|
Dining in Europe > Warsaw Warsaw has a very dynamic and fast-paced restaurant scene. New places seem to open weekly and the choice is considerable. Some of its restaurants have become well known abroad as well. However, there was a time when a typical Warsaw waiter would tell you that none of the items on the menu were actually available! Another option was a Socialist-era 'milk bar' where you were served cafeteria-style, sharing your table with a stranger. Fortunately, those days are long gone. Warsaw now boasts restaurants that make it into European top ten lists - and competition is fierce. Everything from Chinese to Mexican, Italian to vegetarian is on offer. There are a lot of deluxe establishments, fast food places on almost every corner as well as street stalls offering hot dogs, Vietnamese noodles and falafel. Those seeking chic and trendy eateries will find that these are a Warsaw specialty. Restaurants are the place to be seen. One of the most stylish and hip places is 99, which is a world-class restaurant. In the same category is the recently opened Boathouse. Similarly trendy bars are Zanzi Bar and Rabarbar. These all offer sophistication and exclusivity. One of Warsaws specialities is its Italian restaurants. The presence of a large Italian business community means that quality and standards are high. Some of the best Italian cuisine in the region is cooked up here. Venezia is locally famous and Balgera, a relative newcomer, offers exquisite northern Italian dishes. Chianti is one of the most romantic restaurants, while Roma Café is intimate and charming. Verona offers style and good food and Vera Italia attracts lots of Italians. Parmizzanos in the Marriott Hotel uses only the finest ingredients while San Marzano provides fast service and creative dishes. If you're after a fun and festive atmosphere, Warsaw has that as well. Blue Cactus has established itself as one of the citys favorite get-together locations. Santorini, with its wonderful Greek décor is also lively. El Popo is close to several trendy bars and feels alive on any night of the week. Grand Kredens - decorated in an artistically put together mixture of styles - is also a great choice for a group. Bars with a similar atmosphere are Lolek, Harenda and Lokomotywa. If you like Asian food, Warsaw has a lot to offer. The Japanese restaurants are all excellent: Tsubame has style and great sake, Tokio is popular and flies in fresh seafood weekly, while Akasaka has tasty tempura and noodles. Dong Nam is a huge restaurant that offers several different Asian cuisines. Pekin is small and the food is great, while the Oriental (at the Sheraton Hotel) is a popular business choice. Fans of Indian food will want to visit Club Tandoor, which has a dedicated following, or Taj Mahal which boasts one of Polands best Indian cooks - a gentleman named Raji. The Lebanese restaurant Le Cedre is one of the more interesting and delightful restaurants in the city. Vegetarians will love Nove Miasto - one of the most elegant and classy vegetarian restaurants in the world. Café Ejlat offers Jewish fare, while Varna has Bulgarian cuisine covered, along with some of the best wine bargains in town. But what about Polish food? Of course Warsaw has that! Fukier, in the Old Town is a must for anyone who wants to experience traditional Polish cuisine. Also famous are Bazyliszek, Gessler and one of the most appreciated of them all, Restauracja Polska. Less expensive is Klub Aktora, a local favorite, along with Literacka and Kmicic. In a league of its own is Belvedere, located in Lazienki Park. This is the destination of choice for presidents and the rich and famous - its well worth a visit. Also unique is the Chefs Table, a private dining experience in the kitchen of the Sheraton Hotel. If you're heading for the National Theatre, opera or visiting a gallery, La Boheme would be a fabulous choice. It mixes class and elegance with great cuisine. Also popular is Qchnia Artystyczna, one of Warsaws true bohemian locales. After your meal, you may want to visit the Column Bar in the Bristol Hotel if you are looking for refinement and elegance. For an ongoing party try the Irish Pub or Morgans. The Panorama Club at the Marriott Hotel has the best views of the city. Prohibicja is fun and trendy, while the John Bull Pub is quiet but popular. Warsaw also has some very special cafés. First among these is Blikle, one of the capitals most loved establishments. The Café Nowy Swiat is a beautiful Viennese-style establishment. Café Brama is hip, with excellent food and Café Europa is a pleasant place to stop for a break in the Old Town. The Café Bristol is wonderful, as is Belle Epoque. Still more fun are Miedzy Nami and the trendy Modulor Café. Local celebrity Stash Pruszynski has done extrememly well with his recently opened Radio Café. Whatever you're looking for, Warsaw probably has it. And if its not there this week, it may well be there next! Its worth keeping your ear to the ground as new places are opening up all the time. Do make a reservation, as many places are almost always packed out. Warsaw now has some of the most contemporary and exciting restaurants in Europe. The places that you visit may well be famous in a month or two. Its a real thrill dining out in such a fast-paced and competitive restaurant environment. Bon Appetit! Entertainment in WarsawWarsaw has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment choices. There is something for everyone. Those seeking opera and classical music will not want to miss the Opera Narodowy. It is massive and beautiful and the standards of performance are very high. Also an excellent choice is Roma, or the popular Warsaw Chamber Opera. The Philharmonic is home to performers from around the world, as is the Lutoslawski Concert Studio of the Polish Radio. More intimate classical performances can be seen at the delightful Moniuszko Warsaw Music Society in the Szuster Palace or in the Frederic Chopin Music Academy. The concert hall at the Royal Castle is a charming location to see great performances. Its also worth keeping an eye out for performances in some of the acoustically ideal churches. Another wonderful venue to see and hear classical music is in Lazienki Park, at the open-air Chopin piano recitals in the Rose Garden. Pianists from around the world come to play here during the summer months. If you're after jazz, blues or rock and roll, there are many local clubs that feature different acts on a regular basis. Try Proxima, Lolek, Pub 7 or Tam Tam and see whats on. One of the citys best-kept secrets is the so-called Dom Kultury (House of Culture) or Osrodek Kultury (Cultural Center) that can be found in every neighborhood. Often, these places are hives of artistic and creative activity and put on regular performances by well-known entertainers. Some particularly active ones are Imielin, Bielanski Osrodek Kultury, Warszawski Osrodek Kultury and Lowicka. There are plenty of movie theaters in Warsaw. These range from huge Socialist old-timers, to brand new high-tech cineplexes. Some of the favorite cinemas are Capitol, a former Soviet cultural center, Muranow, which often shows alternative films, Femina, a central multiplex, and Atlantic, also right downtown. Warsaw has a very active and diverse theatre scene. Performances of everything from puppets to classics can be seen here. The National Theatre (opened in 1765) is where the grandest productions take place. Ateneum offers modern favorites, Dramatyczny covers Shakespeare to Beckett, Guliwer has puppets and live actors, Komedia offers comic plays and Zydowski puts on Jewish performances. There are also many more theatres such as Rampa, Staromiejski, Studio and Syrena. For those looking to dance until the small hours, Warsaw has an ever-growing selection of venues. Ground Zero, a massive central club in a former nuclear bomb shelter (really!) is an enduring favorite. Harenda has a mellower, more bar-like mood and Barbados is for the trendy set. Labyrint is huge and offers entertianment on several floors, while Piekarnia is small but jam-packed with dancers. Tam Tam is very hip, Riviera Remont hosts lots of live acts and is popular with students and Stodola is another university hangout. Proxima is a great place for dancing and live music with a young crowd, while Loch is the only nightclub in the Old Town. Tango has a cabaret style revue, while Paradise and Mykonos are gay clubs. For those who like sports, there are swimming pools such as the new Wodny Park or the more traditional Spartanska and the outdoor Moczydlo. Evening ice-skating is on offer at Tor Stegny and Torwar II. For tennis fans, Lech-Kort 2 stays open until midnight and Tennis Indoors 2 is also open late. The city also has some great museums. These range from the traditional - like the National Museum - to the less conventional such as the Museum of the Gas Industry. The Museum of Measurement is unique and very interesting while the Chopin Museum is also a favorite. Another source of entertainment are the cultural centers and institutes of other countries. Places like the Goethe Institute often sponsor events, the French Institute also has a busy schedule and the British Council and the Austrian Institute also have excellent options. The Cervantes Institute offers some fairly eclectic and interesting entertainment. One of the advantages of living in the capital city is that there are many celebrations and holidays which you can participate in. Warsaw hosts parades, concerts and special events on a regular basis. There are also some excellent annual festivals, such as the Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, the Mozart Festival, the TPSA Music and Film Festival and many others. Another excellent option is to stroll through one of the wonderful and majestic parks, such as Lazienki or Wilanow. These peaceful green spaces are self-contained entertainment complexes, with museums, sculptured gardens, concert stages, cafés and restaurants. Above all, these offer the visitor the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind. Dining in Europe > Warsaw
|