Kawiarnia U Przyjaciół

01 — THE ROOM

The Room

In December 2002, a small literary café opened in the courtyard of the PTPN building in Poznań. It called itself Kawiarenka Literacka — a literary café — and it has been serving coffee differently ever since.

A year later, in 2003, a theatre was born inside the café — Teatr U Przyjaciół. Its first production was "Wiosna Schulza". In 2006 the café received the Medal Młodej Sztuki for cultural animation.

The café sits in the courtyard garden of the PTPN building (Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk, founded 1857), where Poland's oldest monument of Adam Mickiewicz stands among the greenery.

The red velvet booth, portrait wall and red drapes inside the café — A room full of familiar faces.

A small round table beside a grandfather clock and framed portraits

The café bar with theatre posters, coffee bags and hats on the wall

A CARD KEPT CLOSE

Nauczyliśmy się pić kawę inaczej. W towarzystwie pisarzy nie wypada siorbać, pokasływać; książka też nie byle czyja i twarz jakaś taka skupiona na występ.

We learned to drink coffee differently. In the company of writers, one does not slurp or cough politely; the book is no ordinary book, and the face is somehow focused on the performance.

Gdy już, ukłoniwszy się w zaskoczeniu i w przeświadczeniu, że byłoby dobrze znów tak dziwnie pobyć, przekonaliśmy się, że Przyjaciele są prawdziwi. Cała reszta musi się po prostu przyzwyczaić.

And once we had bowed in surprise, convinced it would be good to stay a while in this strange way, we realised the Friends are real. Everything else simply has to get used to it.

— From a card by Malfred, for the café's 5th anniversary

Nie urodził się jeszcze na świecie architekt czy dekorator, który — budując kawiarnię — mógł powiedzieć z góry: W tym lokalu będzie taka a taka publiczność i taki a taki nastrój.

No architect or decorator has yet been born who — building a café — could say in advance: this place will have this audience and this atmosphere.

— Leopold Tyrmand, "Zły"

02 — THE DRAWERS

The Drawers

A little something, tucked away.
Pull a handle. Make yourself at home.

KawyCoffees

CzekoladySignature hot chocolates

Newspaper clippings and the MAKRAPE poster on the bar beneath bookshelves

An oval mirror, well-filled bookshelves and the café bar

Red velvet banquette seating beside the bar and shelves of books

Herbaty i napojeTeas & cold drinks

Desery i przekąskiDesserts & snacks

Wino i piwoWine & beer

03 — NOTES

Notes from the Drawers

Guests leave notes in the miniature drawers.
Here are three of them, word for word.

Przeurocze miejsce, intymne, nieco klaustrofobiczne (ciasno, ale w tym urok) połączone z teatrem
A most charming place, intimate, slightly claustrophobic (cramped, but that's the charm) — joined with a theatre.

Karol O.GOOGLE REVIEW

Oryginalne miejsce z klimatem!
An original place with atmosphere!

Brzosia 1.GOOGLE REVIEW

Отлично!
Excellent!

ПавелGOOGLE REVIEW

4.8 · 2,410 reviewsON GOOGLE

04 — THE GARDEN

The Garden

The courtyard garden is one of Poznań's best-kept secrets — hydrangeas, old trees, and Poland's oldest monument of Adam Mickiewicz standing among the greenery. There is at least one resident cat. In summer, the garden tables are the quietest seats in the Old Town.