Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44 (Bristol Hotel)
With so many fantastic choices to now be had, the task of determining the best cocktail bar in Warsaw is as fruitless as deciding on the world’s best colour – put simply, it’s all a matter of preference.
That being the case, our preference has become none other than Lane’s. Set inside the Bristol Hotel, it unmasks itself in a palette of peachy-pink colours that exude a stylish warmth. Featuring no shortage of brass, glass, stone and satin, the perfect proportions and floaty ambience make it intimate enough to feel like a private members club. That sense of personalization peaks when seated at a bar that presents a motherlode of glimmering bottles set against a mosaic that gently riffs on the building’s Art Nouveau and Art Deco heritage.
But it is the cocktails that you visit for, and these include numerous gin-based sips, classics and house specials fixed using best-in-class ingredients. On occasion, prices can make the nose bleed, but have no doubt that Lane’s is nothing less than spectacular.
Poznańska 7
The shoebox sized VHS pays tribute to the 80s and 90s and is a model for good times – boasting a flamingo and pictures of Mr T., the toilet says it all. The drinks are among the wackiest in Warsaw, and they’re as fun to drink as they are to photograph.
Piłsudskiego 9
Inside a lively interior that doesn’t take itself too seriously (check the ‘ceiling garden’), swivel about to gawk at a mighty collection of corkscrews and drinking implements. In this alchemist’s workshop find yourself enjoying some of the most creative cocktails in Warsaw.
Wojciecha Górskiego 9
For many no-one does it better. The ‘ring the bell’ entry process lends a speakeasy feel that’s accented by a small interior faintly illuminated by dozens of bare bulbs. Peer through this midnight discover for a lesson in mixology – the cocktails are international class and often break boundaries with their taste and presentation.
Nowogrodzka 15
Black and white photos referencing the history of this former gentleman’s atelier gaze from the walls onto a compact interior heaving with brass, terrazzo and blue velvet finishes. A café by day, come evening Zaremba moves into cocktail territory with sophisticated drinks crafted from premium components.
Waryńskiego 9C
Rich in golds and operatic reds, the stylish Venetian theme includes table legs painted in gondola stripes and a signature mural made from mirrored shards. Drinks are works of art and tailored around Italian ingredients – the highlights include six interpretations of the negroni.
