In recent years, Warsaw has boomed in the world of gastronomy, offering more options for incredible food – from light, elegant bites to rich dishes and everything in between. It’s a foodie heaven, with all kinds of international cuisines, and no place is more indicative of that than Hala Koszyki.
The market hall-turned-foodie paradise offers up an array of delectable international dishes all in a historic space, filled with little architectural elements that are beyond photo-worthy. As the oldest, and first, food hall in Warsaw – operating for 10 years – Hala Koszyki is the place to immerse yourself in Warsaw’s world of gastronomy, especially increasingly popular contemporary Polish cuisine.
For locals, this place is a staple; for visitors, it’s like stepping right into the epicenter of Warsaw city life.
Contemporary Polish Cuisine… and Beyond
There is so much in the way of international cuisine at Hala Koszyki. But one type that is necessary to check out is their contemporary Polish cuisine. It makes sense that the oldest, first food hall in Warsaw would offer incredible Polish dishes, but these places bring the idea of Polish food to a whole new level: both modern and full of variety.
For Polish street food, check out Kiełba w Gębie. Here you can get all kinds of great street food with Polish flair. Choose from a variety of burgers including the “Góral” burger which offers up traditional southern Polish smoked sheep’s cheese over a juicy patty. Also try tons of different kinds of Polish sausages or the Polish classic, chicken de volaille (chicken stuffed with butter). This is the epitome of Polish street food.
But remember what we said about variety – street food is not the only way Hala Koszyki’s stalls approach Polish cuisine. Check out BAJS for more regional flavors, specifically Silesian cuisine from southern Poland. Here, try delicious dishes like dumplings with truffle or pumpkin and mushrooms, or starters like tartar and pickled herring.
If you’re looking for more of a traditional restaurant approach to general Polish cuisine, then Warszawski Sen by Mateusz Gessler is the best bet. Here, try elegant and elevated Polish food, served in artistic, fine-dining style. Beef tenderloin, duck confit, sea bass, risotto with chanterelles…. The list goes on and on. When we say this is elevated Polish food, we mean it: this is the kind of place you go for a nice date night.
Finally, a staple in Warsaw is Ćma by Mateusz Gessler – a 24/7 restaurant that offers excellent Polish food in a relaxed atmosphere. Try toast with mushrooms and spinach, pulled beef sandwiches, pierogi with duck, marinated herring and much more. This is contemporary Polish food, done well and affordable. Highly recommended, especially for those who have yet to wade into the delicious world of Polish cooking.
Of course, that’s not all. Hala Koszyki is home to a whole plethora of other international foods – all under one atmospheric roof. Any time of the day or night you enter the building your taste buds are immediately assaulted by smells and flooded with flavors wafting from many of the gastronomic outposts in the main hall. The creme de la creme of the last decade of Warsaw’s gastronomic trends are all on offer 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.
But what about that bar… This is without a doubt one of the biggest attractions of Hala Koszyki and 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 everything in between.
A Cultural Capital
With all of those food and drink offerings, it’s entirely unsurprising that Hala Koszyki has become a staple in Warsaw and a core meeting place for all types of people, from local residents to businessmen and women out for lunch, to hip 20-somethings gathering over drinks and light bites. In fact, almost 3 million people visit every year!
While much of this is due to the gastronomic offerings, it’s also largely due to Hala Koszyki’s impressive cultural and entertainment scene. This is the place that’s hosted fashion shows and art displays, as well as plenty of live music events. In the evening, you’ll find DJ sets and concerts, and all day you’ll find great entertainment at places like Arcade Bee. This spot really does deserve its own highlight: along with drinks and food, Arcade Bee offers private VIP rooms with karaoke, shuffleboards, arcades, billiards and more.
Food, beverages and cultural capital aside, there is also a “market” here! The name itself, ‘Koszyki’, is actually a play on words as koszyki means baskets (think shopping baskets – even though that’s not where the name comes from). So what can you actually put in your basket? If you enter the market through the left wing you’ll undoubtedly run smack into the meat stall ie Crazy Butcher. They offer cuts of meat that you can normally only find in the finest restaurants in the city. You’ll also find Smak Natury which is a deluxe health food emporium. Elsewhere on the ground floor you’ll find a tea shop, a kitchen shop, a Mediterranean deli, jewelry, flowers and more. This is a place not only to spend an afternoon, but a whole day! Work in a coworking space, grab some lunch at the food hall, grab an after-work drink with friends and make sure to get in some shopping before you head home – it’s all here!
How it Came to Be
All of this, from cuisine to music and shopping, is housed within a unique architectural gem, giving your visit an incredible atmosphere. 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 as a market in the Art Nouveau style. The ‘new’ Hala Koszyki opened in 2016 after a giant 5-year restoration and revitalization project. 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 – a community marketplace where locals could do their daily or weekly shopping and commune over some good food—but they’ve added a breathtaking atmosphere and exquisite events.
Food, drink, music, activities, shopping and atmosphere – Hala Koszyki is the best of contemporary Warsaw, all in one place
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