Piątkowe Picie: Best Cafes in Starogard Gdański, Kociewie

“Take me in your arms again, leave me in my dreams again” – Tim Wheeler.

On my travels, part of the diversity of it has always been – different day, different town, different cafe, different coffee experience. I reckon I have had at least one coffee a day for the last 15 years, averaging out. Of those, maybe 40% of them have been in cafes around the world on my travels. Piątkowe Picie is my series on selected Fridays which covers my cafe, bar and drinking experiences in Poland. Anything thirsty really. Beer, coffee, grzane piwo…good morning, Starogard Gdański.

Having a few days to explore the town of Starogard Gdanski, I set about visiting a few cafes to see what this untouristic place had to offer, and I had a lot of fun. On my journeys around the world, my local friends always helped me out and told me about cool places to visit in their towns, same here when my travel friend met me for coffee and showed me the sights of her town. I was thirsty for a coffee!

“Maybe you will make my town more famous!” – Starogard Girl.

I managed to find some cool cafes on my own without that travel friend’s help, and here are the pick of them, from Starogard Gdanski. Please note I also went drinking in the bars and enjoyed the Browar Kociewski (a great local brewery).

1.Dzienna Dawka Kawiarnia

The quirky and cosy Dzienna Dawka Kawiarnia is the cool new kid on the Starogard block. Situated on the corner near the main Stary Rynek (old town square), its interior decor and friendly staff make it a very pleasant coffee venue. Since I am a social media geek and blogger, the venue also has far and away the best Instagram and Facebook pages of any cafe in the area. I spoke briefly to Michał the Barista and also made use of the free Wi-Fi. With long opening hours, it also provides the only coffee in the city at certain times. It translates nicely as “Daily Dose of Coffee”. Your dream can never earn enough.

Opening Hours: 7.15 a.m. – 8 p.m. (check each day)
Quirky Feature: Cosy and artistic, coolest kid on the block, social media hardcore.
Address: Browarowa 1, 83-250 Starogard Gdański
Phone: 511 963 643
Website: Instagram
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dziennakawydawka

2.Klubokawiarnia Szafa

Meaning roughly “Wardrobe Cafe”, this place is a cosy venue for a nice coffee and a trademark biscuit and cake. I was staying about a five minute walk, I slept on the island featuring the football stadium made famous by Kazik Deyna, at Noclegi Rekord Hotel.

They have WiFi and it is just a few minutes walk from the Rynek, on a side street. A warm and cosy atmosphere and great coffee! Thanks so much to my local friend, Starogard Girl Monika who showed me the sights and enjoyed coffee together! Monika was kind.

Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 9 pm
Quirky Feature: Signature Coffee and Teas
Address: Jana Kilińskiego 11, 83-200 Starogard Gdański
Phone: 604 517 889
Website: http://mob.starogard.pl/74-starogardgdanski-klubokawiarnia-szafa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KlubokawiarniaSzafa/

(NOW CLOSED – 3.Cafe Anka)

I found out in September (6 weeks after my first visit to Starogard) that Cafe Anka was the pick of the cafes here and I sadly didn’t make it here. One of my other contacts “used to go to Cafe Anka but it’s closed now”. What a shame as it would have been a great venue for a coffee, near the Stary Rynek and just round the corner from Klubokawiarnia Szafa. Cafe Anka is still on Facebook so keep your eyes peeled if it ever re-opens.

Opening Hours: NOW CLOSED
Quirky Feature: Books inside to read, my travel friend’s favourite.
Address: Podgórna 2, 83-200 Starogard Gdański
Phone: 608 654 451
Website: N/A
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Anka/160708454025191

4.Grycan, Inside Galeria Neptun

For a popular Polish brand name in coffee and ice cream parlours, you can’t really go wrong with Grycan. Here in Starogard Gdański, there is one inside Galeria Neptun. Good coffee and excellent ice cream in the heart of Starogard’s largest shopping centre.

Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 9 pm (depending on when Galeria Neptun is open)
Quirky Feature: Good ice cream, good location (inside Galeria Neptun)
Address: ul. Pomorska 7, 83-200 Starogard Gdański (inside Galeria Neptun)
Website: https://grycan.pl/lodziarnie/starogard-gdanski
and http://www.galeria-neptun.eu/grycan-2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grycan-Starogard-Gda%C5%84ski/1440421629611259

5.Piekarnia Cukiernia Piotr Kropidłowski (Inside Galeria Neptun)

Another from the chain of Piekarnia Cukiernia Piotr Kropidłowski is this place, also inside Galeria Neptun on the corner near the Reserved clothing shop. I spent a few hours here eating cake, drinking coffee and writing my book.

Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 9 pm (depending on when Galeria Neptun is open)
Quirky Feature: Fast Wi-Fi
Address: ul. Pomorska 7, 83-200 Starogard Gdański (inside Galeria Neptun)
Phone: Unknown
Website: http://www.kayo.pl/piekarnia/ciasta.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Piekarnia.Piotr.Kropidlowski/

6.Wrzoskiewicz Lodziarnia (Ice Cream Cafe)

Sitting in the Stary Rynek in Central Starogard Gdański is the Wrzoskiewicz Lodziarnia (Ice Cream Cafe). I called in here for a coffee and ice cream. It was summertime and the lady working there, Klaudia had a sample of beetroot ice cream which was lush.

I went for a textbook Cappuccino and a Mango Ice Cream though.

Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 6 pm (Summer only I believe)
Quirky Feature: Crazy Ice Cream Flavours
Address: Cukiernia Wrzoskiewicz. ul. Hallera 37. 83-200 Starogard Gdański
Phone: +48585624767
Website: http://mob.starogard.pl/77-starogardgdanski-cukiernia-wrzoskiewicz
Facebook: N/A

7.Kawiarnia Słodka Kociewianka

Kawiarnia Słodka Kociewianka is a new place opened in 2019. I had both coffee and alcoholic drinks in here with Agnieszka and Klaudia.

Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 10 p.m.
Quirky Feature: Good Ice Cream plus coffee and regional beers.
Address: Podgórna 6/1, 83-200 Starogard Gdański
Phone: +48585624767
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slodkakociewianka/

If you own a coffee shop or cafe in Starogard Gdański that is not on this list and you would like me to review it for you, please get in touch!! Or if you want to hear me on live radio in your town.

I also had some coffee in the ice cream venues in the town, stayed in the Hotel Ren , Hostel Famil and Noclegi Rekord. I also did a Kazimierz Deyna pilgrimage and attended his famous 70th Birthday event.

E-mail me – [email protected] or via Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/northernirishmaninpoland/