Also: Casual Dining in Krakow
Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Kraków actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Kraków actually eats.
Pierogarnia Krakowiacy on Szewska in Kraków's Old Town runs a 30-strong pierogi carte: ruskie, meat, duck, spinach, sweet cherry. Located in Stare Miasto.
OrderA mixed plate of pierogi ruskie and pierogi with duck; a glass of kompot to wash it down.
TipPierogi come boiled or pan-fried. Pan-fried takes 5 extra minutes; ask for half-and-half.
Przystanek Pierogarnia in Kraków's Old Town is the no-nonsense pierogi counter locals queue at: 20 fillings, plates from 18 zl, open from 11:00 to late.
OrderPierogi z mięsem (minced meat) and the cabbage-and-mushroom version. Sour cream on the side.
TipCash and card. Counter seats only; ten stools and a window-bar.
Bar Mleczny Pod Temidą on Kraków's Grodzka is the city's most editorial surviving milk bar: laminated menu, queue-and-pay-first, full meals for 15 to 25 zl.
OrderŻurek (sour rye soup), kotlet schabowy with mash, kompot. The whole meal lands under 25 zl.
TipBring cash; the card terminal is unreliable. Tables share with strangers; queues at lunch.
Milkbar Tomasza on Kraków's Świętego Tomasza updates the milk-bar form: same prices and naleśniki, but table service and a younger crowd. Priced at $.
OrderNaleśniki with cottage cheese and strawberry jam; the żurek soup is the runner-up.
TipClosed Monday. Breakfast all day; the brunch plate at 25 zl is the steal.
Morskie Oko in Kraków cooks Tatra-highlander Polish in a wooden-room dining hall with live folk music. Oscypek, kwaśnica cabbage soup, slow lamb.
OrderGrilled oscypek with cranberry and the kwaśnica sour-cabbage soup with smoked pork ribs.
TipLive highlander folk music in the dining room most evenings; check ahead for the schedule.
Chimera on Kraków's Świętej Anny is a salad-bar counter near the Jagiellonian University in a covered medieval courtyard. Located in Stare Miasto.
OrderA four-salad plate with the cabbage rolls; the kompot is the drink.
TipCash and card. Daily 10:00-22:00; the covered courtyard is the main dining area.
Polakowski in Kraków's Kazimierz is the all-day Polish canteen for the Old Synagogue end: pierogi, bigos, schabowy, gołąbki, served counter-style from 10:00.
OrderA mixed pierogi plate and a bowl of bigos; the rye bread is included.
TipAll-day Polish canteen on Miodowa in Kazimierz; counter service, no bookings.
Veganic on Karmelicka in Kraków cooks Polish classics fully plant-based: pierogi ruskie with cashew cream, beetroot tartare, vegan żurek soup.
OrderVegan pierogi ruskie and the beetroot tartare. The vegan żurek runs in winter.
TipClosed Monday. The weekend brunch service is the easy table to take.
Smakołyki on Kraków's Straszewskiego is the cheap-and-honest student-canteen Polish home-cooking room: schabowy, pierogi, potato pancakes, full plate.
OrderKotlet schabowy with mashed potato and sauerkraut; pierogi ruskie as a starter.
TipCash only. Closes 22:00 weekdays; until 17:00 Sunday. No bookings.
Stara Zajezdnia in Kraków's Kazimierz is an enormous on-site brewery and Polish-grill hall in a former tram depot. Kitchen leans brewery and polish grill.
OrderPork knuckle for two with house pilsner; the long beer-hall tables and the courtyard in summer.
TipBig groups walk in; reserve a side table if you want a quiet booth. Open daily 12:00-23:00.
The Plac Nowy zapiekanka window in Kraków's Kazimierz, Endzior at the round former kosher slaughterhouse, has poured open-face baguettes since 1989.
OrderClassic mushroom-and-cheese zapiekanka with ketchup and garlic sauce. The half-metre version is shareable.
TipCash only. Six windows ring the rotunda; Endzior is the consensus pick. Open until 03:00 weekends.
Marchewka z Groszkiem in Kraków's Kazimierz is the homely Polish bistro on the Mostowa footbridge: pierogi, gołąbki, beetroot soup with uszka.
OrderGoose pierogi and a bowl of beetroot soup with little uszka mushroom dumplings.
TipThe Mostowa branch sits on the footbridge with river views. Open daily 12:00-22:00.
Pod Baranem near the Wawel side of Kraków's Planty cooks classic Polish since 1997. Chef-founder Jan Baran's menu runs duck, veal cheeks, traditional soups.
OrderDuck with apple and red cabbage; veal cheeks in mushroom sauce.
TipReservation only in the evening; lunch easier as walk-in. Close to Wawel Castle.
Vegab on Starowiślna near Kraków's Kazimierz is the vegan kebab and zapiekanka counter that beat the city's late-night habit at its own game.
OrderSeitan kebab in pita with garlic sauce and pickled red cabbage; vegan zapiekanka as a backup.
TipCash and card. Open until 02:00 every night; the kebab in pita is the order.
Zazie Bistro in Kraków's Kazimierz runs Lyonnais-bistro grammar in a tiny room on Józefa: tartare, escargot, blanquette de veau, tarte tatin.
OrderBeef tartare to start and the tarte tatin to share; carafe of house red.
TipWalk-in only. Get there before 19:00 or queue 30 minutes; closed Sunday.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Savor the flavors of Poland on a 4-hour food tasting tour of Krakow. Learn about the local food culture, and hear fascinating stories about the Polish relationship to ...
Guided tour · 4 hours
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Eat your way through the historic Kazimierz district of Krakow on a 3-hour food tasting tour. Visit at least 4 local restaurants to try 11-13 different dishes and 2 vo...