Gdansk Restaurants

Chlopskie Jadlo was our second favorite restaurant in Gdansk for traditional Polish quisine. For starters, it was nice to finally receive bread (and a tall stack of enormous slices of it at that) without having to ask for it. Rather than ordering piecemeal off the menu, our group opted for two gigantic plates of various kinds of meat. It ended up being twice as much food as we really needed, but it was delicous and easily filled our bellies. My tour book described it as "the quintessential Polish chain restaurant," and apparently there are also locations in other Polish cities. However, it did not have the look or feel of a chain restaurant, so don't let that deter you. Prices were just a tad higher than average, but not by much. It is still a very good value compared to restaurants in the US and western Europe.

After eating typically heavy Polish food for nearly all our meals, our group was ready for a change. Gdansk does not have a lot of restaurants that serve anything other than Polish quisine, so we were thrilled to discover Zeppelin, a very nice and centrally located restaurant serving what can best be described as "international" food. There's something on their menu for everyone, from salads and seafood to pasta and steaks. Everyone in our group enjoyed their meal here so much that we went back for a second visit a few days later, where again we had another great meal. We also had the best and most attentive service here that we received anywhere else during our two-week trip, which was also a nice change. If you are looking for a very good non-Polish meal for a good price, look no further than Zeppelin.

You obviously can't visit Poland without trying the local quisine, and Swojski Smak has some of the best Polish food I've ever eaten, all at amazingly low prices. Of all the places where we ate in Gdansk, this one had the best value for our money, the most extensive menu, the most generous portions, and the best tasing food. And unlike many traditional Polish restaurants, Swojski Smak has a lot more to offer than just perogies and other dough-heavy meals. I promise you won't leave hungry.

We actually ate here twice because it was so good. Our first experience was nearly perfect. Unfortunately during our second visit the quality of the service we received dropped quite a bit, though the food was still excellent. I still think it deserves five stars because it was by far the best Polish food we had during our two-week trip and because, relatively speaking, the service we received everywhere we ate was significantly lower than it would be at any US restaurant. Just a cultural difference, I guess, so I don't want to judge them too harshly just because of that.

When you've walked along the charming Mariacka St. and feel like having lunch, check Cafe Kamienica which has a small patio right in the street (pedestrian only, no traffic). You will enjoy the view on St. Mary's Church, listen to street musicians playing classical music, watch the people passing by...
Ours was a quick lunch, just toast with ham & cheese and really good coffee. But they have a nice selection of salads too. We paid the equivalent of $5 each but salads may be up to $8.

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For great Polish cuisine go to the Salonik right in the heart of pedestrian tourist area. The patio in the street is pleasant and cosy, and you'll have a nice view towards the Town Hall. Our meal was excellent (see the other picture), so was the white wine that went with it. The service was a bit slow that night, perhaps because it was a full house. Still, the dinner was worth the wait!

The Goldwasser is right in Dlugie Pobrzeze (Long Warf), the pedestrian area along the Motlawa river, with a view on the Maritime Museum on the other side. You can watch boats as you are enjoying your meal. I had roast chicken on toast with salad, which was delicious, and beer of course! Janet had ceasar's salad and liked it too. For a light lunch like this plus mineral water be prepared to spend around $10 but if you'd like a full meal/dinner, it will cost more than that.
A specialty to try there is the Goldwasser Liqueur which contains pure gold particles. I abstained so can't say anything about it.
By the way, the restaurant also has apartments to let but I've never tried those.

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Fancy a fish meal? Gdansk has lots of places that serve fish, many are located at the old Fish Market at the end of Long Wharf (Dlugie Pobrzeze).
The Zlota Rybka is in Piwna St. within the main tourist area. Excellent fish, I had salmon but can't remember how much I paid. Nice interior decor, very maritime, with lots of details to look at while you await your meal. Some celebrities left their signatures on the walls, one of them was the Animals!

The restaurant at Dwor Oliwski is French style. It's one of Gdansk's finest, if not the finest. The game is superb. My dad and I dined there every evening during our stay, and tried something new every day. All of it was just superb.

Favorite Dish: The wild boar is great, but my favourite choice is the deer.