Job Discussion Forums

FemaleNomad · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 58 Location: Poland

Hi everyone --
I live about 40 minutes outside of Warsaw in a very family oriented town -- needless to say, meeting people WITHOUT major family responsibilities is slim. There's one bar which the same 5 people seem to frequent (and I'm not really a bar person as it is) so that hasn't really worked. So, on the weekends I head out to Warsaw -- I've only been there twice so far. Where do the foreigners go to hang out? Cafes, etc? Any suggestions on where I can meet people - Polish or otherwise (although it would be nice to speak to someone in English for a change).

Thanks for all of your help.

Take care!

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

...maybe, visit one of the language schools in Warsaw. im sure you'll find some fereigners there.

Harry from NWE · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 283

I can imagine that living in Milanowek is a bit boring after the first couple of days. But Warsaw has a few good choices.

Bar Below (Marszalkowska 64) is very popular with foreigners, you hear a lot more English being spoken than Polish. The regulars tend to be pretty friendly and sit round the horse-shoe shaped bar, so striking up a conversation is easy. I'd say it's your best bet for meeting people and speaking English, just take a seat at the bar. I think they're having a Halloween party on Wednesday, they've had them each Halloween for the last two years.

Some Place Else at the Sheraton hotel is popular with older expats (and monied Poles) and has live music each weekend. Personally I'd rather have bamboo hammered under my fingernails that visit SPE but some people like the place. The downside for everybody is that it's very expensive: PLN 16 for a small Polish beer!

Jimmy Bradley's Irish pub (just behind the Zloty Tarasy mall) gets a lot of foreigners in but it's a little too macho for me at the weekends, lots of rugby players etc. That said, it is by far the best place in Warsaw to watch American football games on Sunday evening.

Warsaw Tortilla Factory gets a fair number of foreigners in at the weekends (about 50% of the crowd) but the live music is usually at a volume which makes conversation difficult. And people tend to sit at tables so it's harder to meet people. If you do want to check the place out, you'd be better off going to Bar Below first, meeting a few people there and suggesting a trip over to WTF.

The cafe scene doesn't offer too much in the way of regulars or hangouts. A fair few foreigners go to the Casablanca cafe but because it's an internet cafe and almost all expats have internet access either at work or home, the foreigners tend to be backpackers etc.

FemaleNomad · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 58 Location: Poland

Ahh, thank you so much. I will definitely check out the places you've mentioned and keep my fingers crossed. Surprisingly, I am a Polish citizen who moved away from the country over 20 years ago. Since that time I've acquired an English accent in my spoken Polish and it seems I don't fit in anymore. It's an odd feeling knowing that I"m a citizen and yet I'm not quite a part of the country or community. My features are very dark on top of that so wherever I go in Milanowek people look at me like I'm an alien. It'll be nice to find someone to be able to exchange a few sentences with.

Thanks again for you help -- it's really lifted my spirits.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Warsaw isn't a good place for socializing;it's too spread out and most of the bars are really choddy.
Get down to Krakow or over to Poznan...they're not far away.The expat life there is much better too.
When you get a bit more experience,head out to the Gulf...you'll feel like Keira Knightly within five minutes and you won't be earning tuppence!

FemaleNomad · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 58 Location: Poland

Keira Knightley? Laughing

Do tell... why?

FemaleNomad · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 58 Location: Poland

and on a related note.... where in the gulf area?

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

I'd go to the Emirates or Qatar. Women get really spoiled over there and generally get treated much better at work.
For single, straight men, the Gulf is hell on earth.

Kymro · Joined: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 244

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

".. I've acquired an English accent in my spoken Polish and it seems I don't fit in anymore. It's an odd feeling knowing that I"m a citizen and yet I'm not quite a part of the country or community. My features are very dark on top of that so wherever I go in Milanowek people look at me like I'm an alien. "

Sounds like you probably worry about it more than others do.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Yes...but this is the first time I've done it as a singly:))

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

bridgetc · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 23

I have been asking myself the same question. Have been in a small town outside Warsaw myself since September and it is incredibly hard to meet people. I'm lucky(ish) in that I live with an American lassy, but she is not the most social. Good for a TV debate and a cup of tea but that's about it Wink

Oh, I shouldn't complain!

So yeah, I'd appreciate any tips for meeting people (oh dear, maybe it's just a reflection on my dismal personality after all) or if anyone would deign to meet for a coffee or allow me to drink them under the table (I am a Geordie after all) then feel free to proposition me...

For all I find Polish people very friendly, they are a tough nut to crack "friend making" wise....