Where to Eat Traditional Polish Food in Gdansk

Polish cuisines may not be very popular across the world, but it has its own place when it comes to heartiness and taste. Being a mixture of Slavic and foreign culinary traditions, a traditional Polish meal includes several varieties of soups, meats, and vegetable staples. Some of the important Polish dishes include the Pierogi (Polish dumplings), Bigos (meat stew), Golabki (cabbage roll), and Kapusniak (cabbage and sauerkraut soup).

Gdansk is home to a variety of sensational restaurants that offer traditional Polish cuisines at affordable prices. It is a perfect place to sample local cuisines.

Gdansk also has an interesting nightlife and offers beer gardens and outdoor areas in the summer and cellars and indoor areas during winters. The Poles often accompany their meals with beer or vodka.
So, keep reading and you will find out the best restaurants to relish traditional Polish cuisines during your Gdansk Tour.

 

 

 

1) Pierogarnia Mandu  

If you love ‘Pierogi’, aka Polish dumplings, then you must visit this restaurant. It’s the best place in all of Poland to try them; they have two restaurants in Gdansk: Pierogarnia Mandu and Pierogarnia Mandu Centrum.

They offer a variety of Pierogies with a whole host of traditional and unique fillings. Begin your meal with a traditional Polish soup ‘Żurek‘, in the main course try the Goose Pierogi with cranberry sauce, or the more traditional Polish Pierogi with cheese, the options are unlimited. Meals can be accompanied by Grzane Wino (Mulled Wine) or Piwo (beer).

Pierogarnia Mandu is an ideal place for a light meal and a piece of local flavour rolled into one. The restaurant is very popular with locals and tourists alike, hence it is advisable to book a table to avoid waiting in a queue.

 

• Address 1: Gdańsk Oliwa ul. Kaprów 19D   80-316 Gdańsk 
• Phone: (+48) 58 340 55 44
• Address 2: Gdańsk Śródmieście ul. Elżbietańska 4/8 80-894 Gdańsk  
• Phone: (+48) 58 300 00 00
• Open hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:00 – 21:00 

 

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2) Pierogarnia Stary Młyn   

Placed in the Old Centre of the Gdańsk, Pierogarnia Stary Młyn is definitely one of the best restaurants when it comes to dumplings. They offer a wide variety of dumplings with different kinds of fillings, served in large portions and are really delicious. You can choose from the traditional boiled dumplings, baked dumplings, and fried dumplings. If you are a vegetarian they have a special menu just for you. 

And this is not the end, they also serve other traditional Polish delicacies like soups, croissants, pancakes, salads, desserts, cakes, pastries, and many more treats all based on traditional grandma’s recipes. 

Pair your food with select Polish wines and fruit liqueurs. The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere and nice decor and it’s a perfect place for everyone to dine.

• Address: Świętego Ducha 64, 80-834 Gdańsk, Poland
• Phone: (+48) 58 727 71 14
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:03 – 22:56.

 

 

 

 

3) Restauracja Kubicki     

This charming little restaurant dates back to 1918 and was the most fashionable and popular restaurant of the time. 

Today, the place has a more classic and elegant setting and guests can still feel the spirit of the city that has been preserved in its ambience. 

Their food menu includes typical Polish soups and mouth-watering meats and tenderloins smothered in rich gravy. They serve fresh fish by the weight. The must try here is the marinated Matias and Gdańsk pork chop with cabbage and potatoes. 

You can pair your meals with the right Polish beer, wine or vodka. Their bar has an outside section that provides superb views of the Gdańsk harbour.

You can enjoy your meals as the pianist plays live every Wednesday to Saturday from 18:00 – 22:00 and on Sundays from 14:00 – 22:00. It’s an ideal place for a romantic date or a business lunch.

• Address: 5 Ulica Wartka, Gdańsk, 80-001
• Phone: (+48) 58 301 00 50
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12:00 – 23:00

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4) Restauracja Gdańska

Restauracja Gdańska is an enchanting old-style restaurant situated in a bustling street of Gdańsk.  The interior of the restaurant has been decorated in traditional Gdańsk style and has four rooms that can accommodate around 150 people at a time.

The food menu is rich and combines Old Gdańsk, Polish and international cuisine. Among the dishes, it is worth mentioning they serve the best Pierogi, Bigos and Polish soups. 

As you enjoy your meal, glance at the walls around you, they are full of relics relating to the history of Gdańsk. On the drinks menu they have a wide range of wines and vodkas, pair your meals with your favourite drink. After a hearty meal, don’t forget the desserts that include the hot favourite Szarlotka (Polish apple pie) and ice creams.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the restaurant has been visited by several eminent personalities and celebrities like Lech Wałęsa, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Dariusz Michalczewski and Irena Kwiatkowska to name a few. 

• Address: 16/24 Ulica Św. Ducha, Gdańsk, 80-834
• Phone: (+48) 58 305 76 71
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12:00 – 23:00

 

 

 

5) Restauracja Gvara  

Restauracja Gvara is a popular restaurant in Old Town, serving Polish dishes with a modern twist.

Since its inception, the restaurant has been known for its quality, freshness and exceptional flavour of its dishes, which are reasonably priced.

From Monday to Saturday, you can order anything from their breakfast menu (09:00 – 12:00) through to their lunch specials (12:00 -18:00) and main menu at all other times.

They have a variety of dishes on the food menu, the popular ones being the home-cooked Pierogi (Polish dumplings), the best Golonka (pork knuckle) in town, Schabowy (pork breaded cutlet) with bone and delicious fish. 

You can enjoy your meal with a glass of wine and complimentary live music played on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s a family-friendly restaurant with a play area and a separate menu prepared for children.

• Address: ul. Chlebnicka 48/51, Gdańsk.
• Phone: (+48) 795 88 92 88.    
• Open Hours: Monday – Thursday, 09:00 – 22:00 / Friday, Saturday 09:00 – 24:00, Sunday 09:00 – 22:00.

 

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6) Pierogarnia u Dzika

Sitting in the heart of the city centre is the popular Pierogarnia u Dzika. They have a truly exquisite menu that offers a wide variety of local Polish dishes from starters, from soups, main dishes to desserts. Their speciality is the Pierogi (Polish dumplings).

They serve over thirty varieties of Pierogi, try the local Pierogi Kaszubskie (stuffed with goose meat), or the immensely delicious Pierogi Mysliwskie (stuffed with game meat), or those with a sweet tooth can relish the zesty Pierogi Fantazyjne (stuffed with cottage cheese, cinnamon, raisins and peach). 

Besides dumplings, they also serve typical entrees, which feature chicken, tasty soups, and fresh fish. Meals can be accompanied with delicious beer, wine or absinthe. If you are visiting during the day then tasting their coffee is a nice idea.

This place is ideal for Pierogi lovers, especially for those who enjoy unusual types of Pierogies and those looking for an inexpensive lunch or dinner in Gdansk.

• Address: 59/60 Ulica Piwna, Gdańsk, 80-831
• Phone: (+48) 583 05 26 76
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12:00 – 22:00

 

 

7) Gdański Bowke

In old Polish, ‘Bowke‘ means a port-town thief and drunkard, and it’s after this character from Polish folklore that Gdański Bowke got its name. 

At Gdański Bowke time has stood still and you can still feel the port atmosphere from 200 years ago, as you enjoy the taste of Polish dishes and the best drinks in the house.

The interior of this place is decorated with photos and advertisements made before the Second World War era, with heavy wooden tables and benches as well as a solid, big bar.

Their food menu is concise  offers local meat, as well as freshly caught, Baltic fish, grilled to perfection.

The highlight of this restaurant is its beers sourced from the regional breweries, this includes the natural unpasteurized beer ‘Gdański Bowke’ produced exclusively for this restaurant from a family brewery according to the centuries-old recipes of the best Gdańsk brewers. 

For travellers it’s a perfect place for lunch and dinner as it offers great value for money. As for locals it’s a unique place in the heart of Old Gdańsk, perfect for meeting friends or having a family dinner.

• Address: ul. Dlugie Pobrzeze 11, Gdansk 80-888.
• Phone: (+48) 58 380 11 11
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:00 – 21:00

 

 

8) Pyra Bar

Pyra Bar is perfect for potato lovers and the most unique restaurants in the city. The word ‘Pyra‘ means potato in the Poznań area of Poland.

Naturally the menu is focused on potato, from homemade potato bread, French fries, baked potatoes with different garnish, potato pie and pancakes to grey dumplings with cabbage – everything is worth trying. There are options for vegans and meat lovers too. 

Remember, this isn’t a fine dining restaurant, but a cafe. They have indoor and outdoor seating, which is a perfect place for sipping beers, cocktails and Kefir.

Everything is self-service here, you go to the counter to order, take your dishes and you get a tasty, cheap meal.  It’s an ideal place to hang out with friends and at the same time, the best option for the whole family since everybody loves potatoes and they will be able to find something for themselves.

• Address: Garbary 6/7, 80-827 Gdańsk
• Phone: (+48) 58 301 92 82
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:00 – 20:00

 

9) Bar Turystyczny

During your trip to Gdańsk, you will discover a special type of restaurant which you have never heard of throughout your travels in Europe. That’s right!! It’s called a ‘Milk Bar’ that features Polish traditional food in a cafeteria style setting. Here the food is insanely cheap and it’s a great way to taste traditional Polish cuisine. 

Bar Turystyczny is a canteen style eatery, where you grab your tray, get your food served right there and pay the cashier. Their menu is pretty impressive and vegetarians shouldn’t have problems finding something they like.

For breakfast you can try   Jajko Sadzone (scrambled eggs) or Fasolka Po Bretońsku (British-style bean dish) If you happen to be visiting at lunch you can try soups like Barszcz Ukraiński (beetroot soup), for the main course you can try the Kotlet Schabowy (pork cutlet with vegetables) or the famous Pierogi(dumplings).

During peak hours (lunch 2pm or from 5pm to 7pm), there are normally large queues, but it’s an ideal place for a cheap and fast meal, good for solo travellers or those on a budget.

• Address: Szeroka 8/10, 80-835 Gdańsk
• Phone: (+48) 58 301 60 13
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8:00 – 18:00

 

10) Restauracja KOS

Restauracja KOS is located in the heart of the city’s Old Town. It has a large beer garden facing a paved pedestrian street and is an ideal spot for people-watching. It has three levels and is decorated in an exclusive retro style.

The restaurant’s menu has something for everyone; the Chef combines traditional Polish recipes with novelties from the culinary world, creating unique flavour compositions. Each dish is prepared with fresh ingredients of the highest quality, and the menu is complemented by fitness dishes, vegetarian dishes and delicious desserts, as well as seasonal dishes.

Try their Baltic salmon, grilled with a subtle white wine sauce, or the succulent ribs in a dark sauce infused with Żubrówka vodka.  It’s an ideal place for a romantic dinner, family dinner, or maybe organizing a business meeting. They also have a playroom for children.

• Address: Piwna 9/10, 80-831 Gdańsk
• Phone: (+48) 515 050 565
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9:00 – 24:00

 

 

11) Nova Pierogova

Decorated in nautical style with whites and blues, Nova Pierogova is one of the best restaurants to relish Pierogi. They offer Pomeranian regional cuisines that are combined with flavours from around the world.

The Pierogies are prepared in innovative and conventional variations, ranging from the sweet to the spicy and the savoury.

The recommended ones are the Russian Pierogi (cheese stuffed) or the Kashubian Pierogi (white sausage and horseradish) or the Gdańsk Pierogi (blood sausage, onion and apple).

If you have room for more, try their apple pie Pierogi with apples and cinnamon, or the sea-style ones, filled with ricotta cheese, salmon and spinach.

The menu also has a variety of vegetarian or non-vegetarian options. Meals can be paired with delicious beer, ale or cordial. Or you can simply opt for a lemonade, coffee or tea among the drinks.

 

• Address: Szafarnia 6/lok 2 U, 80-755 Gdańsk
• Phone: (+48) 516 414 200
• Open Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 13:00 – 21:00, Friday – Saturday: 13:00 – 22:00

 

12) Swojski Smak

It’s a nice cosy restaurant in the heart of Gdansk city. They offer traditional Polish and European dishes, prepared according to their own recipes; therefore you will find fresh and tasty dishes on the menu, served at affordable prices.

The highly recommended here is the duck breast and the homemade Piragua with Chanterelles and Ricotta. They also have a variety of traditional Polish vegetarian dishes. 

This place is known for its large selection of drinks i.e. 150 different vodkas to taste, along with draft beer and mulled wine. You can also opt for delicious coffee, lemonade or tea.

It’s a perfect place to dine with your family, social and business meetings, or banquets and special events.

• Address: Jana Heweliusza 25/27, 80-861 Gdańsk
• Phone: (+48) 58 320 19 12
• Open Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12:00 – 24:00