Warsaw-Cafes

'Cafe' in Polish is 'kawiarnia,' and during the bleak Varsovian winter these places are a necessity to keep you going. Often times they can be cool hangout spots for locals and tourists alike, and if you're like me and you love exploring the things that give cities their true identities, then sometimes you needn't look further than its cafe culture. The problem with Warsaw is that there is no cafe district, meaning that all of the unique cafes are spread out over the city, and not clumped together into one little convenient hipster area. It's hard to stumble on to one without really knowing where you are going.

If you're in Warsaw and want to grab an interesting cup of joe in a better cafe than your typical chain, then here is a list of some good discoveries in this city on the Wisła.

MiTo

This is a true modern art cafe. Styled in a futuristic sleek way, it often has a new collection on display in its gallery room. You can sit everywhere, including among the gallery, and the space is comfortable and friendly. It has a great selection of books, mostly in Polish, but a few in English, and most of the titles are not something you would find in a common bookstore. The location is awesomely set right next to Constitution Square, which has a heavy communist theme, with lots of monumental architecture. It's also conveniently just a few tram stops from the center. The only problem I have is the quality of the coffee. I wouldn't say it's the best tasting. In fact if you're looking for a good cup of joe I wouldn't recommend going here, but if you're looking for a cool atmosphere to read, meet friends, or just relax, then this is definitely a good spot for you.

Crux

This is the kind of place you're not going to find unless you're looking. It's located in a courtyard off of Hoża in a cool old brick building that kind of gives you a pre-war vibe, even though it's hard to say how long the building has been around. Go upstairs and you find a spacious cafe/restaurant with a large window looking on to the bouldering walls (it doubles as a bouldering gym). It's really an awesome place just to hang out, and it's got a wooden loft with some couches, you can climb up the ladder and sit down on them. The place is decorated with an outdoorsy mentality, and it fits the theme of climbing and coffee. They have cheap meals until 15:00, and the coffee is good quality. It's hard to stumble across, but it's very close to the center. You just need to know where to look!

Cofeina

A typical student cafe. You will find a lot of students from the Polytechnic University that's just across the street. The decor is a bunch of pop culture references, and it's got a lot of places to sit with friends or by yourself to do your work. Coffee is cheap and good, and even though it can feel a little claustrophobic (kind of like sitting in a university cafeteria) it still manages to pull off a chill vibe, and it's much better than going to one of those bland chain cafes. 


Galeria Sztuka

An awesome stop across the Wisła. It's got a high-end chic feel to it, with fine cuisine, and handmade furniture for sale. It's in the Praga district, which has the reputation for being a little more artistic than the center of Warsaw, and it's not far from the recently opened 2nd metro line, specifically station Dworzec Wileński. Everything is top quality and it's cheaper than most places you will find in the center. It makes for a good day trip in order to go out and explore different parts of Warsaw. 

Czuły Barbarzyńca (Tender Barbarian)

The cafe that wins the coolest name award. This is a true bookstrore/cafe, loaded with shelves of books that close you inside an intimate atmosphere. It's a world class chill out spot. If you want to get out of the rain, or loose yourself in a book, or have some delicious pastries while talking with a friend, this is one of your best bets in Warsaw. It's fairly close to the old town, and even closer to the awesome BUW, so it's convenient to stop by for a rest during a walking tour, and now with the second metro line, the station Centrum Nauki Kopernik, it's incredibly easy to get back to the center. I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind place!

Szpilka

Szpilka is near the embassy district, and located on Three Crosses Square. It's a posh feeling cafe, and isn't really a place for a backpacker, but it has the advantage of being open 24 hours, which is not so common in Warsaw. The food is nice, the coffee is nice, but everything is a little pricey. The location is beautiful though, and it's a prime area for taking a nice walk. I would go here for a rest, but it's not the kind of cafe you could spend an entire rainy day in, if you know what I mean.

Fenomenalna

Super place, with few customers. Every time I've been here the place has been nearly empty, even though it's attached to the University of Warsaw library, and that place is busy all of the time. Maybe I'm not going at the right time, but seriously this place deserves more customers. It's very spacious, with a whole bunch of hammocks for chairs, and a lot of reading material in English and Polish. I was reading about the history of Scottish art just the other day (while wearing a Scottish Football Association shirt! What a coincidence! I'm not Scottish btw). There is a nice family atmosphere here, I often see parents with their children. They serve coffee with a yummy cookie, unlike almost everywhere else I've been. Also, it's in probably the coolest building in all of Warsaw, the BUW, which is a library with a rooftop botanical garden, built in a fin de siecle style.

Amatorska

The last cafe on this list is, in my opinion, more of a traditional local cafe. It's got a purveying feel of 1970's Warsaw, and it's usually housing a combination of old men smoking and drinking, and some hipster looking youngsters. But despite all this it's a cool place to visit. The service is very friendly, and it's a nice place to chill. The best part is the location, which is right on the most touristic street in Warsaw, Nowy Świat, and it's fantastic as a resting spot after a long day of touring this part of Warsaw. You can smoke inside, under a machine, but I don't really know how it works, and you can also grab a beer or a bite to eat. If you want a little throwback style, then check this place out.

If you really need a chain then here a list of the chains in Warsaw, ordered by their quality. But remember they are more expensive and less creative!

1. Nero Cafe
2. Rue de Paris
3. Starbucks
4. Costa Coffee




Have you been or lived in Warsaw? Do you know some more cool cafes to stop by and hang out in? Let me know what places I missed that deserve some recognition in the comments. Safe travelling to all of you.