Going out in central Warsaw - local favourite spots

When it comes to going out in Warsaw, the options are endless, but you have to choose your place wisely. Since the Polish capital is relatively big, with main city points scattered around its area, bad planning might lead you to travel long distances. It is worth knowing that Warsaw, unlike many other big cities, does not have one specific neighbourhood with a big concentration of bars and clubs. Instead, there are a few areas where you can go to enjoy your night out and maybe even do a bit of pub crawling. Here is a list of local favourite nightlife spots in central Warsaw.

A night out in the center

One of the places to start might be the Palace of Culture and Science, located just in the heart of the city. This building offers a lot, and I can guarantee you can find there many different attractions. Among them, there are two bars popular for a night out. Bar Studio and Kulturalna are located on the eastern side of the Palace of Culture, facing each other. Both of the places are joined with two theatres (Teatr Studio and Teatr Dramatyczny) and serve as meeting spots for young inhabitants of Warsaw. During the day you can go there for breakfast or enjoy your afternoon cup of tea with cake. In the night, mainly through the weekends, they change into dancefloors with great DJ sets. They often organize thematic events, when you have fun listening to music from your favourite series (like Twin Peaks or Stranger Things) or contribute to a silent disco fundraising for dogs. One of the good things about their vicinity is that if you do not like the music played that much, you can always cross over the Parade Square and change the party. Both of the places are also cultural spots that organize various events in connection to literature, music and art, so if you feel like having some intellectual fun, you can check out their activities on Facebook.

Around Poznańska Street

Only a few minutes' walk away from the Palace of Culture, there is a small street full of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a big variety of cuisines and drinks. I would suggest it for the ones that would like to spend their evening enjoying a good dinner and talking with friends rather than raving on the dancefloor. Although some chill evenings might turn into a crazy party - you never know!). Among the places on Poznańska, you can find Tel Aviv Urban Food with a great menu of vegan meals and drinks inspired by Israel. There is also Ul with a wide selection of spirits and a proper bar menu. Next on the list might be Kraken Rum Bar - a harbour bar in the middle of a city, with a menu filled with 100 kinds of rum and seafood snacks. Probably the best place for a night out experience will be a Polish-to-the-bone bar called Gemba situated on the corner of the Poznańska and Wilcza streets. It serves regional cuisine in the form of tapas and organises great parties.

One of my favourite places in the neighbourhood, a few minutes away from Poznańska, is Bar Pacyfik. Its great vibe comes from a mix of a cool interior that was made to resemble of 'an old bar in Mexico City mixed with the 80's luxurious resorts' and a fabulous menu. In Pacyfik, inspired by the areas around the Pacific Ocean, you will find all sorts of tequilas as well as delicious bar food. As all of the above mentioned bars, they organize multiple events during the year so it's good to check their Facebook page.

Savior Square - Plac Zbawiciela

Continuing your route on the south-east from Poznańska Street, you will get to the Savior Square - a popular roundabout that used to be famous for its colourful rainbow. You can start your evening with wine in Charlotte - a French-style bistro with great pastry. Usually, the party is continued in the next-door Plan B and lasts until the early morning hours. Going a bit up Marszałkowska Street towards the centre, you will also find numerous new places with great interior design and interesting menus. For example, Warmut that specialises in drinks based on vermouth. The bar's ceiling is decorated with lit-up maquettes of the most important buildings of Warsaw and looks stunning. Next door you can find a place called W Orbicie Słońca, specialised in Italian dolce vita style food and drinks. There you will find various pizzas and focaccias, accompanied by the famous spritzes. Again, you will find yourself surrounded by a beautiful interior.

These are only a few options to choose from when you decide to spend a night out in central Warsaw. If you feel like going out and want to have quality time with great food and a good selection of drinks, follow my list of favourite local spots in the capital of Poland.