Now more restaurants than banks in Warsaw?

No statistics to back this up, only casual observation, biut It seems that once there was a bank on every corner and several in between. Now many are gone and restrautrnats, cafés, bistros and food shops have replaced them. Has anyone else observed this in Warsaw? What might the reason behind this be?

I think that is a very good evolution. On Plac Wilsona here in Warsaw, banks were taking over the whole neighbourhood. Now it seems that process is on the reverse.

Good.

If you like Kebab on Plac Wilsona... there is an element of truth to your statement at one time you could only find restaurants in the center of Waw, now many people want to eat out locally, areas have become more affluent with young professionals buying into new developments eateries have followed. It should also be pointed out that the failure of eateries in Poland is at an all time high.

Was it a case of overproduction -- credit-granting banks were booming and evreryone wanted to get into the act? Now credit requirements are stiffer. Simultaneously more people are eating out. Perhaps those two factors have largely contributed to the change.

Exactly. I can also see the change in Wrocław. Banks and credit agencies closing branch offices, and more restaurants and cafes popping up, even in residential areas. And existing cafes and restaurants have a larger clientele, as well. God, there are a LOT of sushi restaurants alone in Wrocław, and not all of them are in the center. And pizzerias are almost as common as cockroaches. I have noticed a drop in the number of kebab places, though. I think that market was way oversaturated. Still a drastic shortage of good mid-range restaurants, though, even in the center.

Any surviving bary mleczne out Wrocław way? Only a handful have survived in Warsaw, but they have expanded their menus to include meat dishes.

There's 2 in the centre, although the one I walked past most days last week didn't appear to be open, unless I was just unlucky with the times.

Polonius3

Yes, there are still about a dozen left, though most, if not all, have meat dishes as well. I don't think any are any meatless bary meleczne left. There is at least one real deal bar mleczny, Bar Mewa. I feel guity going there because the prices are obviously subsidized by the state, and the clientele is the true poor of the city (and, unfortunately, they often smell horrible). However, they have the best pierogi in the city. No competition. But they serve them only at 13:00, and you have to be in line well before then. The line is quite long. The surówki are the best I've ever had in any restaurant, and they cost less than a złoty. See: gastronauci.pl/pl/6314-bar-mleczny-mewa-wroclaw

This said and done..I think Amrit is one of the better kebabs in Warsaw.. But I still do no not understand why there is/was such an expansion of banks in Warsaw. The trend for example in Belgium is that banks are closing down offices all the time. PC banking has replaced them. And let's admit it...I wonder how often the average PF goes to a bank...

Pensioners mostly use Poczta Polska to settle their bills. There used to be a vogue for paying bills at your supermarket, but this seems to have passed.

Has anyone tried this scheme? You buy the card and get discounts, two for one etc. Plus savings on taxis. It seems to be Warsaw only but some of the restaurants taking part are good ones.

go-out.com.pl