By now, you should have realized that one of the most awaited design events in Europe is going to take place Łódź, the third biggest city in Poland. The variety of Łódź Design Festival’s program and the possibility to find different field – every professionals and expert can find his own taste – from graphic design, architecture, and industrial design to art craft design, design services, and fashion designs. It’s an opportunity too good to miss and in the same instance, you could find some time to look around the city and tour its most significant places. Łódź, known for being the creative and artistic center of Poland and its past of industrial city, is a real revelation for the eyes: Piotrkowska street is the pulsing heart of the city and the longest commercial street in all Europe with its 5 km of modernism styled buildings and shops. From 2007 it has been nominated as a UNESCO Creative City Network for being the Polish filmmaking center. Are you ready to start the ŁÓDŹ DESIGN GUIDE? Keep reading to begin!

ŁÓDŹ DESIGN GUIDE

WHERE TO STAY

VIENNA HOUSE ANDEL’S

Vienna House Andel’s is a trendy hotel full of Łódź past heritage. Located in a former weaving in the Manifaktura – the city’s top spot for shopping, arts, and cultural events – it displays a red brick façade that announces to its guest the industrial feel of the city past: known in the past for being an industrial hub, now Łódź is turning the old factory buildings in new enterprises. The hotel, with 277 designer rooms and suites, provides 16 conference rooms and over 2,500 s.m. of space: the bright accents of colors manage to highlight the rooms’ modern style and if you want to try a longer stay the maisonettes are just for you! For an edgy and industrial-feeling aperitivo, you can try Oscar’s bar and its informal setting and or the restaurant Delight, awarded two toques by Gault&Millau for head chef Miroslaw Jablonski’s the fusion cuisine. A must go-to in our ŁÓDŹ DESIGN GUIDE.

AMBASADOR CENTRUM

The Ambasador Centrum hotel, situated in Piłsudskiego Avenue, is really near the central hub of the city – Piotrkowska Street – and it offers a series of luxurious amenities: from the restaurant offering a traditionally Polish and Mediterranean cuisine to the 139 luxurious rooms and 4 suites and the swimming pool with a Turkish bath and dry saunas.

WHERE TO EAT

AFFOGATO

Discover the delicacies of head chef Jakub Hamankiewicz who takes inspiration from traditional Polish cuisine and his past works in the best Gault&Millau awarded restaurants. The high quality of the seasonal food is complemented by the minimalistic styled cocktails of Damian Socha, the head of the bar. Earthy tones and light wooden furniture are the common elements of Affogato, in which the red brick walls – a link to the city’s heritage – is ever-present.

QUALE RESTAURANTS

Quale restaurant is a unique experience: let yourself be inspired by the 20s-inspired location of the three intimate restaurants and whiskey bar, while the chef Szymon Stach will provide the best revisiting of Polish and European cuisine. Every element and every detail have been put there to highlight the Art Decò-styled references, perfect to accompany the 9-course tasting menu and the 200 types of whiskey. An example of Polish elegance in our ŁÓDŹ DESIGN GUIDE.

WHAT TO DO

THE UNICORN STABLES

Łódź had been a tram city since 1898 and the first city to have electrified tram in Poland. So, The Unicorn Stables is one of the most characteristic places in all the city even if it only dates back to 2015: a landmark train station designed by the architecture practice Foroom, based in Warsaw, that had been the focus of the debate ever since its construction. Inspired by the Art-Nouveau elements scattered around the city, it maintains its original functional concept of a metro station, by adding other times’ vibe. Geometric shapes, stained colorful glasses, and slender posts are the details behind the nickname “Unicorn Stables”.