Chimera on Kraków's Świętej Anny is a salad-bar counter near the Jagiellonian University in a covered medieval courtyard. You build a plate; the kitchen weighs it.
Signature dishes: Build-your-own salad plate, Stuffed cabbage rolls
Must order: A four-salad plate with the cabbage rolls; the kompot is the drink.
Tip: Cash and card. Daily 10:00 to 22:00; the covered courtyard is the main dining area.
Address: ul. Świętej Anny 3, 31-008 Kraków
Veganic on Karmelicka in Kraków cooks Polish classics fully plant-based: pierogi ruskie with cashew cream, beetroot tartare, vegan żurek soup, oat-milk kompot.
Signature: Vegan pierogi ruskie, Beetroot tartare
Order: Vegan pierogi ruskie and the beetroot tartare. The vegan żurek runs in winter.
Tip: Closed 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 under 30 zl.
Signature: Schabowy with potatoes, Pierogi
Order: Kotlet schabowy with mashed potato and sauerkraut; pierogi ruskie as a starter.
Tip: Cash only. Closes 22:00 weekdays; until 17:00 Sunday. No bookings.
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 to 22:00.
Signature: Pierogi, Bigos
Order: A mixed pierogi plate and a bowl of bigos; the rye bread is included.
Tip: All-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, oat-milk kompot.
Signature: Vegan pierogi ruskie, Beetroot tartare
Order: Vegan pierogi ruskie and the beetroot tartare. The vegan żurek runs in winter.
Tip: Closed 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 under 30 zl.
Signature: Schabowy with potatoes, Pierogi
Order: Kotlet schabowy with mashed potato and sauerkraut; pierogi ruskie as a starter.
Tip: Cash 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. Four house beers on tap, full Polish carte until 23:00.
Signature: House lager, Pork knuckle
Order: Pork knuckle for two with house pilsner; the long beer-hall tables and the courtyard in summer.
Tip: Big groups walk in; reserve a side table if you want a quiet booth. Open daily 12:00 to 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. Open till 03:00.
Signature: Zapiekanka with mushroom and cheese, Zapiekanka with ham
Order: Classic mushroom-and-cheese zapiekanka with ketchup and garlic sauce. The half-metre version is shareable.
Tip: Cash 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, river views in summer.
Signature: Pierogi with goose, Beetroot soup with uszka
Order: Goose pierogi and a bowl of beetroot soup with little uszka mushroom dumplings.
Tip: The Mostowa branch sits on the footbridge with river views. Open daily 12:00 to 22:00.
