Cafe Kulturalna is located in the foyer of Dramatic Theatre, part of Warsaw’s iconic Palace of Culture and Science building. Like most parts of this building, this one was also oversized and turned out to be big enough to host this cafe bar and cultural institution in one. Besides its monumental interior, this spot is interesting for many other reasons.

You can come here during the day for lunch, which on weekdays can be ordered as a set; outside of lunchtime you can always choose a salad, pasta or a main, and anytime you like you can enjoy a home-made cake of the day with coffee. When I come in the evening, I always get a cocktail, either a classic from the menu or a bartender’s recommendation for my current mood. A selection of beer and wine is available, surprisingly including even Polish wine.

Every weekend, concerts are organised at night time so check their Facebook page for the schedule if you feel like listening to live music. Because of that as well as its proximity to several cultural institutions, Kulturalna is popular with artists and art amateurs. Definitely recommended if you want to spend some time in a less commercial venue with an original ambiance.