Eating out in Warsaw

Any regular readers of this blog will know that food is a very important part in my life. I love eating it and I love making it. I thought i'd put together a little guide about my favourite places we ate out in Warsaw as I always find things like this so handy when I visit a new city. 

Brooklyn Burgers and Wings - ul, Nowy Swiat 36

I eat a lot of burgers. Especially with the friends I went away with so I thought it was only fitting that we hunted down a burger while we were away. This restaurant is owned by an American chef and has consistently received rave reviews. As we sat down we were surrounded by American accents which was only a good thing. We thought it was hilarious when we were present with plastic gloves to eat with - getting messy is part of the fun right? Being a cheese lover I opted for the speciality of 'Juicy Lucy', a impressive patty stuffed with four types of cheese. My only gripe was the bun was rather large for the burger and I had a lot of spare dough to content with. The chips were incredibly moorish thanks to the cajun seasoning. Not bad for a burger Warsaw, not bad.

Unfortunately I can't remember for the life of me what this little place was called but it was about halfway down Nowy Swait (the main posh road) and looked like a little french bakery with a shabby chic furniture and baguettes outside. We were staving hungry having missed breakfast so we randomly stopped here as it looked quite nice. The service isn't too friendly to be honest but the food was lovely. As well as yummy filled baguettes, there are various tasty looking pastries and cakes on offer. It's certainly somewhere to look out for if you're looking for a quick bite to eat before continuing on with your exploring.

Zapiecek - ul. Nowy Swiat

This is chain of restaurants throughout warsaw that you'll see as you wander around. They specialise in dumplings - both the fried type and soft type. There are also various other types of traditional Polish food. They make the idea place to stop off for a bite to eat at reasonably-priced lunch. The portion size of 12 is just the right size to keep you going until your evening meal. I recommend the meat and cabbage fried dumplings with the side of sour cream. Keep in mind if you decide to have 'gravy' with them, it's just oil with bits of bacon and makes the dumplings taste extremely greasy and sickly.

Folk Gospoda - ul, Walicow 13

A word of warning. This is quite some trek from the Old Town. It didn't help that there were roadworks - lots of building work in Warsaw - and the direct road was cut off so we had to walk to through a suspicious looking estate to get to our destination. When we arrived it looked a bit run down but once you step inside it's suddenly transformed. It's all traditionally decked out and is huge! The portions were fairly large so in hindsight we didn't really need to order a starter but it gave me the opportunity to sample potato cakes which got a massive thumbs up. The service was very attentive and the waiter offered some good suggestions on what side to order with the mains. He really did know his stuff! I'd advice you splash out on a taxi to find this gem of a restaurant. 

Everywhere you look in Warsaw someone is munching away on a ice cream. Keep an eye out for the word 'lody' as this indicates it's an ice cream shop. We ate in various different places and my personal favourite were caramel and vanilla although I can vouch for the chocolate chip too! It makes a great dessert option as it gives you time to walk off your meal while you find a shop that catches your eye. It's so cheap at around 50p per scoop it would be a crime to only have one scoop in a cone! 

Frida - ul, Nowy Swiat 34

I'm a complete sucker for Tex-Mex and fajitas are one of my favourite dishes to eat and cook. There's just something comforting about stuffing your faces with endless spicy chicken and vegetables. Plus it's always nice to create your own dish right? We decided to head to Frida for an early dinner one night as we had to dash to a bar to catch the Manchester United game - boys eh? We shared a starter and I decided to pump for the chicken enchiladas. It was nice, nothing mind blowing but it was nice. It had a ridiculous amount of cheese but I would have preferred a bit more tomato sauce. The decor was amazing - I'm all over floral toilets - and I should think it would have a cracking atmosphere should we visited later on.

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Afternoon tea with Pandora

When an email popped up in my inbox about an invitation to an exclusive blogger afternoon tea with the jewellery brand Pandora I quickly replied with YES PLEASE and started to count down the days. I currently own the popular Pandora charm bracelet having luckily received it as a Christmas present a few days ago. I adore adding to a charm bracelet over and collecting charms that have a special meaning. You look down at your wrist and instantly taken back to a special moment in time.

The event took place at the recently opened flagship store on Oxford Street, the largest Pandora concept store in the world. Impressive huh?! We were treated to some bubbles, moorish sandwiches and cute little cakes - I couldn't get enough of the Victoria sponge as usual - as we were taken through the new collection. This seasons collection is based on the enchanted forest so expect to see lots of emerald greens and nature inspired pieces.

The stacking rings once again made an appearance in a array of pretty colours with the addition of a couple of gorgeous cocktail rings - the amethyst ring is pictured above.  There is also a matching pair of earrings and pendant if you want to go all out. I thought the birthstone stud earrings were a brilliant gift idea and were the perfect price point at £45 for a special birthday. Finally the stunning feather collection makes the ideal Christmas gift. It's the perfect amount of bling without being tacky and really packs a punch as it glitters in the sunlight. We were very kindly gifted the necklace and it's gotten a lot of compliments when I wore it.

Thank you so much to all the girls on the day who made the event such a pleasure. I really did have a wonderful afternoon and the amethyst statement ring is at the very top of my Christmas list!

Are you familar with Pandora?

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Autumn chill

Outfit:
Quilted black faux leather jacket: Zara (similar)
Floral printed silky tee: Primark (similar)
Silky black maxi skirt: c/o New Look (similar)
Red stack heeled flat ankle strap shoes: Dorothy Perkins
Black Bayswater: Mulberry
Rose gold boyfriend watch - Next (similar)

Summer is well and truly over and I'm still trying to avoid wearing tights so instead I'm opting for a maxi skirt to try and avoid the cold. This rather snazzy shoes were a bargain sale buy from last week. I loved the mini faux snakeskin stacked heel to help give some height and an ankle strap is always a winner. Not the most comfortable pair of shoes it has to be said but that's nothing a few plasters can't solve! I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of this faux leather jacket this autumn as it's the perfect thickness for the coming autumn months. I'll even go as far as to say it's probably my favourite thing I've brought this year. Yeah I know. That's a hell of a bold statement.

This coming week is jam packed and once again I'm burning the candle at both ends. My boyfriend was lucky enough to win iTune festival tickets to see Haim so I have that to look forward to on Saturday. I'm also out for dinner three times this week - someone say greedy?! One for a much needed catch up with my best friend, the second for Lily's birthday and the third for burger afternoon tea for Sarah's birthday. Lily's my kind of girl as we're now doing the third thing to help celebrate her birthday! I've got a few blog events to go to as well so it really is all systems go. Next week I'm looking forward to coming home from work and spending the evenings snuggled up in my pyjamas.

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I know I know your face but I've forgotten your name

 

Outfit:
Blue light jacket - H&M (similar)
Blue and white boyfriend fit shirt - Topshop via eBay (similar)
Blue skinny jeans - Primark (similar)
White plimsols - Vans

This is my attempt of trying to be effortless and cool like those American blogs. In other words I woke up on monday morning and really couldn't be bothered to go all out for work. On went my vans and a baggy boyfriend fit shirt as a I opted for comfort. Sometimes you really don't want to spend too much time deciding what to wear in the morning. The weather isn't helping either to be honest. Hello Autumn! I really don't want to break out my thick black tights just yet so I'm loitering about in skinny jeans until my poor legs can't cope anymore. Blame the mother who has instilled in me that it's rather odd to wear tights from April to September despite the gail force winds and torrential rain.

Can I go into hibernation please?

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August Empties

Avene Gentle Eye Make Up Remover
Review here

Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Shampoo
This was going spare at work so I nabbed it to give it a little whirl. What a disappointment. It made my hair feel absolutely awful and it collected grease more often than normal. It didn't lather at all and I had to use a lot in order to feel like my hair had a good wash. It's not worth spending your hard earned pennies on!  

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion
I'm a sucker for No7 products. I think they're such good value for money and always feel lovely on my skin. This was no exception. It helped my skin feel nice and refreshed in the morning and didn't break me out. It's one to pick up when the no7 vouchers come out again.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
This is one product i'll continue to buy time and time again. It's perfect to use at the end of the day to get rid of all the grime on your face that has built up. It's like having your own little spa in your bathroom! I just leave it on for a couple of minutes to soak in and then remove for silky soft skin.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula
Review here

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream Dry/Very Dry
Review here

Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream
I cannot recommend this product enough. It feels like a little bit of luxury on your skin despite the cheap price tag. The gorgeous thickness of the product glides on perfectly and makes your skin feel completely regenerated in the morning - exactly what it says on the tin!

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Warsaw

I spent August bank holiday weekend in Warsaw along with my boyfriend and one of my best friends and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend's mum is half-Polish and they own a flat in the city so we took well advantage of that for a cheap weekend away.

After getting in at 6.15am - no idea who's bright idea that was - on the first night we spent the rest of the time trying to recover but that didn't stop us taking advantage of what Warsaw had to offer. We had a perfect tour guide who spoke fluent polish which made our trip a lot easier especially as we got on the wrong bus when we arrived at the airport! We managed to squeeze in a trip to the zoo, a visit to the war musuem, a trek up to the viewing tower to be rewarded with amazing views, numerous meat and cabbage dumplings and lots of delicious ice cream.

Warsaw isn't a huge city so there isn't really much to do but it's brimming with history. The old town is gorgeous and it's amazing to think it was completely rebuilt after the Second World War. It's very picturesque to eat your dinner in an open square watching the world go by. The city is full of lots of pretty parks and on a nice day there's nothing better than a wander. I'd love to visit again in the snow! I had a lovely few days away and was a little bit upset to be heading home to face reality. Luckily I have Ireland to look forward to next month.

Have you ever been to Warsaw?

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Bonedaddies

When my oldest friend decided to go back to Leeds - it's been lovely having you in London for the summer Grace! - I decided to suggest a last supper at Bonedaddies after overdosing on burgers. Bonedaddies had been on my list for ages and i'd been meaning to pay it a visit ever since Michelle reviewed it for Aesthetic. We managed to get to the restaurant around half 6 so only queued for about 10 minutes before we could managed to grab a table. By the time we left around half 7 the queue was snaking around the block so do try and get there as early as possible to beat the rush!

Billed as a 'Rock N Roll' Ramen bar, Bonedaddies is slap bang in the middle of Soho just off Wardour Street. Beware it's a communal eating place so you won't get a table to yourself - it's all about sharing guys! I personally think this all adds to the atmosphere. Upon Michelle's suggestion I bullied Grace into sharing some fried chicken. Good choice! It was deliciously light without an hint of sticky grease. It had the right amount of crunch and was incredibly moorish. To be fair I could easily have eaten the whole pot to myself.

For my main I opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen featuring a boiled egg - which was one of my favourite parts - , spring onions, noodles and pork. I would like to have had more pork to munch on but that's my only gripe. I'm no expert having only eaten a Wagamama ramen but it ticked all my boxes with the broth having a lovely flavour. The flat noodles were cooked to perfection and provided lots of oooohing and ahhhing. A word of warning those cloves of garlic may look fun to crush but they make you stink to high heaven. I feel sorry for the people seated next to me on the tube home as I was seriously humming. My friend decided to plump for the Kimchu Ramen which would be perfect for a seafood lover like myself!

Have you ever sampled the delights of Bonedaddies?

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You could get lost in this concrete jungle

Outfit:
Black sheer vest - Topshop (similar)
Green plaid cigarette trousers - Primark (similar)
Flat pointed patent pumps - Zara (similar)

After avoiding Primark like the plague for the past few months, I ventured in there last week to pick up some new pjs and somehow walked out with these. I'd spied a similar pair in Zara a while ago but fortunately my bank account wasn't playing ball and I couldn't afford to splash out. These were a much purse-friendly price at only £12. I'm more than willing to jump on board with tartan this autumn so keep your eye out for many more checks entering my wardrobe.

I wore this to venture to Bounce for a birthday gathering for the lovely Lily and got to have a natter with Aisling too. If you've never heard of Bounce, it's the place where table tennis was said to be invented and is a huge basement offering delicious pizzas and hours of fun on the ping pong tables. Well worth venturing down to one day!

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I’m living in a lost generation

Outfit:
Sheer black vest - Topshop (similar)
Green floral double spilt midi skirt - Topshop
Ankle strap stilettos - Primark (similar)
Pink lipstick - Topshop All About Me 

It's this skirt again. Sorry about that but this is a personal style blog and this is exactly what I'm wearing out for dinner tonight. Once I find something I like it tends to be repeated over and over again.  Anyone else guilty of this?! These shoes were an impulse buy from Primark quite a few months ago - I blame my mother for her encouragement. What a good impulse buy they turned out to be! They get full marks for being comfortable even with the thin heel and they feel secure on my feet. A little bondage-style ankle strap gets a thumbs up from me. My uncle put a French plait in my hair when I had my fringe cut this afternoon - i'm absolutely loving the lion mane look!

Like I said I'm off out for dinner tonight to a local Mexican restaurant for a friends birthday. It'll be nice to have a relatively quite Saturday night with a good meal rounded off by a trip to the pub. After Warsaw I'm looking to steer well clear of the dreaded booze - too much vodka was consumed on that trip! It'll be diet cokes all round for me tonight.

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Asos a/w collection

I spend too much of my hard earned wages on ASOS so when the opportunity came up to preview their a/w collection with the dream team member Sarah  I was there faster than Usain Bolt. It didn't hurt I also got to spend some quality time with Sarah and Hannah too - what a lovely little reunion it made.

Anyway onto the clothes. It seems like textures will be a big selling point at ASOS this year. Lots of fur, tartan, velvet and ponyhair. Well there goes my wage packet... The gorgeous leopard print pencil skirt is already on the site and it's currently saved in my favourites. I've resisted so far but I'm not sure how much longer i'll be able to hold out. Statement jewels show no sign of fading out and cocoon oversized coats seems to be flavour of the mouth. I'm still trying to work out if they're going to make me look 50 stone heavier. Once again ASOS has pulled out all the trumps - can they ever do any wrong?!

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What's in my make-up bag - The holiday edition

By the time you read this I'll be enjoying myself on holiday in Warsaw hopefully eating and drinking far too much while soaking up the sights. I thought i'd give you a little sneak peak about what make up I take away on holiday for a city break.

This gorgeous Ted Bake floral make up bag was gifted to me from Surfdome. Surfdome stock such a lovely collection of Ted Baker bags so it's worth a look! It's just the right size to carry all your essentials plus some more!

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Allure 99 Pirate
F&F Lips Mistress c/o
Topshop All About Me
Revlon Crème Brulee Lip Butter
Carmex Strawberry Tube
Gosh Velvet Touch Lip Pencil in 003 Cardinal Red c/o

This year I've gotten into lipstick in a huge way especially a red lip. It's something I've always admired from afar but only just gotten the confidence to be able to wear it out. It's my favourite colour for when I go out for drinks or dinner. I've chosen to take a few different reds - terrified to smash the Chanel whilst under the influence! - and a vibrant pink for something a little different. The Revlon Lip Butter is the perfect shade for the day.

Cheeks:
Topshop Neon Rose Crème Blush
He-Shi Fusion Multi Bronze c/o
Bourjois Delice De Poudre Bronzer

I'm a bronzer girl through and through and very rarely venture into Blush. The Bourjois bronzer is perfect for everyday use as it's very matte whereas the He-Shi bronzer is my favourite for night time. It produces such a gorgeous colour and has just the right amout of shimmer.

Eyes:
Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Emerveille 82
Avon 8-in-1 Eye Palette The Nudes c/o
Bourjois Khol and Contour Ultra Black
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
George Lash Trend in Black c/o

This Chanel cream eyeshadow is such a beauty. Subtle yet it still packs a punch. It's the perfect eyeshadow to go from day to night and can be jazzed up with a touch of khol. The Avon Palette had my name written all over it - neutrals are the way forward! Concealer is a must when you're out all night partying yet have to be up at the crack of dawn seeing the sights!

Nails:
OPI The Spy Who Loved Me
Seche Vite top coat

Finally you can't go wrong with red nails eh? OPI is my favourite brand and I couldn't resist picking up the James Bond collection from TK Maxx. It had a slight gold shimmer in it that looks stunning when it catches the light.

Is there anything i've missed out in my make-up collection? What do you take on a city break?

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This week i'm loving - Bumble and Bumble thickening range

 

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Full Form Mousse and Bumble and Bumble Thickening Crème Contour c/o

I personally find the crème contour works best on my hair after I've used the surf spray. They make such a great combination. I spray on a liberal amount of surf spray on before using the crème to help define the waves. The saying less is more really does apply here. It's quite sticky and can get gloopy so you only need a tiny amount. I simply put it on the tips of my fingers and tap my hands together to even it out before scrunching my hair.

The picture above is my hair after I'd used the mousse. Admittedly the volume isn't huge but I don't have thin hair anyway so it was never going to make a lot of difference. But saying that I can feel a difference in my hair after I've used it. It really helps my roots and gives them a bit of a lift - my hair can feel very flat and limp on top. I think I have too much hair weighing my head down! I use just under a golf ball amount of the product and run it through my hair from the roots to the end. It takes a while to figure out the right amount you need as too much can make it feel too 'product-y' if that's a word! I then dry my hair upside down before drying and straightening my fringe.

Overall they're both products that have been welcomed into my haircare selection and I'd buy them again as soon as I run out.

Have you tried anything from the thickening range before?

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Run like the wind

Outfit:
Pink t-shirt - Nike
Cropped training leggings - Nike (similar)
Nike purple free runs 5.0 - c/o SportsShoes

This is my running outfit. Yes, I Sophie Warner, has decided to take up running. After spending years avoiding exercise like the plague, I was known to write my own letters to get out of PE - sorry mum - I decided it was about time to finally do some exercising. My best friend very impressively ran the marathon this year and I decided to follow in her footsteps and put my running shoes on. This is where these rather snazzy looking Nike Free runs come into play. I never thought i'd see the day that I would get excited about receiving a pair of trainers in the post!

Personally I exercise better - like any aspect in my life - if I feel I look nice. It helps me have an extra spring in my step because after all, you don't really know who you're going to bump into when your jogging down the cycle paths. I don't need someone I've not seen in 10 years bumping into me looking like a raggamuffin. Bright colours get the thumbs up from me as if you don't want to blend in during your day-to-day life than why would you when running? A little slick of basic make up doesn't go amiss either - bronzer, concealer and mascara means i'm ready to take on the world.

Now onto the trainers. I opted for the Nike Lady Free 5.0 in a gorgeous purple colour. I had very high hopes and by god did they deliver. If I'm honest I didn't really expect them to make that much of a difference. But I was pleasantly surprised. The trainers made me feel like I was walking on air and the flexible sole made running so much easier helping me keep a good pace. They fit my feet like a glove and felt so comfortable - my previous trainers made the sides of my feet ache. No aching feet in these. I really couldn't recommend them enough.

Do you like to make a bit of an effort when you exercise?

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If money was no object

I am constantly dreaming of being somewhere with a sunnier climate. It seemed too good to be true for the hot weather to last here in England right? I'm still bringing out the bare legs in spite of the rain. When I'm daydreaming of a hot country - usually when I'm squeezed in a tube carriage on my way home - I like to think about my ideal beach appropriate outfit. If I had endless pots of cash i'd opt for a beach outfit from Heidi Klein. I much prefer a bandeau style bikini top when I'm sunning myself and there's nothing worse than two glaring white strap marks ruining an evening outfit. I much prefer my tan lines hidden thank you very much. This straw bag is the perfect size for lugging around holiday essentials which always include a good book - the trashier the better - and an endless supply of sun cream. Wrinkles are not my friend. Finally a pretty cover up is vital for when you finally move from your sun lounger in search of some food. The waiters in the restaurant do not want to see me in my bikini!

Oh how I wish I was going away on another beach holiday! But i've heard it's 28 degrees in Warsaw so the bank holiday weekend will not be too shabby.

Have you had your summer holiday yet? If not, where are you off too?

This post was written in collaboration with Avenue 32.

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