Bars

Wise words from the talented bar staff at AURA Bar (see below)

AURA Bar

Cocktail Bar Chances are you wouldn’t find this place on your own, which is why you should seek it out! Though hardly bigger than a bedroom, the locals are eager to squeeze into this corner bar located in a lovely pre-war residential building. With high ceilings and a beautiful design of oriental patterns, warm lighting and brass fixtures, Aura has a real glow to it and a friendly neighbourhood vibe. What sets it apart however, is the huge selection of bourbons. This is the kind of place where the drinks come in tumblers and the seasonal cocktails are as delicious as the atmosphere. If an ‘Old-Fashioned’ is your go-to bar order, this is your go-to bar, where they serve 11 unique varieties of the classic drink. Refreshingly relaxed, but clearly refined, great things come in small packages.QG-9, ul. Hoża 27, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 576 36 73 79. Open 17:00-01:00; Fri, Sat 18:00-02:00. o6 Bar Setki Powodów

Cocktail Bar A recent (and very exciting addition) to Warsaw’s Polish Vodka Museum (p.55), Bar Setki Powodów (Bar of 100 Reasons) guarantees musical feasts, dishes out of this world, live concerts and drinks poured from the stick! Furnished in a style reminiscent of the nearby Neon Museum (p.55), this Praga nightspot shows off a concise list of cocktails, flanked by a string of other ‘reasons’ to come here. Eatables include a deer tartare marinated in blackthorne tincture, the ‘Kung Fu Pan Da’ pizza with Pak Choi, ‘five spice’ roasted pear and ricotta, and forest mushroom soup with wild boar noodles fried in juniper butter. Consume as you wish, and enjoy the small-but-punchy live music stage in the corner. QK-2/3, Pl. Konesera 1, MDworzec Wileński, tel. (+48) 511 69 29 63, www.muzeumpolskiejwodki.pl. Open Tue, Wed 12:00-22:00; Thu 12:00-24:00; Fri, Sat 12:00-02:00; Sun 12:00-21:00; closed Mon. UE

Symbol Key

Category C-1 Map Coordinate M Metro N Credit cards not accepted E Live music U Facilities for the disabled o Year-round Garden

Cuda na Kiju

Multi-tap Bar Housed in the former communist party HQ, just next to the statue of General Charles De Gaulle, this 3-level bar was Warsaw’s first multi-tap and boasts an impressive 16 taps pouring craft beers from around Poland and Europe, plus pizza for your late-night feed. The interior design is unobtrusive and kept to a minimum, making for a nice and airy atmosphere, and features three outdoor seating areas. The owners should really be given a special prize for this brilliant initiative; instead, in true Warsaw tradition, they quickly got dozens of copycat bars. Still, we stay true to our first-love multi-tap bar.QH-8, ul. Nowy Świat 6/12, MNowy Świat-Uniwersytet, tel. (+48) 784 48 97 27. Open 12:00-01:00; Fri, Sat 12:00-02:00; Sun 12:0024:00. E

El Koktel

Cocktail Bar Moody and elegant, this sophisticated cocktail bar serves signature drinks with performative flair. The imaginative menu of classic and modern mixed drinks changes seasonally; during our recent visit the sci-fi/space exploration theme featured delicious drinks with names like ‘Enter the Void’ and ‘Gold Digger’ and the range of unique ingredients included nutella liqueur, agave nectar, bison grass absinthe and pomegranate tincture. These alcohol alchemists even make their own flavoured gin (cleverly named ‘Gin Dobry’), which you simply must sample by ordering a classic G&T. Also on the menu: wine, craft beer, and antipasti boards. Ring the doorbell to be admitted.QG-7, ul. Wojciecha Górskiego 9, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 507 45 64 47. Open 18:00-24:00; Fri, Sat 18:00-01:00; closed Mon, Sun. o6

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 ex-pat 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. Check their social channels for special events like parties and monthly visits by a children’s entertainer who will watch over your young’uns while you imbibe some hard alcohol in peace.QE-8, ul. Złota 59 (Złote Tarasy), MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 222 07 00, www.hardrockcafe.com. Open 09:00-24:00. 6

Myata Lounge

Cocktail Bar The first Myata Lounge in PL, this franchise might be familiar to those who have wandered over the border east, and as such, the clientele skews sexy Slav. Known for good food, great drinks, shisha smoke and general debauchery in a sleek, modern interior full of plush love seats, Myata covers a lot of bases, but what makes it special is its regulars, who would rather go hard than go home. It’s a few-fucks-given kind of vibe that only the young and beautiful can pull off, and they do it here. The menu ranges from wasabi shrimp and teriyaki salmon to burgers and quesadillas, and they offer almost 300(!) flavours of shisha. There’s live music every Sunday from 21:00 and also Guinness on draught, but you’ll find most guests sipping their signature cocktails. If you were hoping Warsaw would be a bit more Wild, Wild East, check this place out.QG-8, ul. Żurawia 6, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 534 72 73 25, www.myatawarszawa.tilda.ws. Open 12:00-01:00; Fri 12:00-04:00; Sat 16:00-04:00; Sun 16:00-01:00. XE

SWING Asian Fusion Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

Cocktail Bar Right on the Royal Route, Swing is one of the capital’s most sophisticated destinations for dining, drinks and, yep, swinging parties. The elegance exuded by day is offset by the creativity of the Asian-fusion cuisine and the relaxed atmosphere created by the staff and clientele, particularly in the evenings. A curtailed menu of tasty Asian tapas goes into effect after 22:00 Fri-Sun, the cocktails are excellent, and they have an ample offering of wine, champagne and other spirits to move you as the hour gets late. QG-7, ul. Nowy Świat 31, MNowy Świat-Uniwersytet, tel. (+48) 667 98 88 88, www.swingrestauracja.pl. Open 17:00-24:00; Fri 17:00-02:00; Sat, Sun 15:00-02:00. 6 The Alchemist Metropolitan

Cocktail Bar Patenting the ‘future of drinking’ themselves, The Alchemist’s ‘Beer Wall’ was the first of its kind in Europe. With a handy ‘Beer Wall’ card, you can pour yourself as many drinks as you like from the 8 taps on the wall, typically offering local craft beer and prosecco. Futuristic guzzling gizmos aside, however, the signature cocktails that shimmer, swirl and smoke are where the Alchemist earns its name, and their award-winning food (Gault & Millau 2020) makes this venue a must-visit. On the card of international eats are excellent Polish dishes, delicious seafood, steaks, burgers and more. 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 Alchemist’s experimentation. Second location (without the Beer Wall) at ul. Grzybowska 5A (E-7).QF-5, Pl. Piłsudskiego 3, MRatusz Arsenał, tel. (+48) 22 628 00 23, www.thealchemist.pl. Open 12:00-23:00; Fri, Sat 12:0024:00. TU6

Whiskey in the Jar

Cocktail Bar Boasting locations in several cities, the Polish institution that is Whiskey in the Jar stands glorious in the centre of Warsaw, dealing in steaks, a rock n’ roll aesthetic and live concerts (Thu-Sat from 20:00), it might be easy to chalk this up as just the Polish take on a certain international chain, yet WITJ exudes authenticity and is very much a passion project for the team behind it. So while you’ll get choice cuts of seasoned steaks, mouthwatering burgers, a wide selection of craft beers and the eponymous whiskey served in jars, there are also traditional Polish touches here and there - plus the possibility that a Harley might tear through the place at any moment.QG-10, ul. Marszałkowska 53, MPolitechnika, tel. (+48) 798 80 56 18, www.whiskeyinthejar.pl. Open 13:00-23:30; Mon 13:0021:30; Tue 13:00-22:30; Sun 13:00-21:30. UoE6

Woda Ognista

Cocktail Bar Emitting a nostalgic air of bygone days, Woda Ognista captures and bottles this atmosphere of ‘forgotten Warsaw’, with classy 1920s-30s decor and a primly dressed staff that exude panache. Prepare to be impressed by their seasonal offerings, fantastic Polish-style cocktails and dishes that take you on a journey through Warsaw’s cultural history. Put simply, this is a wonderful place to experience a modern spin on pre-war Varsovian style and we’re sure the likes of Eugeniusz Bodo and Mieczysław Fogg would have approved.QH-9, ul. Wilcza 8, MCentrum, tel. (+48) 22 258 14 41, www.wodaognista.com/. Open 17:00-24:00; Fri, Sat 17:00-02:00. 6