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Warsaw Bars, Pubs & Clubs

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CATEGORY PICKS

Live Bar & Lounge

Bars & Pubs
This issues hot find has to be Live, a huge bar/club thing where image is everything. Everything looks immaculate here, from leather recliners to the vamps
Read on
Hard Rock Cafe

Bars & Pubs
Hard Rock is deceptively large. The main entrance, on the upper floor, reveals a small bar area with high stools, wood finishes and bar tenders shaking ice and
Read on
Paparazzi

Bars & Pubs
Look forward to an urbane cocktail bar with a huge bar as centre piece, and photos of screen icons clinging to the walls. This is the place where city traders
Read on
Ice Club

Bars & Pubs
Not cold enough? Then step inside Ice Club, a venue whose principal ace is a room where temperatures are kept at a constant minus eight – if nothing else,
Read on
Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant

Bars & Pubs
A classic sports bar filled with glittering trophies, signed shirts and other sporting detritus. Some 40 screens and projectors beam out action from across the
Read on

Warsaw | Bars, Pubs & Clubs | Bars & Pubs

Any trip to find Hustawka is likely to be ambushed by 2NA3, a super spot found just through the Bracka courtyard. The outdoor terrace (bright fabrics stretched over campsite furniture) looks like a squatters camp, at least it did in the summer, while the Eco notices stuck to the entrance confirm all original suspicions; typical Warsaw this ain’t. Featuring a reddish glow, upside down lampshades and plenty of steps and wobbles this is as leftfield as Warsaw gets, with globes and religious icons mixing it up next to each other. A sublime offbeat alternative to the mainstream copycat bars the city is so fond of producing, and one of the best finds in recent times.
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ul. Bracka 20

tel. (+48) 697 54 72 51

Open 11:00-02:00,
Fri 11:00-04:00,
Sat 14:00-04:00,
Sun 14:00-01:00.

Some say the location is cursed, but we’d wager this place is going to stay alive for quite some time. Set inside a dark, brothel red interior, Amnesia features lots of shadowy corners, mirrored basement corridors and a VIP room for more private gatherings. Things get lively at weekends when DJs enter the fray and play classic disco hits to a crowd hellbent on wiping out the memory of the week that was.

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ul. Wilcza 50/52

tel. (+48) 22 623 02 22

Open 12:00-23:00,
Fri 12:00-04:00,
Sat 18:00-04:00,
Sun Closed.

The menu proclaims their Bloody Mary as the best in town, and they may well be right. Someone knows their cocktails here, and they’re made all the better by the complimentary bowls of heated peanuts that accompany each order. A classic tone is accomplished with live piano music, shelves filled with leather-bound tomes and framed pictures of pootling steam trains. Pretty girls in little black dresses ensure your drink is never empty and this first floor hotel bar proves a comforting cocoon from the outside elements. [...]

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ul. Emili Plater 49 (InterContinental Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 328 87 55

Open 10:00-01:00

A distant location out in Fort Mokotow make this a bit of an insider’s choice. It’s a cult location, with vaguely artistic interiors set inside a 19th century military fortress. Popular with the literati party crowd, with lots of people bumbling around in prescription glasses and tank tops.
[...]

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ul. Racławicka 99 (Forty Mokotów)

tel. (+48) 22 898 28 24

Open 11:00-24:00,
Fri 11:00-05:00,
Sat 12:00-05:00,
Sun 12:00-22:00.

Bar Below

If you want to earn your stripes as a true ex-pat then head to Bar Below, a legendary venue that serves as a rallying point for the foreign community. Irish exile Niall has forged a real sense of community in BB, and this is never more evident than when the football or rugby are switched on. However, this isn’t your standard ex-pat sports bar, with a sleek, urban design and a curved bar that encourages banter, gossip, mingling and mixing. [...]

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ul. Marszałkowska 64

tel. (+48) 22 621 18 50

Open 17:00-24:00,
Sat 12:00-24:00,
Sun 12:00-24:00.

Warsaw’s best beer served in a bi-level space filled with chunky woods, bare bricks and industrial flourishes. The menu, presented by girls dressed in countryside apparel, features big photographs of what you can expect, including life-size pics of the beer – order a big one here and you’ll be left getting to grips with clunky two pint steins that are ideal for showing off your bicep flexes. [...]

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ul. Nowy Świat 64

tel. (+48) 22 827 61 77

Open 12:00-23:00,
Fri 12:00-23:30,
Sat 12:00-23:30,
Sun 12:00-22:00.

The door thugs have a noble and distinguished reputation for brutality, and we’ve heard of no less than three separate occasions when they’ve chosen to let loose their fists of fury. All incidents have terminated with the arrival of an ambulance, so stand warned and stay out.
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ul. Sienkiewicza 6

tel. (+48) 22 829 55 44

Open 24hrs.

You may think that Café Foksal is merely an overflow for the nearby Tam Tam and Foksal 19 venues, but behold, it has character of its own. Fashionably battered furniture, cupboard doors functioning as tables, rough wallpaper and a bike stuck to the ceiling make for a cosy atmosphere with [...]

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ul. Foksal 21

tel. (+48) 22 828 06 05

Open 12:00-02:00,
Sun 14:00-02:00.

Cafe Przejście

A dark and divey tunnel-shaped bar found festering in the depths of a stinking subway. Hardcore barflies and other desperados nurse cut-price beers in the shadows, while local radio stations do their bit to drown out their rasping ramblings. We’d guess the interior extras have been salvaged straight from the scrap heap, with an unlikely collection of trumpets, springy sofas and even a disco ball on display. For all this it’s far from a forbidding venue, and with Warsaw far from embracing the 24hr vibe of neighbouring capitals any venue that can tout round-the-clock opening hours merits attention. [...]

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Pl. Na Rozdrożu (underground passage No. 2 under Al. Szucha)

tel. (+48) 22 696 85 50

Open 24hrs. Closed Sun 07:00 - 16:00.

Most people can’t wait to tell you how much they hate Szparka, though they’re probably the same bods you’ll see rolling out the door come closing time on Sunday. The multi-level interior has the vapid appeal of a chain bar back home, the staff live on pause and the chow is the work of amateurs. Still, there’s a secret recipe that keeps people coming back for more – possibly the obscenely flexible opening hours.
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Pl. Trzech Krzyży 16a

tel. (+48) 22 621 03 90

Open 07:00-05:00,
Sun 07:00-03:00.

A fantastically bizarre spot to break from the frontiers of consciousness and get lamped on vodka. Regular art exhibits and film screenings as well as three floors of experimental sounds and weird people. Recommended. [...]

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ul. Burakowska 12 (Żoliborz)

tel. (+48) 22 636 83 00

Open 16:00-23:00,
Fri 22:00-03:00,
Sat 22:00-03:00.

Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant

Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant

A classic sports bar filled with glittering trophies, signed shirts and other sporting detritus. Some 40 screens and projectors beam out action from across the world, while those wishing to exercise more than their eyes can choose from pool tables, playstations and dart machines that beep and whir [...]

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Al. Jerozolimskie 65/79 (Marriott Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 630 51 19

Open 11:00-24:00

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ul. Racławicka 99 (Mokotów)

tel. (+48) 22 844 63 94

Mon Closed,
Tue Closed,
Wed Closed,
Thu 18:00-05:00,
Fri 18:00-05:00,
Sat 18:00-05:00,
Sun Closed.

A cavernous art nouveau interior provides perfect acoustics for the house pianist, while parlour palms and marble columns top off this seriously impressive venue. In summer the courtyard garden provides perfect sanctuary for high society to take languid sips on Martini concoctions. [...]

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ul. Krakowskie Przdmieście 42/44 (Bristol Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 551 18 23

Open 10:00-01:00

Something completey different: no high-flyers drinking designer cocktails, this is a traditional Polish pub with zero pretence and lateish open hours. Often bursting with students there’s some amateur murals of naked women, a TV permanently tuned to Eurosport and downstairs, a series of springy sofas. Always a good night out, and frequently the stage for our late night editorial meetings. [...]

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ul. Wilcza 31

tel. (+48) 22 621 56 03

Open 11:00-01:00,
Sat 16:00-01:00,
Sun 16:00-01:00.

A long, long time ago, when IYP first hit Warsaw, this place was Café Brama, a posey café with a no-cellphone policy. That died a horrible death, a fate we just don’t forecast for its overdue replacement. Sat behind a frosted glass window this spot has surgery white colours and a sprinkle of violet, as well as a selection of beers that knock proper bars for six: try the Mazowieckie, living proof that not all Poles are completely incompetent when it comes to producing lager. Watch out for music events, exhibitions, parties and other off-beat happenings, and maybe try and look like you work in creative media - it'll pay dividends with the ladies.
[...]

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Al. Marszalkowska 8

Open 08:00-24:00,
Fri 08:00-02:00,
Sat 09:00-02:00,
Sun 10:00-24:00.

The Drink Bar is the size of a cupboard and comes enveloped in the sort of smog that has you considering a new set of lungs. The décor is eccentric, and the seating minimal, meaning you’ll often find yourself sitting shoulder-to-shoulder trading stories with strangers while their mates covertly pass reefers to each other. Getting to the toilet is an adventure in itself and involves slaloming past booze casualties slumped in their chairs. [...]

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ul. Wspólna 52/54

tel. (+48) 22 629 26 25

Open 15:00-02:00,
Sat 17:00-02:00,
Sun 17:00-02:00.

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Al. Niepodległości 147

tel. (+48) 22 564 66 01

Open 11:00-01:00,
Fri 11:00-02:00,
Sat 11:00-02:00.

EsSence

This was always going to be a winner; Ray, the roguish whirlwind behind Sense, has gone into partnership with Danny Undhammar, a cocktail king with an international rep. There’s minimal fuss to the design with black colours and big windows keeping it straight and simple. The point to EsSence is the drinks, the best in Poland, and unlike other cocktail dens this is a venue that feels accessible to all – not just those with hopes of landing an MTV show.
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ul. Krucza 16/22

tel. (+48) 22 434 20 83

Open 08:00-24:00,
Fri 08:00-01:00,
Sat 12:00-01:00,
Sun 12:00-24:00.

Six tables are squeezed between the burgundy walls, artsy photo displays and a couple of curvy sofas. While not exactly a remarkable venue, Furkot does play The Village People, hold film screenings and expand options in an area better known for peep shows and dive bars. [...]

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Al. Jana Pawła II 52/54

tel. (+48) 22 831 16 58

Open 11:00-01:00,
Fri 11:00-03:00,
Sat 11:00-03:00,
Sun 12:00-01:00.

Bar by day, club by night, you’ll be able to spot Futro from the flag outside that announces its presence. Limbless mannequins, palms and even a goldfish bowl act as interior fillers, while the overhead lighting rigs come into use when they hold one of their club nights. Not central, so predominantly used by locals. [...]

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ul. Czerska 12

tel. (+48) 22 841 58 71

Open 11:00-24:00,
Sat 15:00-04:00,
Sun Closed.

Gniazdo Piratów

Gniazdo Piratów

Relive your pirate dreams of yesteryear while cracking jokes about Seaman Stains inside this imperious addition to Warsaw culture. Jolly Roger flags and lanterns hang from the rigging and live sea shanties have the crowds singing along in a tuneless chorus. [...]

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ul. Ogólna 5 (Żoliborz)

tel. (+48) 22 633 71 82

Open 17:00-02:00

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock is deceptively large. The main entrance, on the upper floor, reveals a small bar area with high stools, wood finishes and bar tenders shaking ice and inventing cocktails. Sneak downstairs and Hard Rock unravels into rock star heaven with all the requisite guitars, signed pictures and stage outfits hung from the walls. The bar down here stretches as far as the eye can see and propping it up is a crowd that encompasses everyone from mid-fifties expats into soft rock, to killer beauties batting fake eyelashes. The live bands serve as a unifying force, and it’s not uncommon for next door tables to join conversations come the close of the night.
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ul. Złota 59 (Złote Tarasy)

tel. (+48) 22 222 07 00

Open 12:00-02:00

A vast bar filled with stout wooden benches and brass lamps. The crowd is committed to heavy drinking, and is an interesting cross-section between the good, bad and ugly of Warsaw. [...]

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ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 4/6 (enter from ul.Oboźnej)

tel. (+48) 22 826 29 00

Open 08:00-03:00,
Fri 08:00-04:00,
Sat 08:00-04:00.

A multi-floored maze with an Asian inspired interior featuring intricate wood carvings, hidden chambers and black painted brickwork. Daylight doesn’t get a look-in here, and while this place looks the deal it’ll be interesting to see how they fare in this no-man’s land location. K [...]

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ul. Chłodna 35/37

tel. (+48) 503 07 41 75

Open 12:00-23:00,
Fri 12:00-01:00,
Sat 12:00-03:00.

The addition of a covered area attached to the side of the Atrium complex has seen Hossa pique the interest of passing drinkers. This bar once had the life of a sock, now it buzzes during the day as local office workers skip work in favour of liquid relief. The main gimmick in this modern bar are the drinks, which fluctuate in price according to demand – keep track of your alcoholic investments on the screens positioned above the bar. And don’t be tempted by the food on your left, this place is a bar first and foremost, and that’s reflected in the quality of chow on offer. [...]

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Al. Jana Pawła II 25

tel. (+48) 22 653 45 55

Open 08:00-24:00,
Sat 16:00-24:00,
Sun Closed.

Half-dive bar, half fashion trap, Hustawka occupies a weird middle ground and seems all the better for it. Set through a courtyard and on the ground floor of a detached mansion, there’s an element of Berlin chic to this parquet floored drinkery, with a red backlit bar and dangling glass baubl [...]

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ul. Bracka 20a

tel. (+48) 509 86 70 83

Open 12:00-04:00,
Fri 12:00-05:00,
Sat 16:00-06:00,
Sun 16:00-04:00.

You will not find a more unkempt bar than Hydrozagadka; this place looks like it’s been ransacked by students, and it’s almost advisable to check yourself for fleas when leaving. Decorations aren’t so much limited as virtually non-existent, and you won’t find much more than brick walls, lots of pipes and a collection of seats that appear to have been rescued from the rubbish. But while it looks scruffy this has emerged as one of the best places in town, with off-beat performances enjoyed by a crowd that doesn’t get out of bed till way after noon.
[...]

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Not cold enough? Then step inside Ice Club, a venue whose principal ace is a room where temperatures are kept at a constant minus eight – if nothing else, it cuts out the time waste associated with disrobing your winter warfare costume. Featuring saucy ice sculptures and shots served in hollo [...]

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ul. Pańska 61

tel. (+48) 22 654 56 34

Open 16:00-23:00,
Fri 16:00-01:00,
Sat 16:00-01:00.

Iguana

Once the preserve of the middle-aged expat, Iguana has changed its spots and joined the list of Warsaw’s lounge bars. Draped in a lazy reddish glow, this NoBo copycat succeeds in generating a great atmosphere courtesy of good music and even better drinks. [...]

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ul. Zajączkowska 11

tel. (+48) 22 851 23 23

Open 18:00-01:00,
Mon Closed,
Sun Closed.

Jadłodajnia Filozoficzna

A ramshackle cabin that regularly fills with students and slackers. [...]

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ul. Dobra 33/35

tel. (+48) 664 824 015

Open 18:00-01:00,
Fri 18:00-04:00,
Sat 18:00-04:00.

JP's Bar

An airy bar set under the glass lift in the Westin Hotel. Light coloured furnishings are interspersed by a smattering of manicured plants, while in the evenings live piano music lends a comfortable, upmarket tone to go alongside your cocktail. [...]

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Al. Jana Pawła II 21 (The Westin)

tel. (+48) 22 450 80 00

Open 08:00-24:00,
Sat 09:00-24:00,
Sun 09:00-24:00.

Peculiarities abound in the drinking maze known as The Secret Garden, but none come close to matching Klaps in the weirdness stakes. There’s dildos for beer taps and a wall of plastic boobs, and like everywhere in this area, you won’t find beer costing more than 8zl. Finding it is a cha [...]

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ul. Nowy Świat 22/28

Open 15:00-02:00,
Fri 17:00-05:00,
Sat 17:00-05:00,
Sun 17:00-01:00.

Klub Hotel Savoy

There’s been plenty of cash poured into this place, but little thought. Somebody out there might consider it classy, but most will ID this place exactly for what it is; a naff-looking bar full of faux chandeliers and plasticky, mirrored touches. The colours are headache stuff, with poodle pin [...]

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ul. Nowy Świat 58

tel. (+48) 602 26 00 10

Open 10:00-02:00,
Fri 10:00-04:00,
Sat 10:00-04:00,
Sun 10:00-01:00.

We have a favourite bar this issue, and that’s Kwadrat a tiny place that’s not unlike popping round a mates house – providing your mate had seven tables and a fridge full of beer. And what a fridge it is. Hiding inside it find a collection of beers that do a lot do redress the damage caused by the intrinsically woeful Polish superbrands. Instead of the usual battery acid why not enjoy the full range of Ciechan, Warszawski and Mazowieckie beer, and if you’re still unconvinced then there’s also a couple of Belgian/German options lurking around. There’s not much more to this place, just a friendly welcome, cheap prices and a great atmosphere that embraces everyone, not just those on the top of the social ladder. What a find.
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ul. Poznańska 7 (entrance from ul. Wilcza)

Mix with business bods and travelling tour groups in this central hotel bar. Splashy retro colours set it apart from most other sanitized hotel bars, and you’re guaranteed absolutely no nasty surprises when ordering from the menu. [...]

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ul. Marszałkowska 94/98 (Novotel)

tel. (+48) 22 596 31 45

Open 08:30-01:00

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ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 87/89

tel. (+48) 22 827 30 54

Open 10:00-24:00,
Fri 10:00-01:00,
Sat 10:00-01:00.

Live Bar & Lounge

Live Bar & Lounge

This issues hot find has to be Live, a huge bar/club thing where image is everything. Everything looks immaculate here, from leather recliners to the vamps schmoozing at the bar. This place matches next door Paprazzi drink for drink, with super cocktails knocked out by a five star staff, and a smoo [...]

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ul. Mazowiecka 12

tel. (+48) 22 827 30 30

Open 16:00-02:00

A trendy bar decorated entirely with clean cream colours and little else. It’s the patrons that supply the colour here with several candidates for Miss Polska found curled up catlike on the vanilla sofas. Seating extends downstairs and there’s a decent musical menu that features obscure dance and jazz acts. [...]

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ul. Foksal 18

tel. (+48) 22 826 39 28

Open 12:00-02:00

A well-heeled hotel bar that warrants its listing for its location alone. Situated in the heart of Warsaw, and inside the landmark Marriott building to boot, you won’t find an easier spot to arrange a meeting in. As such it’s a permanent hive of activity with tables frequently occupied [...]

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Al. Jerozolimskie 65/79 (Marriott Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 630 50 30

Open 08:00-23:00

Lokal Użytkowy

If you need a reason to visit old town then Lokal Użytkowy is it. There’s an air of theatre chic to this bar, a super venue where stripey scarves and an intellectual scowl are a must to fit in. Populated by artists and wannabes this is by no means the second-hand, flea market venue y [...]

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ul. Brzozowa 27/29

tel. (+48) 22 831 85 67

Open 18:00-23:00,
Mon Closed,
Sat 15:00-02:00,
Sun 15:00-23:00.

Not even the death of summer is going to hurt Lolek. True, it’s finest hours are enjoyed outside on a sunny Sunday, but even so this rotund beer hall is a bit of a local institution. Set in Pole Mokotowskie Park inside it’s all clinking glasses as groups of lads settle onto wooden benches to sing into the night. Pre-empt the invariable hangover with food from the open grill.
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ul. Rokitnicka 20

tel. (+48) 22 825 62 02

Open 11:00-03:00

It’s a hip, happening crowd in Lorelei, a backstreet café with dim red lamps, black and white comic book murals and even some hammocks strung up in the back; good luck getting on one if you’re an ounce over stick thin status. With nightfall this place takes on a bit more of a bar v [...]

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ul. Widok 8

tel. (+48) 605 06 67 75

Open 11:00-01:00,
Fri 11:00-05:00,
Sat 12:00-05:00,
Sun 12:00-01:00.

Find this warm winter jewel hidden behind the Harenda Hotel. A blend of high fashion, crimson colours and chilled out tunes this looks set to steal more than a couple of customers from the likes of NoBo. [...]

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ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 4/6

tel. (+48) 22 828 08 52

Open 12:00-24:00,
Thu 12:00-05:00,
Fri 12:00-05:00,
Sat 12:00-05:00.

Latin, funk, soul and disco fill the basement, and it's a good-natured crowd that you'll find lounging under the low-voltage lighting. Most recently they've opened a café style bar on the ground floor. There's a long line of cocktails to pick from but their mojito tastes like battery acid. Str [...]

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ul. Chmielna 9

tel. (+48) 22 827 72 16

Open 12:00-24:00,
Fri 12:00-04:00,
Sat 12:00-04:00,
Sun 14:00 - 24:00.

Similar to Lolek in design, location and bacchanalian 'devil may care' atmosphere. The only difference is the patrons who tend to be younger and more Polish. The 'disco' room costs 10zł at the weekend. [...]

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Al. Niepodległości 211

tel. (+48) 22 825 96 89

Open 11:00-05:00

Nowy Wspaniały Świat

Another art house bar, this one with possibly the most enviable location in the city – right on the crossroads of Nowy Świat and Świętokrzyska. There’s a real Berlin swagger to this place, and it’s an extravagant collection of hipsters and beatniks you&# [...]

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ul. Nowy Świat 63

tel. (+48) 509 64 36 39

Open 11:00-03:00,
Fri 11:00-05:00,
Sat 11:00-05:00.

Obiekt Znaleziony

An utterly fantastic bar found in the dim, dark depths of the Zachęta Gallery. Decorated with a retro design this marvel looks like it was cut from stone, and comes with a plastic lions head on the bar and seating salvaged from the last half century. Jam sessions, DJs and assorted happenin [...]

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Pl. Małachowskiego 3

tel. (+48) 22 828 05 84

Open 12:00-24:00,
Fri 12:00-04:00,
Sat 12:00-04:00.

Persian drapes and overpowering incense dominate the interior, while Warsaw fashionista hold court on the cushions and mattresses scattered on the floor of the chill out lounge. Downstairs, in the space once occupied by the ghastly Barbados club, a largeish club area filled with figures of Buddha a [...]

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ul. Wierzbowa 9/11

tel. (+48) 609 54 26 37

Open 16:00-02:00,
Mon Closed,
Tue Closed,
Fri 21:00-05:00,
Sat 21:00-05:00,
Sun Closed.

Panorama Bar & Lounge

Warsaw’s highest bar – and indeed Poland’s – comes whacked on the 40th floor of the Marriott, and with prices to match the top tier location. The views of Warsaw glimmering below are outstanding, and they’re no longer the only reason to visit. Gone is the JR Ewing glitz and chrome, replaced instead by a tasteful interior consisting of flock print wallpaper, violet seating and clever lighting. There’s no better place for Sleepless In Seattle seduction, or a corporate chinwag.
[...]

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Al. Jerozolimskie 65/79 (Marriott Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 630 74 35

Open 18:00-02:00

Paparazzi

Look forward to an urbane cocktail bar with a huge bar as centre piece, and photos of screen icons clinging to the walls. This is the place where city traders ruthlessly advance their careers over expense account drinks and Escada clad bimbos hunt for foreign sugar daddies. A slick and impressive venue, with an affluent clientele and some superb cocktails – the end result can get messy.
[...]

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ul. Mazowiecka 12

tel. (+48) 22 828 42 19

Open 16:00-01:00,
Fri 16:00-02:00,
Sat 16:00-02:00.

Pędzący Królik

Putting the bar into barmy, the design is all chequered floors, pink armchairs and huge mirrors. The highlight: a giant portrait of a rabbit reclining with a fan. Totally bonkers, and a kick in the nuts to all the hyper-trendy drinking spots in the neighbourhood. The name alone deserves a gold butt [...]

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ul. Moliera 8

tel. (+48) 22 826 02 45

Open 10:00-23:00,
Fri 10:00-24:00,
Sat 11:00-24:00,
Sun 11:00-23:00.

Pistaccio Lobby Bar & Lounge

Pistaccio Lobby Bar & Lounge

Probably the best lobby bar in town, and certainly our favourite. Thirty metre high floor-to-ceiling windows lend plenty of wow factor, with hanging lights casting a dazzle on the patrons perched on the red and green armchairs. Frequently used as an impromptu studio for daytime TV shows, so a great place for a bit of celeb stalking.
[...]

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ul. Grzybowska 63 (Hilton Warsaw Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 356 55 55

Open 08:00-01:00

Piwiarnia Warka

The design is every bit as simple as the conversations in the background: basic observations made over football and bargirls. Decked out with wood fittings and brewery donated bumph this is a masculine pub which excels in uniting local headcases with each other. Redeeming factors come with the beer, which is cheap if not always tasty.
[...]

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ul. Wilcza 35/41

tel. (+48) 22 621 30 44

Open 14:00-02:00,
Sat 15:00-02:00,
Sun 15:00-02:00.

A double decker bar inside that great big concrete slab that rises over Chmielna. A long metal bar dominates the upstairs, which comes with bright orange shades, a pop art feel and people who are blatantly not hip enough to do their drinking in Warsaw’s better known nightspots. The service fl [...]

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ul. Chmielna 35

tel. (+48) 22 826 50 33

Open 13:00-24:00,
Fri 13:00-02:00,
Sat 15:00-02:00,
Sun 15:00-24:00.

Walk up a curving stairwell to enter Plan B, a venue where the ceilings are high and the windows are low – so low you’ll have to crouch for views of pl. Zbawiciela. Plan B has seen minimal investment, with a design that must have set the owner back the price of a packet of sausages; dec [...]

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Al. Wyzwolenia 18

tel. (+48) 508 31 69 74

Open 13:00-02:00,
Fri 13:00-04:00,
Sat 13:00-04:00,
Sun 16:00-02:00.

Warsaw’s oldest bar, allegedly, and a supreme spot if you’re looking to avoid Flash Harry and his pin-up blonde. Fitted with dark woods and screechy chairs decorations don’t go beyond beer mats and a Kolska street sign (yep, the same Kolska you’ll find the drunk tank on), and while it doesn’t do anything new it’s a decent enough pub in a nice corner of town. That’s particularly true come summer, when patio seats allow for view across Mariensztat square.
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ul. Garbarska 7

tel. (+48) 22 826 62 39

Open 12:00-24:00

Po Drugiej Stronie Lustra

Set behind a mirrored door this latest addition to Zabkowska is everything you’d expect from Warsaw’s cultural heartland. Here it’s all flea-bitten rugs, glimmering fairylights and random detritus accrued from the skips and markets of Warsaw, while the music policy involves everyt [...]

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ul. Ząbkowska 5

tel. (+48) 501 04 84 71

Open 10:00-24:00,
Fri 10:00-03:00,
Sat 12:00-03:00,
Sun 12:00-24:00.

Polyester Café

One of the new towns most established bars touts a comfortable air with plenty of plump cushions set inside a crimson room. Stick to the beer though, the cocktails are schoolboy stuff – alcohol overkill and zero taste.
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ul. Freta 49/51

tel. (+48) 22 831 46 36

Open 11:00-00:30,
Fri 11:00-01:30,
Sat 11:00-01:30.

Porto Praga

A three floored cherry coloured paradise with swooning palms and deep leather chairs. Not unlike a converted docklands building Porto Praga’s principal claim to fame is a cocktail list designed by Danny Undhammar. While Mr U may have jumped ship to EsSence, he’s obviously trained his former charges well. The drinks are every bit as good as they were, making Porto a bit of a beacon on the Praga landscape.
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ul. Stefana Okrzei 23

tel. (+48) 22 698 50 01

Open 12:00-02:00,
Sun 12:00- 24:00.

Set in a former ticket hall this concrete rotunda proved one of the hits of the summer, and a bit of a gathering ground for those enjoying post-Luztro pick-me-ups. Interiors here are all cheap and chipboard - tables included - and with no proper source of heating this could prove one more seasonal fad. How to find it? Walk down the end of the platform on Powisle Station, then hang a right down the stairs.
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ul. Kruczkowskiego 3b

tel. (+48) 22 474 40 84

Open 09:00-01:00

Not long back Praga was the area no-one would touch. How times change. Nowadays confessing to having a favourite Praga-side bar is every bit as hip as ownership of a small dog. Projektor is one more oh-so-cool right-bank bar, and this one's better than most – for a start, the surfaces here don’t look like they’re contaminated with something nasty. And, in an added boon, the live performances are never less than blinding.
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ul. Białostocka 22/24

tel. (+48) 22 818 43 68

Open 16:00:24:00,
Fri 03,
Sat 03.

A masculine Polish pub with a beer swilling atmosphere, bench seating and late-ish opening hours. An engaging place for rambling conversation and drunken bonding, but certainly no place for those who enjoy the finer things in life. Be warned: live music every Friday night. [...]

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Pl. Konstytucji 4

tel. (+48) 22 622 79 91

Open 10:00-01:00,
Sat 12:00-01:00,
Sun 12:00-01:00.

Formerly the home of celebs desperately looking like they didn’t want to be noticed Rabarbar remains a popular haunt, only nowadays the traffic jam at the bar consists of local suits talking shop. One of the most enviable locations in town keeps business brisk and this remains one of Warsaw’s most enduring bars, while the opening hours keep it packed long after the local clubs have closed.
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ul. Wierzbowa 9/11

tel. (+48) 22 828 01 30

Open 24hrs.

See your social standing rocket by confessing knowledge of Saturator, a scruffy triple floored artsy hangout in the battered buildings of Praga. Do not come here if your idea of a good time is talking golf tournaments and embassy junkets. If, however, you’re the sort of person with hangover stubble and a second hand wardrobe then you’ll fit right in. Especially if you have a hat. Nights in this wacky venue are symbolic of Praga’s arthouse renaissance, and last long into the night once DJs enter and attempt to mix unmixable genres.
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ul. 11 listopada 22 (Praga)

tel. (+48) 504 35 37 72

Open 18:00-24:00,
Fri 18:00-05:00,
Sat 18:00-05:00.

Sense

Here’s a piece of classic Warsaw. Even without the most enviable address in town, it’d be a safe bet to assume Sense would thrive wherever. This is one of the best bars of its kind, with the centerpiece being a shattered glass circular bar from behind which cloth-clad staff fix masterpiece cocktails. And late nights get even later the moment proprietor Ray arrives, cajoling friends and regulars into testing the hundred plus scented vodkas.
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ul. Nowy Świat 19

tel. (+48) 22 826 65 70

Open 12:00-24:00,
Fri 12:00-02:00,
Sat 12:00-02:00,
Sun 16:00-24:00.

Sheesha Lounge

It’s all very Arabian Nights in this high-octane spot, with ottomans strewn around the gallery seating upstairs and a series of hookah pipes that present all manner of temptation to reformed kleptomaniacs. Jangly rhythms have the crowds spinning and whirling in a bid to keep up with the exoti [...]

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ul. Sienkiewicza 3

tel. (+48) 22 828 25 25

Open 12:00-02:00,
Fri 16:00-04:00,
Sat 16:00-04:00,
Sun 16:00-02:00.

In little over a year of operation Sketch has already become something of a Warsaw classic. Set in a hospital white hall the magnet here is the beer, namely the best selection you’ll find in the city. There’s about 80 to pick from, and these range from gourmet Belgian to banana stuff from Ghana. The heavy import duty has been directly handed down to the customer, with some bottles selling for a wincing 25zł, though you’ll find these prices offset by calming lounge sounds and soothing lights that glow from vertical columns. A smashing night, and one which doesn’t end until you’re exactly that.
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ul. Foksal 19

tel. (+48) 602 76 27 64

Open 12:00-01:00

How can you not love Skłot? This multi-floor pub/club creation comes close to topping any Best of Praga list, and that’s on account of a top level decked out exactly like a commie-era flat. An absolutely super spot, with music coming from underground live acts like Porn Flakes and Voodoo Code.
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ul. Ząbkowska 5

An offshoot of Fabryka Trzciny, though a darn sight easier to get to than its daddy bar/club. Situated inside a weird concrete bungle this construction looks more like a car park than bar, but don’t let that stop you from further investigations. Concerts are frequent, and frequently excellent, while the location splat in the middle of Krakowskie Przedmieście means there’s no shortage of lookers to train your eyes on.
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ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 60 A

tel. (+48) 22 619 05 13

Open 09:00-24:00

You may know people who live here. Someplace Else is an expat legend, and amid the American memorabilia you’ll find a regular crew of foreigners shouting their orders above the live music which plays every night. The perfect bar menu and live sports complete the picture. [...]

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ul. Prusa 2 (Sheraton Warsaw Hotel)

tel. (+48) 22 450 67 10

Open 12:00-01:00,
Mon 12:00-24:00,
Fri 12:00-02:00,
Sat 12:00-02:00,
Sun 12:00-23:00.

Stacja Rynek

An engaging old town effort with crimson colours and Persian rugs stretched out over the floor. Accessed via a steep stairwell this subterranean venue has a downtempo atmosphere with jazz sounds on the speakers and a collection of springy armchairs to dissolve into. Not bad at all, and hopefully the start of old towns social renaissance. [...]

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Rynek Starego Miasta 15

tel. (+48) 22 635 76 82

Open 11:00-24:00

If you can’t afford the plane fare to Hawaii this winter then do the next best thing and roll up to Surf Spot, a tropical drinkery with a tikki hut bar, coconut palms and beach themed murals. Its tiny size means it doesn’t take many to generate a party vibe, and this is quite the spot to get your weekend started before heading off down Sienkiewicza’s other choices. [...]

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ul. Sienkiewicza 3

tel. (+48) 603 57 75 27

Mon Closed,
Tue 17:00-24:00,
Wed 16:00-24:00,
Thu 16:00-02:00,
Fri 16:00-05:00,
Sat 16:00-05:00,
Sun Closed.

The Nine Club & Restaurant

If you thought the Cinnamonista-style twit traps were just centred around the theatre quarter then think again. The Nine (opened on the ninth of the ninth, ’09), is one more victory for the ‘I spent all my money on a Porsche jeep’ class, but unlike some is still very much worth the look. There’s three floors here, with bling the king in an interior which makes use of lots of shiny black surfaces, velvet touches and vanilla leather. This is VIP class done the right way, even if said VIPs have been slow in crossing the threshold. Keep your eyes trained on this one, it could well grow to greatness.
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ul. Kredytowa 9

tel. (+48) 22 828 99 66

Open 12:00-02:00,
Sat 14:00-04:00,
Sun 14:00-04:00.

Head through the courtyard and down the stairs to reach this corker, a basement bar festooned with antiques, drawers and sofas. This is one of the most ambient bars in the city, with the atmosphere hitting fever pitch each time one of the jazz acts steps out of the shadows. [...]

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ul. Smolna 40

tel. (+48) 22 828 11 18

Open 16:00-24:00,
Fri 17:00-02:00,
Sat 17:00-02:00.

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ul. Moliera 2

tel. (+48) 22 827 78 41

Open 10:00-20:00

Warsaw Tortilla Factory

One of Warsaw’s great, enduring legends. Some visit WTF to enjoy Poland’s best burrito. Others to crowd around the bar, listen to the live music and neck enough tequila to kill a dinosaur. The decibel level goes off the scale at times, and weekends here bring together a global crowd with a studious commitment to blowing holes in their brain. Part of the fun lies in pestering and making passes at the staff, though there’s always the option of cutting out the middleman and booking a table with its very own beer tap.
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ul. Wilcza 46

tel. (+48) 22 621 86 22

Open 12:00-01:00,
Fri 12:00-03:00,
Sat 12:00-03:00.

W Oparach Absurdu

You’ll be able to ID this place by the giant tarantula that hangs above the entrance. That’s a prelude to the weirdness that lies inside this piece of squatter heaven; set over numerous rickety levels this place has everything from whirring lights to Singer sewing machines and cat shaped helium balloons. And if you thought things couldn’t get much more bizarre wait for a troop of accordionists to materialize from nowhere before launching into tracks from Dr Zhivago. [...]

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ul. Ząbkowska 6

tel. (+48) 660 78 03 19

Open 12:00-02:00

Many profess the Green Goose to be their favourite pub, and it’s little surprise. Although a routine-looking Polish bar, with wood cutter furnishings, solid benches and token promotional bumph supplied by breweries, the atmosphere positively sizzles in the evenings when crowds of students mob the bar and drink their memories of the week away. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are set aside for karaoke, presenting the ideal opportunity to make a prat of yourself in front of all and sundry. [...]

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Al. Niepodległości 177

tel. (+48) 22 825 20 26

Open 09:00-01:00,
Fri 09:00-03:00,
Sat 10:00-03:00,
Sun 10:00-24:00.

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