Quiet Basement Apartment

Setting a high standard in the Poznan dining scene for many years, Muga is an elegant place with plush, understated décor and classically formal service that mirrors the surroundings. The French-based cooking shows both utmost skill and a welcome restraint; grassy white asparagus, for example, might excel in the simple company of rich pistachio and tangy bilberry. Wine plays a large role too: the list is excellent; Sommelier Łukasz is charming and generous; and their wine shop Casa de Vinos is just next door if you want to pick something up on the way home.

After a striking, architect-led conversion, this historic military building now boasts a mezzanine, a feature wine wall and a cocktail bar with a communal table. This all adds up to a stylish and characterful restaurant; one which also features a wide-ranging, modern European menu that includes small plates, large dishes to share and a small pasta selection. Everything is well-priced and appealing, with sauces being a real strength of the kitchen, whether it's a madeira jus with scallops or a wonderful truffle-infused velouté with chicken.

As the name suggests, cheese-lovers will be in heaven at this welcoming, rather unique dining spot. To one side is a smart, bustling little bistro; to the other is a cheese bar with an admirable display of global varieties. Heartily flavoured dishes provide great value for money and usually incorporate cheese in some form, such as parmesan grated onto the excellent beef tartare. Whatever you order, follow it, naturally, with a cheese course. If you’re just after a quick snack, pop in for a seasonal cheeseboard with alcohol pairings.

The gorgeous Sołacki Park provides a wonderful setting for this restaurant housed inside a fine lakeside building that’s over 110 years old. The recently refurbished interior is suitably bright, but it’s the lovely terrace that steals the show. The extensive menu caters for a range of appetites, featuring soup, salads and pastas alongside more substantial dishes like bone-in pork chop – which shows off the technical skill of the kitchen. Their bedrooms provide the perfect base for exploring the park.

Hidden away in a residential area, this basement restaurant sports rustic exposed brickwork and simple bistro furnishings. It’s named after Chef-Owner Livio Marino, who has a passion for authentic Italian dishes that manifests itself here in an extensive menu that includes a selection of homemade pastas. Look out for the pasta dishes and the likes of sea bream cooked over an open fire. For dessert, it’s very hard to resist tiramisu in a place like this.

A 19th-century power plant on the edge of Jana Pawla II Park is home to this faux-industrial restaurant. Sit on the terrace overlooking the row of chardonnay vines as you sample something from the exceptional wine list – which champions all things natural and biodynamic, including over 75 native wines. The menu makes a feature of house-smoked ingredients, such as fjord trout and terrific, meaty duck. The cooking comes with the added bonus of attractive pricing and generous portions.

As you approach this restaurant via the small coffee shop in front, it’s hard to imagine that such a glitzy, dark and moody dining room awaits you. From its velvet banquettes to the baby grand piano being played in the evening, there’s a special occasion feel to the place – which is enhanced by warm, caring service that puts a smile on your face. A farm-to-table ethos runs through the food, with ingredients from the team’s nearby farm used in complex, at times creative dishes.