The Best Local Restaurants In Gdańsk, Poland

KOS enjoys a fabulous location in the heart of the city’s Old Town, and uses it well thanks to its large beer garden facing a cobbled pedestrian street, the perfect spot for an afternoon of people-watching. Inside, the décor is light yet chic, intimate yet airy, with shades of beige, blue and white and just the right amount of mismatch going on to render the venue cosy. There is no room for mismatch on the menu, however, which offers a good selection of local ingredients and seasonal produce. Try the Baltic salmon, grilled with a subtle white wine sauce, or the succulent ribs in a dark sauce infused with Żubrówka vodka for something a little stronger.

Brovarnia is a restaurant and microbrewery situated at Hotel Gdańsk, and one of the few such institutions in Poland. Their beers range from schwarzbier to lagers and special brews, best accompanied by classics of hearty Polish cuisine such as pork knuckle baked in house beer, or beer goulash with buckwheat and pickled cucumber. The interior is exactly what you would expect from a brewery, with brass tubes zigzagging on the walls, a convivial atmosphere throughout the night and a historic warehouse-style location in a 17th century granary which miraculously escaped destruction during the Second World War.

Józef K. used to be a cult klubokawiarnia (club-café) in nearby Sopot before moving to Gdansk in 2013 and starting its new life as the Old Town’s oasis of cool. From its intimate, vintage interiors to the mismatched cutlery, books scattered around the dining room and idiosyncratic memorabilia from another era, Józef K. knows exactly what ‘effortless chic’ is all about. Don’t expect a vast choice of delicacies on the menu, but the food here is solid and comforting. Try the super-Polish gołąbki, a mix of rice and meat wrapped in cabbage leaves, or meatballs served with potatoes and surówka, Polish for ‘salad’. Wash it all down with a warming shot of Poland’s best and get ready for the music, which usually kicks in at around 9:30pm.

Local produce, fresh ingredients and seasonal recipes form the backbone of Metamorfoza, a high-class establishment that prides itself on its commitment to making the best of the region’s nature and ethical cooking; they even have their own farm. Metamorfoza’s culinary offer includes a tasting menu, with smaller portions of some of the house specialties such as beef tartare, or pigeon with pear and celery, as well as a delectable garden menu comprising of cold meats and vegetables. Servings are presented with an eye for subtle decoration, and the venue’s interior exudes a similar kind of simplicity with hushed tones and comfy, plush chairs.

One of the most iconic and oldest restaurants in the city, Pod Łososiem (loosely translated as The Salmon) boasts a long history of heritage. The 16th century premises it stands in used to house the distillery of Goldwasser, a vodka infused with pieces of 22-carat gold that was once all the rage across Europe’s courts. Today, Pod Łososiem still produces the precious Goldwasser and remains faithful to its royal heritage with luxurious period furniture, tall candles and paintings, as well as menu of royal delicacies. The boar tenderloin with cabbage and mushrooms, or saddle of doe in a sauce of gingerbread and grilled vegetables, are especially recommended.

In old Polish, bowke referred to a port-town thief and drunkard, and it’s after this character from Polish folklore that Gdański Bowke takes its name. The atmosphere of an old port continues to thrive at the restaurant, where dark wooden furniture and modern, exposed brick walls are paired to conjure up a nautical theme straight from the 19th century. As for the food, it’s all about strong Polish flavour with a particular focus on local meats and succulent game, as well as freshly caught, Baltic fish, grilled to perfection.

Kubicki is the oldest surviving restaurant in Gdańsk, opened in 1918 by Bronisław Kubicki who made it into one of the most fashionable and popular restaurants of the time. Luckily, much of the interior survived bombings during the Second World War and Kubicki’s interior retains much of its former structure, albeit polished with contemporary elements, such as a huge, blackened fireplace and oversized, plush chairs filling the restaurant’s space. Fresh fish is served by the weight here, but other delicacies include typical Polish soups and mouth-watering meats and tenderloins smothered in rich gravy.

Decorated in a suitably nautical style with blues and whites, stripes, Nova Pierogova serves some of the best pierogi in the city in an unspoiled, intimate atmosphere. This delicacy of national cuisine is served in the conventional and innovative variations, ranging from the spicy to the sweet and the savoury: try the apple pie pierogi with cinnamon and apples, or the sea-style ones, filled with salmon, ricotta cheese and spinach. Portions are generous and inexpensive, meaning that you can have a fantastic, filling dinner without stretching your budget.