Apartament Przytulny Podolany

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.

This smart monochrome restaurant sits within a refurbished city centre mansion, which also houses its sister restaurants and an office space; it's somewhat hidden away within the complex, but well worth seeking out. Formerly a grill-centric eatery, the Mibrasa charcoal oven remains in use for produce like tomahawk steak, but these days the menu is more expansive and could include their standout marinated herring, which delivers all the expected zing and vibrancy. There are some seriously good wines on offer too.

What was once a famous bookstore is now this trendy all-day eatery, where the front section combines a coffee shop and smaller niche bookstore, while the rear and basement are open from breakfast to dinner. Come in the evening to experience the full range of ingredient-led and fuss-free dishes, when the lighting gets softer and the atmosphere more intimate. An impressive wine list focuses on smaller producers and has a great selection by the glass.

This long-established little restaurant serves a mixture of Polish and Mediterranean-inspired cooking in a stylish setting. The generous and well-executed dishes include their signature roast duck with red cabbage, alongside homemade pastas and classic desserts like tiramisu and crème brûlée. Sit overlooking the street or in the smaller, more intimate room to the rear.