No visit to Warsaw is complete without a trip to ul. Nowy Świat (C-3/4). Considered Warsaw’s principal shopping street start any walk down Nowy Świat from Pl. Trzech Krzyzy (C-4), but leave the credit card at home unless you’re sleeping with the bank manager. It’s here you’ll find Warsaw’s premier boutiques, with names to indulge on including Zegna, Escada, Boss, Burberry, Max Mara and Lacoste. And spending opportunities aren’t just limited to office hours, you’ll find a good spread of bars in this stretch of Warsaw, not least legendary venues like Szpilka and Szparka. The story of Nowy Świat (New World) dates back to medieval times when it was used by Kings on the journey from Warsaw to Kraków. Settlements started appearing in the 17th century, though your first brush with the architecture of the area is likely to be the hulking edifice on Nowy Świat 6. For decades this brutish building served as Communist HQ. Completed in 1948 rumours that it was connected to the Palace of Culture by way of secret tunnels appear unsubstantiated, though one fact that can’t be argued is its post-communist fate. In a wonderful twist of irony it briefly found a new life as home to the stock exchange, thought now serves as a bank building. Cut in half by Al. Jerozolimskie the defining symbol of Nowy Świat stands in the middle of these aforementioned streets, a great big plastic palm tree, more of which you can read about on elsewhere in the guide. You’ll have no problem spotting EMPiK standing on the corner, but keep your eyes peeled for the socialist realist mural on the Jerozolimskie side of the street. If you’re wondering why this ghastly piece of art shows a girl holding a pistol your answer is this is one of the earliest (and nastiest) tributes to
the Warsaw Uprising. Indeed, this stretch of road is markedly different from its pre-war days when it was lined with towering town houses of all shapes and sizes. Levelled during WWII Nowy Swiat found itself rebuilt in uniform neo-classical style. EMPiK itself was once home to the Udziałowa cafe, a smoky haunt of thespians and intellectuals, and a venue you’ll still find old timers reminiscing about. Nowy Świat has long enjoyed a reputation for its bars and cafes, and you’ll struggle to find a better bar in modern Warsaw than Sense on Nowy Świat 19. Nearby the plaque adorning the wall commemorates author Julian Tuwim, once a resident of this building, while Blikle Cafe is famous for once serving donuts to a young Charles de Gaulle. Take a detour down ul. Foksal for more gastronomic opportunities, and see the street to its conclusion to catch a glimpse of the Zamoyski Palace. Designed by Marconi this neo-renaissance pearl was the scene of a botched assassination attempt on the Russian governor in 1863. Infuriated Cossack troops reacted by launching a piano once tinkled by Chopin out of the window, though nowadays drama is limited to dancing in the basement club or dining on the elegant ground floor. Return to Nowy Świat to take a pic of Joseph Conrad’s Warsaw home at number 45, and don’t hesitate to finish your Nowy Świat tour by rewarding yourself with Warsaw’s best beer – find it coming out of the taps of Bierhalle at number 64.
the Warsaw Uprising. Indeed, this stretch of road is markedly different from its pre-war days when it was lined with towering town houses of all shapes and sizes. Levelled during WWII Nowy Swiat found itself rebuilt in uniform neo-classical style. EMPiK itself was once home to the Udziałowa cafe, a smoky haunt of thespians and intellectuals, and a venue you’ll still find old timers reminiscing about. Nowy Świat has long enjoyed a reputation for its bars and cafes, and you’ll struggle to find a better bar in modern Warsaw than Sense on Nowy Świat 19. Nearby the plaque adorning the wall commemorates author Julian Tuwim, once a resident of this building, while Blikle Cafe is famous for once serving donuts to a young Charles de Gaulle. Take a detour down ul. Foksal for more gastronomic opportunities, and see the street to its conclusion to catch a glimpse of the Zamoyski Palace. Designed by Marconi this neo-renaissance pearl was the scene of a botched assassination attempt on the Russian governor in 1863. Infuriated Cossack troops reacted by launching a piano once tinkled by Chopin out of the window, though nowadays drama is limited to dancing in the basement club or dining on the elegant ground floor. Return to Nowy Świat to take a pic of Joseph Conrad’s Warsaw home at number 45, and don’t hesitate to finish your Nowy Świat tour by rewarding yourself with Warsaw’s best beer – find it coming out of the taps of Bierhalle at number 64.