Eat

It is no longer difficult to avoid meat, with many restaurants offering at least one vegetarian dish. Also many major cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, Gdansk, Lódz, Poznan, Szczecin and Wroclaw have vegetarian restaurants, especially near the city center.

If you want to eat cheaply, you should visit bar mleczny (milk bar). Bar mleczny is a typically Polish kind of a fast food restaurant. It was invented by the communist authorities of Poland in mid-1960s as a means to offer cheap meals to people working in companies that had no official canteen. Its name originates from the fact that until late 1980s the meals served there were mostly dairy-made and vegetarian (especially during the martial law period of the beginning of the 1980s, when meat was rationed). The milk-bars are usually subsidized by the state. Eating there is a unique experience - it is not uncommon that you will encounter people from various social classes - students, businessmen, university professors, elderly people, sometimes even homeless, all eating side-by-side in a 1970s-like environment. Presumably, it is the quality of food at absolutely unbeatable price (veggie main courses starting from €0.50!) that attracts people.

Restaurants and other types of food service are generally inexpensive for those accustomed to price in Western Europe or the United States. Finer restaurants are on par with the best in those regions but cost two or three times less.

Drink

Poland is on the border of European "vodka" and "beer culture". Poles enjoy alcoholic drinks at least as much as other Europeans. You can buy beer, vodka and wine. Although Poland is known as the birth place of vodka, local beer seems to have much more appeal to many Poles. Another traditional alcoholic beverage is mead. Polish liqueurs and nalewka (alcoholic tincture) are must a mention.

Officially, in order to buy alcohol one should be over 18 years old and be able to prove it with a valid ID.

Beer

Poland's brewery tradition comes from far middle ages. Today Poland is one of TOP beer countries in Europe. Although not well known internationally, Poland traditionally sports some of the best pilsner-type lagers worldwide. The most common brands include:

• Zywiec (pronounced ZHIV-y-ets)
• Tyskie (pronounced TIS-kee)
• Okocim (pronounced oh-KO-cheem)
• Warka (pronounced VAR-kuh)
• Lech (pronounced LEH)
• Lomza (pronounced Uom-zha)
• Tatra
• Van Pur

Vodka

• Zubrówka - vodka with flavors derived from Bison Grass, from eastern Poland.
• Zytnia - rye vodka
• Zoladkowa - bitter vodka
• Wyborowa

• Biala Dama

Deluxe (more expensive) brands include Chopin and Belvedere. Expect to pay about 100 zloty a bottle (2007 prices). Most Poles consider these brands to be "export brands", and usually don't drink them.

Wine

Poland does make a few quality wines around Zielona Góra, the Southeast, in the Beskids and Central Poland. You usually can buy them only at the places where they are produced or at wine festivals, like in Zielona Góra. There are also popular Polish fruit wines. They are sold in much of shops, also actively exported. As for imported wine, apart from the usual old and new world standards, there is usually a choice of decent table wines from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania or Moldova available. It the winter time, many Poles drink "grzaniec"(loosely translated as something that warms), a beverage consisting of hot red wine, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. It can also be made using beer, although wine is the most popular method.

Drinkable mead

Drinkable mead - Miód Pitny is a traditional and historical alcohol drink in Poland. Mead is brewed from honey and has excellent unusual taste similar to wine. Original Polish drinkable mead contain 13-20% alcohol.

Cocktails

Poles are very keen on beer and vodka, and you'll find that cocktails are often expensive but can be found in most bars in most major cities.

Tea

Black tea is traditionally a popular non-alcoholic hot drink. It is usually served plain with a slice of lemon, with or without sugar. Although drinking tea with milk is known to Poles, you will usually get odd looks in most establishments asking for it. For many Poles, tea with milk is considered to be a drink for pregnant women (as it is considered to be healthier). Of course, its popularity will no doubt increase with the number of Poles spending time in the UK.

For those that believe pouring boiling water on to a tea bag is the way to make a good cup of tea, beware! When ordered in a cafe or restaurant, it is common practice in Poland (and some other mainland European countries) to receive a cup of hot (not boiling) water, with a tea bag on the side. Perhaps also accompanied by a small carton of lemon juice. It is then the customer's job to make the tea. Add to this that the majority of tea bags are weaker than the UK equivalents, and this can be one area of Polish 'tradition' that the average UK tea drinker may be not be taken aback by. Still, fortunately, Poland has a great deal more to offer than this.

Water

Most Polish people will tell you not to drink the tap water in Poland, regardless of where you are. Almost all Poles drink bottled spring water or boil water to filter it. Foreigners should note that drinking water with a meal is not a Polish tradition; you will almost always have to ask for water with your meal. Some Westerners will be surprised to discover that most Poles drink carbonated water, although non-carbonated bottled water is generally widely available. The phrase "woda niegazowana" ("non-carbonated water") works well. Poland is known for its mineral waters. You can buy it in every shop, or try real mineral water with salts in "pavilions of water" (Pijalnia wód) in mountain resorts, where this water is produced. For example resorts of Szczawnica or Krynica.

Other

Interestingly, a very wide variety of fruit juices is available, with choice rivaling - and often surpassing - those of many other countries. The same applies to mineral water. Bottled ice tea is getting increasingly popular, although the choice is limited. Coffee bars are becoming prevalent and are popular as well.

All content courtesy of Wikitravel