The night was cold, shrouded in a delicate fog, that carried memories of the Shoreditch streets in London. Only the colder air and the cars coated in frost reminded me that I was in Warsaw. We quickly crossed the historic Powstańców Warszawy Square. Looking at the renovated building of the Warsaw hotel, I was reminded of the famous photograph, on which,during the Warsaw Uprising, you can see the moment of the bullet -fired from the armored train at the main railway station – hit into the building of the insurance company. Before I shared my thoughts with a friend, we arrived at the ‘Wede’l building, where there is still a historic café. Thru the window you could see people laughing, there was joy and warmth. At one table – mother and two children, despite the late hour, sipped the famous hot chocolate and if it were not for guests’ clothes and pervasive smartphones, one would think that time has stopped here, and somewhere inside there sits Bolesław Prus or Henryk Sienkiewicz and sketches new pages of one of his novels.
We turned left and guided along the sidewalk along the historic facade of the tenement house at 8 Szpitalna Street, we reached the end of our trip. If not for the subtle inscription on the door, we would certainly miss this place. The reigning twilight and curtains effectively hide the interior of the premises from the casual guest. As I felt – after a very hard day – the last thing I’d liked was the crowd and the noise. The door bell made me believe that El Koktel is the place. Perfect choice for the evening. There it was – Paweł’s smiling face welcoming us in the door, how many years I thought .. But the last time we saw each other in …., How else would it be!? In El Koktel, but then it was located on ul. Poznanska. Paweł is not only a world-class bartender, who along with his friend Mateusz decided to open his own bar, but He is above all, a real host who, respecting the presence of my guests did not discuss the past years, and after a short nudge, showed us some free seets in his small premises. He knew that during this evening there would be more than one occasion to reminisce about the old days. We chose a places at the big bar, that was occupying a larger part of the lower room, dark varnished wood of the countertop was warm to the touch, and the hokers wer very comfortable. As a welcome they served tasty cucumber water and salted peanuts.
The room was high,with a separate mezzanine.There were four friends sat next to us, somwhere in the corner – young couple- lovers – hidden in the dark. Despite the short distance between the tables, one does not interfere another. At the Bar we could see three new guests, which you can meet on the other side of the counter in other premises, probably came to see what is happening in friends place tonight. From casual conversations we can learn that they have known each other for years, and there is sympathy between them, not envy, as is often the case with Chefs.
Sebastian, who served us that day, seeing that we did not even start to look at the menus, talked to us, asked simple questions, guessed our needs and prepared exactly what we wanted. With every moment and with every sip of a drink, I absorbed this place with its climate and culture. I tried to remember if somewhere in the world I’ve seen such a place. There is no gold design or fashionable copper, but the interior is elegant and cozy. It is not divided into enclaves. You can feel here discreetly, but not lonely at all, it can also be social, although not intrusively. Looking at the walls, I realized that no male is able to accurately determine the name of the color it was painted in. One would be tempted to describe it as the “green of the ocean” or maybe the “sea depth” only to discover that it will not be the right name, and the only certainty is that this color just fits. It is just fine as it is. Anyway, every element is very carefully thought out and adapted to the rest, even a small bathroom hidden under the stairs is well-equipped and designed.
We decided to choose another drinks from the menu, and the one called ‘Dai-Cure-Skłodowska’ immediately fell into my eyes. How few places here in Poland would have a reference to our history in the name of the drink? How many places are there where you could find the same classic possitions in the cocktail menu and only difference would be in the order? In how many places will you see drinks that you will not going to remember after a week? This time the order was accepted by Mateusz with description of each prepared cocktail. Listening to the story and looking at his work, it was not surprising that He (just like Paweł) represented Poland at the world Word Class competition. The next drinks and other suggestions from the menu and from outside the menu were interesting, surprising and not exaggerated. They made the evening come to night and only the freezing air and the small bill reminded me again that I was still in Warsaw.
El Koktel
ul. Wojciecha Górskiego 8
00-033 Warszawa
Open:
tue-th: 18:00-23:45
fri-sat: 18:00-02:00
tel:507 456 447
info@elkoktel.pl Facebook