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Adler Restauracja i Bar
A tiny oasis in the concrete jungle, housed within a curious circular building. Service is impeccable and a good variety of Polish and Bavarian nouvelle cuisine is on offer. Try the ice-meringue with strawberry mousse.
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Antykwariat
Intellectual establishments have sprung up across town, offering racks of books alongside coffee, tea and snacks. Some of the more frequented places include Antykwariat. There's a lovely sepia-tinted atmosphere here, all scuffed wood, mismatched furniture, old cushions and overflowing shelves of books. It's best enjoyed in winter, as there's no garden.
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Arsenał
Parents, children, pasta lovers and archaeological buffs will all be satisfied with Arsenał. It's located next to the Archaeological Museum, serves scrummy homemade pasta with a range of sauces, and has a playground, playroom, and kids menu for the little-uns.
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Bacio
Romance is a wonderful thing, and if you like it shoved down your throat then you'll go weak at the knees over Bacio. The décor here is over the top, featuring a copy of Klimt's The Kiss, a portrait of Juliet, and more dried flowers, cat paraphernalia and horse pictures than a little girl could ever wish for. This shrine to amour also specialises in authentic Italian home cooking, from melt-in-the-mouth carpaccio to linguine with wild mushrooms
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Bar Krokiecik
Decent Polish food this close to Nowy Świat and the financial district isn't hard to find, but not at these prices. So there's no wonder it's sometimes hard to find a seat at Krokiecik, a modern take on the milk bar serving soups, salads and hot dishes such as fasolka po bretońsku (sausage and bean casserole), strogonow z wołowiny (beef stroganoff) and ragout z kurczaka (chicken ragout).
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Bar Mleczny Pod Barbakanem
Just outside the Barbican, this popular milk bar looks as though it hasn't changed for decades. It serves cheap, unpretentious Polish standards in a location that would be the envy of many upmarket eateries.
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Café Belle Epoque
This atmospheric café is a fairyland of chiffon, velvet and lacy lampshades, crammed with bric-a-brac and dusty antiques - you can buy pretty much anything you see here. An excellent range of speciality teas is accompanied by a menu of cakes, snacks and light meals.
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Café Blikle
The mere fact that Blikle has survived two world wars and the pressure of communism makes it a household name. But what makes this legendary café truly famous is its doughnuts, for which people have been queuing up for generations. Join the back of the line and find out why.
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Chłonda 25
Intellectual establishments have sprung up across town, offering racks of books alongside coffee, tea and snacks. Some of the more frequented places include Chłonda 25. This is a bohemian haunt attracting journalists, artists, musicians and anyone else who can fit through the door. Concerts, films, debates, and lecturers feature regularly; wine, beer and homemade cakes available.
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Cô tú
The wok at this simple Asian diner never rests as hungry Poles can't get enough of the excellent dishes coming from the kitchen. The menu is enormous, covering all the main bases (seafood, vegetable, beef, chicken, pork), and you'll never have to wait more than 10 minutes for your food despite the queues. Hadlowo-Usługowe is accessed through the archway at Nowy Świat 26.
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Coffee Karma
Coffee Karma 'Karma, you nuns and monks, are your intentions', so the Buddhist saying goes. Few truly religious folk frequent Karma, but at least the café owner's intentions are pure and simple - thick smoothies, strong coffee and an easygoing air. The intentions of guests are to secure an outdoor table in summer or a low couch behind large bay windows in winter, something that can often prove hard to do.
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Czuły Barbazyńca
Intellectual establishments have sprung up across town, offering racks of books alongside coffee, tea and snacks. Some of the more frequented places include Czuły Barbazyńca, a stripped-back space where books, discussions and readings come first and coffee (albeit good) is just along for the ride. The 'Gentle Barbarian' was the city's first café-bookshop.
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Deco Kredens
This place flaunts an appealingly over-the-top Art Deco dining room, which looks for all the world like a 1930s bordello (minus the ladies). Fat armchairs tempt you to linger over a menu of Polish and international cuisine - the crispy roast duck, served on a wooden platter with potato pancakes, beetroot and baked apple, is superb.
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Dom Restauracyjny Gessler
The Dom actually holds two eateries: upstairs there's an elegant, formal restaurant, and downstairs there's the Karczma, a traditional country inn, arranged in amazing labyrinthine vaulted cellars, and serving typical old-style Polish peasant food. Don't miss this one, if only to check out the building.
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Dżonka
With only six tables, 'petite' is no over-exaggeration for Dźonka's size. Small it may be, but big it is on Asian cuisine, serving up steaming Thai soups, Mandarin chicken, and spicy (for Polish standards) beef Szechwan. Reservation recommended.
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Fret á Porter
Choose between the pavement terrace, with views of tree-lined New Town Square, and the eccentric dining room with its modern art on rag-rolled brick walls and multicoloured napkins clashing with Regency-striped upholstery. The menu also indulges in bold contrasts, ranging from traditional Polish dishes (green lentil soup with mint, roast duck and grilled pork) to exotic offerings such as kangaroo and emu steaks.
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Green Coffee
The rich aroma of coffee pervades your senses as you enter this relaxed café on an otherwise nondescript section of Marszałkowska. The coffee is reputedly the best in town, and the food an inviting mix of cakes, quiches, sandwiches and muffins. Service apparently depends on the weather.
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Greenway
One branch of a countrywide chain swept to popularity by its healthy food selection. Take your pick of the international menu, which includes Mexican goulash, Warsaw curry, samosas and enchiladas. Portions are hefty, and there's no table service.
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India Curry
The strong smells of India - the ones that churn, rather than turn, the stomach - wafting from the door are a good sign that this place does decent curry. The usual selection of tandoori chicken and rogan josh is available, and vegetarians will be happy with the likes of malai kofta (balls of cottage cheese stuffed with nuts in a coconut, herb and cashew sauce) and aloo bhindi bhaji (curried potato and okra).
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Kafka
Intellectual establishments have sprung up across town, offering racks of books alongside coffee, tea and snacks. Some of the more frequented places include Kafka, a quiet café serving healthy cakes, quiches, and sweet-and-sour pancakes (around zl3 to around zl10 ). Choose from its massive selection of secondhand books and kick back on its low couches or outdoor seating.
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Kurt Scheller's Restaurant
Swiss-born Mr Scheller whips up some of the city's most sought-after cuisine in this beautiful Art Deco restaurant. The menu is a trip for the tastebuds, swinging from Asian to Polish and back again, but always focusing on ingredients in season. There are also plenty of unusual morsels, such as creamy horseradish soup with veal tongue stripes, but be sure to save a little room for the wonderful desserts. Cooking courses are also offered.
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Numery Litery
Intellectual establishments have sprung up across town, offering racks of books alongside coffee, tea and snacks. Some of the more frequented places include Numery Litery , a small, peaceful pocket for quiet reflection or a chilled chat. Extensive coffee and tea collection and plenty of children's books and coffee-table tombs (mostly in English).
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Pożegnanie z Afryką
Pożegnanie z Afryką 'Out of Africa' is a tiny café offering nothing but coffee - but what coffee! Choose from around 50 varieties, served in a little pot, and a range of tempting cakes. This is the original shop in a chain of about 20 branches scattered around Poland's major cities.
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Qllinarnia
Don't expect friendly service or a warm welcome at this simple yet colourful milk bar. But do expect fast service, top-rate home-cooked Polish food (including a smattering of European classics, such as lasagne and quiche), and a packed house. Enter from ul Marszałkowska; it's easy to spot among the liquor stores and sex shops.
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Restauracja Pod Samsonem
Situated in the New Town, Pod Samsonem is frequented by locals and tourists looking for inexpensive and tasty Polish food infused with a Jewish flavour - marinated herring, gefilte fish and kawior po żydowsku ('Jewish caviar' - chopped chicken liver with garlic). It's always busy and you may have to wait, especially for the popular outdoor tables.
