Probka (the name means wine cork) is an Italian restaurant and wine bar that has been open for over 10 years and set the standard for modern Italian cuisine in the city.

You can always tell that you're going to have a great culinary experience when the staff welcome you with a relaxed attitude and unforced smiles and really try to understand what you want, providing suggestions and detailed descriptions not only of what's on the menu, but also the day's specials. Probka is that kind of place - smart, sophisticated, great food yes, but also friendly, unstuffy, and genuinely welcoming. You can't go wrong choosing from the menu or the specials board, whether with old favorites such as lasagna (suitably moist) or more interesting pastas such as the tagliolini with shrimps and cream that we tried. The Forest Berries Soup, a kind of summer mouse, was off the menu but our waitress managed to find a portion each for our party of three. Look out for regular performances by house band Frukty, a local swing band which plays covers of famous jazz and pop songs.

Breakfasts available from 0900 to 1200 on work days, and 1000 to 1300 at weekends, with your choice of syrniki (a Russian specialty, curd fritters),croissants, smoked salmon, brown toast, home-made yoghurts with berries or honey, ricotta, porridge with jam, sandwiches, omlettes, freshly-squeezed juices and of course steaming pots of coffee.

Probka is a non-smoking restaurant.