When the sun is out in Warsaw, it's no secret that half the city's population heads straight down to the river. It makes sense! From boulevards to beaches and more, the river is the place to be.
But out of all the options, which range from meandering the banks to lounging in the sand, our favorite – hands down – is La Playa. And the popular music and dancing venue has just come back for its 20th summer!
This versatile spot on the east side of the river is a staple of Warsaw summers and brings a touch of the tropics to the capital, with a raucous fun nightlife and excellent daytime activities. We can confidently say it’s the place to be when that long-awaited warm weather hits. Read on for a breakdown on why this is the place you should be spending your summer vacation, preferably with a cocktail in hand and ready to dance.
Day and Night
It’s important to note that this place is versatile. Meaning they can go from morning to night, from daytime lounging to evening parties with ease. (Remember how we said you could spend your whole summer vacation here? We meant it).
Let’s start with the day: Enjoy the sunny, beachy (dare we say almost Caribbean?) vibe of this spot. Here you’ll find a smooth, sunny boardwalk that weaves through soft sand beaches dotted with chairs and tables perfect for enjoying some bites with friends (read on for more on that). You’ll also find soft, sink-into-them lounging chairs for looking out over the water and reading a good book. Little palm trees fill the space, giving it more of that island feel, while colorful pillows and lights bring more Caribbean vibes to the area.
That’s not all – a set of hammocks make this space super lounge-worthy during the days, (just pop that sunhat over your face and relax). Or you can gaze out over a panoramic view of the Old Town – don’t forget to take pictures! If you’re in a more active mood, no worries! This spot has you covered with great games of beach volleyball, frisbee and boules. You can even participate in Zumba classes!
For those who need to finish up some work, no worries – you can work remotely, thanks to the WiFi chillout zone, which allows you to spend time finishing up what you need to do before getting out to enjoy the party.
It’s like the ultimate beach vacation in one spot, and we haven’t even touched on the food and drink options – more on that below.
At night, the space transforms into one of the best party zones in Warsaw. With killer cocktails, live music and dancing. We’ll get into all of that in a minute, but for now let’s focus on the atmosphere of a night at La Playa. As the music pulses behind you, watch the lights of the Old Town twinkling over the river. The crowd gathered at La Playa as well as the blue lights from the music venue will invigorate you as you dance and enjoy the warm summer night.
Music and Dancing
The highlight of La Playa is in dance and music. When we talk about this place pumping out the Caribbean vibes, this is what we mean.
Every weekend, find incredible live Latin music pouring out of the stage at the center of La Playa. A large wood dance floor means you can enjoy yourself under the stars. Be prepared to find tons of people dancing salsa here – swinging their hips and partners to the beat of the music.
If you don’t know salsa, no worries! Professional instructors give excellent salsa and Zumba lessons here, so you can come back and practice and then put your new skills to the test every weekend! By the end of the summer, you can be an expert salsa dancer, with plenty of experience swinging to the Latin rhythms on La Playa’s beautiful stage!
Make sure to check out their Facebook page for more information on the price of lessons.
And, if you arrive on select Saturdays, you can actually enjoy fire and acrobatics shows – just check La Playa’s Facebook page ahead of time!
Food and Drink
One of the biggest pulls of La Playa is its food and drink offering, which promises beachy cocktails and tasty bites you can eat and drink all day long!To fuel up, stop by their on-site food court, which offers tons of tasty bites like grilled chicken or honey mustard pork neck, salads, hamburgers and more. You can even order food sets to share like sandwich platters with delicious ingredients like blue cheese and carmelized onion, mozzarella and basil, and more. In fact, there’s an extensive menu of sharing platters!
Meanwhile, the drink menu is extensive and every single sip brings you closer to that Caribbean paradise feeling in the heart of the city. Try offerings like margaritas (with or without the refreshing pop of strawberry flavor), rum hibiscus spritz, and various other delicious concoctions that use tropical fruits, rum, tequila and more to create incredible, beachy flavors. Refreshing!
If you’re more of a traditionalist, no worries - there’s plenty for you here! Classic cocktails like a tequila sunrise, long island iced tea, margarita and more all shine here. Plus, you can get wine, beer, shots and just straight liquor.
For the non-drinkers, there are tons of offerings, too, including some truly delectable smoothies. Try a mango, passion fruit and peach cocktail. Or maybe papaya, mango, banana is more your style? There’s a good array of options and they’re all very tropical – you don’t need to sip liquor to enjoy the island vibe! Coffee and tea are also offered, as are little snacks of breadsticks and crisps.
Plus, you can make a reservation before you arrive, and even order ahead of time to take advantage of group offers – just make sure to check the hours on their Facebook page first!
With incredible music, salsa dancing that takes you straight to the Caribbean, fruit-based drinks that refresh you and really bring that warm weather feeling, as well as a gorgeous open space under the summer stars, La Playa couldn’t be more perfect. Spend your whole summer here, learn salsa dancing, hang out with friends, and get the full island experience, right in the heart of the city!
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