Bars � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

Get juiced on botanicals in El Koktel (p.85).

In Warsaw you are never far from a great night out, and this section highlights some of our favourite venues� As it’s a large city, there are several key nightlife areas: Warsaw’s artsy, alternative crowd prefer the down-at-heel bars across the river in Stara Praga (H/I-4) and the fashionable Saska Kępa (L-7), while young trendsetters head to Powiśle (p�42)� Lads stick to the party strip on ul. Mazowiecka (F-6/7) and skint travellers and students enjoy the vibe of the dive bars in The Pavilions (ul� Nowy Świat 26, G-7)� In practice, many bars will stay open beyond the call of duty if business is good, but by the same benchmark will happily bolt the doors early if not�

Symbol Key

6 Animal friendly N Credit cards not accepted E Live music U Facilities for the disabled o Year-round Garden X Smoking room available AURA Bar

Bar Walking around Warsaw’s atmospheric city centre side streets, you could easily miss this place� It’s barely bigger than a small bedroom� Despite its size, it’s been causing quite a stir amongst Warsaw locals who are more than happy to squeeze in� Found on the corner of an eye catching pre-war residential building, entering, you’ll immediately see why all the hype is justifed� Small, dark, moody in all the right ways; it has a relaxed Moroccan interior design to draw your attention� Once you’ve stopped looking at the design of the place, your head then spins in the direction of the wall of bourbons behind the bar - a huge selection for such a small venue� The cocktails here, based on seasonal ingredients, are as delicious as the atmosphere� It’s hard not to be impressed by such small places that pack a big punch�QG‑9, ul. Hoża 27, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 791 88 81 98. Open 17:00‑01:00; Fri 18:00‑03:00; Sat 18:00‑02:00. o6

Cocktail Bar Stroll down ul� Koszykowa, just off from Plac Konstytucji, and at no� 53 on your left, head down to the end of the lane which looks more like a residential car park� Keep hugging the right-hand side, walking past a few restaurants, and voilà, you’ll reach the Back Room Bar - an appropriate name indicating how well hidden it is! It would be a shame to miss this place, as inside, the mix of American 1930s bar and inter-war Varsovian lifestyle is strong; all with a heady art deco atmosphere� To top off the atmospehere, they have live music every Thu & Fri from 20:30� The cocktails the friendly dressed-for-the-part staff make are great, the setting perfect for a private drink, or a mingling session with friends� No harm in trying it out, huh?QG‑10, ul. Koszykowa 49A, MPolitechnika, tel. (+48) 794 49 56 59, www.backroom.bar. Open 19:00‑24:00; Fri, Sat 19:00‑ 02:00; closed Mon, Sun. E

Charlie

Cocktail Bar Billing itself as a venue where elegance meets comfort, this lounge bar feels like the type of place your classy ole pal Charlie himself would invite you into� If you don’t know anyone called Charlie, then let this venue be the substitute to fill that void! Found on the likewise elegant ul. Mokotowska, one of our favourite areas of Warsaw, just off the beaten track, come here to check out a wide selection of cocktails, all in the pleasantly dark and moody atmosphere� Their calendar of events, hosting live acts, jazz music, a Saturday DJ and various parties are legendary�QG‑10, ul. Mokotowska 39, MPolitechnika, tel. (+48) 739 09 75 14, www.charliebar.pl. Open 19:00‑01:00; Fri 17:00‑ 02:00; Sat 19:00‑02:00; closed Mon, Sun. XE

Hard Rock Cafe

Cocktail Bar Sure you don’t need to see Freddie Mercury’s red leather pants to enjoy a night out, but it certainly doesn’t hurt� The Hard Rock Cafe’s large downstairs bar area is jumping at night even when live rock shows aren’t on the agenda� The endless bar mixes up a long list of colourful cocktails for a heavily expat crowd taking in paraphernalia like a well-worn Bee Gees guitar and a black leather outfit that formerly clung to Madonna’s early 90s frame� And, of course, there’s live music - Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 19:00�QE‑8, ul. Złota 59 (Złote Tarasy), MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 222 07 00, www.hardrockcafe.com. Open 09:00‑24:00. 6

The drinks dreamed up in The Roots (p�89) may have you frothing at the mouth�

Jabeerwocky

Craft Beer ‘Beware the Jabeerwocky���’, no wait, this one’s not a fictional monster, but a bare-brick dive bar found inside a fine residential building right in the city centre� And one worth checking out too with 17 taps offering some fine craft beers, and bottles of whiskey too! This is a great place to kick back with friends for some good chat, and if you’re desperate to watch some sports, they have a large projector screen and TV for you to stare at if the chat’s not good enough� Aside from the craft beers, they also have bourbon on the menu, along with some basic snacks� A separate room is open available to book out for closed parties, which can hold up to 35 people�QG‑8, ul. Nowogrodzka 12, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 254 31 07, www.jabeerwocky.pl. Open 14:00‑24:00; Wed, Thu 14:00‑01:00; Fri, Sat 14:00‑ 02:00; Sun 15:00‑24:00. 6

Kita Koguta

Cocktail Bar Even with the myriad of trendy drink bars around town it’s still a bit of a rarity to stumble upon a place where the staff seem permanently smiley, jolly and on the point of being certified - this is such a place� Two levels of surprisingly unpretentious cocktail showmanship and DJ danceparty mayhem, fuelled by the weird and wonderful auteur alcoholic concoctions on their regularly changing menu� If you’re feeling fussy or just want to chat up the willing staff, challenge them to come up with a custom drink based on your tastes and preferences� Great atmosphere, great drinks� To keep up to date with events they may host, check out their Facebook page�QG‑9, ul. Krucza 6/14, MPolitechnika, tel. (+48) 512 30 72 84, www.kitakoguta.pl. Open 18:00‑24:00; Fri, Sat 18:00‑ 02:00; closed Mon, Tue, Sun.

The Alchemist Grill & Cocktail

Cocktail Bar It’s still worth noting that this bar is where the plan for the future of drinking was hatched� The Alchemist’s patented ‘Beer Wall’ was the first of its kind in Europe; working with a handy ‘Beer Wall’ card, you can pour yourself as many drinks as you like from the 8 taps on the wall - local craft beer, cider and prosecco are typically represented� Futuristic guzzling gizmos aside, however, the signature cocktails that shimmer, swirl and smoke are where the Alchemist earns its name, and their awardwinning food (Gault & Millau 2020) makes this venue a must-visit� On the card are delicious burgers and steaks - innovative interpretations of American and British classics� If all this wasn’t enough, in the summer, it’s the spacious terrace that draws the locals to lounge around for hours enjoying the results of the Alchemist’s experimentation��� QF‑5, Plac Piłsudskiego 3, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 628 00 23, www.thealchemist.pl. Open 12:00‑23:00; Fri, Sat 12:00‑00:00. TU6

The Legendary Jack’s Cinema Restaurant & Bar

Cocktail Bar Bottles at the bar, bottles on the ceilings, and why not, considering your signature alcoholic drink is one of the world’s most recognisable brands? Not just a bar, this spot does some great American style grub, from burgers, steaks and BBQ ribs to fried chicken� What’s more, the quirk of this place is the cinema screen round back, great for films, live screenings of sports events or as a space for live music and other events� Come here for a drink, food, and definitely check out their events calendar on Facebook�QG‑8, ul. Bracka 18, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 400 28 23, www.jackscinema.pl. Open 12:00‑01:00; Sun 12:00‑ 00:00. TUE6

The ROOTS Cocktail Bar & more

Cocktail Bar While the cocktail revolution continues to shake and stir up Warsaw’s drinking habits, some places manage to stand out from the crowd� The ROOTS has, without a doubt, secured a very special place in the hearts of serious cocktail devotees, both local and international� For starters, the bar is a shrine to the noble art of being a barman/mixologist, for which reason you should definitely check out their intriguing collection of vintage and antique ‘tools of the trade’ – the collection of mixers alone already stands at nearly 100 items! Add to this a library of antiquarian books on the subject of bartending/cocktail mixing and you know you are dealing with some hardcore and very scholarly mixologists� ROOTS is so well-versed in the art of making cocktails, they have enough tricks for two great menus - one featuring classics of the trade and another which presents signature drinks based on seasonal regional flavours� Make sure you scrutinise both and ask for a recommendation at the bar� Food is also available in the form of a Polish fusion menu, which is intriguing enough to at least take a peak at� Quite brilliant!QF‑5, ul. Wierzbowa 11, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 828 22 33, www.therootsbar.com. Open 17:00‑ 24:00; Fri, Sat 17:00‑02:00. 6 Weles Bar

Cocktail Bar Walk casually past and you risk missing this hidden cocktail bar, whose very discreet entrance can be found in the back corner of an unassuming alleyway� Why, it’s almost as if they were trying to hide something���but don’t worry, there aren’t any prohibition-fab pseudo-speakeasy shenanigans at play here� Instead, walking through the big metal door takes you on a trip down into the underworld� Not literally, thankfully, but physically and figuratively, as you descend into the mysterious and hedonistic domain of Weles - Slavic god of the underworld, and pagan patron of magic, music and prosperity� The vibe is quite alternative for a bar where most of the patrons are drinking cocktails, and a scan of the room reveals a lot of black outfits, inked skin and moody makeup� A trip to the bar, where the staff mix the drinks with a mesmerising alchemic fluidity, is almost akin to initiation into some sacred ritual; we drank deep of Weles’ well and were converted� To say more would give away too much - visit on your own�QG‑8, ul. Nowogrodzka 11, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 602 77 39 97, www.welesbar.pl. Open 19:00‑01:30; closed Mon. E