Image by Łukasz Kopeć

Praga is the only district which was not destroyed during the Second World War and where the old Warsaw was preserved – the old language, culture and lifestyle. Situated on the right side of the Vistula river it is called “the Asian part of Warsaw” because time passes here in its own slower and more intended way.

It is dangerous and inspiring at the same time. One says that everybody in Praga was in prison, is in prison or will be there someday. Other people say that the real Warsaw is only there. Praga is also a mecca of artists and a centre of alternative art.

Sens Nonsensu – a little pub in the heart of Praga – gathers all senses and nonsenses of this district in one cozy place. Sitting here you feel like you’re in grandma’s house – with red wallpapers, wooden furniture and an old piano. The owners – two young people: Roksana & Filip – sell a lot of typical polish alcohols and food here. You can taste original beer from small breweries and mulled wine with raspberries and orange.

We really recommend the home-made lard with pork scratchings – there’s a secret why Polish people can drink so much alcohol and still are not drunk! A lot of foreigners living in Warsaw come here because – as they say – in places like this they can touch the soul of Warsaw.

Video about Sens Nonsensu.

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Sens Nonsensu | Art & culture, Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Polish) | Mulled wine PLN 8
Wileńska 23 | Praga Pólnoc | +48660757677
Mon – Fri 16:00 – open end, Sat – Sun 12:00 – open end

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Image by Ola Synowiec

Elba at the moment is the only squat in Warsaw organizing some cultural activities. It was establish not that long ago – in November 2005 – but it has a long and turbulent history.

In 2007 the owner of the property demolished some buildings of the squat. After searching a new place in whole Warsaw, the place for a new squat was found just across the street. Actually the old living part of the squat is going to be demolished. But the concert building is standing, and we hope for a long time!

When you come to Elba you can be surprised how many things actually can be done without money. Starting with the buildings, furniture, decorations and cult table football, ending with many events and workshops. Now there are regular workshops of samba and bicycle-workshops, the Elba’s collective organizes Food Not Bombs action.

In the squat there are also a skatepark, bicycle point and free shop (where you can leave something that you don’t need anymore and take something for free that you actually need). There are also many concerts – mainly punk. Elba’s collective is open to many kinds of initiatives: there was for example a techno party and a lesbians’ evening.

The admission to concerts isn’t usually free (about 12 PLN) but everything inside is very cheap: beer costs 3,50 PLN and you can get some vegan food for really low prices. Elba has got its own DIY-drink called Elba Mate with its own recipe in a special bottle.

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Squat Elba | Bars, Music, Relaxing | Beer PLN 3.50
Elbląska 9/11 | Zoliborz
During the events

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Image by Szymon Kubiak

When I went first time to Przekąski Zakąski it was 02:00 and there were only a couple of drunk old businessmen drinking vodka at a round bar counter, a barman – Mr Roman, me, my friend and our conversations about life, the universe and everything. At that time I felt like I was in the Nighthawks painting by Hopper.

Nowadays it is possible to meet such a silence there only around 05:00 or 06:00. Any other time, there is always a crowd of people! Why? 1) because of the atmosphere – definitely old style, like from the 1950′s books where tired workers were coming for two or five quick shots of vodka after work. 2) because of menu – Alcohol costs 4 zł and every dish costs 8 zł (don’t treat it as a dinner, it’s rather something you can eat after vodka). 3) because of the staff – always elegant and familiar. One of the bartenders has even his own fanpage on Facebook with over 1000 fans. Mr Roman is an old style gentleman, always smiling, always charming, always sharing a cool joke with a punchline, always picking up girls.

This crowd makes people get closer and makes them talk with each other. And it makes the atmosphere more familiar and more Polish. And Finally! For me, buying beer there is just passé, it’s a place to buy some shots, to talk with Mr Roman and other co-drinkers and to set off into Warsaw night.

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Przekąski Zakąski | Bars | Alcohol PLN 4
Krakowskie Przedmieście 13 | Sródmiescie
24 hours daily

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Image by Szymon Kubiak

The 10th-Anniversary Stadium built in 1955 was the pride of Polish communism, the principal venue for the Party and state festivities. In 1989 it was turned into the most popular bazaar in Poland: the kingdom of illegal goods, pirated records of Michael Jackson and cheap cigarettes from Russia.

A lot of sellers were from the East – and many of them were from Vietnam. Lots of Vietnamese people fleeing the communist regime automatically thought of Poland as a country of the Solidarity and Pope John Paul II. It’s said that the greatest Vietnamese film director sells socks there and you can find also many professors, actors and other people of culture. You can also find there a taste of real Vietnam – many little bars with typical Vietnamese food.

Eating in this kind of places is getting more and more popular and it’s posh to have an own secret place where you can buy typical Vietnamese sweets or seafood in the Stadium . Especially now when it seems these are the last years of the bazaar. In 2012 there will be the New and Real National Stadium built for to the UEFA European Football Championship in Poland.

One of those Vietnamese bars has moved from the Stadium to the centre. Everything except the place is the same. The food tastes exactly like in the Stadium. We recommend especially soups which are really big. The owner is still the same Vietnamese family and their Polish is still not possible to understand:)

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Toan Pho | Snacks, Restaurants (Vietnamese) | Soup PLN 14.00
Chmielna 5/7 | Sródmiescie
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 22:00

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Image by Szymon Kubiak

Mandala, in short, is a special figure that represents microcosm of the Universe from the human perspective. The owners of “Mandala” place know it for sure, because in the main room there is a big mandala painted on the wall. Following the mandala spirit, its interior decoration is rather Buddhist and minimal.

The place is an interesting mix of a club and restaurant. Such combination is popular in London or Paris, but in Warsaw it’s the first one.

Restaurant mixes the best tastes of India, Thailand and Nepal. Chef, Prakash Tiwari, is a native Nepali, and we highly recommend his regional specialties. He is very talkative and it’s a rule that he chats the guests up to check if they enjoy the meal. Of course it’s not a problem to ask for a special order like a more spicy or vegan version.

Music played in the club is rather alternative. There are many regular parties. For example every Wednesday there is a Dancehall MasakRAH with live reggae and dancehall music. There are also some hip hop events and jam sessions.

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Mandala | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Asian) | Butter chicken PLN 25
Emilii Plater 9/11 | Sródmiescie | +48228910619
From 12:00 daily

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