A few of my favorite things in Warsaw, Poland
I’ve found that some of the best travel experiences come from trips where I have zero expectations. This was most certainly the case when I visited Warsaw, Poland.
Eugene’s job sent him to Warsaw for a week in October, and I jumped at the opportunity to snag cheap plane tickets and join him.
I departed Frankfurt Airport with no idea what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised by what I found in Warsaw.
The weather was cold and gray, and the sun set at 3 p.m., but the people were warm, the food was filling, and city was dotted with bright buildings and colorful murals.
Eugene was in class for eight hours every day, which left me with ample time to explore the city on my own.
Here are a few of my favorite food experiences in Warsaw
Paczki
Paczki are polish donuts, and oh my gosh are they amazing. They’re made of rich, yeasty dough, filled with an assortment of jams or frostings, and cloaked in a simple, sweet glaze. They’re sold from walk-up windows on the street and the bakeries can be found throughout the city.
I rekindled my long lost love of donuts in Warsaw, and made it a point to eat one every single day. No judgements, please.
My favorite paczki came from Cukiernia Pawlowicz. I was heading back to the hotel to meet up with Eugene after a day of exploring, when I spotted a line of people in front of a brightly lit window. Despite it being late afternoon, there was row after row of oven-fresh rolls. I chose a traditional rose jam paczki and savored it as I strolled down the street.
Pierogi
Before landing in Poland, the only pierogi I’d experienced came from the freezer isle of an American grocery store. For the record, those things don’t do this central European dumpling any justice.
I knew pierogi were a popular Polish dish, so before arriving, I booked a spot in a pierogi-making class. The host Marysia owned an adorable, sunny restaurant in the center of the city. She walked us through the steps of making pierogi, and shared her family stories along the way.
In class, we stuffed our pierogi with traditional fillings like lentils, potatoes, pumpkin and chicken. We then topped the cooked pierogi with sour cream and caramelized onions.
But Polish people fill their pierogi in a variety of ways. The most adventurous version I sampled while in Warsaw was filled with wild goose and topped with caramel sauce and pomegranate seeds.
Pyzy Flaki Gorace
When visiting a new country, you know you’ve found a great food spot when everyone sitting down appears to be local.
That is precisely what I discovered at Pyzy Flaki Gorace.
This cozy, hole-in-the-wall restaurant was recommended to me by a walking tour guide. After exploring Warsaw’s funky Praga district, a few of us stuck together to grab lunch.
We were treated to a generous host, friendly locals, and deliciously savory food. The meals came served in glass jars, and mine consisted of potatoes, ground meat and kale pesto.
While we ate, the people next to us sat and chatted over an endless stream of vodka shots. Pyzy Flaki Gorące is known for their homemade moonshine, so we did as the locals were doing and enjoyed a midday shot after lunch.
Here are some other great things I experienced in Warsaw
The food in Warsaw was inexpensive and delicious, and definitely a highlight of my trip, but there were also plenty of other great parts of the city.
Lazienki Park
At 76 hectares (0.25 square miles), Lazienki Park is Warsaw’s largest park. This greenspace, which was located near our hotel, is home to wide, winding paths, several palaces and multiple monuments. It was a scenic, peaceful place to run in the mornings.
Alternative Warsaw Walking Tour
Free walking tours are common in large European cities, and there were several offered in Warsaw. I chose to explore Warsaw’s Praga district, an area on the city’s less-visited right bank.
The Praga district is historically home to some of Warsaw’s poorest residents and is rich in World War II history, as well as vibrant street art.
Street musicians
Street musicians are a common site throughout Warsaw. The performers often come from the Praga district, and play instruments that’ve been owned by the family and handed down for generations.
I found a group of musicians on a busy street corner near Old Town. The sun was beginning to set, Christmas lights were twinkling, and you could hear their horns trumpeting from a block away.
If you go…
When you visit Warsaw, be sure to add these spots and experiences to your itinerary.
Cukiernia Pawlowicz – I’m pretty sure there’s no such thing as a bad paczki, but this bakery definitely has the best. A paczki with rose jam filling is traditional, but Nutella filling is also delicious.
Make Dumplings Not War! Cooking Class – This AirBnB experience is a great way to get a true taste of local cuisine. The host even shares her granny’s dough recipe with you after the class.
Pyzy Flaki Gorace – I don’t think I would have wandered in to this restaurant if it hadn’t been recommended to me, but I’m so happy I went. Be sure to order a dish that comes in a jar and save room for a shot of moonshine.