It’s not about the vodka — part II

Old vs. New: Poland remains a country of traditions and contradictions. The old Poland both clashes with and integrates what’s new and cool from the West.

I’m writing this from a Starbucks on Nowy Swiat (literally New World) street. This 2-mile stretch of road runs along the Wisla river and connects the Plac Trzech Krzyży (three crosses), where you’ll find modern stores and brands like Burberry and Montblanc, to the University of Warsaw, Polish Presidential Palace, all the way to the Royal Castle in Stary Miasto (old town).

Tucked into renovated retail spaces in old, post-WW2 era concrete buildings, you find global brands like Dolce & Gabbana, L’Occitane, and Nespresso — plus local businesses like the Bollywood Lounge and MediaKraft Agency. Stary Miasto is also where you find Retrospekcja and Karmnik, vodka bars featured in the most excellent and educational Eat Warsaw Vodka Tour.

In the new Poland, you even find authentic Polish hip hop, showcased in the Vice series From Poland with Love. Polish pride is on the rise and Nowy Swiat represents the new Poland — youthful, innovative, dynamic, yet traditional and rich in history and culture.

In my next post, I’ll share what I learned about how these traditions and trends are influencing vodka making and marketing.