Zajazd Gielarek

A smiling service team will welcome you into this lovely restaurant on the fifth floor of the Lublin Conference Centre. A window seat offers good city views, but the terrace is an even bigger draw and makes the perfect spot for watching the sunset. The menu includes a mix of modern and more traditional dishes; the wiener schnitzel, generous in both size and flavour, is always a hit and it’s easy to see why, while a pavlova for dessert is a must-order if you have the chance. The concise wine list is supplemented by plenty of cocktails and locally brewed beers.

Part of a popular dining hub near the Silnica river, this intimate eatery is ideal for date night thanks to its small size and gentle buzz. The highly appealing menu is filled with European classics executed with skill by the chefs. For evidence, order the fabulous Wiener schnitzel that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those in Vienna. Other dishes from beef tartare to chicken terrine are in a similar vein: generous, well-priced and utilising tried-and-tested combinations to great effect.

Run by the same team as Naama in the city centre, this suburban spot has a stylishly modern feel, while its voile curtains dividing the tables add an intimate air. The house-made sourdough gets the meal off to a great start, before the carefully conceived and skilfully executed dishes such as butterflied trout with braised cabbage and tomatoes. Add in the warm, friendly service and you have all the ingredients of a perfect neighbourhood haunt.

Situated on the beautiful main square in the historic city centre, keep an eye out for this restaurant’s discreet entrance, which hides behind it a series of interconnecting rooms bursting with the buzz of contented diners. The menu has a surf ’n’ turf approach and a strong Japanese influence, exemplified by the sushi selection and a choice of prime produce cooked on the robata grill. The aged steaks are a popular choice and understandably so.

A little out of the city centre, amidst a development filled with apartment buildings, this intimate two-roomed restaurant awaits with genial service and some standout cooking. Choose between two tasting menus or the seasonal à la carte, which might feature such classical, technically adept dishes as guinea fowl with a rich red wine sauce and wonderful Polish girolles. An impressive wine list enhances the experience, with gems from Poland and across Europe.

There’s a proper neighbourhood feel to this Middle Eastern restaurant away from the city centre, where exposed ducting and concrete walls lend it an industrial-chic vibe. The dishes are designed for sharing and arrive all at once, featuring the likes of crispy green falafel or roasted lamb with charred chickpeas. To accompany the food, choose from a wine list specialising in natural options or from the range of house-made juices and mocktails.

Located in the heart of the city, this restaurant forms part of a wider complex that offers something for everyone, including bars, apartments, a terrace and a cinema. A brewery is at the core of it all however, with exclusive beers available in the restaurant alongside local radlers perfect for a hot summer’s day. The cooking is hearty and doesn’t skimp on flavour, in nourishing dishes such as gnocchi with roasted pumpkin or a tweaked version of tiramisu.