Poland - Warsaw

Warsaw’s thriving capital was virtually destroyed during WWII, mainly in 1944, with more than 85% being left totally dilapidated, but over a twenty-year period it was completely rebuilt - an amazing feat in such a short time. The best face of Warsaw, however, is the Old Town and the Market Square, where historic buildings and palaces were meticulously reconstructed and where cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops now bustle with activity. Along with its parks and gardens, rich cultural life, and, most of all, the friendliness of its people, Warsaw is a cosmopolitan city.

We travelled with LOT Polish Airlines and I was really impressed, LOT operates a 3-cabin concept:  LOT Business Class, LOT Premium Economy Class and LOT Economy Class is available on all international flights.LOT’s short-haul fleet consists of modern Boeing 737 New Generation and Embraer 190 aircraft, whilst our long-haul fleet is exclusively operated by Dreamliner 787, 800 & 900s with fully lie-flat seating in Business Class. 

On arrival, we enjoyed lunch at The Alchemist Gastro Pub before heading to our hotel for the weekend, Radisson Collection Warsaw. Dinner on the first night was at Stixx Bar and Grill; the quality of the food was matched by the buzzing atmosphere, and after we visited a secret, hidden bar known to Mazurkas DMC. Could I find it now? NEVER.

Listed below are the many beautiful and amazing venues we visited:

Ufficio Primo
The National Theatre Opera House
The Fortress;
Stanislawowski Theatre
Warsaw Technical University
Koszyki Hall
Museum of Life under Communism

After lunch at Warszawa Wschodnia Restaurant, we enjoyed some fun options for groups, including Vodka tasting at the Polish Vodka Museum, and chocolate decorating at E.Wedel’s Chocolate Emporium, as well as a unique trip by vintage Nysa vans or 1970s “Cucumber” Buses.

The Palace on the Isle - the summer residence of the last king of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski, full of antique décor for banquets or cocktails. 

A speciality in the historic surroundings of the Lazienki Royal Park Palaces is to host a feast in genuine royal chambers, with music, poetry, ballet, and service in costumed outfits from the King Stanislaw era, featuring old Polish recipes from the King’s.

The Belvedere is a multi-faceted restaurant situated in Lazienki Royal Park. The Restaurant Belvedere offers banquets for up to 50 persons in the main restaurant, 80 persons in the Orangery and cocktails.

Our final evening was at the traditional fine-dining restaurant Dom Polski. This restaurant captures the essence of Poland in its menu and its décor. After dinner, we headed to The View nightclub. As the name suggests, this venue boasts incredible, 360-degree views of the city.

Poland is a surprising country. Viewed by those who have not visited the country as a dull, grey former Eastern European satellite, Poland has over 1,000 years of history, impressive historic buildings, beautiful scenery, an age-old tradition of hosting international events, and excellent accommodation.

This, of course, does not totally guarantee a successful event – the missing factor is your partner in Poland – the DMC. Mazurkas DMC Poland has demonstrated its understanding of overseas markets and operates very much as a hands-on operation; it has successfully developed conferences and incentives in Poland.

From both an incentive and conference perspective, Warsaw offers excellent infrastructure, creative venues and a wide range of experiences for corporate groups. My visit certainly opened my eyes to the city's potential for meetings, conferences and incentive programmes.

This visit was brought to you by our DMC, Mazurkas DMC Poland