12 Best Restaurants in Krakow

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

The city's gastronomic offerings are not only rich in flavour but also very diverse, so here is a list of my favourite places, including traditional Polish food, international cuisine, French food and even a delicious Argentine barbecue. Bon appétit!

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

Useful information

• Address: Miodowa 25, 31-055
• Price range: The average price range is €10 to €13 per dish.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• You can view the menu at Restauracja Sąsiedzi.

A lovely place to go for breakfast in Krakow's old town is Cafe Botanica. Its menu ranges from classic English breakfasts and European breakfasts to omelettes and even quiches. If you don't fancy breakfast, consider stopping by for a coffee and a delicious dessert. It's ideal if you're visiting Krakow with children. The interior is beautifully decorated with exposed brickwork and lovely plants in every corner.

Useful information

• Address: Bracka 9, Old Town
• Price range: Mid-range, with breakfasts starting at €5.50 and full lunch menus at €13.
• Opening hours: From 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
• You can view the Cafe Botanica menu

Wentzl is a Krakow institution. Located in the Old Town near Krakow's Market Square, it dates back to 1792. The interior of Wentzl can be described in a single word: elegant. With its beautiful oil paintings, fine oriental carpets and antique architecture featuring wooden ceilings, you'll feel like royalty. The cuisine is exceptional, with dishes such as foie gras flavoured with cognac and duck fillet glazed with honey standing out.

Useful information

• Address: Rynek Główny 19
• Price range: Medium price range, with main courses ranging from €10 to €20.
• Opening hours: From 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
• You can view the Wentzl menu.

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

Useful information

• Address: 38 Szpitalna Street
• Price range: Very affordable, with main courses costing around €8.70 on average.
• Opening hours: From 12 noon to 11 p.m.
• You can view the menu at U Babci Maliny.

If you fancy enjoying a delicious Argentine barbecue, Pimiento is one of the favourite choices of Krakow's residents. They have two restaurants in the city, one in the Old Town and the other in the Kazimierz district, both of which are spectacular. The menu includes a wide variety of steaks with options to suit all budgets, as well as some vegetarian dishes and a selection of South American wines that I recommend you pay attention to.

Useful information

• Address: Stolarska 13
• Price range: The price range is medium to high, although some main courses start at €8.70, while others easily reach €30.
• Opening hours: Every day from 12 noon to 11 p.m.
• You can consult the Pimiento Menu.

One of the best options in Krakow for a good dinner is Cyrano de Bergerac, located in the old town. This restaurant specialises in authentic French cuisine and is also one of the oldest and most charming wine cellars in the city. On the walls, you will find works of art made from delicate tapestries that give the atmosphere a romantic and very intimate feel. They also have an area with tables on a terrace, ideal for a relaxed lunch or dinner if you visit Krakow in the summer.

Useful information

• 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 11 p.m.
• You can view the Cyrano de Bergerac menu

Rated by tourists and locals as the best pizza in Krakow, when you enter Pizza Garden you will find a large brick oven, where the delicious creations are made. The chef learned his culinary skills in New York City. Due to the popularity of the restaurant, peak hours are really busy, so you may have to queue to get a seat, but it is definitely worth the wait.

Useful information

• Address: Rakowicka 1.
• Price range: It has an affordable price range with an average of €5 per dish.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday to Monday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• You can check out the Pizza Garden menu

Krako Slow is a small wine bar and restaurant that serves lunch at an excellent price-quality ratio. Its location less than 100 metres from Schindler's Factory makes it the ideal place to have lunch after a visit to the famous museum. The menu focuses on its extensive wine collection, although you can also find beers and coffees. As for snacks, you'll find everything from salads and sandwiches to delicious shashlik, Georgian or Armenian-style kebabs and hummus sandwiches.

Useful information

• Address: Lipowa Street 6f.
• Price range: Prices at Krako are affordable, with a lunch menu starting at €6.50 and a dinner menu averaging €13, not including drinks.
• Opening hours: Every day from 12 noon to 10 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday until midnight.
• You can view the Krako Slow Wines menu

Located in the Kazimierz district, this is a lovely restaurant characterised by its elegant, discreet and beautifully lit interior. The service is excellent and the affordable menu allows visitors to enjoy a delicious lunch without taking any risks. You will find a menu featuring farm-to-table dishes, including unusual main courses such as horse sweetbread escalope and bull testicles.

Useful information

• Address: 17 Brzozowa Street
• Price range: Economical to mid-range, with full menus starting at €8.70
• Opening hours: From 12 noon to 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays until midnight.
• You can view the Karakter menu

Miód Malina is a charming restaurant located in the old Stadnicki Palace. Its colourful and fun interiors take the dining experience to a whole new level, so I recommend having lunch or dinner here if you are spending three or four days on holiday in Krakow. Take a seat by the window to enjoy the view, and order some wild mushrooms in cream sauce or any of the options on the menu that include duck or beef, considered the house specialities.

Useful information

• Address: Grodzka 40.
• Price range: It has a medium price range with menus ranging from €9 to €18 on average.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 12 noon to 10 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday extended hours until 11 p.m.
• You can view the Miód Malina menu

If you are looking for a nice, affordable and high-quality place to eat, consider visiting ZaKładka Food & Wine. The concept of this establishment is that of a French bistro, so although the food is simple, the influence of France is evident. You can expect courteous but formal service, an excellent wine list and a menu focused on beef, rabbit, fresh fish and delicious mussels. Its vegetarian options are also very interesting and are considered by many to be the best in the area.

Useful information

• Address: Józefińska 2.
• Price range: It has an affordable mid-range price with dishes costing an average of €9.80 per dish.
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.; Friday to Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
• You can view the ZaKładka menu here.

Located on Kanonicza Street, considered one of the oldest and most beautiful streets in Krakow, Art Restaurant is one of the most elegant places with the most ambitious gastronomic offering 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 from the Market Square.

At Art Restaurant, everything is about white tablecloths, sumptuous décor and first-class service. If you are in Krakow celebrating an important anniversary, consider Art Restaurant to honour the occasion. Depending on the time of year you choose for your trip to Krakow, you can request a table outside. The menu stands out for its use of fresh farm ingredients and unusual touches in its dishes.

Useful information

• Address: Kanonicza 15
• Price range: It is a little more expensive than other alternatives on the list, but the value for money is well worth it. Main courses are available from €15; the tasting menu starts at €55.
• Opening hours: Every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• You can check out the Art Restaurant menu

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

Dishes you must try on your next visit to Krakow.

If you want to enjoy the full experience, it's a good idea to add a local dish or dessert to your meals. This short list includes delicious foods that you should try; most of them can be found in restaurants, and some are street foods.

• Beetroot soup - A nutritious and basic Polish food is beetroot soup, a broth that includes pieces of beetroot, cream and vegetables, which can be served with potatoes and vegetables.
• Casserole. A street food known as the best hangover cure in Poland. It consists of stale baguette covered with mushrooms and cheese, toasted in the oven and sprinkled with tomato sauce. The best place to eat it is in Plac Nowy in the Jewish quarter of Krakow.
• Sour rye soup. Known as żurek, this delicious rye soup, unique in its kind, includes sausages, potatoes and hard-boiled eggs.
• Hunter's stew. If you visit Krakow in winter, this is a dish you must try. It is a rich stew that includes plenty of meat and cabbage. It is prepared by pickling leftover sausage, meat, onion and mushrooms.
• Pork knuckle. Pork knuckle is a true Polish delicacy, prepared with a pork leg, which can be boiled, stewed or roasted, but always with the meat directly on the bone.

Tips and advice for tipping in Krakow

Although tipping in Poland is considered a matter of personal preference, it is quite common in many places such as restaurants, and you will find tip jars in almost all bars. Delivery drivers, couriers and waiters can expect a tip from you when the service is exceptional. When visiting a restaurant in Krakow, keep the following in mind.

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