Casual Dining

Casual dining

The Alchemist (p.76) - only a cephalopod would eat elsewhere.

Sometimes you just need a casual and convenient place to relax, enjoy good food, vibes and hospitality. The following venues deliver in that regard. While our listed opening hours seem self-explanatory, be aware that some venues close their doors if business is slow, while others stay open after the kitchen has closed. In such cases, the hours we list are for the kitchen.

Beef n’ Pepper

utensils Steak Hidden away in a small alleyway alongside the famous Roma Theatre, the exterior may look like you’re about to enter a 1970’s Texas shopping mall, but inside it’s a smart, urban steakhouse and bar. The quality of the cuts here is excellent (28 days wet-aged or 30 days dry-aged) and the fact that they use the finest local meats means the prices are surprisingly reasonable. Seafood and Louisiana Chicken Wings struggle for a look-in as beef rules. In addition to a fine wine list, the slick bar has a brilliant selection of whiskies and bourbons, and there’s live music every Tuesday from 19:00.QF-9, ul. Nowogrodzka 47A, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 785 02 50 25, www.beefandpepper.pl. Open 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-22:00. €€€€. TUE6 Browar Warszawski

utensils International The revamped Warsaw Brewery is one of the largest, most modern brewpubs in the region, producing 19 craft beers on site, from contemporary IPAs to legacy ales from the days of the Haberbusch & Schiele Brewery. Choosing is hard, so try a tasting set. The menu is tailored to complement your liquid meal, and includes a truffle burger, fresh seafood and platters from the Josper grill. If you’re not a beer and/or meat lover, fret not, Warsaw Brewery has veggie options, plus signature cocktails and single malt whiskys. The post-industrial interior has plenty of intimate spaces, and also gives you a peak at the brewing process. All around a top venue for drinks, dining and making the rounds.QC-7, ul. Haberbuscha i Schielego 2, MRondo Daszyńskiego, tel. (+48) 799 00 00 21, www.browarwarszawski.com. Open 12:00-24:00; Sat, Sun 12:00-24:00. €€€. BE

Ciao Napoli

utensils Italian Located a short distance away from the Old Town Square, Ciao Napoli’s aim is to bring a little piece of Naples to the centre of Warsaw. Having originally opened on Wąski Dunaj 4/6/8 (F-4) to great success, boasting some of the city’s best pizza, imagine our delight when they opened this 2nd location with more seating, a bigger kitchen, and an expanded menu, with all the friendly atmosphere and cosiness of the first restaurant. Offering a selection of antipasti, salads, seafood and desserts, it’s the choice of Neapolitan pizzas with their fantastic thin and crispy dough which really stick out. Lunch specials of soup, an entree and water are available Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00 for 27zł. As if things couldn’t get any better, they have fresh mussels every Thursday, happy hours on weekdays with your second cocktail half price (16:00-19:00), and on weekends your 2nd bottle of Prosecco is half price! You leave satisfied, especially when you realise just how affordable the whole experience was, despite being in a tourist hotspot.QF-3, ul. Długa 6, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 666 32 27 33, www.ciaonapoli.pl. Open 12:0022:00; Fri, Sat 12:00-23:00. €€. TB6

Gościniec Polskie Pierogi

utensils Polish You can’t visit the capital of Poland without trying some traditional Polish food, right? Gościniec has just that, - hearty soups, plump dumplings, potato pancakes and various cutlets - all prepared ‘as they should be’ and at very reasonable prices. You can’t go wrong with pierogi, but we’d personally recommend the pork chops or cabbage rolls stuffed with meat (known locally as gołąbki: gowomp-ki)! The drinks on offer are quite funky (cold/hot options), and it’s all served up by friendly staff wearing folk attire. It may feel very kitsch inside, but the food hits the mark and the portions are immense. Additional locations at ul. Nowy Świat 41, and deep in the Old Town at ul. Podwale 19 and ul. Piwna 14.QG-5, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 29, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 273 69 36, www.gosciniec.waw.pl. Open 11:00-22:00; Fri 11:00-23:00. €. TB6

Read and review over 275 Warsaw restaurants online

Namaste India

utensils Indian Over fifteen years ago, what began as a modest Indian-owned grocery store quickly developed by demand into multiple full-service restaurants. This - the expanded original location - remains the consensus best Indian food in the capital, just ask anyone who lives here. The prices are set so low you can’t help but wonder what’s the catch - there isn’t one; we’ve tried the entire menu and it’s all delicious. Consider ringing ahead for takeaway because waiting times can be torture and ask about booking their private room for parties and meetings.QG-8, ul. Nowogrodzka 15, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 357 09 39, www.namasteindia.pl. Open 11:00-22:00; Fri, Sat 11:0023:00; Sun 12:00-22:00. €€. B

Steakownia

utensils Steak Ever wonder where your burger comes from? This farm-to-table steakhouse isn’t afraid to tell you. With it’s own farm of 700 free-range cattle in northeastern PL, Steakwonia serves only seasoned and matured meat from their own 23-month-old castrated bulls. Drop in for an undenieably delicious burger, or one of their uniquely juicy, tender steaks, with the sauce and sides of your choice. The steakmasters will help you select a choice cut, and even advise you how to prepare their premium meats to perfection at home (the restaurant doubles as a shop). If you just want an excellent steak, without all the fancy finery that often comes with quality dining in the capital, head to this no-frills meatery.QG-9, ul. Krucza 23/31, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 517 62 27 19, www.steakownia.pl. Open 12:00-22:00; Mon, Tue 12:00-21:00; Sat 13:00-22:00; Sun 13:00-21:00. B6 Tehran Restaurant

utensils Middle Eastern Experience new tastes and celebrate Warsaw’s multiculturalism in Tehran - the capital’s only authentic Persian restaurant. This popular diner has won the adoration of locals with their beautiful and large portions of exotic Iranian specialties. The menu features lots of grilled mutton and lamb, halal kebab and eggplant paste, flavoured with mint, rose, pomegranate and saffron (don’t miss the Persian ice cream!). Vegan, halal and kosher restrictions can be easily accommodated, there’s a seasonal terrace and to top it all off, they are just the nicest damn people, you simply can’t suppress the good vibes. For the full effect, do your digesting with a traditional shisha pipe and a cocktail.QG-7, ul. Gałczyńskiego 9, MNowy Świat - Uniwersytet, tel. (+48) 537 10 02 51, www.tehran-kuchniaperska.pl. Open 12:30-21:00. €€€. BSV6

The Alchemist Grill & Cocktail

utensils International We’ve always loved The Alchemist for their craft beer and cocktail chemistry, but these days the real reason to visit is their award-winning food (Gault & Millau 2020) from head chef Rafał Kowalczyk. While you can enjoy gourmet interpretations of Polish standards and bar classics like burgers and fish & chips, their specialty is juicy steaks grilled and served on hot lava plates. The presentation is as sleek and pleasing as the interior design, which is hard not to admire. Perfect for a business lunch, after-work drink, social gathering, romantic date...well, I guess we can’t think of any occasion when we wouldn’t want to come here. Top venue, also at Pl. Piłsudskiego 3 (F-5).QE-7, ul. Grzybowska 5A, MŚwiętokrzyska, tel. (+48) 22 375 92 22, www.thealchemist.pl. Open 12:00-23:00; Fri, Sat 12:00-24:00. €€. B6

The Legendary Jack’s Cinema Restaurant & Bar

utensils American Inside a pre-war tenement building, Jack’s is a bar, restaurant and event-only cinema with a classy postindustrial interior punctuated by literally hundreds of JD bottles blotting out the ceiling. The steaks, burgers, ribs and wings are outstanding, and aside from Tennessee whiskey there are dozens of other mixed drinks; they even have their own beer. Keep an eye on their FB page for karaoke, concerts and other events in the mini cinema, kick back in their deep sofas and enjoy the show. Cheers, Jack!QG-8, ul. Bracka 18, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 400 28 23, www.jackscinema.pl. Open 12:00-01:00; Sun 12:0024:00. €€. TUE6

U Barssa

utensils Polish The Old Town is packed with places to eat, but this is one of the few truly great. As you walk from the market square into the elegant dining room, you will discover a world of luxury, craft and privilege. The signature duck baked with beetroot, fried apples and cranberry sauce, and the Angus steak with green pepper are just two of the winning dishes on the menu, and we have to mention the outstanding wine list. They also have a huge summer garden and offer live music on Saturdays, so call ahead to reserve your space in this charming place.QF-4, Rynek Starego Miasta 12/14, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 635 24 76, www.ubarssa.pl. Open 11:00-22:00; Fri 11:00-23:00; Sat, Sun 10:00-23:00. €€€. TB

Vege Miasto

utensils Vegetarian A paradise for Warsaw’s vegan, healthy-eating, glutenfree fanatics. The interior is a pretty simple affair with fittings made from old wooden crates and palettes. The smallish space is permanently packed with a variety of customers; tattooed anarchists sit alongside business types, local ladies and tourists in search of something vegetarian other than fried potatoes. You’ll find it here - a variety of soups, pierogi, pasta salads, and middle eastern inspired entrees, plus daily specials, cakes and a great range of drinks; the fruit juices and herbal infusions are great thirst quenchers. QE-5, Al. Solidarności 60A, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 251 05 25, www.vegemiasto.pl. Open 12:00-21:00; Mon 12:00-18:00. €€. T6

Wilcza Okocim Grill & Bar Beer Pub

utensils American A brilliant venue for anyone who believes a pub should be a casual, social place, where friends can drink good beer, watch the game and have a solid feed. This place looks the part with an interior of exposed brick, green booths and dark wood finishing, set over two levels, with a seasonal patio. First and foremost a sports pub, there’s not a seat inside or out without a view of the match of the moment. The menu - a mix of barbecue and burgers, steaks, goulash and golanka (traditional pork knuckle, try it!) is outstanding, and the national Okocim lager should serve you well, but they also have Guinness, Brooklyn EIPA and Grimbergen Blonde on draught, plus a full bar. All told it’s more than anyone deserves to expect from a modern sports pub.QF/ G-9, Ul. Wilcza 35/41, MPolitechnika, tel. (+48) 22 621 35 06, www.okocimbeer.pub. Open 14:00-01:00; Mon 14:00-24:00; Fri 14:00-02:00; Sat 15:00-02:00; Sun 15:0023:00. €€. B6