Polish food in the Old Town

Highly recommended venues with Polish cuisine in the Old Town

Video Thumbnail
/
/
/
Polish food in the Old Town

Polish food in the Old Town

Recommended establishments with Polish cuisine in the Old Town

A visit to a restaurant serving Polish food in the Old Town is an excellent idea not only for foreign tourists wanting to try traditional dishes but also for Warsaw locals who, like the rest of the nation, love our native culinary delights. Indulging in Polish specialties in the wonderful setting of the Old Town in Warsaw is pure pleasure.

The Warsaw Old Town! Years ago, it was the centre of Warsaw's economic life. Today, transformed, it attracts crowds of city residents and visitors alike. This is where social and culinary life thrives. There are many exquisite restaurants here that draw inspiration from the traditions of Polish, Jewish, and even Armenian cuisine. The atmosphere of the Old Town is shaped by numerous landmarks such as churches, museums, bourgeois houses, narrow cobblestone streets, and charming courtyards.

Traditional Polish food in the Old Town

The Old Town pulses with life in both summer and winter. After a stroll along the Royal Route, tourists often visit this most romantic place in the city. So if you're planning a dinner with your significant other, this is the place to go.

We present a list of the best restaurants with Polish food in the Old Town of Warsaw so you know where to direct your steps.

In this guide:

U Fukiera 
Pod Samsonem
Kuchnia Warszawska
Zachcianek
Bazyliszek
Gospoda Kwiaty Polskie

U Fukiera 

Restaurant U Fukier is a legendary place in the Old Town that has been in existence for over 100 years. It is one of the most well-known and prestigious establishments in the capital, a cult classic in Warsaw. It specializes in authentic Polish dishes and was also excellent during the austere times of the People's Republic of Poland.

U Fukier is located in a superbly restored building. The interior is decorated in a rustic style with elements of traditional Polish aesthetics, undoubtedly influenced by the restaurant's owner, Magda Gessler. The menu offers a wide selection of dishes prepared with care for traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients. Here, you can try Polish cuisine classics such as pierogis, pork chop with potatoes and cabbage, or broth with noodles. The wine list covers the entire globe - from Europe to Australia, South Africa, and America. Every wine enthusiast will find something to their liking.

U Fukier hosts artists, aristocrats, politicians, and people from the front pages of newspapers. The restaurant has been visited by, among others, Yitzhak Rabin, Madeleine Albright, Zbigniew Brzeziński, Roman Polański, Queen Margrethe III of Denmark, Princess Anne of England, Henry Kissinger, Naomi Campbell, and many others. It's important to note that U Fukier is very popular, so it's advisable to reserve a table in advance to ensure you have the opportunity to taste exquisite dishes in this prestigious restaurant in the Old Town of Warsaw.

Pod Samsonem

The restaurant has been operating since 1958, offering both Polish and Jewish cuisine. The name refers to Samson - a biblical figure performing feats impossible for ordinary people. In the shadow of such a patron, one can feel good while enjoying delicious meals and, at the same time, daydream and think about their own great deeds: "May the spirit of the great Samson revive me and compel me to positive action!"

Inside the restaurant, you can see photographs of Jews who were strongly connected to Warsaw and Poland. This world has vanished, but at Pod Samsonem, you can, at least partially, recreate it. The menu is very diverse. Polish cuisine includes beef rump with mushrooms, served with potatoes and beets, traditional and, by the way, one of the best pork cutlets in Warsaw, of course, served with potatoes and cabbage, and many other delicious dishes. You'll find a vast selection of Jewish cuisine - fish, soups, meat dishes, desserts; vegetarian dishes, salads. We particularly recommend the veal schnitzel with potatoes and tsimes! As one of the best Polish restaurants in Warsaw, Pod Samsonem naturally offers a wide range of various alcoholic beverages, including an interesting wine list. During the summer, the garden is open, where you can observe life in the Old Town Square. Prices at Samson are moderate, suitable for every budget. Come and experience the contemporary and, at the same time, bygone world that has passed into history but has left behind an immortal story.

Kuchnia Warszawska

The restaurant is located in the stylish underground of a Gothic townhouse. High brick arches evoke ancient times, much like numerous photographs. It conjures the era of a noisy yet beautiful city. The customer virtually transports themselves to bygone eras. The journey is worth it - the kitchen offers delicacies from menus of various social layers of our nation - from the nobility, aristocracy, and workers to Jewish merchants and financiers.

During the summer, you can take a seat at a table in the garden. The efficient staff will surround you with care. In this garden, famous people often gather - intellectuals, artists, businessmen, athletes. They willingly relax there and... gossip. In winter, you can accompany ice skaters on the artificial ice rink in the Market Square. After chilling, you can step into Kuchnia Warszawska, eat well, and warm up. The menu is a combination of traditional Polish and Jewish cuisine. The selection is enormous, from starters like herring in various forms, tartare, salads, through soups like traditional broth, żurek, tripe, and others, to main dishes of Polish cuisine: pancakes with goulash or with porcini mushrooms, stuffed cabbage, pork tenderloins, knuckle, pork chop, and many others. Main courses originating from traditional Jewish cuisine are also abundant: duck, ribeye steak, fish in many variations, lamb. In the summer, Kuchnia suggests an excellent Lithuanian cold soup and handcrafted pierogi with blueberries to combat the heat. After a hearty lunch, you can indulge in delicious desserts.

Zachcianek

Zachcianek is a central place in the charming townhouse on the Old Town Square. It specializes in Polish cuisine full of herbs, marinades, and pickled dishes. It also satisfies the palates of cheese enthusiasts. Customers can enjoy the welcoming interiors as well as the summer garden, where, with a good cocktail, beer, or wine, you can listen to summer jazz concerts organised on the Square.

Recommended dishes include pierogi, for which Zachcianek is renowned. People queue up for them, thirsty for genuine homemade flavour. Pierogi enthusiasts will appreciate the delicate dough, savory fillings, and additions such as bacon cracklings and real, rural sour cream. Among the appetizers, herring served in various ways, tartare, or bread with lard reign supreme. The soups feature the most traditional Polish ones: tomato soup, borscht, and Warsaw-style tripe. Duck breast, bigos, or knuckle will satisfy the heartiest appetite. Additionally, fish is served (an amazing salmon fillet!). Moderate prices and generous portions are the great advantages of Zachcianek. The staff accepts phone reservations for tables. Zachcianek Restaurant is the perfect place for tourists and their guests to savour the tradition of Polish cuisine on the Old Town Square.

Bazyliszek

Above the entrance, a fearsome creature glares at visitors with a menacing eye. Could it be intended to scare away customers? What kind of nefarious monster is this? Fortunately, it's just a legend embellishing the history of the Old Town. This creature is the legendary dragon called Basilisk. It used to kill anyone who dared to look into its eyes, striking fear into the local population. Today, no longer dangerous, it serves as a tourist attraction and is the patron of the restaurant. It attracts and delights tourists from around the world, who can now peacefully feast by its side. The Bazyliszek restaurant occupies an entire townhouse with many rooms. The décor is traditional, dominated by wood, old paintings, creating an incredibly atmospheric ambiance. Efficient service is a strong point of the restaurant. If you don't want to miss out on enjoying the city while dining, you can find a place at a table outside the restaurant.

The Basilisk menu is exceptionally attractive. Customers will find everything they expect - cold and hot snacks, salads of various compositions, soups, pastas, cutlets, steaks, fish dishes, and desserts. You won't leave hungry. Moreover, the restaurant tempts with daily promotions every day of the week. You can eat to your heart's content for a reasonable price, and we guarantee the portions are substantial. We recommend Basilisk to both locals and visitors - it is tamed and feeds excellently.

Gospoda Kwiaty Polskie

It serves as an alternative to other restaurants in the Old Town and on the main routes. It is hidden in the alley of Wąski Dunaj Street between the Old Town Square and Podwale, right next to the Barbican. It is quiet and pleasant here. The large wooden window encourages you to visit the Gospoda (inn). As the name sugests("Kwiaty Polskie" means "Polish flowers"), the restaurant is abundant in flowers both inside and outside. Why this name? Undoubtedly, it is inspired by Julian Tuwim's work "Polish Flowers". A magnificent digressive poem, unfortunately censored after the war. Here at Gospoda Kwiaty Polskie, there is no censorship. Everything is allowed. You can talk about anything as long as it's quiet and cultured. You can spend a wonderful time here with your closest ones. It is also the perfect place for a romantic dinner by candlelight, away from prying eyes. You can daydream and recall the famous interpretation by Ewa Demarczyk of the love poem "Grand Valse Brillant," which is a fragment of "Kwiaty Polskie." You can also immerse yourself in the excellent digressions of Julian Tuwim.

However, let's get back to reality and take a look at the menu... Gospoda's specialty is game pâté accompanied by pickles and sauces, wild boar stew flavoured with juniper and rosemary, various salads, fried shrimp with onions, beef tartare. There is a wide selection of soups (excellent sour rye soup with sourdough) and meat dishes, and of course, pierogi. You won't leave Gospoda hungry for sure!

Indulge in Polish cuisine in the Old Town

The best restaurants with Polish food in the Old Town will satisfy even the most demanding client. Żurek, borscht, pierogi, or traditional pork cutlet. Warsaw loves native flavors, so you’ll find a whole array of excellent Polish restaurants in the Old Town in Warsaw.

We left something out, do you have any suggestions contact us!

Find out about other places

Confectionery in Warsaw
Food products from around the world in Warsaw
The best beauty salons in Warsaw
Sauna in Warsaw
Noteworthy

Have we missed something, do you have any suggestions?

Are you a business owner?