What is a Milk Bar (Bar Mleczny in Polish)?

So a lot of people assume that Milk Bars were born during communism- and that isn’t entirely true. These worker canteens were here long before communism- but it was under the communist regime that they were subsidized and popularized. Many workers during communist times had a worker’s canteen at their factory- where their contract would entitle them to daily meals. But Milk Bars were established to make sure that even workers at the smallest of factories could get a proper hot meal every day as well- and the government’s subsidization of these cafeterias made sure of it. Some Milk Bars today are still subsidized by the government- well at least the non-meat options on the menu are, which is why they really can provide the cheapest meal in Krakow. 

And no they aren’t a bar selling different types of milk. Milk Bars are a cheap, cafeteria-style, restaurant that serves traditional Polish food at the lowest prices possible. Don’t expect front of house staff like waiters or waitresses, and if you’re going to an authentic one, they probably won’t have alcohol either. But they will have handmade, home cooked Polish food daily.

We can’t promise the staff will be nice to you- but we’ve had good luck lately. Just keep in mind the specific Milk Bar we are recommending here only has a menu in Polish- so keep a smile on your face, and don’t go here if you need to alter the menu in any way- it’s not going to work.

How to get to Bar Mleczny Centralny?

This is the best Milk Bar in the city of Krakow- and it’s located in the former communist utopia of Nowa Huta, so getting there takes a bit of time- but is not difficult at all. Easiest way, grab a taxi or Uber, but if you like to use public transportation like us you’ve got some options. You need to get to the stop “Plac Centralny im. R. Reagana”.  If you’re in the Old Town take Tram 4 from Poczta Główna 1t. If you’re in Kazimierz take Tram 22 from Stradom 1t or Tram 10 from Stradom 4t. Of course, for the most up to date info on how to get anywhere, use Polish Route Planner Jokdojade! The official address for the Milk Bar is Osiedle Centrum C 1- in English it’s Central Diner, but in Polish it’s Bar Mleczny Centralny.

Why this one? 

We like to recommend this one, because it really is the most authentic Milk Bar in probably all of Poland.  It was built in the 1950s as part of the construction of the communist utopia, known as Nowa Huta, and still looks just like it did back then.  This doesn’t mean it’s your only option for a Milk Bar though. If you prefer to stay in the Old Town and not venture out to Nowa Huta- you can always go to one of the Bar Mleczny on Grodzka Street instead.

Bar Mleczny Centralny is still deeply subsidized by the Polish government- meaning its prices are incredible. While its purpose is to provide the less fortunate with accessible daily meals, supporting a Milk Bar, even when you could afford to go somewhere fancier, helps them to stay in business. When an article was published in 2021, stating that the historical Bar Mleczny in Nowa Huta might go out of business- it was made clear that they needed everyone to come in for a cheap lunch- not just those that needed it the most.

Is a Milk Bar really the cheapest place to eat in Krakow?

Yeah. Especially this one. If you look at our pictures, you’ll see that we ordered the following all for under $15 TOTAL:

Pork cutlet with potatoes and cabbage

Chicken cutlet with potatoes and beets

Pierogi Ruskie

Strawberries and Rice

Tomato Soup

Barszcz

Juices to drink

The Milk Bars closer to the Old Town will have higher prices, but they are still much less than a regular restaurant. 

Can I order in English at Milk Bar Centralny?

Bar Mleczny Centralny is a truly authentic experience- which means there is no English menu. So do some pointing (and smiling) and definitely don’t go if you have any sort of food allergies because communication may be hard. The Bar Mleczny on Grodzka and elsewhere around the city of Krakow, often have English menus and English-speaking staff, so keep that in mind if you are trying to figure out where to go.

Don’t forget- if you have any questions about Krakow- get in touch! You can find us on all social media @KrakowExplorers or contact us here. 

@krakowexplorers

Okay- we are at one of my favorite things to do in Krakow! It’s time for number eight on our list of 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣➕ Things to do in Krakow (in no particular order)— visiting the Milk Bar in Nowa Huta! “Bar Mleczny Centralny” is just a short tram ride outside the city center- but totally worth the visit. (Plus- there’s lots of other stuff you can do in Nowa Huta before or after your meal that we’ll be telling you about later). What is a Milk Bar? A Milk Bar, or Bar Mleczny in Polish, is like a worker’s canteen. While they existed before the communist occupation in Poland- they were popularized during that time period. Many workers’ contacts included meals for free from these cafeteria-style restaurants. And just in case it didn’t, Milk Bars were subsidized by the government so they were affordable to all. Nowadays, some Milk Bars are still subsidized- hence the extremely low prices. All of the food we ordered cost under 15 Euro! Like all of TOGETHER. Keep in mind, Milk Bars do not serve alcohol- do not have waiters and waitresses- and are really a bare bones dining experience. However- the food is fantastic and the experience is truly unique. This is one of the best off the beaten path, unique experiences, you can have in Krakow. While there are many Milk Bars in the city center- and we recommend some- none are as truly authentic as this one! Just look at the menu- no English! That alone shows you it’s going to be good right? #thingstodoinkrakow #krakow #cracow #freewalkingtourskrakow #barmleczny #milkbar

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