Without having high expectations for the food in Krakow, we were extremely impressed by the wonderful options for restaurants with traditional Polish cuisine, street food culture and trendy cafes with a northern hygge feel. We combined long autumn walks with trying as many things as possible, and sometimes we stopped in a nice cafe… Especially when the child is sleeping and you can enjoy every sip of cappuccino! Here are some places to eat in Krakow that we managed to visit.
💡 The headings with the names of the places are a link leading to the exact location.
Morskie Oko
This is one of the most popular Polish restaurants, offering a variety of local specialties and showcasing the authentic taste of Krakow. Finding a free seat can be quite difficult and inside everything was fully booked… We didn’t get to immerse ourselves in the homely atmosphere of the pub, lined with many objects on display, but luckily for us, the weather outside was relatively pleasant enough to settle down at one of the tables there, overlooking the pedestrian square across the street. In advance, you can familiarize yourself with the menu and current prices on the website, which will facilitate your choice of place (HERE).
It was our first night in Krakow, with a flight-weary child who had his mother work hard to put him to sleep, pushing the pram. I was left with the important task of ordering dinner, following the simple instructions: “I want tea and don’t take anything heavy, I’m not very hungry…”. So I ordered two beers and a platter of various meats and regional delicacies for two or more – bacon, chicken, pork, sausages, schnitzels… Huge portion at a very fair price! Well, I had to eat them the next two evenings, but it was worth it…
Smakołyki
Slightly removed from the tourist hub, this restaurant is a favorite spot for local students. The menu includes a variety of typical local dishes prepared in a simple way. The prices are not inflated at all, and the atmosphere is very calm and pleasant. She was the thing that caught my attention and I decided that we must visit it. The large windows additionally illuminate the space and overlook the greenery of the opposite park.
Potato pancakes are one of the things you might try. Another must-have are the so-called Polish dumplings, knedli or also known as pirozhki. We took it with different fillings, served with finely chopped onions and sour cream. We also tried one of their home specialties – boiled eggplant with potatoes, vegetables and mushroom sauce. The drinks menu is also extensive, with beer options interesting and sure to please any taste.
Andrus
Let’s just be clear, this is not a burger, but the traditional Polish sandwich Maczanka po krakowsku! It is traditionally prepared with slow-roasted pork that has been in a special marinade for over 48 hours. The little truck on Andrus is becoming the best place to try this authentic local specialty offered in a street food friendly way. It’s located in the old Jewish quarter, in the small Judah Food Market. Since opening in 2014, it has received numerous awards, featured in various rankings of places to eat in Poland, and is definitely a must-visit place. And soon they also have a site in the city center!
The menu is more than diverse and offers interesting taste combinations. It’s important to note that the sandwiches are huge! The pulled pork is brutally delicious, it just melts in your mouth… There are tables to sit around the market and we also combined with Belgian fries (Frytki Belgijskie) to enjoy a perfect lunch in Krakow!
KRUSZ
The small cafe-bakery opened its doors very recently (summer 2023) and quickly became a favorite place for breakfast and aromatic coffee. The menu is simple, but with many interesting offers. The space itself isn’t large and can be busier on weekends. We tried some of their mouth-watering croissants with a sweet filling… they are amazing! We also got potato pancakes with ricotta and other interesting ingredients, but to be honest they were slightly overcooked, which left a bit of a bitter aftertaste, literally. But everything else was great and the place is a good brunch option in Krakow!
Bread & Butter
On our last day we had to be at the airport around noon so we wanted to have breakfast close to where we were staying. That’s how I discovered Bread & Butter! Clean modern setting, and on a weekday it wasn’t crowded and the service was extremely fast. Great cappuccino and delicious food, with balanced flavors! On the menu you can find traditional breakfast options – scrambled eggs, avocado toast, shakshuka, pancakes and others.
MAK Bread&Coffee
Hotel coffee shops are by no means my favorite, but this place made me not be so extreme in my judgement! MAK is part of the PURO Kraków Kazimierz Hotel and with its modern design and spacious interior, it has managed to become my favorite of all the cafes I visited in Krakow.
On one of our days, the weather outside was downright wintery, and in order not to walk around with a baby sleeping in a stroller, we wanted to spend time in a cozy and warm cafe. This place turned out to be just that! Their coffees are superb and they also offer all-day breakfast options. They bake their bread and all baked goods from the assortment on the spot! There’s a lot of hygge vibe to this place, even more so than any place we’ve visited in Copenhagen…
Lajkonik
With a long history of coffee and baked goods, this bakery chain is perhaps the most recognizable in Krakow. They have objects in various locations around the city, which greatly increases the likelihood of finding one that is very convenient for you to have breakfast. It was for this purpose that we visited the one next to our apartment (at Dluga 31), and for hot tea we stopped at the bakery at Stradomska 5, which was much more spacious and had a huge variety of things to eat.
The prices are much lower than most cafes, and there are additional offers for a bagel, sandwich or croissant combined with a drink. The cappuccino is not bad, the food is fresh and tasty, we were fully aware that we cannot expect anything amazing! There is great charm in spending a cold October morning in Krakow, having breakfast in a traditional local bakery and watching the city wake up and the locals rush to their workplaces…
Dziórawy Kocioł
As true Harry Potter fans, we were impressed by the magical corners around Krakow! We didn’t manage to find a free seat in the Ministry of Magic (Ministerstwo Tajemnic), but we did get a peek at the lobby with a bunch of interesting decorations. Then we headed to the Leaky Cauldron (Dziórawy Kocioł)! Hidden from the eyes of “muggles” (if you don’t know the meaning of the word, then you are one of them – a non-wizard), it is located in the dark basement of a centuries-old building in the center of the city.
We had to wait a bit for a free table, because the interest was really huge. The interior spaces are beautifully decorated with brooms, candles, hats, books and all sorts of other magical items. In the hall around the large fireplace, there are interesting board games available to customers. The menu includes various elixirs and of course – Butter Beer! The atmosphere is wonderful for any fan of the bespectacled wizard and his vast world!
Chimney Cake Bakery
In Prague, we became fans of the fur chimneys, filled with all kinds of sweet delights, so we had to try the ones in Krakow! Chimney Cake Bakery is a chain with three locations around town, and we visited the one by the south entrance to downtown. The freshly baked cones were placed in the display case, waiting to cool, to be spread with cream and filled with toppings of the customer’s taste. We got both types with Nutella – brownie and oreo… Very sweet and damn tasty!
Dobra Pączkarnia
We knew donuts were also a must-try in Krakow, but no matter how many times we passed by the Dobra Pączkarnia, we were always too full… On the last day, we still couldn’t resist their aroma and took some of the hand-made donuts, without any artificial additives or preservatives. There is an abundance of fillings – marmalades, fruit, creams and others. We took it with caramel, and the light and ethereal taste brought me back to my childhood, when we used to make such delicious homemade donuts…
