Cafes in Gdansk’s Old Town — A Coffee Guide 2026

The Old Town in Gdansk has more coffee shops than you can visit in one weekend—and, like any tourist city, alongside truly great spots, there are places that exist mostly for their location rather than the quality of their coffee. The answer to “where to drink coffee in Gdansk” depends on whether you’re looking for a quick espresso between sightseeing, a quiet breakfast, or a table for several hours with your laptop.

Below is a list divided into categories: where to get specialty coffee, where to have breakfast, where to sit with a view of the Motława river, and where to work comfortably for longer. We’ve verified each business name against current addresses and operations—where we weren’t certain about specific signage (like seasonal gardens along the Motława), we list categories instead of guessing names. Start at Bastion Wałowy—the entire area is walkable, no need to drive.

A small note on terminology: in this text, “Starówka” refers to what most locals and visitors mean when they talk about Gdansk’s tourist core around Long Market, Mariacka Street, Piwna Street, and Długa. Technically, that area is the Main Town; a separate, smaller district called Old Town lies further north (near Wielki Młyn and St. Catherine’s Church), and none of the coffee shops listed below are located there.

Specialty Coffee or a Café with Atmosphere

The first question to ask yourself before heading to the Old Town: do you care more about the quality of the beans and brewing methods, or about the atmosphere where you’d like to linger?

If coffee itself matters most — then Leń at Piwnej 52/53 is worth a detour. It’s both a café and its own roastery, so the menu details the origin of the beans, not just “espresso” and “cappuccino.” Piwnej runs parallel to Długa Street, so it’s on your way if you’re heading toward Long Market.

If atmosphere is more important than brewing ritual — then Zorza at Lawendowej 6/7 combines a café with a flower shop: tables among plants and flowers for sale, a pleasant spot for a longer break during sightseeing, less touristy than the main walkway.

Both options are within minutes of Long Market on foot, so you don’t have to choose one for your entire stay — try specialty coffee at Piwnej one day, then atmosphere at Lawendowej another.

The coffee scene in Gdansk has been growing for years, with more and more places roasting beans independently or partnering with independent roasters from the Tri-City area instead of serving pre-mixed blends from wholesalers. That’s good news for travelers seeking specialty coffee, not just a spot with nice interiors for photos.

Cafes Right by Long Market and the Golden Gate

The closer you are to Long Market and the Golden Gate, the higher the chance of paying a premium for “views,” not always justified by quality. However, there are several spots that maintain their standards despite being in the heart of tourist activity.

Ulica Mariacka — running parallel to Long Market and leading directly to St. Mary’s Basilica — has a few cafes worth visiting, especially in the evening when crowds thin out from the main thoroughfare. You’ll find Eklerownia 2.0 (Mariacka 50/52) here—a café-patisserie specializing in éclairs, with a distinctive neon interior and views of the amber-colored alley through stained-glass doors. The same brand has another location on Straganiarska Street, a few minutes further toward Targ Węglowy—useful if the first one is full.

Practical tip: Near Long Market and the Golden Gate, menus are often in multiple languages, and prices rise with the number of flags displayed. Just one side street away—Mariacka, Piwna, Ogarna—usually means the same quality coffee at a lower price, without the queue. Learn more about avoiding tourist food traps in the city center in our Gdańsk Food Guide.

If you’re just planning your route through the Main Town, consider mapping out coffee stops along the main stretch—our Royal Route Trail Guide can help, where the Golden Gate and Long Market are two of the key points.

Breakfast and Pastries

On the Old Town, breakfast at a café is more than just coffee and a croissant from a machine — several places treat this part of the day seriously.

W Starym Kadrze (ul. Lawendowa 2/3, near Hala Targowa) is a cozy film-themed café with a 21-seat cinema in the back — it serves breakfast on weekends and operates as a tea and pastry café during the week, featuring retro interiors filled with memorabilia from yesteryear: old phones, film reels, lamps. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a place to sit longer than just grabbing coffee to go — plus, you can catch a film from the current lineup, which changes every two weeks.

For pastries, be sure to check out Anbakery on Podwale Staromiejskie — a bakery with an in-house café, located near the northern edge of the Old Town (by the gate of Brama Wyżynna). It’s also, as described below, the most convenient stop if you’re coming from the direction of Bastion Wałowa.

Practical note on prices: Breakfast at a café in the Old Town usually costs 35–60 zł per person — roughly, depending on the venue and season. If traveling with family or staying longer, having your own kitchen in an apartment is often more convenient for daily meals, leaving café breakfasts for one special day.

Cafes with a View of the Motława

Długie Pobrzeże — the embankment along the Motława river between the Crane and Zielona Bramą — fills up with tables overlooking the water and Ołowianka Island in summer. It’s the most photogenic, but also the priciest, area for coffee in the entire city.

Goldwasser (Długie Pobrzeże 22) is the spot most visitors associate with the Motława — a restaurant with a terrace right by the water where you can just as easily order coffee and dessert after sightseeing as a full meal. The view includes the historic Crane and the silhouettes of the granaries on Ołowianka.

Beyond this location, several seasonal café-restaurant terraces appear along the embankment in summer — their lineup changes from year to year, so instead of listing specific names, just walk along Długie Pobrzeże and pick a table with an open spot and view that suits you. Outside season (October–April), some gardens are closed — check on site before sitting down with the idea of a terrace.

The best time for coffee with a view is in the mid-morning, before the embankment fills up with tours — and, if the weather happens to be nice, the hour before sunset when light reflects off the Motława and the granary facades on the other side.

For Remote Workers (Wi-Fi, Power Outlets)

If you’re combining sightseeing with work, the Old Town has spots that make it easier—but during peak season (June–August), finding a table for longer can be tough.

Drukarnia Cafe (ul. Mariacka 36) regularly appears in local recommendations as a good place to work on a laptop—quiet atmosphere, comfortable tables, and background music that doesn’t drown out conversations or video calls. It’s one of the few spots on Mariacka Street where you can realistically sit longer than just for a coffee.

Outside peak hours (before 10:00 and after 16:00), it’s easier to get a window table with an outlet. Also, have a backup plan—some tables aren’t near power sources, and the number of outlets in small, historic interiors can be limited. So if your laptop needs constant power, ask about availability right when ordering.

During peak season, if you need several quiet hours without risking running out of space or power, working from an apartment is simply more reliable than hunting for a table at a café—we cover this in detail in the guide to remote work in Gdansk, including which of our apartments have dedicated workspace and stable Wi-Fi.

How much does coffee cost (2026)

Below are approximate price ranges — actual prices depend on the venue, season, and how close you sit to the main pedestrian area. Think of this as a reference point, not a fixed menu: menus and prices change throughout the year, and the tourist season (June–August) usually drives up costs in places near Long Market and Motława river.

The rule that almost always applies: the closer you are to Long Market and the Golden Gate, the higher the top end of these ranges. One or two side streets away (Piwna, Mariacka further from the pedestrian zone, Ogarna) usually means the same coffee at a lower price.

How to walk from Bastion Wałowa

From Bastion Wałowa 11 you can reach the Old Town without a car — one of the reasons this location works well for guests without a car or those who prefer to leave their vehicle on site for the entire stay (each Mint apartment has parking space, so your car stays safe while you explore on foot).

The standard route follows the old moat — along Wały Piastowskie and Podwale Staromiejskie — toward Brama Wyżynnej, where Trakt Królewski begins: Złota Brama, Ulica Długa, Ratusz Głównego Miasta, and Długi Targ. Along the way, right by Podwale Staromiejskie, you’ll pass Anbakery — the most convenient stop for coffee or pastries before heading deeper into the Old Town.

The entire walk to Długi Targ takes about fifteen minutes at a relaxed pace — depending on how close your entrance to Bastion is and how many times you pause to take photos along the way. It’s an easy distance to cover with a stroller or suitcase on wheels — the route is flat and mostly follows sidewalks, avoiding busy intersections.

Alternatively, if you start your day with coffee overlooking the Motława river, you can walk east along Wały Piastowskie toward Długie Pobrzeże from the Żuraw side — it’s a slightly longer route but avoids the busiest stretch of Ulica Długa during midday. Both routes are fully pedestrian and require no tram or bus transfers.

Looking for accommodation right in this area? View Mint apartments at Bastion Wałowa — 35 Mint apartments across three locations offer the closest access to the Old Town, with self-check-in via Tedee lock 24/7 and parking included. If you’d like to ask about a specific date or which café is on your way from your apartment, email rezerwacje@mintapartments.pl or WhatsApp +48 797 412 679 — direct booking is usually around 10% cheaper than through booking portals.