Willa Rufina

Situated on the ground floor of a converted water tower, this is the informal little sister to Steampunk eight floors above. The influence of the French bistro is clear to see around the room, with simple wooden furniture and vintage-style colourful posters on the walls. The cooking has a similarly classic feel, albeit with a few Mediterranean influences incorporated too, in unfussy, generously flavoured dishes like beef tartare, bucatini carbonara and chocolate fondant.

If you fancy a quality glass of wine and some flavour-packed comfort food at a great price, look no further. A simple but delightful spot, this bottle shop, bar and restaurant is run with a smile by its engaging owner and his friendly, knowledgeable team, who will happily recommend a wallet-friendly pick from the extensive wine list. The food offering includes local cheeses alongside goose breast and hams cured in-house, with a more substantial choice of dishes at the weekend. Look out for the likes of veal champagne pâté and the knockout cheesecake for dessert.

There’s a characterful industrial-meets-traditional feel to this restaurant housed on the lower floor of an imposing 19th-century manor house. Smartly dressed tables sit within a red-brick room with vaulted ceilings and exposed pipework, while modern artwork enlivens the walls and mature gardens surround the building. The dishes are equally impressive to look at and deliver on flavour too, with excellent produce at the heart. Their take on a tiramisu is a real winner.

A friendly welcome awaits at this family-run brasserie in the city suburbs. The interiors are decked out with modern furnishings and plenty of foliage, while a lovely paved terrace is the place to be when the sun is shining. The cooking offers clean, distinct flavours across dishes such as local herring with sour cream, apple and horseradish, as well as those with more of a Mediterranean influence. A strong version of the classic kogel mogel is a great way to finish.

Situated within the alpine resort of the same name, the views at this charmingly run restaurant are a serious draw. Whether seen from the terrace or the dining room, the sweeping countryside vistas are a treat. The cooking provides a worthy accompaniment to the setting with both an à la carte featuring aged Polish meats and a tasting menu showcasing the chef’s love of the region, via complex, occasionally nostalgic dishes based around prime local produce.

There’s a stylishly stripped-back look to this passionately run restaurant where the moody colour scheme and lighting set the scene for a globetrotting meal. The menu is inspired by the chef’s travels and features flavours from around the world, including several from the Middle East, and each dish is as generous in size as it is in flavour. The thoughtfully curated wine list includes a strong natural selection and plenty of choice by the glass.

In the history-rich neighbourhood of Nikiszowiec, this large restaurant sits on the ground floor of what was once accommodation for local miners. In fact, you can still get a sense of the vintage canteen the dining room once was. Today, it’s enlivened by bookshelves and foliage, while the cooking offers hearty renditions of Polish and Silesian classics. A prime example is the breaded bone-in pork chop with piquant dried capers, cucumber salad and sour cream.