During our latest stay in Kraków, we had the chance to try several restaurants and foodie spots. We ate extremely well, and for less than in many other European cities! The children really enjoyed Polish cuisine. So here are all the places we tried and that the whole family approved of!
Our favourite restaurants and cafés in Kraków
In the Old Town:
Pierogarnia Góralska ❤
For our first lunch in Kraków, we really wanted to have pierogi (small Polish dumplings), as the children had loved this dish during our very first stay in Poland a few years ago. It is one of those specialities that almost everyone enjoys, and children love it! They come with all kinds of fillings: potato, cabbage, mushrooms, meat and more. The pierogi at Pierogarnia Góralska were absolutely excellent! The texture of the dough was just how we like it: fresh and al dente. The terrace of this little restaurant is also very pleasant, right in the heart of the Old Town. The only slight drawback was the wait. They do warn you that the pierogi are freshly prepared, but it felt as though they had gone out to pick the mushrooms themselves! Still, they were so good that we recommend this place if you are not in a hurry.
Pierogarnia Góralska: Plac Dominikański, Kraków
Gościnna Chata
This is a traditional inn-style restaurant in the Old Town. It is a touristy place, but very friendly and efficient! We were in Kraków on the eve of the marathon, so it was extremely busy that evening. Despite the queue outside this restaurant (and every other restaurant that day), we did not have to wait very long because the dining rooms are large and the service is quick. The menu features reasonably priced classics of Polish home cooking. The waitresses wear traditional folk dresses and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. A good choice for a touristy restaurant! We particularly recommend the dessert: potato pancakes with roasted apples (naleśniczki ziemniaczane).
Gościnna Chata: Sławkowska 10, Kraków
Pod Baranem ❤
We absolutely loved this traditional restaurant between the Old Town and Kazimierz, in the Stradom district, just a short walk from Wawel Castle. It is a more upmarket, fine-dining restaurant. We seemed to be the only tourists there. The setting is elegant and the service impeccable. The menu features the same Polish specialities, but everything was more refined. An excellent place! It is best to book ahead (we got the last table when we arrived at around 7pm).
Pod Baranem: Świętej Gertrudy 21, Kraków
Other suggestions for traditional restaurants in the same category as Pod Baranem are Miód Malina and Kogel Mogel. For these restaurants, it is best to book a few days in advance.
In the Kazimierz district:
Kolanko No. 6 ❤
This all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is a real bargain! From 8am to 12 noon, this restaurant in the heart of Kazimierz’s Jewish quarter offers an unlimited buffet for just 45 zł (around €11) per person, including drinks. Everything was fresh too! There is a wide selection of homemade salads as well as cold cuts. I only photographed the vegetarian section, but there was a second table with meat and charcuterie. The wood-panelled interior feels warm and welcoming. We cannot fault it: go for it!
Kolanko No. 6: Józefa 17, Kraków
Mr Vincent ❤
This little pierogi restaurant in the heart of Kazimierz is excellent and offers a wide range of different fillings. The setting is very simple, and the owner seems to be a Vincent van Gogh fan, as you eat surrounded by copies of his paintings. It is tiny, so do not arrive too late.
Mr Vincent: Bożego Ciała 12, Kraków
Bazaar Bistro
On the corner of Plac Nowy, we had dinner at this trendy Kazimierz restaurant. A little background: 13 years ago, we ate at a restaurant in this very spot, although it had a different name and different owners. Back then, it was a simple little canteen serving pierogi. Feeling nostalgic, we decided to eat in the same place even though it was now a completely different restaurant! In the end, the food was very good, although perhaps a little too fashionable for our taste and therefore a little pricey (relatively speaking). The beef tartare was excellent, as was the maczanka krakowska, a typical pork dish (see photo). As it is also a wine bar, they offer a wide selection by the glass, which allowed us to try Polish wine without committing to a whole bottle! It was better than we expected.
Bazaar Bistro: Plac Nowy 6, Kraków
Café Mleczarnia ❤
I love this kind of outdoor café! There are many of them in Kraków. This one is ideally located in the heart of Kazimierz. We stopped here twice during our four days in Kraków. It is so pleasant to be surrounded by greenery in the middle of the city. The coffee is good and is served with a small Polish caramel sweet. We also walked past in the evening and it was packed! It is definitely a place not to miss if you want to enjoy the district’s young, bohemian atmosphere.
Café Mleczarnia: Rabina Beera Meiselsa 20, Kraków
Other treats to try in Kraków
Rose doughnuts
A Polish friend introduced us to doughnuts (pączki) filled with rose-petal jam, a Polish speciality. This time, it was our turn to introduce them to the children, who really liked them. We bought ours at Dobra Pączkarnia. It is a chain that you will often come across around the city. They offer many other flavours too, but rose is a Polish speciality.
Hot chocolate at Karmello Chocolatier
Karmello is an institution in Kraków. It specialises in hot chocolate. I personally never drink it, so only the children tried it, and they loved it! You can choose between dark or milk chocolate. My children prefer the milk-chocolate version, which explains the colour in the photo. In the morning, they offer a hot drink and croissant deal.
Karmello: Plac Wszystkich Świętych 11, Kraków
Ice cream at Good Lood
This is a good ice-cream chain, tried and approved by the children. The strawberry cheesecake flavour was excellent and not too sweet.
Typical snacks
Zapiekanki
Zapiekanki are halved baguettes topped first with a layer of mushrooms, followed by plenty of ingredients of your choice and cheese, then grilled. They are a typical snack to eat on the go, particularly around Plac Nowy, where there are numerous food kiosks. This speciality originated in the 1970s under the communist regime. It is the inexpensive local version of fast food. Fortunately, I was able to order half a portion, as this is not my favourite type of snack and it is rather filling. The rest of the family enjoyed trying this tradition. The atmosphere around the square is very lively. It is worth trying once for the experience! We bought ours from Elebele, but I think the stalls are probably all much of a muchness.
Traditional Kraków bread rings
Throughout the Old Town, you will also come across street vendors selling braided, ring-shaped bread called obwarzanki. The little blue carts are part of the city’s folklore. We did not try them, as they looked a little dry, but they are part of a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages: these bread rings are boiled and then baked. They are said to have later inspired the recipe for bagels.
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I hope these restaurant recommendations will be useful during your stay in Kraków! If you try any of them, please let me know what you think and share any other good places you discover.
What is your favourite Polish dish?
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