12 Best Restaurants in Krakow

After visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp from Krakow, you can take a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine or visit Krakow Castle. Next on the list of things to see and do in Kraków is a good meal.

The gastronomic offer in the city is not only rich in flavours but also very diverse, so here is a list of my favourite places that includes traditional Polish food, international cuisine, French food and even a delicious Argentinean barbecue. Bon appetit!

Located in a picturesque basement in Kraków's Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, this space is characterised by its 19th century architecture. Restauracja Sąsiedzi defines itself as a restaurant for lovers of elegant food. On their menu you will find mainly Polish dishes with some international options, if you are looking for a relaxed and unpretentious service; hand in hand with high quality cuisine this is an alternative you should try. They have a terrace area for outdoor dining.

Useful info

• Address: Miodowa 25, 31-055
• Price range: Average price range from 10€ to 13€ per dish.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday from 15:00 to 21:00; Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00.
• You can consult the menu of Restauracja Sąsiedzi

A beautiful place to go for breakfast in Kraków's Old Town is Cafe Botanica. The food on offer ranges from classic English breakfast, European breakfast, omelette and even quiche. If you don't want to go for breakfast, consider a visit to enjoy a coffee with a tasty dessert, ideal if you are visiting Krakow with children. The interior space is beautifully decorated thanks to its exposed brick structure and the addition of beautiful plants in every corner.

Useful information

• Address: Bracka 9, Old Town,
• Price range: Medium price range with breakfasts from 5,50€ and full lunch menus from 13€.
• Opening hours: From 09h to 23h every day.
• You can check the menu of Cafe Botanica

Wentzl is a tradition in Krakow, this establishment located in the Old Town near Krakow's Market Square dates back to 1792. The interior of Wentzl's can be defined in one word: elegant, with its beautiful oil paintings, fine oriental carpets and ancient architecture made of wooden ceilings you will feel like royalty. The gastronomic offer is exceptional, with dishes such as foie gras flavoured with cognac and honey-glazed duck fillet.

Useful information

• Address: Rynek Główny 19
• Price range: Medium price range, main courses from €10 to €20.
• Opening hours: From 13h to 23h every day.
• You can check Wentzl's menu

U Babci Maliny is a restaurant with several branches both in Krakow and in the city of St. Sovino, the branch on Szpitalna Street, located in the Old Town, is possibly the most popular and one of my favourites. Highly recommended for budget travellers who want to eat traditional Polish food; the gastronomic offer includes soup, pierogi, potato pancakes and much more.

Useful information

• Address: 38 Szpitalna Street
• Price range: Fully affordable, main courses average around €8.7.
• Opening hours: From 12 noon to 11pm.
• You can check the Menu of U Babci Maliny

If you're in the mood for a delicious Argentinian asado, Pimiento is one of Krakow's favourite alternatives for locals. They have two locations in the city, one in the Old Town and one in the Kazimierz area, both of which are spectacular. The gastronomic offer includes a wide variety of steaks with options to suit all budgets, their menu also includes some vegetarian offerings and a collection of South American wines that I recommend you pay attention to.

Some useful information

• Address: Stolarska 13
• Price range: The price range is medium to high, although some main courses start at €8.7 and others easily reach €30.
• Opening hours: Every day from 12h to 23h.
• You can consult the Pimiento Menu

One of the best alternatives in Krakow for a good dinner is Cyrano de Bergerac, located in the Old Town. It is a restaurant specialising in authentic French food and also one of the oldest and nicest wine cellars in the city. On the walls you can find works of art made from delicate tapestries that give the atmosphere a romantic and very intimate space; additionally they have an area of tables on a terrace, ideal for a relaxed lunch or dinner if you visit Krakow in the summer.

Useful info

• Address: Slawkowska 26
• Price range: The price range is medium to high with main courses averaging up to €30.
• Opening hours: Every day from noon to 23h.
• For Cyrano de Bergerac Menu click here

Rated by tourists and locals alike as the best pizza in Krakow, when you enter Pizza Garden you will find a large brick oven, the place where the delicious creations are created. The chef learned his culinary skills in New York City; due to the popularity of the place the peak hours are really busy so you might have to queue for a seat but it's totally worth the wait.

Useful info

• Address: Rakowicka 1.
• Price range: It has an affordable price range with an average of 5€ per dish.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 15h to 21h; Saturday to Monday from 13h to 21h.
• You can check the Pizza Garden Menu

Krako Slow is a small wine bar and restaurant that serves lunch at an excellent value for money. Its location less than 100 metres from the Schindler Factory makes it the ideal choice for lunch after a visit to the famous museum. The restaurant's gastronomic offer focuses on its extensive wine collection, although you can also find beers and coffees; as for snacks you will find salads, sandwiches, delicious shashlik, Georgian or Armenian-style kebab and hummus sandwiches.

Useful Info

• Address: 6f Lipowa St.
• Price range: Prices at Krako are in the budget range, with lunch menus starting at €6.5 and dinner menus averaging €13 excluding drinks.
• Opening hours: Every day from 12h to 22h and Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 00h.
• You can check the Krako Slow Wines menu here.

Located in the Kazimierz area, this beautiful restaurant is characterised by its elegant, discreet and beautifully lit interior. The service is excellent and the gastronomic offer at affordable prices allows the visitor to enjoy a delicious lunch without major risks. You will find a menu with farm-to-table meals, including unusual main dishes such as escalope of horse gizzard and bull's testicles.

Useful information

• Address: 17 Brzozowa Street
• Price range: Inexpensive to mid-range with full menus starting at 8,7€.
• Opening hours: From 12 noon to 11pm, Fridays and Saturdays until midnight.
• You can check Karakter's menu

Miód Malina is a charming restaurant located in the former Stadnicki Palace, its colourful and funky interiors take the dining experience to a new level so I recommend having lunch or dinner at this establishment if you're in Krakow on holiday for three or four days. Take a seat by the edge to enjoy the view, you can order some wild mushrooms in cream sauce or any of the options on the menu that include duck or veal; considered the speciality of the house.

Useful Info

• Address: Grodzka 40.
• Price range: Medium price range with menus ranging from €9 to €18 on average.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 12 noon to 10pm; Thursday to Saturday extended hours until 11pm.
• You can consult the menu of Miód Malina

If you're looking for a nice, inexpensive, quality place to eat, consider visiting ZaKładka Food & Wine; the concept of this establishment is that of a French bistro, so the food, although simple, has a French influence. Expect polite but formal service, an excellent wine list and a gastronomic offering centred on veal, rabbit, fresh fish and delicious mussels. Vegetarian food is also very interesting and is rated by many as the best in the area.

Useful information

• Address: Józefińska 2.
• Price range: It has an affordable average price range with dishes costing an average of €9.8 per dish.
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 1 pm to 10.30 pm; Friday to Saturday from noon to 9 pm.
• You can check the ZaKładka menu.

Located on Kanonicza Street, one of the oldest and most beautiful streets in Krakow, Art Restaurant is one of the most elegant places with the most ambitious gastronomic proposal in all of Wawel. It is also an excellent alternative for dining in the historic centre of the city due to its strategic location just minutes away from the Market Square.

Art Restaurant is all about white table linen, sumptuous décor and first class service; if you find yourself in Krakow celebrating an important anniversary consider Art Restaurant to honour the occasion. Depending on the time of year you choose to travel to Krakow, you may be able to request an outdoor table. The menu is notable for its use of farm-fresh ingredients and unusual touches.

Useful information

• Address: Kanonicza 15
• Price range: A little more expensive than the other alternatives listed here, but the value for money is totally worth it. Main courses are available from €15; tasting menu from €55.
• Opening hours: Every day from 11am to 10pm.
• You can consult the menu of ArtRestaurant

If there is one thing that characterises Polish food, it is the simplicity of its preparation; although the most typical dishes are not very colourful, the explosion of flavours is really impressive.

Dishes you must try on your next visit to Krakow.

If you want the full experience, it's a good idea to add a local dish or dessert to your meals. This short list includes delicious food that you should try, most of which you will find in restaurants and some of which are street food.

• Beetroot soup - A nutritious Polish staple is their beetroot soup; a broth that includes chunks of beetroot, cream and vegetables and can be served with potatoes and vegetables.
• Casserole. A street dish known as the best binge food in Poland. It consists of a stale baguette topped with mushrooms and cheese, toasted and baked in the oven and drizzled with tomato sauce. The best place to eat it is in Plac Nowy in the Jewish part of Kraków.
• Sour rye soup. Known as żurek, this delicious, one-of-a-kind rye soup includes sausages, potatoes and boiled hard-boiled egg.
• Hunter's stew. If you visit Krakow in winter, this is a must-try dish. It is a rich stew that includes a generous amount of meat and cabbage. It is prepared by pickling leftover sausage, meat, onions and mushrooms.
• Pork knuckle. Pork knuckle or knuckle of pork is a real Polish delicacy, made from a pork thigh, which can be boiled, stewed or roasted, but with the meat always directly on the bone.

Tips and advice for tipping in Krakow

Although tipping in Poland is considered an act of personal preference, it is widely used in many places such as eating establishments - you'll find tip jars in almost every bar and delivery boys, messengers or tacitly can expect a tip from you when the service is exceptional. When visiting a restaurant in Krakow consider the following elements.

• Since tipping is considered optional it is never included in the bill.
• If you say "Thank you/dziękuję" to the waiter when handing over the cash, it is implied that you want him to keep the change. If this is not your intention, save the thanks for later.
• Most Poles leave the tip in cash on the table when leaving. The percentage is usually 5-10% of the amount consumed.
• It is most usual to round up the amount of the bill by adding a few zlotys; if your consumption is 47.80 zlotys, round it up to 50 zlotys and calculate the amount of the tip.