The spring and summer habit of Poznań residents is to sit in café gardens which are located mostly in the Old Market Square. The spaces protected by a low paling encourage Poznań residents and tourists to take a rest. Every year, restaurant-keepers install them also in the streets adjacent to the Old Market Square. Huge umbrellas, low fences and gas lamp-ovens decorate most restaurant gardens. On the weekend evenings, it is difficult to find a free seat there. Many people spend nights just like that – sitting over beer. Only some of them are complaining about cold nights in Poznań. Too bad, that restaurant-keepers did not come up with an idea to distribute blankets to warm up the knees, just as it is in Copenhagen.

Those who prefer to relax in a more intimate atmosphere are offered inhaling ice-cream and sorbets in café yards. These yards are hidden among the narrow, old town streets. The yards resembling mysterious gardens are sometimes decorated in a rustic style, with a roof made of five-leaved ivy. Sometimes, they are similar to Japanese gardens decorated in a minimalist style. Then, guests are protected against the rain by a huge bright canopy. Some gardens are smaller, the other are much larger than restaurants at which they were opened. In the evening, each old town yard is illuminated by lamps, lanterns and candles. Their charm is also increased by lamps hidden in the yard corners.

Why else do the Poznań residents like yards? Almost always it is possible to find a free seat there as few people know of their existence. One of the most interesting and longest running yards is located at Świętosławska St. Only here it happens that customers wait in the queue to eat dessert or ice-cream in the open air. Then, they occupy a seat closest to the yard and wait until a seat becomes vacant. On the other hand, there is no crowd in the gardens hidden in the corners of Żydowska St. There are the gardens here which are opened at the beginning of May and you may relax here till first frosts. One of them is decorated in a southern style. In the spacious yard, a fountain stands. Around the tables there is a lot of green. Colourful flowers bloom, herbs scent and the ivy twines around the fence. In the garden, it was enough space for a patio with a roof made of wicker twigs. In Poznań, you can also feel like in Japan. One of the yards is decorated in a minimalist style. The light-coloured roof protects against the excess of the sun and summer rain and the simple benches and tables made of dark wood make the area climatic. At dusk, lanterns are lit above the tables and candles on the tables create a unique mood.

The huge café garden is also one of the attractions of the restaurant which is located in the Apollo Passage. More than one hundred year old chestnut trees cast a shadow on the restaurant tables. In the garden, there is also a historic concert bowl where music is played once a week. Just a year ago, beer gardens were the attraction of the Old Slaughterhouse. How will it be this season? Time will tell.

Photo by: A.Grabowska