Paulina Kulczycki | Live the World
November 23, 2022
Within the tri-city, I always used to like Sopot the most – especially because of the many cool cafés and bars, that create a beautiful atmosphere. But lately, I am starting to see more and more charm, potential and coolness in the old town of Gd[ansk](https://www.livetheworld.com/post/gdansk-urban-vibes-at-the-baltic-seaside-qokr). Within the past years, the old town developed from a rather touristy area into a hip hotspot, with loads of local designer stores, vegan restaurants and trendy cafés in the many small alleys offside the famous "long street." The old town of Gdansk is turning into the place-to-be not only for travelers but also for locals and students, creating a beautiful melting pot of alternative and openminded people. And as a coffee lover, I am always on the hunt for good coffee in beautiful surroundings with authentic vibes. After trying out a few of them, here are my three favorite and coolest cafés in the old town of Gdansk – ideal for everyone who enjoys a good coffee just as much as a walk in a historic old town.
This cute café is located in one of the old town's most iconic streets – Ulica Mariacka, a paved alley loaded with amber jewelry shops. It’s one of my favorite streets in Gdansk because of the incredibly magical and romantic ambiance, especially in the early evenings, when the setting sun is spreading its golden light through the reflection of the amber stones. But besides the beauty of the street itself (which I could see myself writing poetry about), there you can find two of my three favorite cafés. One of them is Café Kamienica (translates into "townhouse") – a little coffee house on two floors with a beautiful terrace and a very warm and cozy atmosphere inside. The interior design shows a mix between Indian and Buddhist elements and antique furniture. Besides the great coffee, I can absolutely recommend the winter tea: black tea served in a teapot with oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and honey. Delicious!
The other café in the beautiful Ulica Mariacka is Drukarnia (translates into "the printing press"). Inside you’ll find cool and quirky posters, books, magazines, postcards, and some design products for coffee lovers. Besides the great freshly brewed coffee – probably the best in the old town – you’ll get smoothies, chai lattes, polish craft beers, homemade lemonades and most importantly, of course, delicious vegan cakes and cookies. The staff is super friendly, young and relaxed, giving fantastic recommendations and tastings if you wish. And let me tell you, music in cafés is an important aspect whether I like a place or not. I cannot enjoy my coffee with bad music in the background – I’m too much of a hypersensitive soul to ignore Justin Bieber's bad attempts to sing while I'm trying to enjoy my coffee. And while a lot of other cafés have quite bad playlists, Drukarnia has an alternative mix of good indie, old school rock, and french psych-pop. So prepare yourself to "shazam" a lot, when you come here.
I walked by this café so many times since its outside appearance, blends in with the many pubs and pierogarnias (restaurants specialized in Polish Pierogi) in this street. But once I actually walked up the stairs of Leń (translates into "lazybones") and saw comfortable antique sofas and artsy decoration on the terrace, I already knew it was going to be my new hangout. And the inside of the coffee house was even cooler – high ceilings, concrete walls, industrial lamps and turquoise wood with oldies music playing in the background. People come here to enjoy great coffee, vegan cakes (oh, so good!) while working on their laptops, but also in the evenings for a drink. It’s definitely my top recommendation. Make sure to try their amazing Espresso Tonic on a warm summer day!
Take a walk in the historic streets of the Polish tri-city and discover the coolest cafés in the old town of Gdansk.
Create a personalized plan and share it with your friends
Never run out of things to do! Sign up to our newsletter today, what are you waiting for?