Poland: Warsaw's best restaurants creating a buzz

Located in the beating heart of Warsaw, Dyletanci is a restaurant and wine bar that started as a bistro in 2016. Today, it boasts one of the largest wine lists in Poland, with over 1100 bottles in its collection. The wine selection consists of Italian and French classics along with local orange wines, pét-nat, and natural biodynamic labels. The interiors of the place are designed to represent a minimalistic Parisian bistro made up of handmade ceramics, Zalto glassware, walls decked with wine bottles, a Burgundy region map, and Polish graphic designer posters that give the place an inviting feeling.

The kitchen is run under the leadership of Chef Rafał Hreczaniuk, who has over 20 years of culinary experience working in fine dining establishments around the world. The menu presented by the restaurant is made up of simple Polish dishes created using organic vegetables arriving from the chef’s farm on the outskirts of Warsaw. Some of the specialty items you can sample here are beetroot terrine with walnut, roe deer with forest fruits, scallops with broccoli in yellow curry, wagyu steak with oyster mushrooms in black pepper sauce, cod with white asparagus, and wild garlic infused lamb with carrots. 

Koneser Grill is the newest establishment opened by The Ferment Group, which is a local restaurant company. Located inside a redeveloped former vodka factory in the east of the city, Koneser Grill is a steakhouse that specializes in dishes cooked on an open fire or by smoking. As soon as you enter the smart and chic-looking restaurant, you are enveloped by the smell of wood, grilled meats, and the sound of luxurious wines being poured into glasses. The decor of the space places “fire” at the heart of its design with an open kitchen concept, a central bar, wood-paneled flooring, leather furnishings, and firewood stacked under the kitchen counter.

The food focuses on different cuts of high-quality Polish meats which are aged in-house and then grilled or smoked using high-caliber seasoned oak and alder wood. The menu comprises fire-roasted steaks, such as New York strip, rib eye, flat iron filet, T-bone, picanha, and strip loin, served along with sauces and sides. Besides the meats, diners can relish dishes like tuna steak in beurre blanc sauce, smoked mackerel with foie gras, and pork terrine with foie gras. Koneser Grill is a place where you will appreciate exceptional smokey gastronomic experiences.

Nolita is the signature restaurant of local celebrity chef, Jacek Grochowina. Located in the most vibrant social district of Warsaw, it is a relaxed fine dining establishment that is on its way to becoming a culinary juggernaut in the city’s dining scene. The restaurant is named Nolita, after Manhattan’s inspiring neighborhood. The interiors of the eatery are cosmopolitan in nature with a splash of contemporary art, a single dining room accommodating 40 people with a semi-open kitchen concept, whitewashed stone walls, a stunning lighting arrangement, and black window blinds that complement the smart monochrome theme of the space.

Nolita oozes tradition and modernity in its ambiance. The menu is international, with ingredients and spices from all over the world assembled into extraordinary dishes. Chef Grochowina combines classical influences with cutting-edge modern techniques to create delicacies, such as pork marinated foie gras served “maki-style” with smoked eel, tuna tartare flavored with yuzu, Welsh lamb filet with eggplant, steamed sea bass with ginger, scallop ceviche, and charcoal grilled wagyu beef steak with paper-thin crispy potato served alongside diable sauce. For an exceptional aesthetic and culinary delight, we would recommend booking a table at Nolita in Warsaw.

Rozbrat 20, named after its address, is a modern Polish restaurant widely considered to be a pillar of the contemporary fine dining trend. Situated in an unassuming corner behind Warsaw’s spectacular public gardens, Rozbrat 20 has an impressive culinary trajectory, thanks to the insights of its two gastronomic visionaries – owner Daniel Pawelek and Head Chef Bartosz Szymczak. The decor of this unmissable spot is light-filled and retains the calm atmosphere from the quiet locale outside. The interiors of the establishment are highlighted with wooden tables, electric blue velvet lounges, and cane seats in the main dining space, along with an outdoor patio.

Chef Bartosz creates a stunning menu with an emphasis on local and seasonal produce that is sourced within a radius of 50 km around Warsaw. Visitors to the eatery can opt for a 6-8 course tasting selection or order exemplary dishes from the a la carte menu. A few delicacies that you can relish here are onion soup with beef ribs, yuzu-flavored tuna topped with trout roe, crispy cod with mussels served on a bed of vegetable ragù, and lamb with goat cheese in a wild garlic sauce. 

Located at Obrzezna 1 in Warsaw, Tobiko Sushi is a quaint Asian establishment that serves some of the freshest sushi in the city. It is a Japanese restaurant that specializes in large set roll menus which are perfect for sharing. The eatery is minimalistic in design, with simple plastic chairs, wooden tables, focused hanging light fixtures, and yellow-cream color tones.

The kitchen creates a menu of set sushi rolls and other Asian bites at a pocket-friendly rate. Patrons of the establishment can savor delicious dishes, such as pickled shiitake mushrooms with crab salad, crispy pork gyoza served with soya sauce, miso soup with leek and tofu, chicken teriyaki served with fluffy jasmine rice, tuna and butterfish, futomaki roll with shrimp and avocado, or nigiri sushi with grilled eel and smoked salmon. Besides its a la carte menu, guests can opt for a set lunch meal that consists of two tempura starters, a soup, and an entrée of sushi. If you are looking for a value-for-money meal in Warsaw, Tobiko Sushi is the place to add to your checklist.

Warsaw is a dynamic European metropolis with a rich history, an array of attractions, and exceptional food. It impresses everyone with its resilience, respect for history, contemporary style, and culinary delights. The capital city is home to everything from retro trendy milk bars to chic restaurants serving cutting-edge molecular gastronomy.

Which of these restaurants are you adding to your must-visit list? Share your thoughts with other foodie travelers in the comments section below. And don’t forget to check out our latest recipes and articles.