Hong Kong Restaurateur Bart Szyniec Expands to Warsaw
Hong Kong-based Polish restaurateur Bart Szyniec expands Deadly Rabbits Concepts to Warsaw in 2025
Two restaurant concepts will open in Q3: Ask for Alonzo in Varso Tower and The Slavic Social at Hilton WarsawThe expansion capitalises on Poland's economic transformation and culinary renaissance
GDP per capita doubled in the past decade, with Warsaw emerging as a hub for innovation and investmentAsk for Alonzo brings proven Italian trattoria concept with local Polish influences
Located in Poland's tallest building, the restaurant maintains the signature warmth whilst serving diverse clienteleThe Slavic Social introduces modern Polish cuisine with Asian-influenced cocktail bar
The concept extends beyond dining to create business networking opportunities connecting Slavic and Asian marketsThe venture strengthens Asia-Poland economic collaboration through cultural exchange
Building on growing trade relationships and Hong Kong's role as gateway for Asian investment in Europe
Hong Kong Restaurateur Bart Szyniec Returns Home to Transform Warsaw's Dining Scene
Hong Kong-based Polish restaurateur Bart Szyniec embarks on a remarkable homecoming journey, bringing his acclaimed Deadly Rabbits Concepts to Poland's rapidly evolving culinary landscape. This expansion represents more than business growth—it embodies a deeply personal mission to bridge two worlds that have shaped his professional identity through authentic hospitality and meaningful cultural exchange.
Szyniec's return to Warsaw arrives at a pivotal moment for Poland's hospitality industry. The country's impressive economic transformation, with GDP per capita doubling over the past decade, has sparked a culinary renaissance that positions Warsaw as an emerging gastronomic destination. This evolution creates the perfect backdrop for introducing innovative dining concepts that celebrate both tradition and contemporary excellence.
A Full-Circle Journey Through Hospitality
The expansion marks a profound full-circle moment for Szyniec, who was born and raised in Poland before establishing his stellar hospitality career across Europe and Asia. "Poland is where my story began, and Asia is where I found my calling," Szyniec explains. "These two places have shaped me personally and professionally, and I've always dreamed of bringing them together through something meaningful—connecting people through food, hospitality, and business."
Through Deadly Rabbits Concepts, Szyniec has spent over two decades redefining hospitality standards across international markets. His Hong Kong operations, including five Ask for Alonzo locations alongside À Poêle French Bistro and Qué Pasa Spanish Tapas Y Vino, demonstrate his ability to create community-driven dining experiences that thrive in competitive markets whilst maintaining accessibility and authentic character.
This proven expertise in Asian hospitality markets now positions him uniquely to contribute to Poland's culinary evolution, bringing international standards and innovative approaches to Warsaw's emerging dining scene.
Poland's Economic Renaissance Creates Culinary Opportunities
Poland's remarkable economic transformation has established the country as the fastest-growing economy in the EU and Central and Eastern Europe, making it a leading destination for Foreign Direct Investment. Warsaw's emergence as a thriving hub for innovation and investment has particularly benefited from deepening relationships with Asian markets, with Hong Kong investors doubling their FDI stock in Poland between 2018 and 2022.
This economic growth has catalysed a cultural renaissance, especially within Poland's culinary scene. A new generation of talented Polish chefs, having refined their skills in Michelin-starred establishments worldwide, are returning home to redefine the country's gastronomic identity. Szyniec views this convergence as creating ideal conditions for introducing elevated dining concepts.
"Poland is on the verge of becoming a premier destination for luxury and fine dining," Szyniec observes. "I want to be part of this journey, elevating Warsaw's food scene whilst fostering deeper cultural and business connections between Asia and Poland."
Two Distinctive Concepts Transform Warsaw Dining
Szyniec introduces two carefully developed dining concepts designed to reshape Warsaw's culinary and social ecosystem. The first brings the acclaimed Italian dining experience of Ask for Alonzo to Poland's capital, combining its signature charm with local influences to create a unique blend of familiarity and innovation.
Ask for Alonzo will open in the iconic Varso Tower—the tallest building in Poland and the European Union—in Q3 2025. This location in Warsaw's bustling business district positions the restaurant to serve both local diners and international visitors whilst maintaining the trattoria's hallmark warmth and community focus that has created devoted followings across Hong Kong.
The Warsaw location will retain Ask for Alonzo's celebrated signature Italian dishes and unmatched hospitality standards whilst integrating Polish elements to cater to diverse clientele. This approach reflects Szyniec's philosophy of creating meaningful cultural exchange through authentic dining experiences.
The Slavic Social: Modern Polish Cuisine Meets Business Innovation
Complementing Ask for Alonzo, Szyniec introduces The Slavic Social, opening in Q3 2025 at the Hilton Warsaw on Grzybowska Street. This innovative concept specialises in modern Polish cuisine whilst featuring a state-of-the-art cocktail bar that blends Asian and Polish influences, creating a unique sensory experience that celebrates both culinary traditions.
The Slavic Social aspires to transcend traditional restaurant boundaries, positioning itself as a dynamic cultural and business hub for the Slavic world. The concept extends beyond dining through The Slavic Social Business Club, an exclusive platform designed to create a global network of forward-thinking individuals within the Three Seas Initiative region encompassing the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Sea areas.
This ambitious vision connects the Slavic world with key Asian cities including Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Jakarta, and Dubai, establishing a two-way bridge for ideas, investments, and cultural exchanges that enrich both regions whilst fostering meaningful partnerships.
Strengthening Asia-Poland Economic Collaboration
Szyniec's culinary ventures serve broader strategic purposes in strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong—a global financial hub—and Poland, a rising economic force within Europe. Recent trade growth between Poland and China, surpassing €50 billion in 2023, demonstrates the expanding economic relationship between these regions.
Poland's role as China's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, combined with strategic logistics hubs and the country's importance to the Belt and Road Initiative, positions Warsaw as a crucial gateway for Asian business interests in European markets. Hong Kong's instrumental role in facilitating these relationships makes it an ideal partner for cultural and economic bridge-building initiatives.
Through his restaurants and business networking concepts, Szyniec aims to promote cultural and economic collaboration that benefits both regions, creating lasting partnerships that extend beyond the hospitality industry.
Looking Ahead
With Warsaw set to welcome both Ask for Alonzo and The Slavic Social in 2025, Bart Szyniec's journey from Poland to Asia and back again symbolises a new era of culinary and cultural exchange. By blending his unique vision, global expertise, and profound love for his homeland, Szyniec aims to inspire the next chapter of Poland's culinary and hospitality scene whilst creating lasting connections between two dynamic regions.
Artistic Render of The Slavic Social, Warsaw.
About Bart Szyniec
A graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology in Hospitality Management, Bart Szyniec began his career in Europe before moving to Hong Kong in 2012. After joining the prestigious Aqua Group, he founded Deadly Rabbits Concepts in 2019, building a portfolio of seven successful restaurants that have redefined accessible fine dining in one of the world's most competitive food scenes.
His Hong Kong ventures are celebrated for innovative yet accessible dining experiences that cater to modern, cosmopolitan clientele whilst maintaining authentic cultural character. This latest expansion to Poland demonstrates his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to redefining the global dining landscape through meaningful cultural exchange.
About Deadly Rabbits Concepts
Founded in 2019, Deadly Rabbits Concepts has established itself as an innovative dining group renowned for creativity in the Hong Kong restaurant scene, offering top-notch yet wallet-friendly modern European cuisines.
The group draws its inspiration from the whimsical world of Monty Python, paired with the delightfully absurd sense of humour of Poland, the homeland of founder Bart Szyniec. His belief that the F&B industry should embody fun and light-heartedness remains expressed through the group's playful logo and unique name.
Deadly Rabbits Concepts has become known for its resilience, having navigated the city's challenges during its initial years, including the pandemic. Despite these difficulties, the group has adapted to new norms whilst thriving in Hong Kong's rapidly changing dining scene.
This creative hospitality group is the driving force behind several beloved neighbourhood dining venues, including the modern Italian restaurant Ask for Alonzo at five locations: Wan Chai, Quarry Bay, Tai Hang, Happy Valley, and Soho. In 2024, Deadly Rabbits Concepts introduced two new culinary concepts: À Poêle French Bistro in Quarry Bay and Qué Pasa Spanish Tapas Y Vino in Tai Hang.