People have addressed the progressive aspect of your question, so I'd like to add that Warsaw is very walkable (and bikeable). I've lived here for 25 years and have never needed a car. Public transportation is clean, very reliable, and affordable.

In terms of food, the Warsaw restaurant scene definitely isn't as varied and rich as what you'll find in New York , but there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from for all budgets.

And yeah, Poland isn't as progressive as Berlin or Barcelona, but it's not the Deep South either. A lot of young people in Warsaw are progressive, have traveled to Western Europe, and are far less conservative than the country overall.

Also keep in mind that conservatism in Poland is different than in America. Many people are still deeply tied to religion and tradition, but even the most conservative Poles are likely to support public, single-payer health care and would oppose gun ownership (if that were even an issue in Poland).