It’s hard to miss when you walk by: Hala Koszyki, the large stone building with artistic glass in a curved pattern on its facade, feels antique in a way. It has the essence of a bygone era, but step inside and you’ll find a bustling modern culinary hub with top-tier food stalls, a hyper contemporary bar, and plenty of industrial chic design elements.
That blend of past and present is what gives the popular food and cultural hall its unique charm. The building dates back to the early 20th century, and recent redevelopments have sought to blend the past with the present, adding contemporary elements to the historic place.
But how did this transformation come to be? Let’s take a look.
Historically Significant, Architecturally Stunning
Hala Koszyki was built more than 100 years ago on Koszykowa Street in Warsaw—on the site of what was then the Koszyki manor—and was designed in the secessionist style (art nouveau) by Juliusz Dzierżanowski in 1906-09. Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing, organic lines and the style is evident across the building’s gorgeous facade, which includes an arc of large windows and unique designs in the stone. The fact that Dzierżanowski is responsible for its design is crucial to understanding why this place is so special – Dzierżanowski was an important Polish architect who is responsible for many buildings around Warsaw, from tenement homes to depots to palaces, in the early 20th century.
Originally, Hala Koszyki was a market hall, where locals would meet to shop for fresh groceries and see neighbors and friends, and the original marketplace (as well as its modern version) signified a crucial community space for those living in the Southern Śródmieście district.
The ‘new’ Hala Koszyki opened in 2016 after a giant 5-year restoration and revitalization project helmed by Griffin Real Estate and designed by JEMS Architects.
Their mutual love of the original market hall is apparent in every last detail, right down to the cleaning and the reusing of original individual bricks, restoring original lattice metalwork and sculptural details relating to products on sale in the original market by sculptor Józef Zygmunt Ott.
Thanks to many of the modern design tweaks and incredible aesthetic details like the expertly curated background music, walking through the halls, perusing the stalls and climbing the catwalks of Hala Koszyki is a wholly unique experience. The designers and investors were certainly inspired by the mission and functionality of the original Hala, but they’ve added a breathtaking atmosphere and exquisite events. Here, you can eat at more than a dozen restaurants and bars or buy groceries to take home. The complex includes 16,000 sqm of office space and 6,500 sqm of retail space.
Rife With Culture and Diversity
Since its restoration, Hala Koszyki has become a staple in Warsaw and, rather unsurprisingly, proved amazingly popular amongst the young and hip, who flock here in droves every day (almost 3 million people visit every year!). There are many reasons for its popularity, but chief among them is the fact that this is a cultural and social hub, perfect for meeting friends over a casual (or even not so casual) drink or bite of exquisite food. With an open, airy interior, the space invites feelings of community and togetherness.
But one of the best parts of Hala Koszyki is simply its diverse offerings, both in terms of food and events.
Let’s start with food, which is, after all, a large part of Hala Koszyki’s origin.
It’s no stretch to say that Hala Koszyki is a gastronomic destination, a unique space for meetings and experiences, whether they be culinary, artistic or social. All the best of Warsaw’s gastronomic trends are on offer here, including hummus, sushi, burgers, curry (Indian and Thai), seafood, grilled meats and artisanal sandwiches galore (check their website for a full list). Top class little independent bistros sit next to some of Warsaw’s biggest chain restaurants.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest attractions of Hala Koszyki is its central bar, which immediately gives the hall the laid-back ambiance of an after-hours lounge. In fact, thanks to the bar, all of the food vendors also offer their own alcohol and many of them offer different craft beers on tap and in bottles, artisanal ciders, wines, original cocktails plus a bevy of alternative non-alco beverages from mango lassis to John Lemmons and everywhere in between.
Plus, the space is always evolving with plenty of new exciting concepts coming in.
We recommend trying Ragazzi Bar, which just opened at the end of May, or a new concept by the creators of popular restaurant, AleWino! The space, called Brut is sure to amaze when it opens this summer -- make sure to check it out!
Events Galore!
As if food, drinks, shopping and stellar architecture wasn’t enough, the space also offers plenty of exciting events throughout the year. And this summer is a big one for cultural happenings at Hala Koszyki!
There will be various fairs, like craft fairs throughout the year, with weekend exhibitors presenting unique products. In the summer, Hala Koszyki is planning concerts from different countries including France, Portugal and Spain, and they’re continuing their Music Pavilion project, which is focused on presenting interesting artists from the world of alternative pop, hip-hop, urban music and young Polish jazz. The concerts take place on the first floor pavilion space and they’re always held on Sundays twice a month.
Hala Koszyki is a place of musical surprises and a place eagerly visited by influencers. It was here in February that David Kushner played his pop-up music before the long-awaited concert at Torwar as an intimate surprise meeting for fans. From food to culture and music, there’s always something exciting happening at Hala Koszyki – and the popular space always seems to be at the forefront of new artistic and gastronomic trends. It’s well worth a visit.
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