Bar Bambino in Warsaw, on the Krucza-Hoza corner, is the slightly-more-upmarket take on the milk bar. Daily-changing chalkboard, fresh food made on site, and the same socialist-canteen pricing.
Signature dishes: Pierogi, Nalesniki, Kompot
Must order: The daily soup with a plate of pierogi and a glass of cherry kompot.
Tip: Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00, weekends 09:00-17:00. Walk in, no reservations needed.
Address: ul. Krucza 21, 00-526 Warszawa, Warsaw
Tel Aviv Urban Food on Poznanska in Warsaw is the original 2010 vegan-pioneer location of the three-restaurant Tel Aviv group. Hummus and pita made in-house, no animal product on the menu.
Signature: Hummus, Falafel, Shakshuka
Order: Hummus mushabbaha with warm pita and pickled cauliflower.
Tip: Three Warsaw locations: Poznanska is the original, Mickiewicza the Zoliborz outpost.
Krowarzywa on Hoza in Warsaw is the original of the city's vegan burger chain. Homemade buns, house seitan and bean patties, sauces made in-house, and a queue out the door at lunch.
Signature: Vegan burger, Sweet potato fries
Order: The classic seitan burger with sweet-potato fries and a beetroot lemonade.
Tip: Two centre locations (Hoza, Marszalkowska). Lunch queue moves fast; pickup is fastest.
Lokal Vegan Bistro on Krucza in Warsaw, run by the Margines cooperative since 2015, rebuilds the Polish home-cooking canon without any meat or dairy. Pierogi, bigos and placki all in vegan form.
Signature: Vegan pierogi, Vegan bigos, Vegan placki
Order: The vegan pierogi ruskie and a bowl of mushroom-and-barley krupnik.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Tue-Sat 12:00-21:00, Sunday 12:00-19:00. Cash and card.
Bar Mleczny Pod Barbakanem in Warsaw sits just past the Barbican between Old and New Town. Vintage decor, ladies in white coats at the till, and a kotlet schabowy plate for the price of a coffee elsewhere.
Signature: Zurek, Bigos, Kotlet schabowy
Order: Bigos with a slice of rye bread and a beetroot soup chaser.
Tip: Open daily 09:00-17:00. Pay cash. The line moves fast.
Tel Aviv Urban Food on Poznanska in Warsaw is the original 2010 vegan-pioneer location of the three-restaurant Tel Aviv group. Hummus and pita made in-house, no animal product on the menu.
Signature: Hummus, Falafel, Shakshuka
Order: Hummus mushabbaha with warm pita and pickled cauliflower.
Tip: Three Warsaw locations: Poznanska is the original, Mickiewicza the Zoliborz outpost.
Mateusz Gessler's Warszawa Wschodnia in Warsaw runs 24 hours a day inside the Soho Factory complex in Praga. French technique on Polish ingredients, the bar wrapped around the open kitchen.
Signature: Beef tartare, Polish bistro classics
Order: Tartare, the daily fish, and a coffee from the in-house bakery.
Tip: Open round the clock. The 02:00 to 06:00 menu is short but real food.
Krowarzywa on Hoza in Warsaw is the original of the city's vegan burger chain. Homemade buns, house seitan and bean patties, sauces made in-house, and a queue out the door at lunch.
Signature: Vegan burger, Sweet potato fries
Order: The classic seitan burger with sweet-potato fries and a beetroot lemonade.
Tip: Two centre locations (Hoza, Marszalkowska). Lunch queue moves fast; pickup is fastest.
Magda Gessler's Polka in Warsaw is the Old Town home-cooking room: seven flower-painted dining rooms in a Renaissance tenement, heavy curtains, and the Polish canon plated on porcelain.
Signature: Bigos, Hand-rolled pierogi, Placki ziemniaczane
Order: The bigos plate, hand-rolled pierogi, and a Polmos vodka shot.
Tip: Touristy but earns it; ask for the back room, not the streetside seats.
Lokal Vegan Bistro on Krucza in Warsaw, run by the Margines cooperative since 2015, rebuilds the Polish home-cooking canon without any meat or dairy. Pierogi, bigos and placki all in vegan form.
Signature: Vegan pierogi, Vegan bigos, Vegan placki
Order: The vegan pierogi ruskie and a bowl of mushroom-and-barley krupnik.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Tue-Sat 12:00-21:00, Sunday 12:00-19:00. Cash and card.
