18 Best Places to Shop in Warsaw, Poland

Arkadia shopping mall boasts that it is "the largest shopping center in Poland," where you can buy almost anything in more than 180 shops, grab a quick bite at a Japanese restaurant, and get your nails done, too.

If you are looking for more than just the sweets, Blikle Delikatesy sells traditional Polish products (such as natural honey or smoked meats) as well as delicious imports (olive oil, cheeses, and much more). Of course, if you are looking for sweets, then there is always something for your sweet tooth. After all, Blikle is best known in Poland as the maker of prize-winning pączki doughnuts.

Cepelia, which has several branches in Warsaw, sells folk art, including wood carvings and silver and amber jewelry.

For fine antique furniture, art, and china try Desa Unicum, an auction house and gallery, one of the oldest in the country. Remember, however, that most antiques cannot be exported. You will also sometimes find antiques at the Olimpia and Koło flea markets.

There are many galleries in Praga, some seasonal and with "flexible" opening hours, but Galeria Nizio, which moved to Warsaw from New York in 2002, is one of the best established. It combines a showroom with designer furniture with exhibitions of painting and photography.

Designer clothing by Gosia Baczyńska, who is now running her own boutique, is popular with Polish celebrities; her collection—modern and classically elegant at the same time—represented Polish fashion culture at the European Union accession ceremony.

JKM is a small shop crammed with bags, suitcases, and gloves from the best Polish producers.

The store sells lovely toys made of natural materials and houses a colorful "Kofifi" cafeteria for parents and their children.

This is the flagship store of the designer tandem Paprocki and Brzozowski—that's Marcin Paprocki and Mariusz Brzozowski.

Pola La is the handbag atelier of a talented Polish designer.

The most talked-about art gallery in town started as a showcase for independent art in a private flat of an old tenement house. Although it moved to a new location, it did not lose its unique character. It sometimes also has film screenings and live concerts. The gallery is closed on Sunday and Monday.

The shop sells fantastic hats, bags, and belts designed by Pracownia Kaletnicza and Marta Ruta. Liza Minelli owns one already.

This is one of the oldest and best-established jewelry stores in Poland.

To satisfy your chocolate craving, direct your steps toward Wedel. When Wedel first opened in 1851, it was a family-owned company; now it's part of the Cadbury candy conglomerate. But the charming old-fashioned shop, where the selection of sweets is impressive, is just as homey as it was when the company was just a local company. In the cafeteria you'll find the best cup of hot chocolate in town.

The name translates to the "green cat" in English, and the jewelry and accessories at this shop are as fun and funky as the name promises.