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…
Category: Food, Drinks, Bars, Restaurants, and Cafes!
8 Cheap Must-Eats in Krakow Poland
A list of 8 food experiences you should have in Krakow, Poland 1. Shots and Snacks Bars: Pijalnia Wodki i Piwa Modeled after life in the Communist era, traditional bar snacks of the time period with the cheapest beers and shots you’ll find in the city. Our favorite is Beef Tartare with a Mad Dog…
Fika in Krakow: Swedish Treats
Kanelbulle, Semla, Coffee, oh my! Have you heard of Fika? To say it is simply a coffee break would be to insult every Swede that has negotiated 4 fikas into their workday (seriously look it up, they demand these things). To say it is just grabbing coffee with friends would be to downplay the importance…
Bunkier Cafe: Now Closed
Relaxing Along the Planty We are so saddened to announce that the Bunkier Cafe is no longer with us. While the museum (Bunkier Sztuki) that was always located next to the cafe is under renovations, and has a temporary location with rarely seen artwork (Rynek Główny in the Potacki Palace)- it does not seem that…
My First Look at the Krakow Christmas Market
The first time I arrived in Krakow, it was December 22nd 2014. Everything would be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; so I figured it would be a good idea to get some sightseeing in right away. I took the tram from my apartment at Krowodrza Górka to the main square and although it was freezing…
140 Things to do in Krakow Poland
This list is outdated. Please research each point a bit further to make sure it still exists. We are working on a new list now. 140 Things to do in Krakow Krakow, or as the British like to call it Cracow, is an amazing city, and there is so much to do here. I’ve taken a lot…
12 Days of Christmas in Krakow
Unfortunately- many of our videos for this were created in 2017 using Vine (RIP) so that is why they do not play properly…. Follow us the next twelve days as we take you all over the city of Krakow to show you what Christmas in Krakow is really like! Each day we will post a…
Beer in Krakow: Craft, Local, National… the best Places to drink them all
A recent email asked us about local breweries, places to drink craft beers, and vodka distilleries. While there are no vodka distilleries in the city of Krakow, if you are traveling through the whole country of Poland, there are plenty you can stop at. We highly recommend a visit to the area of Zubrowka’s Distillery….
Herring Night: Śledzik!
Carnaval in Poland (the time just before Lent) is filled with many strange traditions. We already showed you Pączki Day, but now, as lent approaches, it’s time for herring. Herring Night, or Śledzik in Polish, is the last day before Lent begins and Poles fast for 40 days from indulgent things such as alcohol, sweets,…
8 Tips for Cheap Eats in Krakow
1. Obwarzanki are your friends Obwarzanek are the Krakowian bagel. You can get them on virtually every street corner. And while local Poles will have a favorite stand, we think they are good just about anywhere. They cost less than a dollar and have toppings like poppy seeds, cheese, salt, or sesame seeds. They make…
Fat Thursday (Tlusty Czwartek): 3 Things You Have to Eat
In Poland, instead of celebrating Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras like everyone else in the world, they celebrate Fat Thursday. The holiday is aptly named, as just about everything you are supposed to eat on that day is deep fried, sugary, and delicious! Here are some of our favorite foods to have on Fat Thursday….
Meatless Eats in Krakow
Vegan or vegetarian? No problem! There are plenty of options for people with these sorts of dietary restrictions in Krakow. We’re sure you’ve heard that Poland has a very meat-heavy cuisine, which may be true, but there are also so many choices for people that aren’t fond of meat. Vegetarians may find it way easier than…
The Best of Krakow: Our Favorite Local Spots
There are a lot of local spots in Krakow that we haven’t written about despite the fact we go to them at least once a week. A lot of it has to do with the fact that we are having such a good time with our friends that we forget to even take pictures! And…
The Royal Snack Route: A snack-crawl through Krakow!
This article is out of date, and some of the items are no longer available at the same locations- so please use this as inspiration for food to look for, but it can no longer provide a step by step tour with food through the Old Town. Most are pleasantly surprised by the food…
Krakow Cat Cafe: Kocia Kawiarnia Kociarnia
In July 2023 the Kraków Cat Cafe has opened a 2nd location! Now visit Kocia Kawiarnia at Karmelicka 10 or Lubicz 1! What’s better than a cafe full of cats!? Krakow’s only Cat Cafe has opened its doors, actually they’ve been open for quite some time, and it seems all the kinks we read about…
Off the Beaten Path: Unique Experiences
Unique Experiences in Krakow If you have had your fill of European cities, and are looking for something that sets Krakow apart from the rest, then look no further than this list. From exciting flea markets to amazing picnicing spots this list has it all, and consider them mostly local spots. For our Ultimate List…
Food Truck Square
Food Truck Square is located at: Skwer Judah, Świętego Wawrzyńca 16, 33-332 Kraków I just read today that Krakow was named in Travel and Leisure’s yearly CNN sponsored list for the best cities in the world to go to. How exciting! So what is something new here in Krakow that people are enjoying? You may not…
Massolit Cafe: Krakow’s Best English Bookstore
Still like the smell of an old book? Searching for something to read in English? Been traveling through Europe and wishing for a bagel and cream cheese? Then look no further than Massolit Cafe and Books. With the largest selection of English-language books, both used and new, you can find anything to read here, and…
The Best Sausages in Poland: Hala Targowa’s Communist Van
Other than being told by friends and family that the sausages on Hala Tragowa at night were the best in Krakow, I only ever saw anything about them on Krakow’s Free Walking Tour Hidden Gems list. And since we have grilled sausage at least twice a week at home in the summer, I never made the…
Ciuciu: The World’s Smallest Candy Manufacturer
I first discovered Ciuciu when I visited the Christmas Market in Krakow in 2013, and now that I live here, I stop in at least once a month for a little bag of delicious candies. My favorite, the fruit-flavored hard candies, which show their flavors by the fruit designs in the middle of the candy,…
Hamsa: Hummus and Happiness Israeli Restobar
Mezze Platters and Cocktails in Kazimierz Sick of Polish food? Of course not, how could you be. But maybe you want something different, something to reflect all of the Jewish history you have been learning about in Kazimierz or at Auschwitz. Or maybe you just want an awesome place to hang out with friends, grab…
Bania Luka: Shots and Snacks
Just like its main competitor Pijalnia Wodki i Piwa, Bania Luka serves 4zl shots, beers, and other beverages, with 8 zl plates of various food items. The atmosphere is warmer than Pijalnia, but thats because it looks like a normal bar and not one that time-traveled here from communism. Their shots menu used to…
What to Eat, Where to Eat It, and Where and What to Drink With It
What to Eat in Poland This is our must eat list for Krakow, and covers the basics of Polish cuisine. Most items are easy and cheap to buy at a grocery store and cook at home, but will taste much better from a recommended restaurant. And only buy Zapiekanki from the Plac Nowy in Kazimierz….
Shots and Snacks: Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa
Note: The prices listed here are from almost a decade ago! so expect about double what you see here- the good news though, is that they’ve also expanded their offerings a lot too! Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa has locations all over the city, in the Jewish district on the Plac Nowy, on Florianska Street, and…
Best Eats: Gospada Koko
Out of all the restaurants that we can recommend in Krakow, Koko is by far the one we actually visit the most. Anytime someone comes to visit, we take them here. Anytime we have to be in the Main Square for an event, we stop by for a beer and some pierogi. It is full…
Cafes by Day, Bars by Night: Alchemia
Alchemia is a great example of the versatility of Krakow’s cafes. Open practically 24 hours, you can stop by in the morning for breakfast, the afternoon for a quick pick-me-up, or hang out all night in the candle-lit dining room drinking beer. The food here is really good. @emilysguidetokrakow The best places for food and/or…
Charlotte: A French Bakery in Krakow
When we first wrote this article almost a decade ago- a good breakfast was sometimes hard to find in Krakow! Now there are plenty of options- but Charlotte remains one of our favorites. An important thing to note though; post-pandemic, Charlotte stopped serving their jams, chocolates, and honey in huge shareable jars. The good news- you…
Farmers Markets in Krakow: Covered Markets and Produce Stands
There are a few European style covered markets in the city; our current favorite is Stary Kleparz, mostly because there is an awesome coffee shop we grab a drink from before we go shopping. Some are closer to the tourist attractions, and some more larger ones are closer to the residential neighborhoods. @emilysguidetokrakow Stary Kleparz is…