NICOLETTA

A modernist masterpiece with a garden to match, Nicoletta is the sort of place that practically demands an Instagram post. Fortunately, once you’ve put the phone away, the food proves every bit as photogenic as the setting. Hidden behind the iconic Łepkowski Villa, the terrace is one of Warsaw’s loveliest outdoor escapes, shaded by mature trees and wrapped in architecture that has been turning heads since the 1930s.

The villa’s elegant lines provide the backdrop for a restaurant that understands the simple pleasures of an Italian summer. Neapolitan pizzas emerge with beautifully blistered crusts, fresh pasta encourages lunches that effortlessly become dinner, and an Aperol Spritz somehow feels more appropriate here than almost anywhere else in the city.

Weekend brunches spill across the terrace, while evenings settle into an easy rhythm of shared plates, chilled wine and conversations that continue long after sunset. The atmosphere manages to feel polished without becoming precious—a rare trick in a city where stylish often means intimidating.

Nicoletta succeeds because it offers more than a beautiful garden. It delivers the fantasy of escaping Warsaw without ever leaving Saska Kępa, making it one of those summer addresses you’ll happily keep returning to whenever the weather cooperates.

ul. Francuska 2 (Saska Kępa)

GANI

Think of the modern London pub. Not the sticky-carpet boozer of old, but the new generation of neighbourhood locals where people come as much for serious cooking as they do for a perfectly poured pint. Warsaw has been quietly catching up, and in Saska Kępa, Gani might be its best example. Hidden behind Francuska in a leafy garden, owner Trisno has created the sort of place that feels instantly familiar, even if you’ve never been before.

Named after his grandfather, Gani serves Singaporean comfort food with confidence rather than compromise. Beef rendang arrives dark, rich and impossibly tender after hours of slow cooking, while smoky chicken satay, lacquered in silky peanut sauce, has already become one of the city’s finest skewers. Jumbo shrimp glazed in sambal bring enough heat to justify another cold Guinness.
The soundtrack wanders happily from Green Day to Joy Division before easing into Greek acoustic melodies as dusk settles over the terrace. Families linger, neighbours drift in after work, and nobody seems interested in checking the time.

Summer has a way of slowing Saska Kępa to its proper rhythm, and Gani captures it perfectly. It isn’t trying to be fashionable or exclusive. It’s simply the kind of neighbourhood restaurant every city wishes it had—and every local hopes nobody else discovers.

ul. Jakubowska 16 (Saska Kępa)