Elegant Apartments

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.

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 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.

A former barn, this warm and welcoming spot in the dynamic neighbourhood of Jeżyce has been renovated in a chic style that feels elegant, yet still with a rustic touch. The cooking is all about the French classics, from pâté en croute to decadent chocolate ganache with sour cherries cooked in red wine. There’s a wonderful generosity to the food that chimes with the enthusiastic service; the prices are sensible and the added extras include a drink on arrival and freshly baked madeleines with your coffee.

Housed inside a historic building that was once a military barracks, the ever-developing Cucina now forms part of the City Park Hotel. The Mediterranean-influenced menu has a particular leaning towards Italy, from focaccia and gnocchi to linguine and tiramisu. A large, on-view wine wall is an indicator of the serious list, which features some excellent vintages and is enhanced by charming, knowledgeable service. A covered terrace comes into its own in the summer.

Steaks, steaks and more steaks are the order of the day at this butcher’s shop and restaurant housed in part of the reinvented former army barracks at Stare Koszary. Thankfully, those steaks are of great quality and are cooked with an assured hand. Beef from the US, Argentina and Australia are on offer, but it’s worth going for the Polish Hereford Heifer for its flavour and value for money. Non-steak dishes include burgers, merguez sausages and fish of the day.

Just to the side of the Poznan Congress Centre is this spacious Spanish restaurant serving up the usual tapas suspects. You’ll find Padrón peppers and patatas bravas all present and correct, alongside more filling main dishes and a selection of pintxos. Strong, satisfying flavours run throughout, while the flan is a terrific incarnation of a classic dessert. A small fridge is filled with Spanish goodies to buy and take home, including olive oil and almonds.