Filipa 18 in Kraków's Kleparz is the neo-Polish room inside Hotel Indigo. Chef Marcin Sołtys cooks a tasting menu that changes every two weeks from market produce.
Signature dishes: Tartare with pickled mushroom, Duck with smoked plum
Must order: Whatever tartare is on, and the duck with smoked plum if it's running.
Tip: Tasting menu Tuesday to Saturday 17:00 to 22:00. Book a week ahead for weekend dinner.
Address: ul. Świętego Filipa 18, 31-150 Kraków
Pod Aniołami in Kraków sits in a 13th-century cellar on Grodzka with a beech-wood grill at the centre of the room. Traditional Polish grilling, table service nightly.
Signature: Beech-smoked highlander lamb, Grilled trout
Order: The beech-smoked lamb shank, and oscypek with cranberry jam to start.
Tip: Ask for the vaulted-cellar room over the courtyard. Open daily from 13:00.
Wesele in Kraków is the editorial pick for traditional Polish on the Rynek Główny: pierogi, roast duck, żurek, with a terrace pointed at the Cloth Hall in summer.
Signature: Mixed pierogi platter, Roast duck with apple
Order: The mixed pierogi plate and żurek soured-rye soup served in a bread bowl.
Tip: Reservation recommended for evenings; the cellar room is quieter than the terrace in summer.
Miód i Wino in Kraków sits at the north end of the Old Town with a courtyard under linden trees. The carte is straight Polish bistro: pierogi, kotlet schabowy, pork knuckle.
Signature: Pierogi ruskie, Pork knuckle in honey beer
Order: Pork knuckle for two with honey beer glaze, with pierogi ruskie to start.
Tip: The summer courtyard runs first-come weekdays; book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Pod Norenami in Kraków runs the city's most editorial vegan kitchen with a pan-Asian menu: ramen, gyoza, banh mi, sushi rolls. Krupnicza is the original room.
Signature: Gyoza, Shoyu ramen with king oyster
Order: The gyoza and a bowl of the shoyu ramen with king oyster mushroom.
Tip: Cash and card; closes around 22:00. Walk-ins for early dinner, book for prime time.
Bottiglieria 1881 in Kraków's Kazimierz holds Poland's only two Michelin stars. Przemysław Klima cooks Polish ingredients on a long tasting menu only.
Signature: Tasting menu with Polish-only wine pairing, Autumn game course
Order: The full tasting menu with the Polish-wine pairing from a 700-bottle list.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book three weeks ahead for Friday or Saturday; midweek is easier.
Karakter in Kraków's Kazimierz is the loud, low-lit neo-bistro with chef Daniel Myśliwiec. Open kitchen, offal-heavy modern carte, small Polish growers.
Signature: Beef tartare with bone marrow, Charcoal-grilled lamb
Order: The tartare for the table, then whatever is on the grill list that night.
Tip: Counter walk-ins often available at 18:00. The dining-room tables take booking only.
Pod Aniołami in Kraków sits in a 13th-century cellar on Grodzka with a beech-wood grill at the centre of the room. Traditional Polish grilling, table service nightly.
Signature: Beech-smoked highlander lamb, Grilled trout
Order: The beech-smoked lamb shank, and oscypek with cranberry jam to start.
Tip: Ask for the vaulted-cellar room over the courtyard. Open daily from 13:00.
Wesele in Kraków is the editorial pick for traditional Polish on the Rynek Główny: pierogi, roast duck, żurek, with a terrace pointed at the Cloth Hall in summer.
Signature: Mixed pierogi platter, Roast duck with apple
Order: The mixed pierogi plate and żurek soured-rye soup served in a bread bowl.
Tip: Reservation recommended for evenings; the cellar room is quieter than the terrace in summer.
Miód i Wino in Kraków sits at the north end of the Old Town with a courtyard under linden trees. The carte is straight Polish bistro: pierogi, kotlet schabowy, pork knuckle.
Signature: Pierogi ruskie, Pork knuckle in honey beer
Order: Pork knuckle for two with honey beer glaze, with pierogi ruskie to start.
Tip: The summer courtyard runs first-come weekdays; book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Pod Norenami in Kraków runs the city's most editorial vegan kitchen with a pan-Asian menu: ramen, gyoza, banh mi, sushi rolls. Krupnicza is the original room.
Signature: Gyoza, Shoyu ramen with king oyster
Order: The gyoza and a bowl of the shoyu ramen with king oyster mushroom.
Tip: Cash and card; closes around 22:00. Walk-ins for early dinner, book for prime time.
