IN THE AIR SPOTS

Loreta

Widok 9 (Puro Hotel)

Loreta channels the spirit of this design-led hotel brand through its funky décor and eclectic art. The terrace, though, is the clincher. As night falls, retreat to an enclosed balcony deck signposted by a neon the colour of bubblegum pink; here, amid cascading greenery and low-slung seating, join other cocktail hounds enjoying inventive house sips that use best-inclass ingredients.

Ether

Chmielna 71 (NYX Hotel)

Positioned so you catch the best of Warsaw’s peachy sunsets falling over the Central Business District, watching the night slide in can be an almost empowering experience from this 19th floor bar. Cocktail bills are easily accrued when enjoying one of their open-air concerts, but whilst this place packs out easily, secluded corners can usually be uncovered.

The Roof

Rondo Daszyńskiego 2 (The HUB) Offering thrilling 21st floor views from one of Wola’s newer towers, The Roof’s sleek furnishings, well-deployed plants and spherical lights cast a cool look that act in concert with a setting that feels fantastically affluent –but as beautiful as the interior is, it’s the outdoor deck that’s easily the biggest draw of this upscale cocktail bar.

Havana

Słowackiego 16/18

Forget the George Clooney lookalikes that dwell in Warsaw’s other sky bars, you’re more likely to find local versions of Pete Doherty. The least dressiest of our selection, this neighborhood legend has a design that rhymes well with the 60s tower it’s found in. The views are pretty uninspiring (a tramline and some kiosks), but the vibe is something special.

Belle Epoque

Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44 (Bristol Hotel)

Available only for private bookings, the seventh floor Belle Epoque is the final word in luxury – Warsaw has elite-minded rooftops, but none can offer the privacy and exclusivity of this elegant cupola. Specialising in champagne-based cocktails, it's ideal for moonlit proposals or small-scale gatherings when you want to impress.

Sen

Wioślarska 6

Woah – the number of good lookers that flock here is simply off-the-scale. Don’t dare use the words “you should be a model” as a chat-up line, for the answer you’ll receive is “actually I am”. Set on the top floor of a riverside development, the open terrace of this A-list club offers even more to feast your eyes on: the twin sight of the National Stadium and Poniatowski Bridge.

Szóstka

Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 9 (Hotel Warszawa)

Head to Floor 6 for there lies Szóstka, a long, slick restaurant decorated with steel tubing, bursts of greenery and a covered glass ceiling. But it’s outside where everyone heads, to a sparsely furnished terrace with killer views of the city below. Clinking glasses out here is the ultimate sunset moment with the tasting menu offering an exciting array of adventurous global tastes.

Chopin Taras Café

Smolna 14

Accessed via an old elevator, reservations for the rooftop seating are recommended to avoid disappointment. More creaky and atmospheric than its glossy competitors, the fourth floor Chopin Taras Café has earned a name for jazzy concerts that take place among the plant boxes.

Amar Beirut

Norblin Factory

If you can overlook such flaws as the painfully overwhelmed service, then Amar is one of the standouts of 2023 – luxuriously exotic interiors, fantastic Lebanese food and interesting cocktails all point to much potential. Then there’s the rooftop, an intimate L-shaped space with views not just of Warsaw’s skyscrapers, but also the magically atmospheric Pasaz Norblin down below.

Dock 19

Dobra 42

Unlikely to induce vertigo, this first floor rooftop is a favourite with the local glitterati. Its height ensures you’re at treetop level and that alone makes for an atmosphere that feels tangibly connected to the hip Powiśle vibe. For food and drink, ‘light and seasonal’ are the guiding principles whilst the look feels almost redolent of a luxury cruiser.

Baken

Żurawia 6/12

Baken feels like a merger between the chic streets of Paris and the cosy corners of Copenhagen, with its delectable breads and inviting atmosphere hitting the sweet spot between French and Danish charm. The energy is conducted through an open kitchen and expressed via handsome staff clad in white t-shirts. The scrambled eggs are a must, so too are the plum Crêpes Suzette.

Kubuś Piekarenka

Marszałkowska 19

Trending big this summer is Kubuś, one more breakfast / lunch / café / bakery crossover to add to Warsaw’s ever-growing list. Looking fashionably ad hoc with bare, distressed walls decorated with fleeting bits of wall art, people gather for choices such as mackerel pasta and crispy breads piled with gooey regional cheese, creamy scrambled eggs and oyster mushrooms. Outstanding.

Lychees

Bielańska 1

From the creators of Peaches comes this brill brunch spot. Design-wise, the pair’s taste for cool is unmissable and surmised by a wall of glazed ceramic tiles from Holland’s GBD.studio. The experimental dishes include a great congee served with cashew butter glazed in muscovado and their own unique take on French toast. Lines at the door are not unknown, but all agree it’s worth the wait.

Stolica Café

Narbutta 50A

Previously known for Gothic Café in Malbork, Boguś Gałązka has kicked up a storm in Warsaw with this fab venture, a place where artisanal breads compete against inventive takes on shakshouka, English vegan fryups, and pancakes splashed with season fruit and rich raspberry sauce. Housed in the arthouse, Socialist Realist era Kino Iluzjon, the scene is suitably hip and Insta-friendly.