A tourist guide to (cool) bars in Warsaw, Poland (Updated December 2017)

I thought I would take the opportunity to provide a list of 16 cool bars in Warsaw. These are mostly hip, laid-back, "slacker chic" type places where young-ish and somewhat older folks drink and (generally) coexist together in harmony. A pint of local beer should set you back anywhere from 8 to 10 zloty.

Pawilony:
Pawilony (Polish for "pavillions") is actually a collection of 25 (!) small bars (hence the name), located in two passageways, off Nowy Świat, about a half block from Rondo De Gaulle'a (De Gaulle roundabout). Each bar has a distinct layout and theme. This collection of hip bars draws an eclectic mix of people, with students, artists, white collar workers, expats, and tourists all in the mix. The atmosphere is relaxed, and there is outdoor seating for most of the bars in the summer. There is a constant threat that the complex will close, sooner or later, due to residents' noise complaints, but so far this hasn't happened.

Plan B/Charlotte:
Plan B is a pretty popular place right on Plac Zbawiciela. A good mix of people, but definitely on the young and hip side. Charlotte, downstairs from Plan B is a bit more fancy, for the wine and baguette crowd.

GEMBA:
Around the corner from the currently (2017) popular Poznanska Street, in the southern part of the center of the city, this relatively new place draws a diverse crowd, and offers "Polish tapas" on the menu, creatively named shots/mixed drinks, and djs/events once in a while.

Regeneracja:
Drawing a slightly older (yet somewhat bohemian) crowd, Regeneracja, located in Warsaw's Mokotów neighborhood, has a good summer patio, - one that gets very crowded very fast when the weather is nice. They have a pretty good food menu as well, and occasional live music and DJ sets (especially on weekends). As of 2017, they've gone all veggie/vegan with the menu.

Resort:
A new place located right off the Plac Teatralny, on the north-west corner from the National Theater (near the Ratusz Arsenał metro stop), this is another of Warsaw's growing legion of hip, laid-back establishments, sometimes (though not always), attracting a fairly young crowd.

Riverside bars (summer only):
A string of riverside bars that give Varsovians a chance to chill out with a beer or cocktail, while listening to live DJs, and/or just watching the river flow by. Definitely a warm-weather-only type deal, the complex of outdoor bars (of which the onese worth mentioning include "Cud nad Wisla", "BarKa", and "Pomost 511") is located along Bulwar Flotylii Wislanej, and you can get there by going to the "Most Poniatowskiego" tram stop, and just walking down the stairs towards the river.

Kufle i Kapsle:
Another of Warsaw's new(er) bars, Kufle i Kapsle is a good place to try craft beer from all over Poland. Their selection of said beers is quite extensive, though the place can get really busy with its somewhat generic beer-guzzling crowd.

Mały Wojtek Bistro:
Not really a bistro, as they don't serve food, this laid-back bar, located in the same courtyard as the now defunct Hustawaka, is a good place for a drink before going out.

Cafe Kulturalna:
Located in the Pałac Kultury i Nauki (the huge 50s style skyscraper that you can't miss), this bar has a relaxed vibe most of the time, unless there's a special event going on (usually DJs/theme nights), in which case it can get pretty rowdy.

Znajomi znajomych:
Translated as "friends of friends", this is another hip bar with a nice interior that attracts a young-ish crowd with its food, drinks, and special events/parties.

So that's the list. I'm not saying it's a definitive list of bars in Warsaw. It's a list of bars that I've been to (sometimes many times) and I know fairly well. Hopefully it'll make your stay in Warsaw a bit more enjoyable. (PS: You can find me in the Pawilony on most weekends.)