For a cheap night out in Warsaw, Poland, head to these 8 cool bars.
Capital city prices irk the wandering backpacker, the bargain hunter and the purest nomad of this generation.
Instead of instantly finding the cheapest places in such cities, we end up wandering around, scouring menus and then abhorring the price hikes, if a beer is more than $5 US we feel disgusted and go elsewhere. Think London, think Paris, think Edinburgh. That hat-trick house the highest bar prices in England, France and Scotland respectively.
Here in modern day Poland, with inflation at an all-time high, can you still flock to a European capital city and get away with still telling everyone you are a cheapskate nomadic backpacker? Yes, you can. You just have to know where to look, and find.
I was back in Warsaw in 2024, and myself and fellow backpacking blogger Jonny Blair (from Don’t Stop Living) were able to find cheap hangouts.
After backpacking the Wooden Houses at Osiedle Przyjaźń and fancying a bit of nightlife, we headed to the Powisle district, where we found plenty of bars with drinks below the average price range, sneaking Warsaw into that bracket of “still a cheap European capital city”, just take our word for it here.
If you stick to these joints of a night out, the Polish zlotys will still rattle in your pocket when the next morning hangover kicks in. Delve beyond these cheapies at your peril, and you will notice the price rises.
Cheap and Cool Bars in Warsaw
These are currently still the cheap, easy, cool hangouts that Poland wanted you to see. Enter shyly, exit confidently in this fine array of “whackpacking” establishments that line the streets of the Mermaid City.
1. Ministerstwo Śledzia i Wódki (Foksal)
Polish people know this one, and they won’t hasten to tell you about it once they open up – if you didn’t know it was cheap, you might not actually find it, or even enter it. “Ministry” is a Polish chain of no frills, textbook Polish bars with all you’d expect – decent normal vodka, cheap flavoured vodka, local beer on tap at budget prices and a Polish food menu to boot.
To all intents and purposes, this is Poland’s equivalent to the English Wetherspoons. They also won’t tell you that if you don’t get inquisitive.
There are two venues in Warsaw to explore, both in the downtown. The Foksal one opened during the pandemic in 2021, once the lockdown ended and it was an immediate breath of fresh air. Walls are a throwback to the 1980s with their pictures, and a recommended dish is their trademark herring (sledz) which should be watered down with vodka, of course.
Address: ul. Foksal 18, 00-372 Warszawa
Website: Ministerstwo Śledzia i Wódki
Facebook Page: Ministerstwo Śledzia i Wódki – Warszawa Foksal
Instagram: @ministerstwosledziaiwodki
Selling Point: A quirky spot known for its herring dishes and vodka shots, blending tradition with a cheapskate modern twist.
2. Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa (The original Nowy Świat one)
If you have backpacked Poland without stepping into a “Pijalnia”, then you haven’t actually backpacked Poland at all!
These hangouts are as “standardzik” as Poland gets. They are old-style bars giving a throwback to PRL times. The Democratic Polish Republic, where curtains hide the bar treats, a television is on in the top corner and is black and white, and news reports tell you as much propaganda as your Granny (Babcia) wants you to believe. Politics aside, these bars are Poland’s cheapest hangouts.
While I am including this “venue” on the list, it’s important to know that these bars are all over Poland, so they are not unique to the capital, even Warszawa can boast 4 of them in the downtown zone.
For the best “Pijalnia” experience – head to the original one on Nowy Swiat. It’s small, poky, cosy, cheap. And one thing – don’t expect any frills, free Wi-Fi, live football or ridiculous foreign products. This is not the place for that. In essence, it’s Poland’s pride here.
Address: ul. Nowy Świat 19A, 00-029 Warszawa
Website: pwip.com.pl
Facebook Page: Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa
Instagram: @pijalniawodki_i_piwa
Selling Point: A staple trademark in Warsaw’s nightlife, offering classic Polish spirits and beers at dirt cheap prices.
3. Bar Ulubiona
Ulubiona means “favourite” and this is a remarkable little find for the wandering backpacker. It’s basically in a small alleyway off the main drag, it’s a small room, with simple beers on tap, a stacked fridge of bottled beer and bar staff to mingle with as this becomes your own favourite.
Photo Credit: Facebook
In summer nights, the spread of customers rolls out onto the main street. The bar even has its own football team who were once in the Polish Cup and they played against Kartofliska, headed by famous groundhopper Radoslaw Rzeznikiewicz. The coincidence here is that Radoslaw recommends Bar Ulubiona as his favourite hangout in Warszawa!
“Nie ma footballu bez alkoholu” – famous Polish groundhopping blogger Radosław Rzeźnikiewicz
(There is no football, without alcohol).
Address: ul. Nowy Świat 27, 00-029 Warszawa
Facebook Page: ULUBIONA
Instagram: @ulubiona.bar
Selling Point: A beloved local bar known for its friendly service and vibrant atmosphere, perfect for a cheap night out.
4. Chicas And Gorillas (Nowogrodzka)
A newbie on the Warszawa night scene, Chicas and Gorillas takes its inspiration from shotbars around the world. You won’t have time to count all the shots available never mind drinkpack your way through them.
Like a lot of popular cheap bars on this list, there is more than one location in the city. I recommend the Nowogrodzka (literally “New Garden Street”) one – the original, it’s bigger and on a cool wee side street with some other bars and kebab joints to feast upon once the shots have kicked in.
Address: ul. Nowogrodzka 27, 00-511 Warszawa
Website: chicasagorillas.pl
Facebook Page: Chicas & Gorillas
Selling Point: A vibrant venue known for its dynamic atmosphere and creative cocktails, attracting a diverse crowd.
5. Cafe Foksal
For football fans, this is probably the cheapest hangout in central Warszawa to catch a match in. In summers there are tables outside in the beer garden on Foksal itself. This allows for a lively atmosphere and good banter whilst still sipping 12 zlotych beers (£2.20 GBP).
The bar also has Wi-Fi and attracts the odd regular customer so can chat to some locals and get a feel for the life of a Warszawian. At weekends, either reserve a table or get in there early as it gets busy. Foodwise, try the local Bigos (Hunter’s Stew) or Tatar (raw beef dish) – good prices for a central capital city bar.
Address: ul. Foksal 21, 00-372 Warszawa
Facebook Page: Cafe Foksal
Selling Point: A cheap ass bar with live sports, a cosy interior and textbook Polish cuisine.
6. Shotgun (Pawilony)
Shotgun is a nuts one that actually has a shotgun in the bar. Joking. It’s only a picture up on the walls and window. You can meet a lot of interesting people here, many pop in for a quick cheap beer then move on. That is standard given the location of Shotgun, which heads Warszawa’s hidden secret “Pawilony” bar district.
Down a side alley off Nowy Swiat (New World Street), this place gets packed on weekends. A good range of beers in bottle and on tap, plus a shot menu to whet your appetite.
Address: ul. Nowy Świat 22/28, Pawilon 2/3, 00-373 Warszawa
Selling Point: A laid-back bar offering a wide range of shots and bottled beer, ideal for a casual night out.
7. Meta
Meta Bar is located on the thriving bar street Foksal, like a few on this list. Competition for prices rules supreme here and this is a good spot to get a cheap draft or bottled beer. Food is also good value, and typically Polish such as pierogi (mini wraps, often wrongly called “dumplings” – think Polish empanadas), kiełbasa z ogórkiem kiszonym (sausage with gherkins and bread) and sledz (herring).
Address: ul. Foksal 21, 00-372 Warszawa, Poland
Facebook Page: Meta na Foksal
Instagram: @meta_na_foksal
Selling Point: A nostalgic bar offering classic Polish snacks and shots in a retro setting, open late into the night.
8.Hany Bany
It might sound like you’re in Czechia with a name like that, and pricewise you’ll think you are. Here you sit, cheap beer in hand just metres from Warszawa’s swanky “Nowy Swiat” (New World Street).
In Czech, hany-bany is used in a playful, informal way, often meaning “mess,” “chaos,” or “trouble,” but also sometimes “fun fuss” or a light-hearted commotion. Here you can meet tourists, students and locals all together ready for a cool night out. During major tournaments, the bar also shows live football, volleyball and handball.
Address: ul. Foksal 21, 00-372 Warszawa, Poland
Website: https://www.hanybanybar.com
Facebook Page: Hany Bany
Selling Point: Central location in Warsaw (Foksal, Śródmieście), great for nightlife.
Those are just a “Top 8” in Warszawa, and they are all pretty central in and around the main drag, Nowy Swiat. As a bonus, you also get to avoid the tourist crowds, as none of those are in Warsaw Old Town or in the Central Business District.