I have to admit that, even though Poland is a neighbour of Germany, I hadn’t been in touch much with Polish food before my Gdańsk trip. I’m from the very Western part of Germany, which borders the Netherlands, so I’m too far away. I know the Eastern part of Germany has a much more similar cuisine. Anywho, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Polish food are pierogi (Polish dumplings). However my week in Gdańsk showed me that there is much more to it and that Polish cuisine is totally underrated among international foodies in my opinion. I also think that most people associate vodka with Russia, but Poland is actually home to many of the most premium and sought after vodka brands in the world.

I had a blast eating and drinking my way through Gdańsk’s food scene and discovered a few gems. There are many more places I couldn’t visit because I didn’t have time, but I will go back at some point and continue the exploration. For now, here are the places I visited during my stay in March 2024.

You can find the main Gdańsk post about everything I saw and did right here.

Café Fika

Café Fika in Gdańsk was the perfect lunch spot for my first meal in Poland. It was cosy, not immediately right in the touristy center but still in the oldtown and they had pierogi (Polish dumplings)! The nice lady there didn’t speak much English, so I used a translation app to order my pierogi. She looked at me and asked “Only this??” in shock. I thought ok, maybe it’s a small portion and I misunderstood the menu. So I ordered savoury pancakes with salmon too. Well, when the food arrived it was way too much of course! No worries though, I got a doggy bag and had the rest later, so it was all good.

Fika is actually a Swedish word. In Sweden it means to sit with your family, friends or colleagues, and take a coffee or tea, often with something sweet on the side. It was lovely to see they adapted this in Poland.

Bistrot Focaccia

I found a literal window to Italy in Gdańsk! It’s easy to miss it and walk past, but I was curious and stepped closer.

Opposite the AmberSky ferris wheel across the pedestrian bridge you can find an Italian restaurant called Amare Gusto. Right next to it you will find this hole in the wall called “Bistrot Focaccia” that sells amazing Italian focaccia and ciabatta sandwiches – perfect for lunch!

I chatted a bit with Marco, who prepared my sandwich. He’s a chef at the restaurant next door and a very friendly dude. He takes his time to prepare the food and you can taste the amore in it. This was the best sandwich I had in a long time!

Montownia Food Hall

Whenever I’m by the sea, I have to eat fish and chips. In Gdańsk I visited Montownia Food Hall and the fish and chips there was really good! Crispy on the outside with nicely seasoned batter, fresh and soft on the inside. But there’s more to explore in this former submarine workshop: You have 19 different restaurants to choose from, so everyone will find something they like. And of course there are dessert stalls, too. I went for the creamy gelato at Deseo and it didn’t disappoint.

I like the buzzing cafeteria atmosphere of food halls, it reminds me of my university days. Montownia is modern and pretty though compared to my uni cafeteria back in the day. Definitely a good spot to grab lunch in Gdańsk – and the European Solidarity Center is just around the corner too, so you can combine the trip.

Olivia Garden jungle restaurant

Hidden away in a modern skyscraper you can find Olivia Garden, a restaurant and tiki bar. This place was so cool – they really recreated a jungle atmosphere, it was such a special dining experience! There was Laksa on the menu, a Malaysian noodle soup that I absolutely love. I had to try it and it was delicious! The tiki cocktails were good, too.

But of course the highlight is the greenery in this place! According to their website they have 8720 m3 of greenery with 150 species and nearly 3000 plants from four different continents there. Wow!

Pomelo Bistro Bar

This was hands down my favourite spot for breakfast/brunch in Gdańsk. Pomelo Bistro Bar in Gdańsk’s oldtown has the cutest, most colourful and cosy interior. It instantly feels like you stepped into someone’s living room. And the food, oh my gosh the food…. This was the best thing I ate in Gdańsk (apart from the great Pierogi everywhere)! In the photo you can see the toast with bell pepper creamcheese, pickles, poached egg, sausage and salad. Scrumptious!

Eklerownia

Eklerownia is an éclairs café with two branches in the city. My photos are from visiting the one on Mariacka Street.

This place was so cool, I loved their funky interior! Their éclairs were delicious, very creamy and they were not stingy with the filling. I had Earl Grey (left) and Lavender (right). Such a perfect spot to take a break from sightseeing.

Z Innej Parafii

Z Innej Parafii is a lovely little café and every vintage interior fan’s wet dream! I went there on a rainy morning and immediately felt cosy when I took a seat in the comfy vintage armchair. For breakfast I ordered a bagel with goat cheese, pear and honey. Such a classic combo, it just works – yum! As it was a weekday in March I had the café all to myself and was able to enjoy the quiet and laid-back atmosphere.

Fukafe – Vegan Pastry and Coffee Shop

Fukafe is a great Gdańsk spot for vegans! But I’m not vegan and enjoyed my vegan Oreo Cheesecake anyway, so it’s also a good spot for people with a sweet tooth in general. Apart from their vegan cakes and coffees, I absolutely loved their cosy-cute interior.

This café is located in the suburb of Wrzeszcz, a hip area with lots of cute cafés, shops and concerts. It’s also where Günter Grass grew up. You can go and take a look at the house he grew up in (also described in his book “The Tin Drum”) – it’s only a few minutes to walk from the café.

Pierogarnia Mandu

According to a lot of Google search results, Mandu is the place to go if you’re looking for the best pierogi in Gdańsk. I haven’t tried all places that offer pierogi, so I can’t confirm the superlative, but these were very good indeed! I chose a classic version with mushrooms and cabbage but they offer a wide range of different dumplings inspired by cuisines all over the world. Their name Mandu is actually a reference to Korean dumplings, which underlines the inspiration they take from all sorts of dumplings from different cultures. It was delicious! Highly recommended!

Swojski Smak

Last but not least: Authentic Polish cuisine with a twist. Swojski Smak was recommended to me by my tour guide – they work together and if you show the waiter or waitress the paper map you get from your tour guide, you’ll get a free shot of liqor. Speaking of alcohol: They offer over 150 types of Polish vodka! The cherry on top is their great food and generous portion size.

There are a lot of other culinary adventures waiting in Gdańsk, so I suggest you do your own research depending on what you like. I hope you liked my tips though and that they help to inspire you for your (next) Gdańsk trip.