Restaurants in Warsaw

 Voted first in Poland’s Best Restaurants 2016 and awarded 4 forks in the Michelin guide the amber room is located in the historic Sobanski Palace, once used as a hospital in WW1. The dishes found in the Amber Room consist of a combination of ingredients from throughout Europe, accompanied by an award winning wine list.

This highly rated Warsaw restaurant is pleasantly placed on the banks of the Vistula River north of the Old Town. Its nautical theme extends not only to the décor but also the menu, where the range of Mediterranean-style dishes leans heavily in the direction of Italian cuisine. In summer there's no better place to be than on the Boathouse's large terrace, with a seafood platter, glass of wine and live jazz in the background.

One of Warsaw’s finest restaurants and dating back to the year before WWII broke out, Gessler Restauracja U Kucharzy serves peerless traditional Polish dishes and international favourites in a delightful restaurant set inside the kitchen of an elegant old hotel. Dress is smart and dining quite formal in the evening. For a more relaxed meal, come at lunch or on Sunday when there is a demonstration of noodle-making.

If it is fine cuisine served amidst stunning retro décor you’re looking for, this is the place for you. The main dining room is done up in over-the-top, art deco – all pink marble, burlwood and campy lamps - which looks for all the world like a Hollywood film set. Overstuffed armchairs have you lingering over a menu of Polish and international cuisine – try the crispy roast duck served on a wooden platter with potato pancakes, beetroot and baked apple.

Look out for the wrought iron dragon set above the entrance to this charming traditional restaurant on the Old Town marketplace. Although it's popular with tourists, the food is good and served in hearty portions; the mostly meat-based dishes include schnitzel and steak, and the specialty is duck roasted in oranges and served with beetroots, crispy potatoes and cabbage. In summer, there's an outdoor terrace. 

Set next to the Opera House, this elegant restaurant offers contemporary takes on Polish classics, accompanied by a choice over over 500 vodkas from around the world. Regional and seasonal ingredients dominate the menu, such as duck with roasted celery puree and rowanberry sauce. The adjoining bar is a great place for a drinnk before or after dinner.

The N31 Restaurant and Bar’s simplistic menu combines traditional Polish meals with an international touch, perfectly reflected in their meals. Despite the simplicity of the menu there is still plenty of mouthwatering dishes to chose from, including; slow cooked meats, sea food and creamy soups.

This stylish restaurant is modelled on the kind of gastropub you'd find in New York or London, and offers a classic, all-day international menu: bangers and mash, fish and chips, pizzas, burgers and salads. There's also a novel "beer wall" (which also includes prosecco and cider) - buy a "beer card" with credits and top yourself up as often as you'd like. The dining terrace is delightful when the weather allows. 

It's been hard going for Asian eateries in Warsaw's dining scene, but Co Tu has been making leaps and bounds in the popularity stakes with the city's young, artistic crowd. The fresh dishes that arrive steaming from the kitchen are the key to this tiny diner's success (of course the price and speedy service help); there's an abundance of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes to choose from, and vegetarians are well catered for. Co Tu is hidden amongst a row of bars just off Ulica Nowy Świat.

This popular café overlooks Warsaw's circular Plac Zbawiciela, one of the few remnants of Socialist architecture extant in the city. Its coffee is strong, its smoothies creamy and thick, and its light snacks run the gamut from healthy sandwiches to home-made cakes and cookies. Take a seat inside on winter days or grab a table outdoors in the warm summer months.

Pierogi (filled dumplings) are probably Poland's most famous dish, and this is the place to eat them - gluten-free, boiled or fried, filed with cheese, mushroom, spinach, meat or even as dessert with strawberries and blueberries... there's a huge menu offering them just like grandma makes them. There are also other typically Polish main dishes should pierogies not be your thing, along with soups and potato pancakes, all at a very reasonable price.