Casual Dining

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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.

AïOLI Cantine

utensils International Converting communist-era commercial space into an appealing gastro destination is no easy illusion, but Aioli’s colourful urban canteen aesthetic turns the trick with aplomb. The exciting, modern menu extends from light tapas and seafood to pizza, burgers and steaks, and the cocktails are highly popular with daydrinkers on social media. This place absolutely buzzes, aided by breakfast and lunch specials, affordable prices and a kitchen that stays open late for their urbanite clientele, who help this trendsetting spot blur the lines between bar, bistro and brunch spot. 2nd location at ul. Chmielna 26 (F-8).QF‑7, ul. Świętokrzyska 18, MŚwiętokrzyska, tel. (+48) 518 81 93 02, www.aioli‑cantine.com. Open 09:00‑24:00; Fri, Sat 09:00‑01:00. €€€. TUB6 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

Symbol & Price Key

utensils Category of Cuisine E Live music

C-1 Map Coordinate N Credit cards not accepted

M Metro

B Outside seating T Child-friendly X Smoking room available U Facilities for the disabled 6 Animal friendly € most mains under 25zł €€ most mains 25-45zł €€€ most mains 45-75zł €€€€ most mains 75-115zł €€€€€ most mains over 115zł

Ciao Napoli

utensils Italian Located a short distance away from the Old Town Square, Ciao Napoli brings a little slice of Naples to the centre of Warsaw. With their maiden location nearby at Wąski Dunaj 4/6/8 (F-4), this bigger locale boasts more seating, a larger kitchen and expanded menu, with all the friendly cosiness of the first restaurant. Offering antipasti, salads, seafood and more, it’s the Neapolitan pizzas, with their fantastic thin and crispy dough, which keep us coming back. With fresh mussels every Thursday, weekday lunch specials (12:00-16:00), weekday happy hours (16:0019:00), and your 2nd bottle of Prosecco half price on weekends, there are a number of enticing reasons to choose Ciao. For such a tourist-saturated area, it’s shockingly affordable and you leave satisfied.QF‑3, ul. Długa 6, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 666 32 27 33, www.ciaonapoli.pl. Open 12:00‑22:00; Fri, Sat 12:00‑ 23:00. €€. TB6

Clash Restaurant & Bar at NYX Hotel Warsaw

utensils International Making a hotel more than just a place for its sleepover guests, NYX has created an inviting firstfloor space where urban art and culture collide, and anyone can drop in. With an open floor plan that features traditional dining areas flowing into more casual zones with sofas and armchairs, The Clash’s unique visual aesthetic includes retro and modern furnishings, elegant place settings and gold cutlery, plus edgy photography and street art installations. Dine on a unique fusion of Polish-Israeli cuisine, order a signature cocktail, or challenge their bar staff to make you a custom drink. Take advantage of Happy Hour specials from 17:00-19:00, and don’t be surprised to hear live bands or a DJ dialling up the vibes (check their FB to see what’s on).QD/E‑8, ul. Chmielna 71, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 346 29 00, www.leonardo‑hotels.com/nyx‑hotel‑warsaw. Open 14:30‑23:00. €€€. TUE6 Gospoda pod Zygmuntem

utensils Polish Located directly between the Royal Castle and the Old Town Square, this veteran Polish restaurant is as simple and traditional as it gets. A good option for tourists, families and anyone looking for their first foray into Polish cuisine, the modestly-priced, bilingual menu includes photos of almost every dish. There is a lot to choice, from classics like pierogi (15 types), potato pancakes with goulash and mushroom soup served in a bread bowl, to old school staples that have dropped off most modern menus like tripe soup and chicken livers with fried onions and baked apples. With a tidy, colourful interior and fast service, the experience is easy, accessible and satisfying. QF‑4, ul. Świętojańska 15, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 428 39 43, www.gospoda.waw.pl/. Open 11:00‑ 22:00; Fri 11:00‑23:00. €€. 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: go-womp-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 (G-7), and deep in the Old Town at ul. Podwale 19 and ul. Piwna 14 (F-4).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

Namaste India

utensils Indian Over sixteen 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 11:00‑23:00; Sun 12:00‑ 22:00. €€. B

Restauracja SŁOIK

utensils Polish ‘Słoik’ is the Polish word for ‘jar,’ but also commonly used to describe any Warsaw resident not born in the city. This restaurant and cocktail bar has bravely dumped the clapped-out cottage look to create a colourful, neon-lit interior. The Polish standards on the menu have also been given a contemporary overhaul without losing any sense of tradition and the Polish-inspired cocktails are wickedly funky. For such a trendy venue, prices are shockingly decent and there are solid promotions to be had every day. Inside, jars are literally everywhere and filled with anything you can imagine. Crikey, even the front door was ajar!QF‑8, ul. Złota 11 (entrance from Pasaż Wiecha), MCentrum, tel. (+48) 600 39 66 88, www. restauracjasloik.pl. Open 12:00‑23:00; Mon 12:00‑22:00; Fri, Sat 12:00‑24:00; Sun 12:00‑22:00. €€. T6

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, large portions of exotic Iranian specialities. 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 terrace and to top it all off, they are just the nicest damn people, you 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 12:30‑22:00. €€€. BSV6

The Alchemist Grzybowska

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). While you can get gourmet interpretations of Polish standards, fresh seafood and bar classics like burgers and fish & chips, their specialty is juicy steaks served on hot lava plates. The presentation is as sleek and pleasing as the interior design. Perfect for a business lunch, after-work drink, social gathering, romantic date...well, we can’t think of any occasion we wouldn’t want to come here for. 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

Catch your lunch before someone else does at Tokyo Sushi.

Tokyo Sushi

utensils Japanese Located right on Nowy Świat (with a lovely seasonal terrace, plus additional locales in the Blue City and Galeria Mokotów shopping malls), Tokyo Sushi is a great place to take a break from shopping or sightseeing for a healthy and filling lunch. The menu is absolutely exhaustive, encompassing almost any kind and combination of sushi you could desire, plus soups, salads, sashimi, gunkan, tartar, hot dishes with rice and 650ml bowls of ramen. If you can’t decide what you want, simply grab what looks good (everything?!) from the ready-made sushi rolls and salads going by on the conveyor; each is colourcoded by price from 8-15zł. Popular with the local business lunch crowd, there are many value deals to be had in the afternoon - including weekends - and the sheer volume of food being served ensures that all the ingredients are exceptionally fresh. QG‑7, ul. Nowy Świat 50, MNowy Świat‑Uniwersytet, tel. (+48) 22 657 15 89, www.tokyosushi.com.pl. Open 11:00‑ 23:00. €€€. TBV6

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, 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

Vegan & Vegetarian

As the capital of a country that traditionally feasts on meat, and smears lard on bread as a snack, you might be surprised to learn that in 2021 National Geographic named Warsaw the top city for vegans in the world. Lokal Vegan Bistro

This humble restaurant run by the ‘Margins’ Social Cooperative has achieved what not long ago was considered by many to be inconceivable: their hearty vegan variations of traditional Polish dishes are as, if not more, delicious than their meat-and-egg-based counterparts. That’s quite an accomplishment in a country that fed itself in ‘milk bars’ not so long ago. Alongside seitan, soy and cabbage ‘cutlets’ on their frequently changing menu, you’ll also find vegan versions of popular dishes from international cuisines, plus a few surprises. Large portions, fresh ingredients and low prices make this a great option for a healthy meal, but it’s also a great place to connect with Warsaw’s activist communities.QG‑9, ul. Krucza 23/31, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 517 61 51 22, www. lokalveganbistro.pl. Open 12:00‑21:00; Fri, Sat 12:00‑ 22:00. €€. TUB6 Tel Aviv Urban Food

Opened in 2010, Tel Aviv was one of the first strictly vegan restaurants in PL, earning a cult following and launching a franchise that now has several locations around the capital. This - their original foray into Middle Eastern-inspired vegan street food - remains a popular bastion of foodie culture and social consciousness. Drop in early for sweet baghrir (Maghreb pancakes), take advantage of their generous weekday lunch offer from 12:0016:00, munch on mezze, inhale their hummus and uncork with some wine. There’s also a decent kids’ menu. Doing well to show that vegan cuisine can be rich, exotic and visually stunning, this place has earned its accolades. Note that though they are open later, the kitchen closes at 22:00 (23:00 on Fri, Sat).QF‑9, ul. Poznańska 11, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 621 11 28, www.telaviv.pl. Open 10:00‑00:30; Fri, Sat 10:00‑02:00; Sun 10:00‑23:00. €€. TB6