A Good Café in Warsaw’s Old Town? Our Recommendations

In the shadow of gastronomics giants

It’s quite remarkable that tourists often find it surprisingly difficult to locate a true café in Warsaw’s Old Town. Over the past few decades, the area has increasingly transformed into a massive cluster of restaurants. While you can certainly enjoy coffee there, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the typical coffeehouse atmosphere. Many cafés have given way to larger restaurants—but they haven’t completely disappeared. Instead, they exist quietly in the shadow of the gastronomic giants. This is exactly where I want to step in and bring a bit of clarity.

Warsaw’s Old Town

Warsaw’s Old Town is a compact and easy-to-navigate area. Surrounded by a city wall, the district includes just 13 streets and 184 buildings. Most houses are five to six stories high, although floor heights vary. On the eastern side of the quarter, there’s a viewing platform offering a stunning view over the Praga district on the right bank and the picturesque Vistula Valley.

Because the Old Town is so small and attracts over 4 million international tourists annually, it often becomes very crowded, especially during peak times. If you would like to explore the secrets of the Old Town, we recommend joining our Old Town & More city tour.

Old Town’s Market Square @ City of Warsaw

Old Town Café Oases

During the main tourist season, Warsaw’s Old Town is especially overrun. Restaurants are packed, souvenir shops are full of school groups, and it’s hard to admire the charm of the historic buildings without constantly watching your step in the crowd. Yet they still exist—hidden pathways and peaceful oases where you can quietly enjoy your coffee and soak up the Old Town’s unique atmosphere. There are four such spots in total: charming, low-key, and inviting.

Café Patio

The courtyard of Café Patio @ Walking Warsaw

Café Patio is also one of my breakfast and coffee recommendations. Just beyond the entrance, the space may seem narrow at first, but after a few steps it opens up into a bright, spacious area. A particularly striking feature is a column in the center supporting a glass roof, which floods the room with natural light. A closer look reveals that the café is located in the courtyard of a historic Old Town building—hence the name.

The coffee is excellent, although the food selection is relatively limited. This is understandable given the strong competition around the market square. Like the other Old Town cafés, Patio offers a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle.

Café Pożegnanie z Afryką

Café Out of Africa @ Walking Warsaw

The Café Pozegnanie z Afryka is all about a love for coffee. The door on the left leads into a shop, while the right one takes you directly into the café. It’s one of the coziest spots in the Old Town, especially on rainy or snowy days.

In summer, I highly recommend sitting outside. The seating is nearly on the street itself, which sees very little traffic due to restrictions. From there, you can see ulica Freta, just a few buildings down from the birthplace of Maria Skłodowska-Curie (Marie Curie). Turn around and you’ll see the impressive Barbican and the city wall that surrounds the UNESCO-protected Old Town.

The atmosphere is lively yet relaxed. It’s the perfect place to people-watch, have quiet conversations, or write in your travel journal. The homemade cold brew is especially recommended on hot summer days—often served with ice or even in a refreshing tonic water version.

Kawiarnia Nowomiejska

A calm retreat in busy Old Town @ Walking Warsaw

This is probably the most hidden café on the list and is mostly visited by locals. One reason is that another café and teahouse is located in the same building. Upon entering, you’ll notice a prominent sign leading guests to the other place in the basement. To get to this café, however, you need to take the inconspicuous staircase leading upward. The stairs twist around a bit, making them easy to overlook.

Once you’ve made it upstairs, you’re rewarded: from a small anteroom you can see the bar on the right and a charming room on the left with a view of ulica Nowomiejska.

The owner is incredibly friendly and puts a lot of heart into the place, which is reflected in both the quality of the coffee and the homemade cakes. It’s definitely worth a visit to discover this hidden gem.

Shabby

Salty breakfast in the Old Twon @ Walking Warsaw

I’d also like to mention Café Shabby, even though it leans more toward a breakfast spot. It’s a great place to start your day with a delicious breakfast. The coffee is excellent, too. While it may not have the classic coffeehouse atmosphere, it’s still a place worth remembering.

Our most popular guided tour of the Old Town

When it comes to the Old Town and the surrounding area, we would like to recommend our Old Town tour. We start at Castle Square, explore the Royal Castle, discover hidden corners within the Old Town, but also head into the New Town and learn more about Jewish Warsaw as well as the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. All in all, it is a well-rounded package about Warsaw and a great way to begin your journey of discovery. This tour is ideal as an introduction and for guests visiting the city for the first time.