Reviews: Galeria Sztuki Rowerowej 89 / Plus:
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LIFESTYLE
ACCOMODATION 89 / COMMUNITY 95 / FITNESS 93 / HEALTH & BEAUTY 92 / MEDICAL 94 / TRANSPORTATION 91
ACCOMODATION
Insider’s Pick
HOTELS IN WARSAW 5-star hotels
Hilton Warsaw (B4) ul. Grzybowska 63, tel. 22 356 5555, www.hilton.com. Single and double room €95-125 (weekend), €135 (weekdays). Excellent services and amenities in a world-class hotel and conference centre. Holmes Place Lifestyle Club offers premium fitness facilities.
Galeria Sztuki Rowerowej ul. Widok 10, tel. 507 202 572, www.sztukarowerowa.pl.
PHOTOGRAPH BY AGNIESZKA LENART
I
have a confession to make. I did something really terrible this winter, something unforgivable. I left my beloved bicycle outside in the rain, sleet and snow all winter. I passed it every blizzardy afternoon with a lump of guilt in my throat, watching veins of rust take over the silver surface. All because my trusty Gazelle is just too heavy to lug up the stairs. I had no choice, I tell you. So by the time spring rolled around I decided to face the music and see what damage the Polish winter had done to my only set of wheels in this city. The chain was so rusty it had jammed and some thugs had done a number on my light. It was time for some doctoring. There are a couple of straight bike repair shops in the city, but the one on Widok - the names translates to Gallery of Bicycle Art - is pretty special. It looks like a time warp; a vintage interior filled with antiques and all the weirdest, most wonderful bicycles you can imagine. It was set up in 2007 by a bunch of dudes who wanted to run a bicycle repair/rent/buy shop combined with a music room/gramophone repair/vinyl shop and café/chillout spot. An ambitious aim, but I think they’ve nailed it as this is the spot most Varsovians head to when they need a tweak or a whole new deal. Aside from doing repairs, they buy vintage bikes and ‘pimp’ them up, so you’ll find a range of funky Gazelles, Hollenders and Batavus wheels that are definitely hipster approved. Plus they play awesome music. I admit, I was a bit afraid that my Gazelle might get lost in the muddle of all those other bikes, but they knew exactly which one it was and where to find it. Marcin pointed out all the adjustments they’d made, let me have a test run, and I was back on my ride in no time. This really is a great place to rent bikes for tourists in town for just the weekend, hence great for those visiting for the Euros, or for hanging out with a beer in the music room soaking up the hippie spirit of this place. (AL)
Hyatt Regency Warsaw (E8) ul. Belwederska 23, tel. 22 558 1234, www.warsaw.regency@hyatt.com, www.warsaw.regency.hyatt.com. Venti Tre Italian Restaurant, Q Club Restaurant and Bar, Club Oasis Fitness Centre, indoor swimming pool, spa & massage services. Offical base of Poland’s Euro 2012 football team. InterContinental (C4) ul. Emilii Plater 49, tel. 22 328 8888, www.warsaw.intercontinental.com. Single & double rooms: €95-155. Riverview Wellness Centre and swimming pool on top floor. Le Meridien Bristol (D3) ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44, tel. 22 551 1000, www.starwoodhotels.com. Single room: €129-159, double room: €139-169. Fitness centre, gym, swimming pool, sauna. Mamaison Le Régina Hotel Warsaw (C1) ul. Kościelna 12, tel.22 531 6000, www.mamaison.com. Muffle up for an evening prowl around old town, before spoiling yourself inside the desginer confines of this boutique masterpiece. Prices start from approx. €115, but it’s well worth your time browsing their ‘romantic break’ and ‘just married’ packages.
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