Villavida

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.

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.

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.

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.

There’s an appealing feel to this neighbourhood restaurant nestling in a corner basement; head straight for the hidden terrace to the rear when the sun is shining. Meats and seafood from the grill form the core of the menu, sometimes with global touches from togarashi to marinara sauce. Cooked in a semi-open kitchen, the dishes are hearty and packed with flavour. Friendly, enthusiastic service completes the picture.