Can you dine in a place that inspired one of the world’s most beautiful fairy tales? When stepping into Restauracja Pod Samsonem, you are doing more than just entering a venue with a tradition dating back to 1958. You are entering a space where two centuries ago, by candlelight and the scent of old wood, Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann brought to life a world known to every child today.

Illustration of *Nutcracker and Mouse-King* (1853). author: Jocelyn

A Master of Romanticism in Warsaw

Few residents of the capital realize that it was in this very building, between 1804 and 1807, that E.T.A. Hoffmann lived and worked. At the time a Prussian civil servant, and after hours a visionary composer and writer, he walked the exact same corridors that today lead our guests to their tables.

It was here, in the heart of Warsaw’s New Town, that his extraordinary imagination took shape. It is said that the atmosphere of this place—a unique blend of elegance, mystery, and the historical weight of the townhouses—allowed him to lay the foundations for masterpieces like "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."

A Scenography Worthy of a Legend

It is no coincidence that our restaurant's interiors were designed by renowned theatrical set designers, Marek Lewandowski and Marcin Stajewski. They created a space that is almost "Hoffmannesque" in its nature:

Every historical souvenir on our walls is a piece of a larger puzzle. When the lights dim in the evening and the silhouette of the Barbican appears through the window, it is easy to believe that the figurines on the shelves might come to life—just as they did in the stories of the tenant from two hundred years ago.

Taste That Spans Eras

Hoffmann loved social life, theater, and fine cuisine. Although our menu today is a tribute to the rich Polish-Jewish tradition, the spirit of celebrating a meal has remained unchanged for centuries. By choosing our restaurant, you become part of a historical continuity that survived the turmoil of history.

"Pod Samsonem" is not just an address. It is a place where the boundary between history, literature, and contemporary gastronomy blurs with every bite of our Jewish-style fish or traditional Polish specialties.

Visit Us and Find Your Inspiration

We invite you not just for a meal, but for an encounter with the spirit of Old Warsaw. Perhaps it was at your very table that Hoffmann sketched his first notes or imagined the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King?

Come and discover the magic that still lingers within these walls.