share

Gdansk is a historic city on Poland’s Baltic coast. The city is known as one of the most beautiful in the country, with a history and influence that extends far beyond its city limits. During my visit, I was just bowled over by the history and architecture of Gdansk. The weather wasn’t great during my visit so I found myself camping out in numerous cafés and bars as I waited for the rain to stop. Hehe! 😉 I soon discovered a selection of quirky, colourful bars where one could warm up, mingle and enjoy a delicious cocktail as well as intriguing interiors. Here are some of the quirky, fun bars in Gdansk I visited and can definitely recommend:

bars-in-gdansk-photo
I discovered a plethora of fun and quirky bars in Gdansk.

Red Light pub

The name says it all. The overarching theme is red! The lighting is low and moody and the furniture is old and uncomfortable but the lively atmosphere is infectious. There’s a pizza-maker next door and you can order it there and eat it at your table in the bar or at the small terrace outside. Red Light (map) gets very busy in the evenings so if you you simply want to have a drink and appreciate the interior, I suggest the late-afternoons/early-evenings. Red Light is located in a side street near St. Mary’s Basilica.

RedLight-gdansk-photo
Red Light café in Gdansk

No To Tick

I discovered No To Tick (map) by chance – it started raining heavily and I saw a girl exit this bar and I jumped in from the street before the door closed! It was a terrific surprise! The quirky interior was a joy to look at – from vintage posters to mannequins wearing gas masks! Located in the popular Piwna street, No To Tick turned out to be one of my favourite bars in Gdansk.

NoToTick-gdansk-photo
NoToTick

Flisak 76

One of my readers recommended this bar located in Piwna street. From the street, you descend into a vaulted basement with nooks and corners. The main attraction at Flisak 76 (map) are the fabulous cocktails. The bartenders sure know their cocktails and it’s fun to see them at work. It wasn’t a surprise for me to hear that Flisak 76 is often voted as one of the best cocktail bars in Gdansk!

Flisak76-gdansk-photo
Flisak 76



Booking.com

Jozef K.

Perhaps my favourite bar as I kept returning to it every night I was in Gdansk! I just loved its laid-back ambiance and large selection of drinks. Situated near the top of Piwna street, Jozef K. (map) has a stunning interior with neon lights, a jumble of furniture, bric a brac and a ceiling of books! Jozef K. is another great place for cocktails and shots.

Flisak76-gdansk-photo
Jozef K. café
 

Jopengasse & Bar Pod Ryba

Another basement bar in Piwna street, Jopengasse (map) is a cozy place with tables which double as showcases for museum artifacts. If you like eating something while you drink (like I do), ask for the herring and vodka. If you’re very hungry and you love potatoes, head for Bar Pod Ryba upstairs (or you can order from Jopengasse). Bar Pod Ryba specialises in baked potatoes with a variety of fillings. I ordered a baked potato stuffed with herring and vegetables, topped with a spicy sauce. It was AWESOME!

jopengasse-gdansk-photo
Herring & vodka at Jopengasse
BarPodRyba-gdansk-photo
The interior and baked potato at Bar Pod Ryba.

Read my post about things to do in Gdansk

Bunkier

Klubogaleria Bunkier (map) is housed in a six-storey reinforced concrete box which was used as an air-raid shelter and bunker during World War II. If you’re looking for a party in an amazing location, then you definitely have to visit Bunkier! It’s a huge place and each floor has a separate DJ/band/dance floor (especially in the weekends) so you have a variety of options to choose from. There are several bars and the old prison cells are now lounge areas. The club is often used as art gallery so there’s always something unusual to see there. Bunkier is definitely a must-visit in my book!

Klub-Bunkier-Gdansk-photo
Klub Bunkier
 

Practical information

Gdansk is a year-round destination with an international airport. I flew direct to Gdansk from Amsterdam with KLM. There are also many (low-cost) options to other parts of Europe with Easyjet and Ryanair. The modern Lech Walesa Airport is about a 20-minute drive from the city centre (approximately EUR 20+ by taxi). The currency used is the Polish zloty and there are many ATMs spread out across the city. The city centre is very compact, making it very easy to walk around to enjoy the sights. You can also opt to join a tour to see Gdansk and its surroundings. Find more information on Gdansk on the city’s website.

I stayed at the modern Hotel Mercure Gdansk Stare Miasto, which is located on the edge of the Old Town. The rooms are comfortable and the breakfasts are elaborate. The main attractions in the Old Town are located just minutes away on foot. Bunkier is a 4-minute walk away whilst the bars at Piwna street are about a 10-minute walk.

Hotel Mercure Gdansk Stare Miasto.

Note: my visit to Gdansk was made possible by Polen Toerisme. As always, all opinions expressed above are mine, and mine only.

 

5 Responses

Leave a reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Appeared In