During our time in Gdańsk Poland we discovered a type of restaurant we had never heard of throughout our travels in Europe. The Polish Milk Bar features all of the countries delicious traditional food in a cafeteria style setting. The food is insanely cheap even for Poland’s standards, and a great way to taste everything this extremely underrated country has to offer. Join us as we guide you through our three favorite Gdańsk milk bars!

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What is a Polish Milk Bar

First established in the late 1800’s, Polish milk bars took off and stayed popular through the last century. They are especially prevalent in Gdansk Poland as it’s a city where new and modern beautifully clashes with the best of the old country. When ordering you’ll notice you have more than a few options which can be overwhelming at first. However, once you realize how cheap everything is you’ll have a hard time holding back on the best food in Poland!

Most milk bars in Poland display specific plates you can order as you move up the line. These are usually the most traditional pairings, and will only cost you around five U.S. dollars. If you’re like us and can’t make up your mind, you can get creative with it and mix and match with sides. At the end of the line before you pay is where they showcase the desserts. These range from scrumptious cakes to colorful fruit yogurt cups.

A Food Lovers Day In Gdańsk Poland

3 Must Try Gdańsk Milk Bars

Bar Neptun

Set right on the main walking street of Gdańsk, Bar Neptun is the first Milk Bar we had the pleasure of experiencing. At this point we were pretty unclear of how it all worked and opted to pick a set plate which was shown in the window. What we ended up ordering was quite possibly the best thing I’ve eaten in Poland, if not in all of Europe!

A crispy potato pancake was cooked and folded over marinated pork. Then the whole plate was absolutely smothered in delicious goulash sauce. We recommend enjoying this or one of the many other traditional Polish dishes at Bar Neptun, and then grabbing a seat outside with your dessert. It’s typically very busy here. If there are no seats outside, head upstairs for a table overlooking Dluga Street!

Bar Neptun Location

Bar Mleczny Stagiewna

Our next must try out of all the Gdańsk milk bars is Bar Mleczny. We actually found our way to this cute eatery by the canal more than once. It’s picturesque setting right across from the AmberSky Ferris Wheel gives it more of a pub type atmosphere. Yet, you still line up with your tray and get to pick your meal Polish Milk Bar style.

Here we went with one of Brigitte’s favorites golabki! This work of food art consists of pork and rice wrapped in cabbage topped with a thin red sauce. For sides we chose sautéed cabbage and pork along with traditional mashed potatoes. Sounds good right?

We grabbed a seat in the bar window with a gorgeous view out to the street, but there is also plenty of seating at tables outside and upstairs. The beers here are only 8 Polish Zolty ($2 dollars U.S.). This drink special along with the delicious food made us regulars at Bar Mleczny during our time in Gdańsk!

Bar Mleczny Stagiewna Location

Bar Turystyczny

The last Polish Milk Bar on our list is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip! Bar Turystycny just happened to be in between our Airbnb and the main strip in Gdańsk, otherwise we may have missed it completely. After several wafts of polish meat and goulash on our many walks by into the heart of the city, it became an obvious stop for us on our last day.

We found Bar Turystycny had more of a local crowd which is always a good sign. Mid-afternoon it is common to see a line bellowing out the door with everyone craving a lunch time meal. Here we decided to mix and match a few things while trying to find the best food in Poland. It was time get more creative than our first two Milk Bar experiences!

We went with pig knuckle, creamed spinach, and more delicious mash potatoes. (Potatoes go with everything in Poland if you haven’t noticed!) The pig knuckle was bursting with flavor, and 1000 times tastier than the standard Virginia ham you’d get in the U.S. For our soup we asked for something local, and boy did we get it! If you do visit Bar Turystyczny I’d probably steer clear of the Tripe Soup…

Bar Turystycny Location

Whatever Gdańsk Milk Bar you choose it’s sure to be tasty! We were only there for a couple days so I’m sure there is plenty that we didn’t get to hit. Get out there, explore, and make sure not to forget the dessert! Also, make sure to check out our full Gdańsk city guide below before your trip.

Get Familiar with Gdańsk

Have your own favorite Polish milk bar in Gdańsk, or any questions about our post? Leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to help!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where to Stay in Gdańsk Poland

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Hilton Gdansk – The Hilton Gdańsk is perfect for anyone looking for an upscale stay during their visit to Poland. This hotel offers a prime location, modern comforts, and a beautiful pool to relax in after a day of exploring.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Hotel Hanza – Elegant rooms make this warm hotel right on the Motława River a great choice for any traveler looking for the perfect hotel to wind down. Located right in the heart of old town you’ll be steps away from all the action that Gdańsk has to offer.

Hostel Life (Budget) – Five Point Hostel – Within walking distance of all the old town attractions, five point hostel offers a bright and clean budget friendly stay.

For more places to stay in Gdańsk you can explore the latest prices here!

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