Dom na Kurkowej 32

Operated by the well-known Chef Beata Śniechowska, this modern bistro is one of those spots where you just know you’re going to have a good time. Closely set tables add to the intimacy and buzz of the atmosphere, while bright and friendly service quickly puts you at ease. The cooking offers reinterpreted versions of classic Polish dishes with brilliant results: the signature 'Our Pierogi' and the well-balanced 'Duck Breast with 5 Polish Flavours' are prime examples. Make sure you enhance the experience by asking the engaging, thoughtful sommelier to match a range of Polish wines to your dishes

Situated on the edge of the Old Town, inside the Hotel Jazz, there’s a stylish, faux-industrial quality to this friendly restaurant. Exposed brickwork and concrete flooring combine with pared-back décor and varnished wooden tables for a classic bistro feel. The cooking has a similar ethos of unfussiness, with a welcome lack of over-elaboration in dishes that combine quality ingredients with precise technique – such as the array of dumplings or scorched herring with baked potato. The wine list’s hidden highlights include local Polish riesling.

The lucky locals have got the perfect neighbourhood spot in this wine bar and bistro, located a little out from the city centre. Its rustic-chic design feels perfectly of the moment, with exposed brickwork and lo-fi furnishings, while the wholesome cooking and interesting wine list are similarly on-trend. Dishes of low-fuss, big-flavour food could include the likes of minced pork cutlet with tarragon or the playful date madeleines with toffee sauce for dessert. The thoughtfully curated, lesser-known wines are the perfect accompaniment.

As you arrive at this deservedly busy spot by the Oder river, you quickly get the sense that you’re going to have a great time. The smiling, attentive team give you a warm welcome, before you head through the thick velvet curtains and discover the sleek, lively brasserie waiting within. From the bustling open kitchen, expect to see some French-based dishes such as a modern take on ‘escargots’ with garlic butter – all showcasing quality produce and executed with aplomb.

Don't be fooled by the name – whilst they undoubtedly have one of the best wine lists in the city, this very much feels like a restaurant. There’s a subtle nautical look to the interiors, chiming with the location overlooking a small marina on the River Oder. The seafood-focused menu has a Mediterranean feel, in dishes like salt-crusted sea bream with a citrus sauce. The in-house wine shop allows you to take home a bottle or two from the globetrotting selection.

In the summer, head straight for the terrace at this large modern brasserie. Situated on Kępa Mieszczańska – an island in the middle of the River Oder, yet still part of the city centre – it offers waterside views to accompany the kitchen’s colourful cooking. Local produce is often to the fore in dishes that look to the Mediterranean for inspiration, be it bouillabaisse with zander or tiramisu for dessert. The friendly service adds to the appeal.

Situated in a prime spot on the banks of the River Oder, there are few restaurants with a more enticing terrace than this. Ask for a seat here and, on a warm summer’s night, watch as darkness falls and the streetlights gleam on the river’s surface. The setting is matched by cooking that puts an emphasis on top-quality local meats – for dessert, look out for the chocolate fondant with a fruity punch. Let the knowledgeable staff guide you in picking complementary wines.