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Category: Food & Drink

  • Piątek Café Gdańsk Oliwa: Two Sisters, One Café and Plenty of Arguments

    Piątek Café Gdańsk Oliwa: Two Sisters, One Café and Plenty of Arguments

    Some places serve coffee. Others make you forget what day it is — in the best possible way. Piątek Café in Gdańsk is all about good vibes, something delicious on the table and finding a little Friday feeling even when the weekend is nowhere in sight. We take a closer look at the people and personality behind a café that believes life’s too short for bad coffee and boring afternoons.

    TWO SISTERS, ONE CAFÉ. WHOSE IDEA?

    We’d always dreamed of it. Kasia finally convinced me the timing was right.

    WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE PIĄTEK?

    Kasia explored pastry while raising a family. I travelled and worked in psychology.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    WHY OLIWA?

    City energy meets nature. Piątek fits perfectly between the two.

    WHO’S THE PERFECTIONIST?

    Ola: Me! Without Kasia, we’d still be preparing to open. We argue, then compromise!

    BIGGEST ARGUMENT?

    The name. Much harder than you’d imagine!

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    WHO WON?

    Piątek! It’s our original surname and the best day of the week.

    WHY THE SHORT MENU?

    Freshness. Seasonal dishes and a small but interesting wine selection.

    ONE MUST-ORDER DISH?

    Kasia: The Reuben! Ola: Our omelette. But the Reuben is beautiful too.

    SURPRISE BESTSELLER?

    Roasted cauliflower! Nobody saw that coming. Customers still ask for it.

    WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN?

    Happy guests who feel comfortable here. That’s always been the goal.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    BIGGEST SURPRISE ?

    Nobody warned us about success! (Laughs.)

    MORE PIĄTEKS COMING?

    Big plans! And Kasia has ADHD, so use your imagination!

    HAS WORKING TOGETHER CHANGED YOU?

    After years apart, we’re together every day again. Like being back in our childhood home.

    WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT EACH OTHER?

    Ola: Kasia becoming head chef. And waking up so early! Kasia: How well we work together despite our differences.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    PIĄTEK ISN’T JUST A CAFÉ. IT’S… A place between street chaos and the warmth of home. Just like Oliwa.

    At Piątek Café, the name says it all. It’s not just about what goes into your cup, but how you feel while you’re there. A good coffee, a little conversation and permission to slow down can turn an ordinary afternoon into something worth remembering. Because Friday shouldn’t have to be a date on the calendar. Sometimes it’s simply a state of mind.

  • Chicken i Kimchi Gdańsk: Fifi’s Got Seoul, and She’s Not Holding Back

    Chicken i Kimchi Gdańsk: Fifi’s Got Seoul, and She’s Not Holding Back

    Meet Fifi, the woman bringing serious Korean flavour to the Tri-City food scene. Behind Chicken i Kimchi is a story of ambition, authenticity, hard work and a determination to do things properly. We sat down with Fifi to talk Korean food, importing the real ingredients, building a loyal following, the challenges of running a restaurant and why some flavours are simply too good to compromise.

    Why Korean food?

    The bold flavours, fermentation and street-food energy fascinated me. Korean food has personality. I wanted to bring that to Poland.

    Were you nervous opening your first restaurant?

    Absolutely! Korean cuisine was unfamiliar to many customers. But once they tasted it, they understood.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Your business partner is also your life partner. How does that work?

    I bring ideas and intuition; he brings engineering logic. He tests everything, including recipes. We balance each other.

    Who wins arguments?

    Whoever makes the stronger argument! Being right matters less than making the right decision.

    One dish that explains Korean food?

    Bowl Deopbap Yangnyeum. Crispy chicken, sweet-spicy sauce, kimchi, pickles and rice. Everything in one bowl.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Biggest misconception about Korean food?

    That everything is ridiculously spicy! Korean cuisine offers sweetness, acidity, umami and comfort too.

    Why import ingredients from Korea?

    Some flavours simply cannot be replaced. Authenticity means knowing what must stay original.

    Which Korean drink surprises customers?

    Milkis! Sweet, slightly creamy and sparkling. Unexpected but delicious.

    What would surprise customers about Fifi?

    My years studying in Wrocław shaped me. Poland taught me independence and helped turn crazy ideas into reality.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Most underrated dish on your menu?

    Bibimbap. Rice, vegetables, meat, egg and kimchi. Balanced, nourishing and seriously underrated.

    One visit. What am I ordering?

    Bowl Deopbap Yangnyeum, dumplings to share and a Milkis. And please, mix your bowl properly!

    At Chicken i Kimchi, authenticity isn’t just a fashionable word thrown around on a menu. For Fifi, it means going the extra mile, sourcing ingredients from Korea and refusing to take shortcuts when it comes to flavour. Building a restaurant business takes guts, patience and more than a few sleepless nights, but she’s proving that staying true to your vision can pay off. The result? A little piece of Seoul in the Tri-City, served with plenty of personality. And if Fifi has her way, this Korean love affair is only getting started.

  • Pomelo Gdańsk: NO GUTS. NO POMELO.

    Pomelo Gdańsk: NO GUTS. NO POMELO.

    From washing dishes to running one of Gdańsk’s favourite neighbourhood restaurants, Krzysztof Szymański has taken the long road to success. Along the way came big ambitions, brutal challenges, a pandemic that nearly changed everything and a few lessons you won’t find in a hospitality textbook. We sat down with the man behind Pomelo to talk breakfast, Baltic flavours, family, heartbreak and why, despite everything, he’d do it all again.

    Before Pomelo, who was Krzysztof Szymański?

    Hospitality was always my dream. My father cooked aboard ships, and his travel photographs inspired me. I started washing dishes, eventually becoming deputy director of a four- star hotel.

    What was your original vision for Pomelo?

    Fine dining, exceptional service and sophisticated drinks. Our guests gradually transformed us into a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant serving comfort food.

    What did Pomelo understand about breakfast before everyone else?

    People wanted breakfast beyond 10 a.m.! We served it until 1 p.m. Word of mouth did the rest.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    What’s the least glamorous part of running Pomelo?

    Maintaining standards every single day. Food, service and atmosphere must work together. One weak link can lose customers.

    You’ve been recognised internationally for welcoming pets. Was that intentional?

    Absolutely. Animals were welcome from day one, even cats! We provide water, treats and photograph our furry visitors. Every one is special.

    Why make your own bread, pickles and liqueurs?

    Nothing matches homemade flavour. It’s about creativity, craftsmanship and bringing forgotten childhood tastes back to life.

    Three dishes that define Pomelo?

    Baltic herring on Kashubian potato pancakes, Ogarna Street pork belly roulade and our chocolate-and-plum interpretation of Poor Knights.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev
    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    You’ve reinvented your beloved herring. Better than before?

    Previously, it was a creamy salad. Now cold herring meets a hot potato pancake. The contrast is fantastic!

    Has Gdańsk’s restaurant boom made things harder?

    Competition keeps us sharp. Guests explore new restaurants, but importantly, they return.

    What would you tell yourself during those desperate pandemic mornings?

    Keep fighting. Tomorrow brings another opportunity. Success isn’t just winning; it’s resilience and protecting what matters.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev
    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Has Pomelo given you your dream life, or swallowed it?

    Both, perhaps. Pomelo became my home and family, especially after losing my parents around the time we opened. There have been sacrifices, certainly. But every smile, every review, every new dish reminds me why I started. Would I do it again? Without hesitation.

  • Kosmos Coffee Gdańsk: Coffee With Neighbourhood Character

    Kosmos Coffee Gdańsk: Coffee With Neighbourhood Character

    SOME CAFÉS SERVE COFFEE. OTHERS BECOME PART OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD’S DNA. AT KOSMOS, ARLETTA HAS CREATED A LITTLE UNIVERSE OF OLD RECORDS, UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIPS AND WONDERFULLY ECCENTRIC REGULARS. WE STEPPED INSIDE TO DISCOVER HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

    How did Kosmos begin?

    I spotted an old leather workshop. Its mosaic reminded me of Szczecin’s Kosmos cinema. I knew immediately: this was my café.

    What makes the space special?

    Its history. I kept the colourful 60s and 70s atmosphere while giving it new life.

    Any surprises during renovation?

    Plenty of neighbourly stories. Even getting a belt repaired became an excuse for a chat!

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Are you always this sociable?

    Behind the bar, yes. Outside work, I’m an introvert who loves peace and quiet.

    How much of you is in Kosmos?

    Everything! The music, books, photographs, décor and coffee all reflect our personalities.

    When did it become a community hub?

    Almost immediately. Neighbours connected, and local suppliers became friends.

    Who’s influencing whom — you or the neighbourhood?

    Both. I bring my values to Kosmos, and the community gives just as much back.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Do you have legendary regulars?

    Absolutely! The self-proclaimed “Cosmic Furniture” have become friends with each other.

    Is Kosmos more than coffee?

    Kids use our old typewriter, others knit or listen to records. It’s a place to slow down.

    What would you miss most?

    The atmosphere and our wonderful mix of personalities.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Any plans for a Kosmos empire?

    No chance! I’d rather enjoy running one café than stress over ten.

    If Kosmos were an album?

    Colourful experimental jazz. No question.

    Which regular deserves a movie?

    Wojtek, our Scrabble champion. Chick Corea’s Return to Forever playing on our turntable won him over.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Your favourite Kosmos memory?

    Renovating with friends. Music, camping-stove coffee, laughter and endless hugs.

    Who does Kosmos really belong to?

    Our crew, our guests and everyone who helped create it. They’ve all left something of themselves here.

  • Lookier Gdańsk: Dont judge a restaurant by its location

    Lookier Gdańsk: Dont judge a restaurant by its location

    We caught up with Karolina Pellowska, who runs Lookier alongside her husband Jakub, to talk food, family and the famous Pellowski baking legacy.

    Right in the middle of Gdańsk’s Old Town madness. Tourists everywhere, packed terraces, menus flying at you from every direction. You’d be forgiven for walking straight past Lookier, assuming it’s just another tourist trap. You’d also be dead wrong.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    With family baking roots stretching back to 1922, there’s some serious history behind the name. But Lookier isn’t simply another bakery. It’s a lively restaurant where breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails all get their moment. Right in the middle of Gdańsk’s Old Town madness. Tourists everywhere, packed terraces, menus flying at you from every direction. You’d be forgiven for walking straight past Lookier, assuming it’s just another tourist trap. You’d also be dead wrong.

    And here’s the thing: the food delivers. So does the service. Fast, friendly and properly professional, without that rushed, conveyor-belt feeling you sometimes get in tourist hotspots.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    Three Dishes Worth Ordering The English Breakfast

    Sometimes you just want the full works. Eggs, bacon, sausages, beans and all the essentials. A proper morning commitment before hitting Gdańsk’s streets.

    Gdańsk-Style Duck Pierogi

    Now we’re talking. Pierogi stuffed with roasted duck, giving a Polish classic a more interesting twist. Exactly the kind of dish to order when you want something local without playing it safe. Familiar enough to feel comforting, different enough to remember.

    Beef Cheek In Its Own Sauce

    Forget the predictable burger for a moment. Tender beef cheek in a rich sauce is proper comfort food, and a strong choice when you’re after something more substantial. The sort of dish that makes you forget you’re sitting in one of the busiest parts of town.

    Lookier’s real trick is combining a prime Old Town location with the kind of food and service that keeps people coming back for more than just the view.

    It’s easy to assume restaurants on Gdańsk’s busiest streets can survive on passing tourists alone. Lookier makes a pretty convincing case for giving them a chance.

    Photo by Adalat Naghiyev

    THE VERDICT?

    Prime location. Great food. Slick service. Zero tourist-trap nonsense. Sometimes the busiest streets hide places that genuinely deserve the attention. Lookier is one of them.