High 5 in Gdańsk's Targ Rybny is the fifth-floor open-air terrace of the Hilton, the rooftop pool bar that looks over the Motława, the Crane and the AmberSky Ferris Wheel from one of the city's only true rooftops.
Tip: Lift to floor 5 from the Hilton lobby; the western edge catches sunset over the Old Town. Cocktails 39-69 PLN, oysters by the half-dozen.
Address: ul. Targ Rybny 1, 80-838 Gdańsk
Flisak '76 in Gdańsk's Main Town is the subterranean cocktail bar on ul. Chlebnicka run by the third generation of the Rathnau family since 1976, with the current Greatest Show vintage-circus concept and presentations in perfume bottles and tiny cannons.
Tip: Walk down the stairs at Chlebnicka 9/10, no sign at the door. Cocktails 38-55 PLN; the Clown with gin, strawberry and shiso is the order.
Craft Cocktails on ul. Szeroka in Gdańsk's Main Town is the dim-lit chandelier-and-leather speakeasy of bartender Krzysztof Rathnau, with 280-plus spirits, filtered iced water at every seat and a Bar of the Year programme.
Tip: Book the back banquette for two; the menu rotates seasonally. House Old Fashioned is the move on a quiet weekday before 22:00.
Café Absinthe relocated to ul. Korzenna in Gdańsk's Old Town in 2024, the cult absinthe bar with more than ten varieties on the back wall, a Wednesday jazz jam and weekend DJ parties that famously run past dawn.
Tip: Door from 18:00 Wednesday to Saturday; the dance floor opens around 22:00. Absinthe pours 18-28 PLN, cocktails 30-45 PLN.
Józef K in Gdańsk's Main Town is the Kafka-named cult cafe-bar at the top of ul. Piwna near St Mary's, a bookshelf-ceilinged bohemian room with retro armchairs, fruit vodkas and Browar Amber pours that runs as cafe by day and bar by night.
Tip: After 22:00 it tips into bar mode; ask for the Soplica plum vodka or the signature Mr Rosewater. Cash and card both work.
HAH Gdańsk on ul. Malarzy in the Stocznia shipyard is the Tri-City outpost of the national HAH gay-club chain, with a dance floor that runs queer-first Friday and Saturday nights and drag, karaoke and themed Sundays.
Tip: Friday and Saturday from 22:00; the Stocznia entrance is signposted from the 100cznia containers. Tickets on goingapp.pl, usually 25-40 PLN.
Bruderschaft in Gdańsk's Main Town is the underground LGBT-friendly pub on ul. Długa opened 2012, with live jazz and blues most Wednesdays and Thursdays and a vinyl night that runs into the early hours.
Tip: Take the basement stairway on ul. Długa; Wednesday jazz jams start 20:30. Pints 12-16 PLN, cocktails 25-38 PLN.