El Koktel — Restaurant in Warsaw

This is very nice bar, but I am not sure why this place have better reviews than clearly better bars. It might be because it is closest bar to few big hotels. There are better places just 2-3 tram stops to the south. We were there early on Friday night and there was no intimate and mysterious atmosphere one could expect after seeing photos. Yes, you need to ring door bell to get in, and lights were dimmed, but there was loud music playing at the bar. There are no quieter corners - there are few tiny tables packed close to each other just next to bar with people walking behind your back. There are few seats at the bar. There is one spot at window, but view is just some scaffolding and parked cars. And there are few seats upstairs, but every time I was there we were told those are not available even thou they were empty when we arrived and empty when we left. This is very nice bar, and one easiest to get to when coming from north of Warsaw, but surely it is not best one as review average might suggest.

*Response to response from the owner: We visited very early on Friday, there were only few guests inside. We made reservation with preference, we reiterated it when we arrived. Still it was ignored. Same situation happened on previous visit. It was early, midweek, and not busy. Bars I have meant were Worek Kości and...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting El Koktel, a bar that exudes a speakeasy vibe. To gain entry, you must ring the doorbell and wait for the host to seat you. While it did take a bit for someone to greet us, I eventually caught the host's attention by signaling through the window. Once inside, we were seated by the bar and treated to exceptional service by one of the best bartenders I've encountered in a while. Not only was he extremely friendly, but he was also incredibly skilled, crafting some of the finest cocktails I've ever tasted.

The espresso martini, in particular, secured a spot in my top 5 favorites, and the "Make My Life Harder" cocktail was equally impressive, with a fragrance reminiscent of perfume. In addition to serving up fantastic drinks, our bartender also provided us with valuable recommendations for places to visit and dine in the area.

Overall, El Koktel is a fantastic spot that I recommend. The speakeasy atmosphere, combined with impeccable service and delectable cocktails, makes for...

An American-style speakeasy with fantastic cocktails, I highly recommend El Koktel to anyone.

They have a colorful and extremely interesting menu that seems to rotate on a regular basis. On our visit, it was TV show themed, so you could order a cocktail named "Sex and the City" -- grey goose vodka, cointreau, white chocolate, white wine, or a "Pokemon" -- japanese whiskey, st germaine (elderflower liquor), shiso leaf.

They also have a "Greatest Hits" section of the bar menu where bestsellers are listed. Also offered are bespoke cocktails.

All the cocktails were very tasty and we guzzled them down without any reserve. We ordered 2-4 every evening and did not have to wait very long from time of ordering to time of service (a pet peeve of mine for speakeasies, since craft cocktails DO take time to make).

The space can get tight especially on weekend evenings, so get there early or come on weeknights.

Service...