Lukullus

While Paris was all about haute couture, I spent my last week in Warsaw, discovering the city’s most outstanding spots together with my friends. As you might already know (and if you’ve read this one), I’m obsessed with Lukullus, a patisserie which was founded in 1946. The family business survived hard, socialist and early capitalist eras which severely affected Poland and after many years of renovations and rebranding, the brand expanded and opened a number of spots – and the one on Chmielna is Lukullus’ freshest addition. I can honestly say it’s my favourite one. Designed by Jan Strumiłło, acknowledged Polish architect, it fluently fuses the historic past with Warsaw’s modernity. Inspired with the neighbouring cinema Atlantic, Jan aimed to reference the old-school glamour with curvy neon on the entrance. Eclectic tiles match the bold, printed cushions, and a variety of flea-market finds from the 60s work perfectly with elegant, marble coffee-tables. But that’s not it – the ‘eating’ space makes you gasp with its beautifully preserved wooden mural, depicting a rural scene. Of course, describing a Lukullus patisserie can’t be done without mentioning the sweet part. Just like in all other locations, Chmielna offers the house’s classics – donuts filled with home-made jam, vanilla croissants, limoncello meringue or exotic mango cake. And many, many more delights… I need to stop, because I’m already drooling over the memory of those tastes!

Chmielna 32 / Warsaw

Lukullus is not your average pastry shop. The first Lukullus spot in Warsaw was found in 1946 and since from the very beginning of its existence, the business focused on making cakes only out of natural ingredients. The richness of their sweet manufacture is based on the best quality products, like the Polish butter from Grajewo, Dutch cacao or vanilla Bourbon from Madagascar. Moreover, the delightful cakes from Lukullus are also the feast for the eye – all of them are inspired with Paris’ finest patisseries. Thanks to the skills the Lukullus confectioners learnt at prestigious culinary schools of France (like Le Gordon Bleu or Ecole Gregoire Ferrandi), the cakes coming from this place are one-of-a-kind and simply delicious, without a bit of cliché.

At the moment, Lukullus has four points in Warsaw and I promise myself to visit the recently opened one on Chmielna the next time I’m in Warsaw. But if speaking of my last visit to Mokotowska affiliate, I tasted the “Polish Jungle” – a nutritious mix of passion fruit, chocolate, physalis (the Peruvian berry) and soft cream. I’m literally drooling now, when I’m writing about this little piece of heaven…

Mokotowska 52a / Warsaw

Note the watercolour illustration of “Winter Warsaw” by Tytus Brzozowski, which is printed on every box. I think Lukullus mastered branding to perfection.