In Gdańsk’s historic Stocznia district, where industrial history meets a new generation of creative spaces, Nurt is doing something refreshingly simple: making people feel good. No coffee snobbery, no unnecessary fuss, just excellent coffee, seriously good cheesecake and someone quietly obsessing over every little detail. We caught up with Albert and his team behind Nurt to discover why the smallest things often make the biggest difference.
What Was The Original Idea Behind NURT?
The atmosphere. I wanted somewhere I’d enjoy visiting myself. No pretension, just quality and attention to detail. Somewhere people could slow down.
WHY STOCZNIA?
It has history, energy and character. It’s still evolving, and I wanted Nurt to become part of that story.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevWhy Are Simple Sandwiches So Hard to perfect?
Because there’s nowhere to hide. Every ingredient matters. Sometimes a few grams of sauce make all the difference.
WHAT SHOULD FIRST-TIMERS ORDER?
Coffee and cheesecake. Outstanding coffee and incredible cheesecake!
SO SANDWICHES AREN’T THE STAR?
Actually, coffee is our flagship product.
Photo by Adalat Naghiyev
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevHave You Ever Misjudged A Menu item?
Absolutely. I’ve been convinced certain sandwiches would be hits, only for customers to ignore them. Sometimes an experiment becomes everyone’s favourite.
WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK?
Some come for breakfast, others to work or meet friends. But the biggest compliment is when someone starts calling Nurt their place.
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST OBSESSION?
Details. Lighting, music, table placement, even how something lands on the counter. Ideally, nobody notices.
HARDEST LESSON?
Putting ego aside. Sometimes an idea you’ve worked hard on simply doesn’t work.
WHAT DO PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT YOU?
They assume I’m always calm and in control. There’s plenty of uncertainty behind the scenes.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD DAY?
Not selling everything. It’s seeing the team work well together and guests leave happy.
AND WHAT SHOULD REGULARS SAY ABOUT NURT?
“That place just makes me feel good.” Before mentioning the coffee or food. That’s exactly what I wanted to create.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevStocznia keeps changing, and Nurt is one small part of that transformation. Behind the calm atmosphere are the usual headaches, second guesses and ideas that don’t always work out. But there’s something very Gdańsk about building a place your own way and letting the neighbourhood decide what it becomes. And judging by the regulars, Nurt is slowly becoming part of the furniture.