For the best surprise this summer, see the reopening of Nocny Market: months after Warsaw bade a tearful farewell to this nocturnal institution, along came the news that, well, they hadn’t died yet.
For newbies, then the story is thus: debuting in 2016, Nocny Market brought together dozens of street food vendors to form a patchwork of uber cool traders and hip little stands.

But more than just an ultra-edgy collection of ethnic cook spots, the Nocny Market became the place to get tattooed in front of baying strangers, stock up on artisan donuts, swag some Indigo-colored Palace of Culture socks, get the whiskers waxed or simply boogie on down to side-burned DJs rescued from the Lost Years of Hipster. To many, it represented the essence of Warsaw.

But doom lay around the corner. Set on the disheveled, disused platforms of Warszawa Główna station, word that PKP were finally going ahead with returning this lost piece of real estate to its original function spelled the end for this seasonal sensation. Warsaw wept.

So three cheers for missed deadlines and slack timekeeping! Faced with unexpected delays, PKP have granted the Nocny Market a stay of execution, meaning it’s already returned for a bonus season. Unique, special and intrinsically crazy, it’s a place of good vibes, big beats and beery, blurry nights. Get there pronto to join the spirit of now.

Nocny Market
ul. Towarowa 3 (Warszawa Główna)
fb.com/nocnymarket
Thurs 5 p.m. till midnight
Fri & Sat 5 p.m. till 1 a.m.
Sun 4 p.m. till 11 p.m.

(All Photos by Mirek Kaźmierczak)