The Best Restaurants in Zamość, Poland

In the heart of Zamość’s UNESCO-listed Old Town sits a restaurant of true charm and character. Welcome to Restauracja Bohema. Located in the main Old Town square, the restaurant has a traditional interior with brick walls and alcoves. In the warmer months, there is also outdoor seating. The menu has some very regional specialities as well as Polish mainstay courses. To go local, try the Roztoczański Pie with buckwheat that is fried in butter served with sour milk, the horseradish soup or the deer steak. The dessert range is exquisite in a venue also famous for good cakes. There are plenty of vegetarian options and even French pancakes for those wanting to try a Polish take on the traditional crêpe. The restaurant is fully licensed and has welcoming staff.

Located on the north side of Zamość’s UNESCO-listed Old Town square is a superb restaurant for sampling typical Polish food. The traditional interior has curved brick walls with colourful carpets, wooden seats and cosy benches. The food menu contains lots of Polish dishes such as gołąbki z kaszą gryczaną i grzybami na Oleju (cabbage rolls with mushroom and oil), the zupa pokrzywowa (nettle soup) or the golonkę (pork knuckle). There are also some interesting imported dishes like shashlik (from central Asia) and kebabs (from the Middle East). Good regional beers on the drinks menu include Zwierzyniec and Kilikia.

While it might sound like an Asian bar or restaurant, Bar Asia Zamość is actually as local as it can get. This is in the mode of the famous Bar Mlecznys (Milk Bars) of Poland. In other words, cheap and well-prepared food in a basic and simple environment. This is the perfect place if you want to try authentic Polish food on a low budget and are not concerned about the ambience, design or the potential need to wait. Expect some excellent Polish pierogi (dumplings), hearty soups such as barszcz (beetroot) and kotlet schabowy (pork cutlet).

For a stylish restaurant just a few streets away from the Old Town square, choose Restauracja Renesans, which is part of the hotel of the same name. Despite the swanky appeal, prices are very reasonable especially for some of the venue’s trademark Polish main courses such as the regional Zamojski pork chop, which is served with potatoes and seasonal salad and costs 24 złotych (US$6.50). The typical pierogi Ruskie dish can be tried for just 13 złotych (US$3.50), and there is also a range of pancake and pasta options.

For superb steak, burgers, salads and pizza, the Jack Tank Steak House is the place to be. Located in the Old Town square, it’s another of the fine restaurants that gets busy in summer months. The pizza menu has over ten varieties, including a Mexican, Hawaiian and trademark ‘Jack Tank’ pizza option. The burger menu has some truly mouthwatering options, including the house special ‘Jack Burger’ (with fried egg, gherkin and mustard), the vegetarian burger and the ‘Tommy Burger’, which comes with chips, cheese, onion and a spicy sauce. But the real treats here are the steaks, with three options: the tornado steak (250 grams), the rib-eye steak (450 grams) and the popular T-bone steak.

Browar Zamość might be the city’s best place for some good locally brewed beer in a cosy atmosphere, but the food is also superb. This makes it a perfect option to sample the local beer and a hearty meal in a relaxed venue. Food an easy bar snack try the tatar z łososia (salmon tartare), the naleśniki ze szpinakiem (spinach pancakes) or the tradycyjny befsztyk tatarski (beef tartare). A recommended main course is either the golonka po bawarsku (pork knuckle) or the pork cutlet. There are also fish and beef dishes plus three types of beer on tap – Pszeniczne (wheat beer) Ciemne (dark) or Jasne (light), all home-brewed.

Restauracja Luneta is a quirky venue with a welcome fusion of Polish, Mediterranean and European dishes. On the starters and snacks menu, you can find Greek salad, cheese with cranberries and the Polish delicacy Śledź marynowany z cebulką (herring with onion and dill). The selection of main dishes also covers parts of Europe, from Polish pierogi to Turkish kebabs to Italian pasta with paprika. There’s a good kids menu, too. The venue is cosy and modern and has an open plan. The drinks menu is alcohol-free and includes some non-alcoholic cocktail options, as well as tea and coffee.