Bar Familijny is one of the few milk bars (bar mleczny in Polish) still exisiting in Warsaw. Check also Ola’s article about Bar Mleczny Rusałka. Bar Familijny is my top choice when I am in the centre of Warsaw, I am hungry and want to eat like at home (a Polish home ;)) without spending a fortune.

Milk bars were very popular in Communist times after World War II and I really like that you can still feel the atmosphere of those times when you enter Bar Familijny. It is a cheap place (3.50 for a regular soup,  Polish złoty of course, not euros 🙂 ) so you can try as many Polish dishes as you can. Dishes are prepared not in a fancy style but like at home, in a simple way :).

As it is not a regular restaurant here are some tips. Don’t be surprised, and:

– Wait for your dish at the window as there are no waiters here.

– Admire how people from all social strata (from homeless to businessman, really) can share the same space!

The menu in English is quite hidden, although you just have to ask for it at the paydesk. My recommendations from the menu: for sure the soups, e. g. żurek z jajkiem (traditional sour soup with egg), ogórkowa (gherkin soup), botwinka (young beetroot soup), pierożki leniwe z masłem i cukrem (‘lazy’ dumplings made of fresh cheese served with butter and sugar) and much more :).