Oct 13

Oct 13 FOUR THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING A BAR MLECZNY // POLAND

Poland, Travel Tips, Travel guide, Travel, Europe

While visiting a Bar Mleczny is something i recommend for your itinerary; I had no idea what Bar Mleczny was before planning my trip to Warsaw. By the time I discovered these, I only had a chance to fit one into my itinerary. Bar mleczny, aka Milk Bars, are essentially cafeterias serving traditional polish dishes subsidized by the Government; they have been in existence since the 1800s. There are still several open today, and I loved dining here; the service was quick and excellent; the food was delicious, and it was inexpensive. I highly recommend visiting one or a few while visiting Poland. Check the opening times as some close after lunchtime. I visited Bambino while I was in Warsaw.

(update - this article does a great job outlining everything you need to know about Milk Bars and several of the one that are open in Warsaw at the time of this post).

Because of how Milk bars operate, you should know a few things before heading to one.

Know what you want before arriving. The menus are in polish, so unless you understand Polish, you will hold up the queue. I researched the typical menu for a Milk Bar and had a list of five things I wanted to try. I ended up ordering Zurek (Sour Soup) and Golabki (meat-filled cabbage topped with tomato sauce). Researching the menu will also be helpful if you have food allergies; you can sort out what you can and cannot eat.
Do not expect table service. You walk in, place your order and pay. The menu is either laminated by the front counter or on a blackboard. In the one, I walked up to a window to grab my meal and find a table.
Clean up after yourself. After your meal, please pick up your used dish and deliver it to the designated spot for dirty dishes. Do not leave your used dish on the table.
Have cash on hand. I got this recommendation from someone at my hotel. However, the Milk bar I visited accepted credit cards, so I did not have to pay with cash, but I recommend you have 30 PLN to 50 PLN ($8 to $13) on hand when heading to a milk bar just in case.