Bars

Partying in Poznań | Photo by Grzegorz Babicz. Courtesy of City of Poznań

Nightlife in Poznań

Poznań bars are flexible - no matter what the official closing times are, most bars will stay open until the last customer has stumbled out. Most night spots are concentrated around the Old Town Square, but also check out ul. Nowowiejskiego (G-6), ul. Taczaka (F/G-8), beach bars on the shores of the Warta River (p.8), and Łazarz’s Social Night Market (p.63), all of which draw students in droves.

Bars

Bistro Tancereczka

An assortment of snacks and small dishes like beef tartare, potato pancakes, and potatoes with quark cheese accompany a large selection of booze including vodka (they even make their own pearflavoured kind), craft beer, Prosecco, and mixed drinks. It’s loud, it’s hip - there’s simply no escaping the exposed brick, fairy lights, and street-inspired wall art - and the folks here are having a good time. You can even purchase small bottles of that pear vodka as souvenirs for the whomever you left back home. QH‑8, ul. Wrocławska 18 (entrance from ul. Jaskółcza), tel. (+48) 730 90 15 48. Open 18:00‑02:00; Wed, Thu 18:00‑04:00; Fri, Sat 18:00‑07:00. 6

Brovaria

Brovaria feels an integral part of Poznań life, and it’s certainly become established as the main expat haunt since the demise of Dom Vikingów. Yet while it feels an ingrained piece of Poznań one look at the design reveals a modern, industrial space, one where steel and glass combine to create a sharp looking area that looks as edgy now as when it first opened. However, coming here to admire the interiors would be missing the point; this place is all about beer, namely the excellent house lagers that are brewed out back in the copper vats. Here’s one of the best microbreweries in Poland, quite possibly the best: enjoy it.QH‑7, Stary Rynek 73‑74 (Brovaria Hotel), tel. (+48) 61 858 68 68, www.brovaria.pl. Open 12:00‑24:00; Fri, Sat 12:00‑01:00. B

Cooliozum

We were a little sceptical at the beginning but this place is unquestionably Poznań’s best sports bar. This isn’t the dark, divey venue you may be used to, rather a large modern space involving ice white sofas and a blue-lit bar. TVs aside, other bonuses include more than 120 beers (with 14 on tap), board games, and darts, as well as poker and foosball tables which seem to have a steady flow of players - Cooliozum is actually the training centre of the Polish Foosball Association. Head through the archway at no. 45 and find it down some stairs on your left.QG‑7, ul. Św. Marcin 45, tel. (+48) 792 88 18 12, www.cooliozum.pl. 6

Symbol Key

6 Animal friendly N Credit cards not accepted E Live music U Facilities for the disabled B Outside Seating X Smoking room available

Beach Bars

KontenerART © Leszek Jańczak

KontenerART

Open from May till the end of September. One of Poznań’s most original spots, the seasonal KontenerART occupies a stretch of grass along the Warta River that makes finding the unusual venue feel like a drink-worthy achievement. Head down Ewangelicka (J-7) toward the Warta River and you may hear the clamouring of KontenerART before you see it. It’s worth the trouble - after all, where else can you drink in a stack of shipping containers surrounded by an artificial beach and ‘art’ installations that stretch the definition of the word? One container operates as a stage, one as a bar, and the rest are filled with art projects that are more confusing than creative. Deck chairs and wooden pallets are the seating of choice at this hipster oasis; climb the stairs for a secondstory seat that offers a view of the river and the ideal perch for people-watching. A welcome and unique summer alternative to pubs and clubs in the Old Town.QK‑8, ul. Ewangelicka (on the Warta River between Chrobrego and Rocha bridges), www.kontenerart.pl. Open 12:00‑02:00. BE6

Ogród Szeląg

Open from late April till the end of September. In a word, magical. This riverside drinking and socializing spot should have just been a beach bar, but instead it is an intimate, semi-wild garden with deck chairs and hammocks hidden among the foliage and tasty drinks served from a mint-green shipping container. With frequent concerts (every Friday in the 2022 season, it seems) and a nice menu of waffles, bagles, and salads, this is a low-key winner and a favourite hang-out - and they even rent kayaks (25zł for one hour, 35zł for two). In the back, you’ll find a community veggie patch. Good vibes.QL‑1, ul. Ugory 97. Open 12:00‑22:00; Sat 12:00‑23:00; Sun 11:00‑22:00. BE6

Beer garden at Fort Colomb.

Fort Colomb

Fort Colomb, part of the inner ring of old Prussian fortifications, sometimes gets overlooked on account of its location – a bit out of the old town and closer to the main train station - but it really shouldn’t. During the summer, we take every opportunity to get away from the hustle, bustle, and loud drunks of the main square and hide away in the leafy garden of this splendidly historic building, located right in Park Marcinkowskiego.QF‑8, ul. Powstanców Wielkopolskich, tel. (+48) 609 99 02 82, www.fortcolomb. pl. Open 14:00‑24:00; Sun 17:00‑24:00. XE

ISTNY wine tapas beer

Refined but mercifully laid back (leave that tie at home), ISTNY offers a selection of 14 wines, 8 beers, and 2 ciders - all on tap - in a hip, industrial interior. Make sure to grab an assortment of tapas, which include pickled garlic cloves, prosciutto, chorizo, jamón serrano, and olives.QH‑8, ul. Podgórna 12, tel. (+48) 606 61 04 30. Open 18:00‑24:00; Fri, Sat 18:00‑ 02:00; closed Sun. 6

Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa

The newspapered interior and nostalgic communistera concept here are exactly the same as their dozens of locations all over the country (including a second in Poz at ul. Wrocławska 8, C-2): dirt cheap booze and dirt cheap grub like pickled herring and ‘awesome toasts’ to soak up the aforementioned booze. This place is packed at all hours, though it’s best sampled during the later stages of the evening when you’re guaranteed a right assortment of characters who are happy to spill out their life story for the price of a 5zł beer. Very ‘Polish’ and a welcome alternative to some of the Rynek’s more expensive and snobby bars. Karaoke nights take place Tue, Thu, and Sun 20:0002:00.QH‑7, Stary Rynek 85, tel. (+48) 791 85 95 55, www.pwip.com.pl/poznan‑rynek/. Open 09:00‑05:00; Sat, Sun 12:00‑05:00. U Piwna Stopa

Heralded for its broad selection - around 200 bottled beers and 16 on tap - Piwna Stopa is wildly popular with beer connoisseurs who don’t give two craps about trendy light fixtures or the instagrammability of the interior decor. Not that it’s bad: there’s a certain Czech tavern feel what with the old-fashioned wooden chairs, wall lamps, framed miscellanea, and fireplace (!) and live bands play jazz, blues, and rock during the warm season. Their leafy summer garden is highly recommendable, as are the cheese boards, smoked-sausage hot dogs, and other meaty treats (there’s even venison). Oh, and they recently added a 17th tap with vodka - that’s one we haven’t seen before!QI‑6, ul. Szewska 7, tel. (+48) 532 32 92 77, www.piwnastopa.pl. Open 15:00‑24:00; Fri, Sat 13:00‑02:00; Sun 13:00‑24:00. 6

Proletaryat

So what if Stalin killed umpteen times more people than Hitler? Communism can be a hoot, at least it is if you’re drunk, so head to this commie bar and raise a glass to Uncle Joe. Quality local lager, 5zł vodka shots, and - of course - an assortment of classic Eastern European drinking snacks like pickles and bread smeared with lard - ensure nights aren’t dull, and you’ll find this piece of socialist paradise decidedly stuffed with Cold War keepsakes and Iron Curtain mementos. Pride of place goes to Lenin, with his giant plaster head peering through the street-side window.QI‑7, ul. Wrocławska 9, tel. (+48) 508 17 36 08. Open 17:00‑ 02:00; Fri, Sat 17:00‑03:00; closed Sun. 6

SomePlace Else

SPE is a natural born winner – few places are better geared to meet foreign demands, and while the prices are undoubtedly steep (do you expect anything else from the Sheraton?), it’s a place where foreigners and locals mix with seamless ease, chatting about travels while sports beam down from their 9 TVs. American in spirit, you’ll find Route 66 extras mingled with rock pics, a strong menu of Tex Mex, burgers, and steaks, as well as more whimsical touches such as a car bonnet bursting from the wall. Taking centre stage is a circular bar, the perfect base to chat to staff while they fix earthquake cocktails and velvet smooth Guinness. Happy hours commence at 18:00 and go until 20:00 Tue-Sat.QD‑7, ul. Bukowska 3/9 (Sheraton Poznan Hotel), tel. (+48) 61 655 20 00. Open 18:00‑24:00; closed Sun‑Mon. UE

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