With St. Valentine knocking on the door, join us for a look at some of Warsaw’s most romantic bars and drinking dens.
With St. Valentine knocking on the door, join us for a look at some of Warsaw’s most romantic bars and drinking dens.
Hoża 27
A candidate for Warsaw’s smallest bar, this little corner of Hoża seduces with its sensually exotic air. Featuring a Moroccan-style design, it’s simultaneously snug and warming yet glamorously on-trend. The cocktails fit the mood perfectly.
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. Tailored around Italian ingredients, these number six interpretations of negroni and a concise roll-call of Prosecco and Martini-based drinks. The speed with which they’re fixed belie the quality at play.
Fabryka Norblina
Prices top out at PLN 55 for screenings at Kinogram, but no-one ever complains. Warsaw’s most luxurious cinema features a vintage style reminiscent of the golden era of Hollywood. Equipped with velvet sofas and plush armchairs – each with their own little table – screening rooms accommodate from 48 to 112 people. The cocktails served in the adjoining bar are A-Class, and in line with the place’s one-of-a-kind spirit.
Koszykowa 1
With its retro NYC vibe, you can count on Regina Bar to deliver something fun, and this they’ve done by unleashing a new cocktail menu inspired by theclassic pop tracks of the Noughties, 90s and 80s before them. Titled Girls On Top, the menu is as fun and glitzy as the bar and the people inside it.
Poznańska 7
It’s back to the 80s in VHS, a pint-sized brick cellar embellished with flamingo pink neons and super fun cocktails fixed by staff in zany shirts. And then there’s the matter of the wackiest toilet you’ll find in the city – you’ll be relieving yourself under the grinning gaze of Mitch Buchanan…
Wilcza 73 (Nobu Hotel)
This premium address that could easily serve as backdrop in a David Lynch flick. Subtle but enthralling in its design, its darkness is penetrated by dozen orblike table lamps and overhead lights that bring to mind a spectacular star fall. Sophisticated cocktails and excellent acoustics make gigs here a pleasure: and yes, the names that have played here have been second to none.
Widok 9 (Puro Hotel)
When it comes to rooftop bars, there are certainly better and more dramatic views than those offered by Loreta – but this gets our vote not so much for the terrace wedged in the corner, but rather because the rest of the place just feels so right. Eclectic art, funky décor, inventive cocktails and a great playlist serve to click together and ensure a great night for two.
Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44 (Bristol Hotel)
Soft on the eye, its peachy-pink colors exude a stylish warmth – think elegant and luxurious but in a way that’s subtle and discreet. Featuring no shortage of brass, glass, stone and satin, the floaty ambience is lent further oomph by what we reckon to be the best lux cocktails in the city. The world class standards extend upstairs – make a night of it and check-in at reception to enjoy the five star comforts of the Bristol Hotel. Doing so, you’ll be joining famous couples like JFK & Jackie.
Poznańska 21
Not much different to stepping inside an episode of The Jetsons, Paloma is a young, fun celebration of all things retro – but never does it feel stupid. The cocktails are gorgeous, and you should enjoy them by sharing fondue and talking of the future.
Moliera 6
Looking stripped down to maximize the original accents, what was once reputedly a canteen for ballet dancers today features a mix and match of tables, plenty of exposed concrete and a tall entrance curtain through which to swish. Sprinkled with small, custom-made trinkets, there’s enough going on to ensure that the sparsity is never too heavy. Crowned with a veneered, marble-topped bar, it’s a beauty to behold – a point not lost on the Vogue staffers and fashionista that have made this their domain. Reportedly the largest natural wine in the whole of Europe, the extraordinary selection brings alternative producers to the fore with the owners only working with those that practice ‘dry farming’ methods.
Mokotowska 48
With its ritzy pre-war tenements and posh perfumeries and boutiques, no street evokes the same atmosphere as Mokotowska: here, you understand why Warsaw was once known as the Paris of the East. At Ale Wino, that feeling continues when you sidle through its labyrinth of corridors before setting your shopping bags down to enjoy food and wine that’s long been known as some of the best in the country.
Piłsudskiego 9
A special date at the opera deserves a special drink after (or before) – find that at Bubbles, a bar-bistro whose très romantique ambiance is given extra glow through its dimmed lighting and warming sense of clutter. Moreover, you’ve got oysters and snails cooked to perfection. Meanwhile, the prodigious choice of champagne and sparkling wine really earns them their name.
Bagatela 10
Worek Kości is best-know as the city’s premier burlesque bar (and regular host of forensics lectures), but for Valentine’s expect a live concert of jazzy love titles. Enjoy the show in a skull-decorated interior that summons the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe. Often touting macabre names, the original cocktails are a conversation starter as well.
Krakowskie Przedmieście 13 (Raffles Europejski Hotel)
Having ticked off a trip to the Zachęta Gallery, cross the windswept expanses of Pl. Piłsudskiego before settling into the Raffles Europejski. The public area’s themselves aren’t short on pricey domestic art, but it’s to the Long Bar you must head. The swoon-worthy design befits the Raffles brand, as do the lovingly composed cocktails. Whoever you’re with is going to feel a million bucks.
Mochnackiego 4/43
La Buvette don’t actually open on Monday’s, but nonetheless, store the address in your head. French-run, this side street charmer is a place feels romantic but relaxed rather than over-the-top. Quality-driven and authentic, its an ideal spot for a no-pressure date.
Żelazna 51/53 (Norblin Factory)
Filled with glittering skyscrapers and revamped factory complexes, the atmosphere of New Warsaw comes alive around the heart of Wola. Crowned with a show-stealing chandelier, and simply oozing sophistication, the Piano Bar has come to be one of the city’s top check-ins; mixed and fixed by black-tie servers, you visit this venue to be wowed by the drinks and vibe.
