bigger impact on Praga’s overdue regeneration than Koneser. Culturally, it’s also done much thanks to the Polish Vodka Museum, the Museum of Fantastic Art and temporary exhibitions such as Banksy in 2021. For most though, the F&B lineup is the strongest attraction of all and this includes upmarket Indian from Bombaj Malasa, the casual eatery Spółdzielnia and the real feather in the cap, the Koneser Grill – a meat-centric venue of high sophistication.
BROWARY WARSZAWSKIE
Grzybowska 58, browarywarszawskie.com.pl
Utilising elements of a historic brewery and setting them against an upmarket backdrop of freshly mapped streets and immaculate new build that feels contextually suited to the district, Features include a premium food hall, Robert Lewandowski’s Nine’s sports bar, the ever-popular Balkan eatery Munja, and Baila – a stunning live entertainment emporium.
FABRYKA NORBLINA
Żelazna 51/53, fabrykanorblina.pl
Representing 200-years of history, the two hectare site is riddled with over 50 leftovers from the Industrial Revolution and these are set against attractions such as the luxury Kinogram cinema (champagne vending machines!), the immersive Art Box Experience, a factory museum and the Smart Kids Planet –a 1,600 sq/m project with nine zones that aim to promote logical thinking, healthy eating, motor functions, perception and creative thinking.
HALA KOSZYKI
Koszykowa 63, koszyki.com
Considered the grande dame of food halls, the brick and wrought iron interiors of this spot look beautiful with the F&B offer split between standalone restaurants such as the fancy Warszawski Sen to vendors like the fist-bumping, burrito boys at Gringo. For craft beer and grilled sausages then Kiełba w Gębie doesn't put a foot wrong, whilst the open-all-hours ĆMA is a legend in its own lifetime.
ELEKTROWNIA POWIŚLE
Dobra 42, elektrowniapowisle.com
Elektrownia’s blended approach includes an exclusive top floor beauty hall filled with cutting edge beauty solutions and a retail offer than tends to shirk the mainstream to instead slant in on contemporary Polish design, upscale vintage, niche brands and established local talent. The food and drink has also been a major plus, with most attention going to a food hall that appears in an energetic sea of neon.
An intimate portrait of love remembered
CULTURE
Another Love Stor
Photography has long documented love, but rarely does it feel quite this personal. In Another Love Story, Dominican-born, Paris-based photographer Karla Hiraldo Voleau turns the camera inward, exploring the blurred territory between romance, memory and autobiography. Rather than presenting love as a polished fairytale, the exhibition reveals it as something fragile, contradictory and constantly rewritten.
Voleau's photographs occupy the space where documentary and confession meet. They are intimate without becoming voyeuristic, inviting viewers into moments that feel almost uncomfortably close—shared bedrooms, lingering embraces and quiet absences that speak just as loudly as physical presence. The result is less a chronological narrative than an emotional diary assembled through carefully observed fragments.
The exhibition inevitably recalls artists such as Tracey Emin, whose work transformed deeply personal experiences into universally recognisable emotional landscapes. Like Emin, Voleau mines her own life not for sensationalism but for honesty. Yet where Emin often confronts the viewer with raw declarations, Voleau works in whispers. Her photographs rely on subtle gestures, empty spaces and unanswered questions, trusting visitors to complete the story themselves.
What makes Another Love Story especially compelling is its refusal to offer certainty. Relationships are shown as evolving negotiations between intimacy and distance, memory and reality. The camera becomes both participant and witness, capturing moments that feel spontaneous while quietly questioning whether photographs can ever
“The camera becomes both participant and witness, quietly questioning whether photographs can ever tell the complete truth about another person—or even ourselves
Polska Britannica
tell the complete truth about another person—or even ourselves.
Presented in the Institute Fort Fotographii's spacious new home at Fort Mokotów, the exhibition benefits from generous gallery rooms that encourage slow looking rather than hurried consumption. The restrained installation allows each image to breathe, reinforcing the quiet emotional rhythm running throughout the series.
This is not an exhibition that overwhelms with spectacle. Instead, it lingers. Days later, you may struggle to remember every photograph, but you'll remember how they made you feel. And perhaps that's the most convincing love story of all.
Hidden away for decades, Czesław Siegieda's remarkable photographs finally receive the attention they deserve in Polska Britannica, his first solo exhibition in Poland. Raised between Polish traditions and British life, Siegieda documented a diaspora community negotiating two identities. Weddings, church gatherings, family celebrations and ordinary domestic scenes become a moving record of belonging, nostalgia and cultural preservation. Rather than focusing on grand historical events, the exhibition celebrates everyday rituals that define immigrant life. Beautifully observed and quietly affectionate, these photographs are both an important historical document and a deeply human portrait of a community suspended between two countries.
Instytut Fotografii Fort ulica Władysława Szpilmana 6/budynek 2 (Fort Mokotów), instytutfotografiifort.org.pl/en
GAMES
Muzeum Fliperów i Gier Video (Tiger Score)
ul. Podwale 17 (Old Town)
Retro Replay
Timeless games for every generation
Hidden behind an unassuming doorway on Podwale, Tiger Score is less a museum than a time machine for anyone who ever loved the golden age of gaming. Admission is based on time, giving visitors unlimited play across an extraordinary collection of arcade classics, vintage pinball machines and rare collectibles. Battle for high scores on legendary titles like Tron, test your reflexes on classic arcade cabinets, or plunge into Star Wars pinball before exploring one of Poland's most impressive displays of handheld electronic games and consoles. With more than 70 playable machines spanning nearly a century of gaming history, Tiger Score blends nostalgia, discovery and friendly competition into an experience that's every bit as entertaining for children as it is for the adults reliving their youth.
gfc-grupa.pl
EDUCATION
AMERICAN SCHOOL OF WARSAW
Students aged 3-5 are encouraged to try new things, ask questions, and take risks in a nurturing environment in which they learn life skills alongside academics. Following the Primary Years Programme (PYP), our young students become caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. Contact admissions@ aswarsaw.org
BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL OF WILANOW
A values-driven school offering a world-class education based on the best of British Education. BSW is the first school in Poland to be accredited as Compliant by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). Based in a purpose built premises in Wilanow BSW is accepting applications from Nursery to Year 9. Please email admissions@bswilanow.org to organise a visit.
THE BRITISH SCHOOL WARSAW – EARLY YEARS CENTRE
Our Early Years Foundation Stage provides a play-based learning curriculum full of curiosity, wonder and discovery – the perfect springboard into Primary education. ul.
Welcoming students from the ages of 2.5 to 6 years old, currently 45% of their admissions are international students. The dedicated, IB-trained teachers deliver an innovative program (PYP) in English designed for modern world needs. The program offers a combination of Literacy, Maths, Science, Physical Education, Arts & Culture, French and Polish classes. ul. Ignacego Krasickiego 53, tel. 697 979 100, canadian-school.pl
CASA DEI BAMBINI & TODDLER SCHOOL
With three green and harmonious locations in Mokotów and Izabelin. The school in Izabelin is set in the quiet of the Kampinos Forest just outside the city. Teachers are fully trained in early-childhood education in English according to the Montessori philosophy. Registration open to children 12 months to 6 years of age. ul. Badowska 19, ul. Tatrzańska 5a (Mokotów), ul. Szkolna 16, (Izabelin), tel. 692 099 134, wmf.edu.pl
schools
AKADEMEIA HIGH SCHOOL
An academically selective international school in Warsaw, offering iGCSEs and A Levels whilst preparing students for the best universities in the world. The staff body consists of alumni of the world’s best universities, whilst facilities at what has become Poland’s most prestigious school include an art studio, auditorium, sports hall and roof garden. ul. Ledóchowskiej 2, akademeia.edu.pl
AMERICAN SCHOOL OF WARSAW
With over 50 nationalities, ASW has been welcoming students from around the world since 1953. As an IB Continuum school, our students follow the PYP, MYP and DP throughout their learner journey. Students graduate with either the IB diploma or an American high school diploma. All programs are conducted in English, with integrated EAL support for non-native speakers.
Contact: admissions@ aswarsaw.org or 22 702 85 00, ul. Warszawska 202 (Konstancin-Jeziorna), aswarsaw.org
schools
BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL OF WILANOW
A values-driven school offering a world-class education based on the best of British Education. BSW is the first school in Poland to be accredited as Compliant by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). Based in a purpose built premises in Wilanow BSW is accepting applications from Nursery to Year 9. Please email admissions@bswilanow.org to organise a visit
THE BRITISH SCHOOL WARSAW
The mission of TBS is to balance academic success with character building and well-being. Students at The British School Warsaw learn an internationally respected curriculum, based on the best of British academics. They take pride in their excellent results at both International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and IGCSE level, which are well above the global average. ul. Limanowskiego 15, tel. 22 842 3281, thebritishschool.pl
THE ENGLISH PRIMARY
The English Primary is designed specifically for children in the primary education ages, just as children experience in England but in an international community. Pupils are taken through the key learning stages so that they can achieve to the best of their ability through a fun learning experience. The Core Curriculum subjects include English, Phonics, Science, Mathematics, French, PE and Swimming, Music, Personal, Social and Health Education. ul. Rzodkiewki 18, tel. 784 037 808, tep.edu.pl
EDUCATION schools
THE CANADIAN SCHOOL OF WARSAW INTERNATIONAL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
Located on two campuses in the Mokotów this is the only authorized IB School with PYP programs taught in English and Polish. French is taught as a third language. International staff, cultural events and challenging student initiatives create the perfect learning environment. ul. Bełska 7, tel. 692 411 573 / 885 420 044, secretary@canadian-school.pl or secretary. olimpijska@canadian-school.pl
JOY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Treating pupils with mutual respect but not at the expense of being demanding, the methods used are hard on the problem but soft on the person. Taking into account what students think, feel, learn and want for themselves and their world, Joy Primary teaches important life skills as well as respect, care for others, problem solving and co-operation. Here, children are challenged to discover their abilities and competences, while encouraged to explore personal strength and autonomy. ul. Syta 131A, tel. 722 305 333, sekretariat@joyprimaryschool.pl
WARSAW MONTESSORI SCHOOL
leader in the field of Montessori education, well-trained teachers guide students to independent and successful learning with both English and bilingual classroom provided. Located just steps from Łazienki Park the school resides in vibrant surroundings near to museums, embassies and natural settings which provide students with learning outside the classroom. ul. Szwoleżerów 4 (grades 0-4), tel. 608 488 420, wmf.edu.pl A
WARSAW MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL
Guided by trained specialists, students are responsible for managing their household, operating small businesses, caring for local flora and fauna as well as domesticated animals, taking charge of the younger children and much more. “Adolescence Program” activities, integrated with academic studies, help students discover their inner strength to meet real life challenges.
ul. Tatrzańska 5A (grades 5-8), tel. 604 137 826, wmf.edu.pl
WARSAW MONTESSORI HIGH SCHOOL
Warsaw Montessori High School aims to teach students the values which Maria Montessori outlined in her educational philosophy such as: responsibility for one’s own development, care for others, honesty, empathy, and service. The school continues to meet the principles of Maria Montessori through implementing the IB Diploma Program principles and practices. Warsaw Montessori High School is an authorized IB World School for the Diploma Programme – code 061201. ul. Pytlasińskiego 13A, tel. 787 095 835, wmf.edu.pl
Brought to you by Klinika Projekt Skóra
The art of looking like yourself
Where healthy skin comes before aesthetics
Projekt Skóra is a physician-led aesthetic dermatology clinic in Warsaw, created for women who want to care for their skin intelligently, discreetly, and without losing the identity written into their faces.
Sometimes the best solution is to combine treatments. Sometimes it is to introduce them gradually. And sometimes the most responsible decision is to do less. At Projekt Skóra, restraint is considered an essential part of good medical judgment.
The goal is healthier, stronger skin with improved tone, texture, and resilience while preserving natural expression and character. Beautiful results should never come at the expense of identity.
This long-term approach appeals to women whose time is valuable. They seek expertise, safety, discretion, and natural outcomes, but also the confidence that appointments, recovery, and follow-up can be planned around demanding professional and personal lives.
For visitors to Warsaw, a consultation can become the beginning of a carefully paced treatment journey, supported by medical documentation and ongoing communication rather than rushed decisions.
Founded by dermatologist Dr. Małgorzata Marcinkiewicz, who holds a PhD and more than fifteen years of clinical experience, the clinic is guided by a simple philosophy: the best aesthetic medicine does not create a new face. It protects what is individual while supporting the skin's natural ability to repair, renew, and adapt.
Every treatment begins with a consultation rather than a procedure. Medical history, lifestyle, previous treatments, current concerns, and life stage are all considered before any recommendations are made. The question is never simply what can be done, but what should be done, when, and with what degree of intervention.
Each patient receives a personalized treatment plan that brings together diagnosis, skincare, carefully selected therapies, documentation, and follow-up into one coordinated process. Rather than navigating competing technologies or disconnected appointments, patients receive clear medical guidance from one team responsible for every stage of care.
Housed in a beautifully restored Warsaw townhouse, Projekt Skóra reflects its own philosophy. Historic buildings are renewed by strengthening what already exists, not erasing their character. Skin deserves the same respect.
At Projekt Skóra, the aim is not to help women look different. It is to help them look like themselves—for longer.
Klinika Projekt Skóra ul. Poznańska 37 / A42 tel.: + 48 508 777 988
drmarcinkiewicz@projektskora.pl projektskora.pl
Find us on instagram: @projektskora & @okiem_dermatologa
LOOKING BACK
Color Memories
35mm snapshots of an everyday city
Before color became commonplace, it was a luxury. These rare 35mm photographs transport us to Warsaw in the late 1950s, where the city appears not as a distant chapter in history but as a place alive with spring greenery, crimson trams, pastel façades and people simply going about their day. Construction cranes share the skyline with
centuries-old churches, horse carts pass shiny new automobiles, and the Palace of Culture rises above a city still rebuilding itself. Even the faded colors and dust specks on the film become part of the story, reminding us that every photograph is a physical object that has survived the decades. History often feels distant in black and white. In color, it suddenly feels close enough to remember.
