Gdańsk’s food identity is shaped by its Baltic coastline and its centuries as one of northern Europe’s major trading ports. Smoked and cured fish remain a cornerstone of the city’s cuisine, alongside the amber spirits and mead that have been made here since the medieval period. The restaurant scene is concentrated around the Old Town waterfront and Granary Island, with good neighbourhood dining in Wrzeszcz and Oliwa for visitors prepared to venture slightly further.
What to Eat in Gdańsk
Wędzone ryby (smoked fish): Smoked eel, smoked mackerel, smoked herring, and smoked cod are available at markets and specialist delicatessens across the city. The flavour and freshness are distinctly different from smoked fish found inland — worth trying even if you wouldn’t normally seek it out.
Śledź (herring): Herring prepared in multiple styles — marinated in vinegar, cured with onion and apple, or in cream sauce — is a staple of Gdańsk restaurants. It is often served as a starter or as part of a traditional cold platter.
Żurek: The sour rye soup is found across Poland but Gdańsk’s versions are made with fish stock in some restaurants, reflecting the port city’s character. Typically served with hard-boiled egg and sausage or smoked fish instead of the white sausage more common in Kraków and Warsaw.
Goldwasser and Goldwässer spirits: A Gdańsk speciality since the 16th century — a liqueur flecked with gold leaf, made originally by the city’s liqueur-distilling guilds. Available in shops and most restaurants. Bottles start at approximately PLN 40–60 as of 2026 from specialist shops; by the glass approximately PLN 12–18 in bars.
Craft beer: Gdańsk has a growing craft beer scene centred around the Piwna and Świętego Ducha streets in the Old Town, plus several dedicated tap bars in the Wrzeszcz district.
Old Town and Waterfront Restaurants
Restauracja Gdańska on Targ Rybny (Fish Market Square, a short walk from the Crane) is one of the better-regarded traditional restaurants in the Old Town. The menu focuses on Baltic fish and classic Polish meat dishes. Smoked eel main approximately PLN 65–80; herring platter approximately PLN 45–55; roast pork approximately PLN 50–65, all as of 2026. The interior is laid out across several historic rooms.
Kamienica Goldwasser on Długie Pobrzeże (the main waterfront quay) is both a restaurant and a specialist spirit shop. The food is solid Polish-Baltic cooking — herring plates, cod with dill butter, duck breast — with a strong amber spirit list. Mains approximately PLN 50–80 as of 2026. The building dates to the 17th century and is one of the more visually atmospheric dining rooms in Gdańsk.
Winiarnia Flis on Piwna Street is in one of the Old Town’s historic townhouses. The cooking is central European — duck confit, pork tenderloin, pike-perch with potato cake — with a wine list that goes beyond the short selections found in most of the Old Town. Mains approximately PLN 55–85 as of 2026.
Targ Rybny Fish Bar at the Fish Market Square is the most casual option for fresh fish near the Old Town. Counter service; choose your fish (grilled, fried, or smoked portion), pair with a beer, eat standing or at outdoor tables. A smoked or fried fish portion with bread costs approximately PLN 20–35 as of 2026.
Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów)
Granary Island — immediately across the Motława from the main waterfront — has undergone significant development in recent years and now has some of the better restaurant openings in the city. The island’s mix of restored granaries and new buildings has created a less tourist-saturated environment than the main Long Market strip.
Brovarnia Gdańsk on the island is both a brewery and a restaurant. House beers brewed on-site (pale ale, porter, wheat beer) are available on tap; the food menu covers Polish staples with some brewery-focused dishes like beer-braised pork knuckle. Mains approximately PLN 45–70; half-litre house beer approximately PLN 16–20, all as of 2026. Brewery tours are available; check the website for current schedule.
Wrzeszcz — Where Locals Eat
The Wrzeszcz district, served by the SKM train and central trams, has Gdańsk’s strongest concentration of neighbourhood restaurants away from the tourist centre. The area around Grunwaldzka Street and the side streets running off it has independent cafés, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants, and Polish bistros at prices significantly lower than the Old Town.
Bar Mleczny Neptun on Długa Street in the city centre is Gdańsk’s most central milk bar and one of the most historically established. A full meal of żurek, pierogi, and kompot costs approximately PLN 20–28 as of 2026. Cash preferred.
Markets and Picnic Supplies
Hala Targowa (Covered Market Hall) at plac Dominikański, a short walk east of the main station, is the best place to buy smoked fish, cheeses, cured meats, regional preserves, and fresh vegetables. Open Monday to Saturday; most stallholders are at their busiest in the morning. Smoked eel portions approximately PLN 25–35; regional amber honey approximately PLN 15–25 for a 250g jar, as of 2026.
The waterfront quay in summer hosts occasional outdoor markets and artisan food stalls, particularly around the Crane and Long Quay area.
Craft Beer and Bars
Piwoteka Prowincja on Świętego Ducha Street has one of the better selections of Polish craft beers in Gdańsk — taps rotate regularly with a focus on northern Polish microbreweries. Half-litre approximately PLN 16–22 as of 2026.
Browarnia Gdańsk (also listed under Granary Island above) is the most visible brewpub. The porter is worth trying — dark, rich, and made in a tradition that dates back to Gdańsk’s 18th-century English-Baltic porter trade.
Bar pod Złotym Orlem on Piwna Street (one of the Old Town’s oldest bar streets) serves straightforward Polish food alongside a functional beer and vodka list. It is less glossy than the waterfront options and proportionally cheaper. Mains approximately PLN 30–45 as of 2026.
Coffee and Cafés
The independent café scene in Gdańsk is centred around the streets between Długa and the Dominican Square (plac Dominikański). Café Ferber and Café Kamienica near the Long Market are reliable choices for proper coffee and cake. For a longer work session, the Wrzeszcz district has better-equipped cafés with seating designed for laptops and longer stays.
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More in Gdańsk
- Gdańsk City Guide — overview, top attractions, and getting there
- Things to Do in Gdańsk — attractions, museums, and activities in depth
- Day Trips from Gdańsk — Sopot, Gdynia, Hel Peninsula, Malbork Castle
- Getting Around Gdańsk — trams, SKM train, Bolt, and the Motława ferry
- Where to Stay in Gdańsk — hotels by district and budget
- Gdańsk vs Sopot — comparing the two cities for a base