The Verdict
Mercato is the restaurant on the ground floor of the Hilton Gdansk, opening onto a terrace above the Motlawa river in the Old Town. Head chef Pawel Stawicki has led the kitchen since 2011, and the restaurant holds a place in the MICHELIN Guide for its modern take on Pomeranian cooking.
The menu draws on four symbols from the region's history, the broad bean, Baltic salmon, the large Pomeranian sheep known as the Fagas, and duck. A six-course tasting menu runs around 75 dollars per person, with signatures such as cobia tartare, white asparagus cream soup and slow-cooked veal cheek. Pawel Stawicki rewrites the menu roughly every six months.
The Kitchen
Head chef Pawel Stawicki has run Mercato since 2011, cooking modern Pomeranian dishes built on local produce such as fine Pomeranian lamb and Baltic salmon. Signatures include cobia tartare, white asparagus cream soup and slow-cooked veal cheek. The six-course tasting menu is about 75 dollars per person, and the menu is rewritten roughly every six months.
The Room
Mercato sits on the ground floor of the Hilton Gdansk, with a calm, contemporary dining room and a terrace that opens onto the Motlawa river and the Old Town waterfront. The setting is comfortable rather than formal, which suits a business dinner, a relaxed celebration or an unhurried tasting menu for two.
Best for Impressing a Guest
To impress a guest in Gdansk, Mercato pairs a MICHELIN Guide kitchen with a riverside terrace in the Old Town. Book the six-course tasting menu, ask for a table near the Motlawa windows, and let Pawel Stawicki's Pomeranian cooking carry a long, considered dinner.
Not For
Mercato is not for a quick, cheap bite or a diner who wants only familiar hotel-restaurant cooking. It is a tasting-menu kitchen built on regional Pomeranian produce, so it does not suit a guest after a fast meal, a tight budget, or anyone who would rather skip a multi-course format.
Reservations
Mercato takes bookings online and through OpenTable, and the riverside tables fill on weekend evenings, so reserve ahead. The six-course tasting menu is around 75 dollars per person before drinks, with shorter options available. It sits at Targ Rybny 1 inside the Hilton Gdansk, a short walk from the Old Town's main streets, and dress is smart casual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mercato in Gdansk worth it?
Mercato is worth it for a modern Pomeranian tasting menu in a comfortable riverside room. Head chef Pawel Stawicki has cooked there since 2011, the restaurant is listed in the MICHELIN Guide, and the terrace above the Motlawa suits a business dinner or a relaxed celebration rather than a quick or casual meal.
How much does Mercato cost?
Mercato's six-course tasting menu is around 75 dollars per person before drinks and service, with shorter menus available. It sits in the mid-to-upper range for Gdansk dining. As a MICHELIN Guide restaurant inside the Hilton, it is built for an occasion meal, so budget for wine and the full multi-course experience.
Who is the chef at Mercato?
Mercato has been led by head chef Pawel Stawicki since 2011. He cooks a modern take on Pomeranian cuisine, drawing on local produce such as Pomeranian lamb and Baltic salmon, and rewrites the menu roughly every six months. His kitchen has kept Mercato in the MICHELIN Guide for its regional cooking.
What is Mercato known for?
Mercato is known for tasting menus that reinterpret the food of Gdansk and Pomerania, themed around the broad bean, Baltic salmon, the Pomeranian Fagas sheep and duck. Signatures include cobia tartare, white asparagus cream soup and slow-cooked veal cheek, served in a riverside room at the Hilton Gdansk.
Also in Gdansk
Explore the full Gdansk dining guide, or compare it with Arco by Paco Perez, Fino and Treinta y Tres. See the best restaurants to impress clients.