Andrzej is a young influential Warsaw blogger writing about things going on in the capital and social media. He talks to us about the best places to visit in Warsaw.

You’ve just came back from Berlin, how is Warsaw in comparison to the German capital city?

Similar. On one hand Germans are polite, everything works efficiently and richly, the whole city
supports cyclists and, thanks to legal public drinking outdoors, I think I’ve witnesses the biggest common celebration of spending free time together (Saturday in Berlin Tempelhof).

On the other hand travelling by public transport in Warsaw is more convenient, we have the same number of murals, and of course it’s easier to communicate if you don’t speak German :)

What are the best party places in Warsaw?

Recently I’ve become a fan of Cafe-club type of places (Klubokawiarnia in Polish). My favourite one is situated on Plac Wilsona, but you can find them everywhere. What’s interesting is that they all offer very high standards, because they’re relatively new places run by real enthusiasts.

What cultural places, not necessary the most widely known, would you recommend to visit in Warsaw?

I don’t think Warsaw has fixed places where ”culture is taking place”. I’d recommend event websites or a newsletter supplement and check everyday.

What are the most overrated tourist attractions in Poland?

The answer is in the question – the tourist attractions in general, well maybe excluding The Palace of Culture and Science and the Łazienki Park, I like them both very much and I often visit them. If I were to recommend a viewing point or a park, I’d add to the itinerary the tower by the St. Anne’s Church in Old Town and Morskie Oko Park, especially from above.

What tip would you give to tourists coming to Warsaw during Euro?

Beware of dangerous people. In Warsaw most of the criminals look as you’d expect them to look. It’s not difficult to read the intention on the face of the passerby in front of you.

Be careful also with the taxi drivers, it’s worth checking in advance on couchsurfing or any other international forum, what are the trustworthy companies and use only these.

Your favourite spots in Warsaw?

To many to name all of them. Szymański Park is close to where I live, so I jog there quite often. I also like sitting in Resort in Plac Teatralny or in one of many other cafes, where you can study in a nice atmosphere and just chill out after.

Quite recently I’ve fallen in love with Old Mokotów. I can wonder there for hours, which I really recommend, it’s a very refreshing experience. Lately, by chance, during a walk with my girlfriend, I discovered several Mediterranean mansions and a building that looks like a little castle.

Explore Stamford Hill…Part 1

If it’s dinner you’re after then pop a couple of doors down and you will find the most recent addition to the food scene in Stamford Hill: De Gusto. This is a Brasilian-cum-Italian restaurant that opens in the evenings and serves hot food with a cocktail list long enough to wallpaper a small room. Covered in pictures of Italy and Brazil it’s not quite Nobu, but it will fill you up and if you go during the week you’ll be likely to catch the Pasta Buffet: for less than a tenner you will be served-up pasta dish after pasta dish – a taster menu for the carb-hungry and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for anyone looking for a place to take fussy children or those in need of comfort food.

For something strictly South American you’re in the right place in Stamford Hill. With a growing community here the food is authentic and affordable. La Carrilera is the best if you like your meat done Latino style and accompanied with plantain and beer. The staff are friendly, and the menu is large and includes tapas-style food as well as big main dishes.

And if you’re looking for a watering hole then Stamford Hill has a fair few, many of which have been revamped over the last couple of years to make them more welcoming, although some are still worth avoiding. The Dutch House is a bustling, well-kept pub with friendly staff and a wide range of drinks. It shows the football and has a decent pool table at the back for any budding Stephen Hendrys.

So forget the myth that Stamford is the boring bit of the A10 and make the most of one of its unique, un-gentrified culinary offerings before the rest of the world catches on.

Why not share some of your favourite places in Stamford Hill.

This week’s guest blog is written by Sophie Robinson-Tillett.  Once the editor of www.stokenewingtonpeople.co.uk, she still contributes to the website, as well as to London 360 and East London Lines.

Stamford Hill has always been overlooked as a destination in Hackney – outdone by the bells and whistles of Stoke Newington up the road, Londoners don’t realise that there are plenty of hidden gems in this part of N16 too.

Summer is the best time to check Stamford Hill out because some of its greatest assets are the green spaces tucked in every corner. Springfield Park is by far the best in North East London with a Green Flag Award to prove it, and benefits from being relatively undiscovered. Enjoy a coffee at the park’s Spark Café, also known as White Lodge Mansion: they do great paninis, soups, salads and milkshakes, and a truly mean hot chocolate when you need a bit of warming up. In the winter you can enjoy the interior of the Grade II listed building, and on those rare occasions when the British sunshine makes an appearance you can pull up a chair outside and try spotting the wild green parakeets that the park is well known for.

Or if you’re a bit of a water baby then head a little further down and you’ll end up at the canal. Here you can enjoy anything from a brownie to a full English at the Riverside Café on the waterfront. It’s cheap and cheerful, and is a favourite for old-school locals and thirsty kayakers from the rowing club next door. This is a great place to people-watch and enjoy the chugging narrow boats and panting dogs that can be found here throughout the year.

If the weather isn’t quite nice enough to laze by the waterside or bird watch in the park then there’s plenty on offer indoors too. Stamford Hill Broadway may look like a hodgepodge of betting shops, supermarkets and fast food outlets, but there is an increasing number of interesting, independent pubs and restaurants that reflect the dynamism and multi-culturalism of this pocket of North London. If you fancy some down-to-Earth daytime food, then it’s all about Moteginos on Amhurst Park. A long standing, much loved greasy spoon selling everything from roast dinners and omelettes to the biggest fry-ups you’ve ever seen. Good service, clean environment and shoestring prices make it popular with local residents, workers and police officers all day long.

Read Explore Stamford Hill…Part 2