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Food & drink in Poland
A country of ancient Medieval towns, rich, fascinating histories and one of the most captivating landscapes in Europe. But what about the food? Traditional Polish cuisine is hearty, filling, carb-heavy and utterly delicious. It can be somewhat challenging to walk the high street without being tempted at every corner by steamed dumplings, freshly baked pastries or heart-warming soups. Poland has an incredible selection of locally grown produce which allows nearly every dish to be filled with fresh vegetables and locally farmed meat. One thing's for sure - you will never go hungry on a trip to Poland!
What is Poland's national dish?
Bigos Stew
Widely consumed throughout the country, bigos stew, or commonly called Hunter’s Stew, is the national dish of Poland. This traditional Polish meal is a combination of various meats and sausages, sauerkraut, cabbage, mushrooms, onions and spices, and stewed for hours on end - sometimes days. It’s delicious, heart-warming and extremely filling.
Did you know?
During the Middle Ages, while most European countries began a love affair with wine, Poland was one of the first countries to brew local beer!
Vegetarian food in Poland
The food (we believe) one of the best parts of travelling to Poland. And luckily, if you're a vegetarian, you shouldn’t miss much when tasting your way around the country. Even though many famous Polish dishes traditionally include meat of some sort, most restaurants also serve a vegetarian option. That said, finding a meat-free meal in Poland can become progressively harder the more remote you travel. If in doubt, the Happy Cow app is an excellent resource for finding vegetarian and vegan restaurants worldwide. Some of our favourite veggie-based dishes in Poland are pierogi, chlodnik, placki kartoflane, zurek and barszcz czerwony.
Drinks in Poland
Kompot/Compot
Kompot is a non-alcoholic drink mainly made from fresh fruits, mixed with sugar and spices.
Wodka/Vodka
It goes without saying that vodka is popular in Poland. And the locals preferred way to drink it? Straight up, downed in one!
Piwo/Beer
Poland is an excellent producer of beer. Some of the most favoured brands are Zywiec, Tskie and Zubr.
Miod Pitney/Mead
Translating to 'drinkable honey', mead is made by fermenting honey and mixing it with fruit juice.
Where's good to eat in Warsaw?
On a Budget
- W Oparach Absurdu
(ul. Zabkowska 6, Warsaw 03-735, Poland) - Bekef
(ul. Hoza 40, Warsaw 00-516, Poland) - Lotos Restaurant
(ul. Belwederska 2, Warsaw 00-762, Poland)
Won’t Break the Bank
Treat Yourself!
- Platter Karol Okrasa
(Ulica Emilii Plater 49 | 00-125 Warsaw, Warsaw 00-125, Poland) - Akademia Restaurant
(ul. Rozana 2, Warsaw 02-548, Poland) - Fork Restaurant
(ul. Wspolna 35, Warsaw 00-519, Poland)
*Please note that these recommendations are a current guide only.
What food should I try in Poland?
Pierogi
By far one of the most popular meals in Poland, pierogi are Polish dumplings. Made by filling rolled out dough with a variety of meat, sauerkraut, seasonal fruit, mushrooms, cottage cheese, potatoes and onions. A trip to Poland isn’t complete until you’ve tasted at least a few helpings of these!
View tours to Poland
Zurek
One of the most traditional meals in Poland, this soup is a popular dish to serve during Easter, but can also be found any other time of the year. Zurek soup is usually served with egg and white sausage, in a hollowed, round loaf of bread.
Twarog ze szczypiorkiem
A popular meal in Poland to eat for breakfast, twarog ze szczypiorkiem is essentially a plate of creamy cottage cheese mixed with fresh spring onions. It is usually served alongside fresh Polish bread.
Oscypek
Oscypek is a smoked cheese from Poland made using salted sheep's milk. Oscypek was originally, exclusively found in the Tatra Mountain region but these days it’s a common ingredient in many dishes within the cities too.
Polish Bread
Like many countries in Europe, Poland has a fascination with freshly baked, crusty but soft bread. Rye bread is very popular as a side to a stew, as is challah, a delicious, sweet bread often eaten during the holidays.
Kielbasa
Kielbasa is a traditional Polish sausage which can be made from pork, beef or veal and is often smoked. There are an uncountable number of variations, all of which are delicious! Kielbasa is a hugely popular ingredient to pop into a hearty Polish stew!
Golabki
Golabki is a traditional Polish dish consisting of little parcels of white cabbage leaves. Cabbage leaves are filled with a variety of ingredients which differ from place to place but which can include minced pork, rice, mushrooms and onions.
Polskie Nalesniki
Polskie nalesniki are essentially Polish pancakes. They’re thin, crispy and can be served with both sweet and savoury fillings. Common ingredients are meat and veg for savoury, and jam, fruits and sugar for sweet.
Sledzie w smietanie
Sledzie w smietanie is a traditional Polish meal served in almost every household on Christmas Eve. It might sound a little odd, but it works! Essentially, the meal consists of herring, topped with sour cream and pickled onions!
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