If you are planning a trip to Poznań, your itinerary probably includes popular sights such as the picturesque Old Market Square or the 16th century town hall with its famous clock tower goats. But if your travels happen to bring you to the city during summer, you may also be tempted to seek out the serenity of one of the city's parks or inclined to chill on its riverbanks. Here we present three restaurants in Poznań that are recommended by our inspectors and perfect for an alfresco meal beneath the blue summer sky.
TU.REStAURANT – fiery weekends
TU.REStAURANT, with its kitchen led by chef Filip Cwojdziński, was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide's historical first selection for Poznań, a distinction it still proudly holds. During the week, guests can enjoy Cwojdziński's creations in the beautiful, restored rooms of a 19C red-brick military building. But when the summer season arrives, kitchen operations also move outside, into the restaurant's garden, shaded by a canopy of old trees. Every weekend, from Friday to Sunday, TU.REStAURANT's team serves a special menu with dishes prepared on the outdoor barbecue that takes pride of place in the garden. The menu features dishes such as lamb kofta with tzatziki, harissa-seasoned chicken with mint and lemon, or tomahawk steak served with parsley remoulade – designed as plates that are easy to share among friends gathered around a table and served with favourite sides and sauces to amp up the flavours. Alongside the special wood-fired grill menu, the regular menu includes, for example, scallops with kumquat, yuzu and mussels (from the starters section), and cod served with paprika relish and fennel (as a main) that can also be served outside.
Port Sołacz – a green oasis
Sołacki Park is definitely one of the most beloved green spaces among locals. Established more than a hundred years ago and laid out in the English style, it enchants with its shady paths winding through the verdant landscape, swans gliding over its calm lakes, and romantic trees whose crooked branches gently caress the water's surface. When the park was opened to the public, local newspapers urged to go and spend time in this beautiful new park, which quickly became a hotspot for laid-back walks. Soon after its inauguration, the park was enriched with a white pavilion housing a restaurant. The story of the park's restaurant has since entered a new chapter, with Port Sołacz being opened two years ago, further to a long and meticulous restoration of the historical building. Quickly gaining popularity among locals, the restaurant received a recommendation from the MICHELIN Guide inspectors in 2024.
On summer days, Port Sołacz attracts diners with its double deck terrace overlooking the pond (but rest assured – on unexpectedly colder days, you can still relish the view from your table in the orangerie-like dining room). The restaurant's eclectic menu is inspired by the classics but served in a contemporary way. In the morning, the kitchen serves a breakfast menu that includes scrambled eggs with gruyère and parmesan cheeses, black truffle, house-made brioche served with fried eggs, Italian prosciutto cotto and cheddar béchamel, or Belgian waffles with chantilly cream and seasonal fruit.
During the day, you can choose between salmon tartare with compressed cucumber, goma wakame pickled shimeji and salmon roe, hummus seasoned with coriander, strozzapreti with beef, melanzana di Parmigiana, pork chop on the bone or glazed quails served with wild broccoli and truffled potato croquettes. A large part of the menu is dedicated to a variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas. Be sure to check the seasonal menu supplement, which features special treats made with ingredients that are best at a given moment – for instance Lithuanian cold beetroot soup with greens, buttermilk, kefir, spring onion and quail eggs.
SPOT. – a secret garden
If you could imagine a perfect green oasis in the middle of a busy city, it would surely look like SPOT. Awarded a Bib Gourmand by the MICHELIN Guide, the restaurant has been operating for over a decade – and invariably brings joy to its guests. Accommodated in a 19C red-brick building, which once served as the district's power plant, it cleverly blends the industrial vibe of the location with warmth of its interior design and the greenery that can be seen through its windows. In summer, the restaurant moves proceedings outside to the large, partially covered terrace and the spacious garden, perfectly shielded from the hustle and bustle of the city.
SPOT.'s menu is short but ever changing, making visits here exciting even for regulars. Dishes are comforting but never boring – there is always a small twist or trick that piques the interest of the palate. Start with new potatoes served with labneh and za'atar (a play on a traditional dish from Wielkopolska region – potatoes served with curd cheese seasoned with spring onions), avocado and cucumber cold soup topped with slices of crispy kohlrabi, preserved lemons and pungent grated horseradish, green pappardelle with fava beans and burrata, hot-smoked salmon (from the restaurant's own smokehouse) accompanied by new vegetables and sorrel purée or house-baked brioche with airy hollandaise and pan-fried chanterelles. SPOT. is known for its extensive and savvy wine selection, which showcases wines from top Polish wineries, so if you fancy a glass or bottle with your food, you are in just the right… spot!
Illustration Image: View onto the terrace of Port Sołacz © Port Sołacz
