The best milk bars in Warsaw

The best milk bars in Warsaw
Milk bars became popular across Poland after World War I. Subsidised by the government and encouraged as a way to provide good nutritious food to workers that cost very little. But why milk? Back in the post-war years, dairy-based meals were the basis for lots of the menu and e.g. during the period of martial law in the early 1980s, meat was rationed.

Dumplings and tomato soup at bar Prasowy

In today’s Warsaw milk bar are still popular and during lunch time there is always crowded inside and also you can see la line of people going out the door.

The menu (only in Polish language) is displayed on a large board on the wall.
Sometimes they have printed menu – you have to ask.
If there is no price by an item on the menu, that means it is sold today, a not-uncommon occurrence. So when you come after 6 pm the selection of food will be very little.

Pierogi, kopytka i barszcz ukraiński at Bar Ząbkowski

Order and pay at the cashier, then pick up your dish at the window „Wydawanie”.
A typical three course lunch can cost as little as 3-4 euro.
Soup shouldn’t cost more than 1 euro.

What to order?

Soups
Żurek z jajkiem lub kiełbasą – Polish sour rye soup, filled with sausage or boiled eggs
Barszcz czerwony z uszkami – red beet soup with small dumplings
Pomidorowa z makaronem lub ryżem – tomato soup with either noodles or rice

Main course
Kotlet schabowy – breaded pork cutlet
Kotlet mielony – pan-fried minced pork meat
Gołąbki w sosie pomidorowym – meat and rice wrapped in boiled cabbage leaves
Pierogi z mięsem – dumplings filled with meat
Pierogi ruskie – dumplings filled with mixture of potato and cottage cheese

Sides
Ziemniaki – potatoes
Kasza gryczana – buckwheat
Surówka – small salad of mixed vegetables

Kompot – is a non-alcoholic sweet beverage by cooking fruit

Sweet and flour dishes
Pierogi leniwe – dumplings made of flour and cottage cheese and topped with sugar and butter
Naleśniki z serem – crepes  filled with cottage cheese and topped with sugar and cream

Milk bars usually are open from Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, Saturday to Sunday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Best Milk Bars in Warsaw. Najlepsze bary mleczne