INSIDER'S GUIDE

For a catch-all solution offering a variety of food, drinks and social experiences under one address, check out the following Warsaw legends…

COMMUNITY HUBS & FOOD HALLS

NORBLIN FACTORY ul. Żelazna 51/53, fabrykanorblina.pl

In June

Swing into the Art Box Experience an immersive celebration of Monet and other impressionist legends such as Renoir, Cassatt, Cezanne, Manet and Boudin.

Overview

Opened on the site of a former metal factory, the scale of Norblin takes a while to sink in. A beautiful combination of new and old, it’s a photogenic example of everything that makes modern Warsaw so captivating. Representing 200-years of history, the two hectare site is riddled with over 50 leftovers from the Industrial Revolution and these are set against attractions such as the luxury Kinogram cinema (champagne vending machines!), the immersive Art Box Experience, the only Apple Museum in the country (as in the tech brand, not the fruit), a factory museum and the Smart Kids Planet – a 1,600 sq/m project with nine zones that aim to promote logical thinking, healthy eating, motor functions, perception and creative thinking.

F&B

Warsaw’s largest food hall (23 food points and five bars!) has been intelligently designed so as to retain intimacy while never ceasing to remind visitors as to its diverse range of choices – the so-called ‘Asian district’ scores particularly highly. In standalone terms, top marks go to the elegant Piano Bar, the eclectic Uwaga craft beer haven, the swanky MOXO bar-club crossover, the Tex Mex of Blue Cactus and the newly-launched Middle Eastern emporium that is Amar Beirut. Finally, check into the Bio Bazar, a farmers’ market with a reputation that extends nationwide.

Join The Club

First and foremost though, June in Norblin puts kids first – Children’s Weekend on June 3rd and 4th will see a stack of attractions including concerts, face painting, glitter tattoos, quizzes, science shows and… slime! But there’s more – as of May, it’s now possible to leave your child under the care of the supervisors in Smart Kids Planet while you shop, eat, beautify yourself or take in a film. And remember, don’t overlook the slide in the Plater Building that connects the ground floor to level -1!

Debuting in February, frequent visitors can now register to join the Norblin Factory Club, an app that will give members access to exclusive offers, promotions and discounts. Free to download, it’s been designed with guests, tenants and suppliers in mind.

Elektrownia Powi Le

ul. Dobra 42, elektrowniapowisle.com

Overview

Initially completed in 1904 to serve as Warsaw’s primary source of electricity, Elektrownia appears with frequency in local history books – contested during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising (shrapnel holes still dent the building

In June

Visit Gatsby cocktail bar every Thursday at 7 p.m. for English-language standnights as performed by The Comedy Hole collective. Elektrownia, though, are even more famous for their ‘slow fairs’. Running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the first weekend of June, visit for the latest edition of the Jestem Vintage market to stock up on pre-loved clothes, jewellery, vinyl, etc. More events are in the pipeline for June, so check their FB for updates closer to the time.

Get The App!

Designed to make your life a whole lot easier, download the Food Hall app from Elektrownia’s website to order your favourite dishes in advance from the 13 F&B concepts presented in the food hall.

at intervals), it later powered the Palace of Culture – to this day, the switchboard survives. Relaunched in 2020, the blended approach includes an an exclusive top floor beauty hall filled with cutting edge cosmetic and beauty therapy solutions (Anna Lewandowska has been spotted here!), and a retail offer than tends to shirk the mainstream to instead slant in on contemporary Polish design, upscale vintage, niche brands and established local talent.

F&B

Lit by a sea of neon, the food hall is a street food mecca with star turns provided by Philly’s Finest Cheesesteak and Uki Uki Kikuya. Bracketed either side by two flagship bars, the smoothness of this operation can’t be questioned. But this is all complemented by standalone restaurant project such as the chic and design-minded Dock 19 and legendary, fun-fuelled Blue Cactus.

Hala Koszyki

ul. Koszykowa 63, koszyki.com

Overview

Revolutionizing Warsaw’s food and drink scene, the 2016 reopening of Koszyki can be considered one of the watershed moments in the city’s gastro timeline. Considered the grande dame of food halls, the brick and wrought iron interiors of this spot look beautiful with the F&B offer split between standalone restaurants such as the fancy Warszawski Sen to vendors like the fist-bumping, burrito boys at Gringo. For craft beer and grilled sausages then Kiełba w Gębie don’t put a foot wrong, though the biggest lines are usually reserved for Soul Food Burgers. The open-all-hours ĆMA is a legend in its own lifetime, whilst The Upper Deck has won credit for its cocktails. Gluing it all together, the Central Bar remains the top check-in.

Browary Warszawskie

Grzybowska 58, browarywarszawskie.com.pl

Overview

Billing itself as a premium food hall, the centrepiece of Browary contrasts well against Warsaw’s other offers. Occupying a beautifully lit vaulted chamber that was once used to store beer, this magnificently formed space presents an offer based around a “quality over quantity” with twelve concepts vying for attention. Pertinently, the wider offer has also cemented itself into Warsaw’s conscience thanks to addresses such as Robert Lewandowski’s Nine’s sports bar, a flagship brewery-restaurant, the ever popular Balkan eatery Munja, and Baila – a stunning live entertainment emporium.

In June

Koszyki has long reveled in its cultured reputation – from classical evenings to history walks and book signings, there’s rarely a dull month. In June, they’ll be demonstrating that culture has no age. Coinciding with Children’s Day, June 4th will see Marta Plasota lead an afternoon of classical music for kids. As part of this, children will learn what the greatest composers were doing when they were young themselves. Event starts at 1 p.m.

Back Story

Established in 1846, the Haberbusch & Schiele brewery that once occupied this plot was the largest such plant in the entire Kingdom of Poland. Later also producing Coca Cola under American license, the complex later fell into complete dereliction. Opened last year after seven-years of work, the resulting Browary Warszawskie has utilized these surviving elements and set them against a swanky backdrop of freshly mapped streets and immaculate new build that feels contextually suited to the district.

The Spice of Life

Spicing up Browary’s summer scene, Bombaj Masala vie for the title of Warsaw’s top Indian…

The Look

Seen from within, Bombaj Masala is quite comfortably the most elegant of Warsaw’s Indian restaurants – under a ribbed, wavy wooden ceiling, revel in a plush interior that feels slick and dynamic whilst simultaneously evoking a heavy sense of colonial era Bombay with its patterned prints, old crates and carved wooden chests. Outside, small as the terrace is, it’s also one of our favourites, staring as it does onto the woonerf that runs through Browary. Shaded by white flowering trees, there are few better places to spend a lazy Sunday watching supercars weave past attractive couples walking pedigree pocket-sized dogs.

On The Menu

The food doesn’t let the rest of the operation down. Dedicated to Bombay’s street food scene, a section of the menu devotes itself to bitey snacks as the battered and lightly spiced Chicken 65. Indian standards, meanwhile, are executed with aplomb – Warsaw’s best bhaji? Find that here. Onto mains, and the Madras is a thick and pungent mass of fiery brilliance, though for a real inside secret ask the staff for a vindaloo (it’s off the menu, but they’ll happily fix it for you). Lastly, having feasted lavishly settle in for drinks. As the quite beautiful bar suggests, cocktails are not an afterthought and include a range of Indian-themed cooling swigs like the gin-based Hibiscus Lemonade.

BOMBAJ MASALA WOLA

Krochmalna 61, bombajmasala.pl

Centrum Praskie Koneser

Pl. Konesera, koneser.eu

Overview

Built in 1897, from its early inception Koneser was designed with one duty in mind: to produce vodka. Nationalized after WWII, Koneser only finished producing vodka in 2007; by that time, the plant was in dire need of care and attention and its Neo Gothic architectural details looked destined to rot and die. But not so. Subjected to a seven-year restoration process, it reopened in 2018 as a mixed-use project containing cultural sites, F&B outlets, swanky offices and loft-style apartments – no other investment has had a bigger impact on Praga’s overdue regeneration than Koneser. Culturally, it’s also done much thanks to the Polish Vodka Museum, the Museum of Fantastic Art and temporary exhibitions such as Banksy in 2021.

F&B

For foodies, the lynchpin that holds the food and drink offer together is Koneser Grill. Belonging to the portfolio of Ferment Group (owners and creators of Rozbrat

In June

Of the planned events, drop by on June 3rd for Koneser’s pet fair and on the 4th for a jewellery market.

20, Butchery & Wine and a string of other essential eateries), enjoy a sophisticated, meat-centric menu amid smooth lighting, blond woods, metal fixtures and outbreaks of rich teal colours. Then, you’ve got the small matter of Bombaj Masala and its Indian street bites served in eclectic surrounds, and newbies such as Setki Powodów, a vibrant, fun space with on-tap cocktails, crazy shots and a menu devised by Insider favourite Michał Bryś and Spółdzielnia, a casual eatery that’s already earned mythical status in Łódź.

On the 24th and 25th, meanwhile, pop in for the ‘Fashion in Warsaw’ festival, a two-day event featuring clothes, cosmetics, accessories, etc. Running throughout the month, the Magic Mind Museum has a range of magic shows lined up every weekend.

Nocny Market

ul. Towarowa 3

(Warszawa Główna)

Still feeling as fresh and exciting as when it first premiered in 2016, Nocny Market brings together dozens of food vendors to form a patchwork of uber cool traders and hip little stands. But more than just an ultra-fun collection of ethnic cook-up spots, the Nocny Market has become the place to get tattooed in front of hollering strangers, stock up on artisan donuts, swag some crazy-patterned Warsaw-themed socks, get the whiskers waxed or simply boogie on down to side-burned DJs rescued from the Lost Years of Hipster. Set on a disused train platform lit by funky strips of neon, this weekend market-party (open Thurs through to Sun) is a social phenomenon that’s enshrined in local legend.

In June

As of press time, Nocny Market had failed to make their plans known. Of course, that does not mean they have nothing up their sleeves. Quite the opposite, if past form is an indicator, expect each weekend to have a different foodie-style attraction. But even without that, this is not a place that needs a regular roll-call of events. A living organism, every hour seems to offer a different vibe – you haven’t experienced Warsaw until you’ve experienced Nocny Market.

Luna Park

Wał Miedzeszyński 407

Located in an abandoned outdoor leisure complex, this overgrown plot has been lent a Coney Island makeover to feature a bar set around a carousel; a circus-style big top entered via the mouth of a grinning clown; a shot bar disguised as a shooting gallery; and a bank of fairground games. A wild world of games, drinks and hard partying weirdness, it’s a haven of hip and a weekend essential that lasts till dawn.

Hala Gwardii

Back Story

Built as a market hall during Tsarist times, in later years Gwardii became ‘the home of Polish boxing’ – in 1953, under the guidance of coach Feliks Stamm, Poland’s team triumphed over its Soviet and German counterparts to rack up a horde of nine medals at the European Boxing Championship. Resurrected as a food hall in 2017, its unpolished interiors have helped it retain a gritty authenticity and a lingering sense of history that’s appreciated by all. In many ways, it is on these sincere foundations that Gwardii have been able to build a sense of genuine community that has united all ages bands, income brackets and backgrounds.

F&B

There’s two sides to Gwardii, almost literally. On one, find a farmers’ market whose gems include freshly baked goods, local jams and preserves, and fresh fruit and veg. Then, separated by a communal eating area, find a row of street food hawkers covering a span of global cuisines. Gluing it altogether is the social angle: don’t leave without sampling an Okonomiyaki from 8 Haci Japanese Bistro, craft beer from Piwna Gwardii or a cheeky glass of wine from the exceptional Wine Corner.

The Goodbye

After much speculation, the end of May saw it confirmed that Gwardii as we know it will cease its current operations at the end of June ahead of a planned renovation. Who operates it in the future is anyone’s guess though it is sure that many Gwardii regulars will be willing CBR Events to victory – having first coined the concept of Gwardii as a food hub, and then successfully implementing their vision through a community-based approach, they have done much good for Warsaw.

“I’d like to thank our customers and partners,” says Robert Baj of CBR Events. “In 2017 we took a real risk on this undiscovered space but were able to build an amazing community. We fully believe that we will return to the hall after its renovation – over the last six-years, we’ve shown how seriously we treat our relationship to Gwardii.”

The weekend of June 23rd to June 25th is set to be Gwardii’s final weekend and a leaving party is likely – watch their FB (and ours!) for details. In the meantime, goodbye Gwardii, and thanks for the memories!

In June

Gwardii’s social calendar will begin June with a boxing gala on the third in homage to the hall’s sporting heritage.

The following weekends (June 9th to 11th and June 16th to 18th) will see culinary weekends dedicated to Spain and Portugal respectively.

Wars Sawa Junior

Marszałkowska 104/122, warssawajunior.pl

Good To Know

Standing all but in the shadow of the Palace of Culture, WARS SAWA JUNIOR cuts a familiar sight to all. Conveniently connected by tram, bus, metro and even bicycle and scooter, today it presents the slick and shining face of modern Warsaw. But then, WARS SAWA JUNIOR has always been at the forefront of Warsaw retail. Opened as one of the first shopping centres in Poland, to this day it enjoys unflagging popularity and has again been embraced by the Warsaw public following an ambitious revival that has bordered on reinvention.

To Do

Shopping is the name of the game with highlights including the largest adidas store in Poland as well as the only Uniqlo in the country. Other brands and stores present include Mango, Rituals, Zara, TK Maxx and H&M. On the food front, the central location of WARS SAWA JUNIOR also benefits visitors – consider the city your salon with dozens of restaurants of every price and persuasion found within a few minutes walk.

Events

There’s a reason why WARS SAWA JUNIOR has come to be considered a hub, and that’s because it goes way beyond the call of duty to engage with visitors and locals of every single age. Recently, that’s been evidenced by a well-attended chocolate festival featuring local chocolatiers, a

To keep ahead, check what’s coming up on Facebook.com/ WarsSawaJuniorMagazyn specialty coffee zone and artisanal ice cream stands. Paired with a rich roster of children’s workshops, the success of this event embodies their efforts to bond with the public.

With most such fairs taking place in Pasaż Wiecha, the shaded pedestrian street that runs behind Wars Sawa Junior, this area has become a summertime magnet that proves just why Warsaw was voted Europe’s best destination.

Previously, the summer schedule has included vegetarian weekends, street theatre, a chocolate festival, dance events and just about everything else in between.

Based around the concept of sharing, Michał Gniadek’s contemporary menu challenges diners to see food through a fresh, new prism. Flexitarian in approach, enjoy his unique flavors inside a chic space found in our quiet, green enclave of the city center.

Inquiries about reservations should be sent to the following e-mail address: rezerwacje@klonn.pl ul. Jazdów 1B, klonn.pl