Warsaw’s cocktail bars offer plenty for romancing couples looking for a fun, flirty date night…
Warsaw’s cocktail bars offer plenty for romancing couples looking for a fun, flirty date night…
Hoża 27
Aura’s mousehole proportions make it perfect for an intimate date – provided you can snag a seat. Reservations on nights like Valentine’s are a pretty smart idea. The dimensions work to its benefit. In such a confined space, it’s natural that visitors feel a connection with the staff, with the place, and those they’re with. Drinks are bourbon-centric and feel all the better for being served inside a mysterious looking space decorated with swivelly chrome stools and Moroccan exotica.
Widok 9 (Puro Hotel)
Mesaured against other rooftop bars, the view from Loreta’s seventh floor is rather modest: if anything, the terrace, wedged in the corner, feels like an afterthought. This handicap does not prevent many – including us – for calling it out as one Warsaw’s best cocktail spaces both in summer and out. In the depths of winter, enjoy a dimly-lit interior filled with eclectic art, funky fittings and the occasional swirl of neon. The playlist and inventive cocktails click together well.
Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44 (Bristol Hotel)
Judged our favourite cocktail bar in the latest chapter of our Best Of Warsaw awards, Lane’s specialises in gin-based sips – these, though, are complemented by just about every cocktail you can think of, from classics to house specials. Prices are steep but the quality is unrivalled. Making it ideal for Valentine’s is an alluring interior that unmasks itself in a palette of peachy-pink. Riffing on the hotel’s Art Deco and Art Nouveau heritage, it’s stylish, warm and discreet.
Krakowskie Przedmieście 13 (Raffles Europejski Hotel)
For a date to remember, first cruise the Zachęta Gallery before crossing the wind-buffeted Pl. Piłsudskiego. After that, entering the Raffles Europejski feels like the treat you both deserve. Hosting the likes of Beyonce and the Rolling Stones since it’s relaunch, this venue is as swoon-worthy as you expect. That includes a bar that’s tricked out with smooth marble, natural oak, striking art and soft tan leather. For drinks, their choice of Slings are a highlight.
Waryńskiego 9C
Designed to evoke memories of Venice, find this classy bar decked out in operatic reds, flashes of gold and table legs painted in gondola stripes. Giving it a hint of dazzle, a mosaic made from shards of Venetian mirrors glitters from the wall. Drinks are arty and tailor-made around Italian ingredients – that means around half a dozen interpretations of the negroni. Be warned: it is small, it is busy.
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. Edging through the midnight darkness you’ll find an engaging spot with a small mezzanine and an eclectic décor. The cocktails are international class and often break boundaries with their tastes and presentation. First-time visitors will feel like they’ve been let in on a secret.
Koszykowa 1
For fun lovin’ couples the Reginabar is a must. With its mirrored disco ball and giant mirror, visitors are taken on a cheeky trip back to the New York of the 80s. Known for a menu inspired China Town and Little Italy, the food is complemented by a dynamic drinks menu that’s a good reflection on the crazy things happening in Warsaw’s world of drinks. If you’re still behaving following all those New Year resolutions, the cocktail list also includes numerous zero alcohol choices.
Wąski Dunaj 20
Through the February mist, the white carriage house that hosts this bar emanates a sense of warmth. Ring the bell for entry, then find your ushered into a space that unplugs you from the clamour of Warsaw. A little like stepping into a members’ only Mayfair bar, discover a refined place of leather-bound books, tinkling piano music and wood-panelled interiors. Treat yourself to a cigar while enjoying classic cocktails with a pleasing modern twist.
