Poland - Eastern Europe - page 460

Sopot
Don't pass up the chance to see Sopot, Gda^sk's answer to the Hamptons
and Atlantic City all rolled up into one. Before World War II, Sopot was the
haunt of the moneyed classes—a place where in order to properly summer
you had to be somebody. After the war, during the Communist period, the
resort lost some of its sheen. It was still regarded as exclusive, but the idea
of a decadent seaside resort didn't fit well with the reigning ideological aes-
thetic. Since 1989, Sopot has mounted something of a comeback, cashing in
on both its former allure and affirming its identity as Poland's top summer-
time party town.
Sopot's an easy 25-minute train ride from Gda^sk's main station. From
the station, head down the steps to ul. Ko1ciuszki, which leads you to town's
main drag, ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino, a long, sloping pedestrianized
walk that takes you all the way to the pier.
From here there are several things to do. You can stroll the pier, the
longest along the Baltic coast. It's possible to catch the ferry here to the Hel
Peninsula or over to Gda^sk as alternative way to get back. Sopot's beaches,
some of the nicest and most accessible in the Gda^sk area, fan off on both
sides of the pier. To the right, a long, tree-lined walk, with a very nice bike
path, skirts the beach and will take you all the back to the suburbs of
Gda^sk. Should you feel the urge to cycle, Rowerownia (ul. Bitwa Pod Plow-
cami 39; & 058/551-11-76 ) rents by the hour or the day.
Bohaterów Monte Cassino is lined on both sides with restaurants and
cafes; sometime around midevening—10pm or so—the mood shifts into
party drive, and these very same places transform themselves into some of
the Tri-Cities' most happening clubs.
The G l ówne Miasto is filled with cafes, bars, and clubs, with the best of these not
necessarily on D l uga, but on the side streets that parallel. Try the streets 2 w. Ducha,
Piwna, and Chlebnicka. The embankment along D l ugie Pobrze 9 e is a nice spot for an
evening stroll, with plenty of places along the way for a drink, a coffee, or a meal. That
said, for serious partying, particularly in summer, Sopot is the place to be. Centrally
located between Gda ^ sk and Gdynia, and with that whole seaside-chic thing going on
anyway, it's a natural draw at night for the whole region.
Café Absinthe Fun and highly recommended bar where the emphasis is definitely
on drinking, though not necessarily absinthe. Draws an eclectic crowd that seems to
shares a love of chaos. 2w. Ducha 2. & 058/320-37-84.
Faktoria In Sopot, probably the best gay dance club in the Tri-Cities. Draws a mix
of gay and straight men and women for a big night out. Karaoke nights, special fash-
ion shows, and the usual mix of disco, pop, and glam. Rzemie1lnicza 26. & 058/555-00-86.
Ferber Café Another central Gda ^ sk coffee bar that does double duty: a
respectable “Clark Kent” by day serving tourists their espressos, and morphing into a