Czerwone Drzwi in Gdańsk hides behind a red door on Piwna two blocks from St Mary's. A tight Pomeranian-Polish card with a fish-of-the-day and a goose plate locals book ahead.
Signature dishes: Pomeranian goose, Baltic fish of the day
Must order: The Pomeranian goose if on; the fish of the day if not.
Tip: Around twenty seats only. Book a 19:00 slot, or wait at the small bar.
Address: ul. Piwna 52, 80-831 Gdańsk
Pyra Bar in Gdańsk imports the Poznań potato-bar formula to the Old Town. Oven-baked spuds with 20-plus toppings, strong vegan options, full plates well under 40 PLN.
Signature: Oven-baked stuffed potato, Vegan potato bowl
Order: Oven-baked potato with mushroom-onion topping; vegan on request.
Tip: Order at the counter; sit upstairs by the window for the Old Town view.
Pikawa Bistro in Gdańsk runs a small Old Town room beside St Mary's, sibling to the Piwna cafe two doors down. Breakfasts run until noon; a tight modern-Polish lunch follows from 12:00.
Signature: Pomeranian seasonal main, Polish breakfast plate
Order: The Polish breakfast plate; or whatever seasonal main the chef builds at lunch.
Tip: Book a window seat for the St Mary's view; weekends fill by 11:00.
Piwna 47 in Gdańsk runs a Michelin-recommended Pomeranian brasserie behind St Mary's. The menu rotates by the season, the conservatory is the best lunch table, and a Mediterranean accent keeps it light.
Signature: Pomeranian seasonal main, Bistro plates
Order: Whatever Pomeranian main is on the seasonal board, paired with a local craft beer.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Weekend dinners book out a week ahead.
Vis a Vis in Gdańsk sits over the Motława on Szafarnia, facing across to the Old Town granaries. A boutique Polish menu, strong pierogi card, and the kind of riverside terrace tourists usually find by accident.
Signature: Pierogi, Polish duck
Order: A mixed pierogi plate followed by Polish duck.
Tip: Reserve the riverside-facing table at booking; it is the room's whole reason for being.
Pyra Bar in Gdańsk imports the Poznań potato-bar formula to the Old Town. Oven-baked spuds with 20-plus toppings, strong vegan options, full plates well under 40 PLN.
Signature: Oven-baked stuffed potato, Vegan potato bowl
Order: Oven-baked potato with mushroom-onion topping; vegan on request.
Tip: Order at the counter; sit upstairs by the window for the Old Town view.
Avocado Vegan Bistro in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz cooks the Polish everyday-canon without animal product. Soy schabowy, croquettes, stews and dumplings, turned out by one of the first vegan kitchens in Poland.
Signature: Soy schabowy, Vegan pierogi
Order: Soy schabowy plate with cabbage, the room's most-asked dish.
Tip: Daily specials sell out by 14:30; arrive at lunch for the full board.
Manekin in Gdańsk runs out of an Aleja Grunwaldzka unit in Wrzeszcz, the Poznań chain's Tri-City room. Crepes in 60-plus combinations, savoury and sweet, half-portions under 25 PLN.
Signature: Savoury crepes, Sweet crepes
Order: Half savoury, half sweet plate: spinach and goat cheese, then strawberry and white chocolate.
Tip: Tram 6 or 12 to Politechnika stop, two minutes' walk. Open to 23:00 weekends.
Pikawa Bistro in Gdańsk runs a small Old Town room beside St Mary's, sibling to the Piwna cafe two doors down. Breakfasts run until noon; a tight modern-Polish lunch follows from 12:00.
Signature: Pomeranian seasonal main, Polish breakfast plate
Order: The Polish breakfast plate; or whatever seasonal main the chef builds at lunch.
Tip: Book a window seat for the St Mary's view; weekends fill by 11:00.
Piwna 47 in Gdańsk runs a Michelin-recommended Pomeranian brasserie behind St Mary's. The menu rotates by the season, the conservatory is the best lunch table, and a Mediterranean accent keeps it light.
Signature: Pomeranian seasonal main, Bistro plates
Order: Whatever Pomeranian main is on the seasonal board, paired with a local craft beer.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Weekend dinners book out a week ahead.
