Epoka

​There is something magical about Warsaw’s Krakowskie Przedmieście, the main touristic track, with old buildings with monumental architecture, bars, hotels, cultural institutions. For very long, there was no fine dining place with a wine list worth mentioning here, but now there is! Epoka, located in the 19th-century neo-Renaissance-style palace, opened in 2019 and its interior has been designed by Boris Kudlička, world-famous designer of theatre and opera sets, events and architectural spaces.

Epoka's menu is based on old Polish recipes, but with a modern interpretation and very detailed presentation. There is an à la carte option, but the tasting menu is the must-have. There are 10, 15 and 20 “recipes” tasting menus – the biggest would be around ten courses, with some smaller dishes on the side. The food is well executed by highly skilled chef Marcin Przybysz and his team; every dish is beautifully presented, light and full of flavour – for sure one of the best-tasting menus in Poland. The staff is friendly and professional.

​The wine list at Epoka is relatively short, with around 130 wines by the bottle. Whites and reds are grouped into special categories like “Iodine & a reminiscence of the seaside” or “Intro to umami & sapidity”, helping you to pick. Small organic and biodynamic producers are the core, also with a great Champagne selection, as well as some gems from Sancerre, Cornas, and more.

Orange and natural wines are also very important at Epoka. I suggest you go for some Hungarian stuff, like Rigopohar from Pok Tamas, or very limited Makovicha from Budaházy.