Krakow restaurants have so much to offer! Here are the Polish restaurants you have to try.

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Krakow quickly became one of my favorite small cities for a solo trip! It’s walkable, safe, beautiful, and affordable. It also had amazing food!

You can check out all my tips for the Krakow in my city guide, but today let’s talk Krakow restaurants!

One tip for ordering: the portions are enormous. I don’t usually say this – I love to eat and eat a lot. But Polish food is next level! The cuisine is already meat and starch-focused, and then you get a massive plate every time, so no need to order multiple courses unless you’re sharing.

My Favorite Polish Foods

There are a ton of traditional Polish foods worth trying, but here are a few of the best. 

Pierogi is a classic and my favorite! These dumplings are so delightful. Typical fillings are meat, cabbage, potatoes, or cheese. While I’m not usually a cabbage lover, it was my favorite filling! You can order a plate of one type, but I like ordering a combo plate to try them all. They’re most traditionally boiled, but the fried versions have a great texture.

Kielbasa might be the most widely-known Polish food! The word in Polish means sausage in general, but the most common type is smoked. The Krawkow version is pretty popular and often served sliced thin.

Zurek is a typical Polish soup. It’s translated as sour rye soup, which doesn’t sound appetizing, but trust me, it’s delicious! It’s often served with sausage or a hard-boiled egg inside, making it an inexpensive but filling option.

Zapiekanka is a great lunch option. People call it Polish pizza, but as an Italian resident, I just can’t. It’s a French bread loaf cut in half, piled with toppings, and run through an oven. It’s delicious! The most traditional toppings are cheese and mushrooms, but most places offer a bunch of options.

Paczki are Polish donuts! It’s a great grab-and-go breakfast option. Very cheap and delicious. 

Obwarzanek are Polish bagels, which are the original bagels. They’re a cheap street food option all over Poland, and worth a try. They have a bigger hole in the center and basic toppings. My favorite is salt, but poppyseed or cheese are also popular choices! 

Wodka is the typical drink with dinner! You can get wine and cocktails, but straight vodka is the usual here. 

Krakow Restaurants

U Babci Maliny

U Babci Maliny was my first meal in the city, and possibly my favorite of the Krakow restaurants I tried! It has a massive menu but order the pierogi. They’re best fried! My favorite was the cabbage pierogi, but the mixed platter is a good way to go if you want to try all three kinds. Just know that it’s something like 21 pierogi – more than I could eat on my own!

Goscinna Chata

I came with a new friend and was glad I did because we tried more of the menu! Goscinna Chata serves all the classics, and is popular with locals – always a good sign. Because of that, it’s best to arrive early for dinner or make a reservation.

Kuchnia u Doroty

Another good choice for a homestyle Polish meal is Kuchnia u Doroty. I got the placki, a Polish version of latkes, with goulash. It was delicious – the crispy potato pancakes were perfect for soaking up the saucy stew. If you’re solo, order the half portion. So much food!

Milkbar Tomasza

Milkbars in Poland became big during communist rule when most people were too poor to eat out at restaurants. They were created to offer cheap meals to workers who couldn’t return home for lunch. The menu originally was dairy-focused, hence the name. Milkbar Tomasza is a classic example, so head here if you want to check it out! It’s very affordable still, offering eggs and omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, and a few main courses that change daily.

Polakowski Restaurant

Polakowski was similar to a milk bar: delicious, inexpensive food that you pick up from the counter. Unlike milk bars, it’s open for dinner, which makes it perfect after a day trip to see Auschwitz. It was a slow night, so I got to chat with the staff a bit and essentially ordered what they told me to try! The zurek soup was great, and I also ordered a side of potato dumplings, but the soup was filling enough on its own. Great cheap dinner option!

Plac Nowy food market

If you want to try zapiekanka, this is the place! The food market in plac Nowy is 90% zapiekanka stalls. I went with Zapiexa, but many of them looked great. I went with one topped with cheese, mushrooms, pickles, kielbasa, and fried onions, and it was delicious! Messy street food in all its glory. They’re big enough that you could split one between two people. Some booths offered half sizes for a discount too, if you’re traveling solo like me!

Judah Food Market

Another great food market is the nearby Judah Food Market! Most of the spots are food trucks parked there semi-permanently. They have a great mix of Polish and international options. My rec is to get Andrus Maczanka Po Krakowsku for their pulled pork sandwiches, and finish off with a chimney cake!

Bars

Outside of getting a vodka alongside dinner, here are two fun spots worth checking out.

Wodka Bar

This place undeniably is for tourists. But it’s still fun! You go to the bar and order a flight of 6 flavored vodkas. Wodka Bar has a ton of flavors, so there’s something for everyone! I loved the forest fruits one in particular. It’s not the vodka that the locals are drinking, but it’s a fun tasting!

Multi Qlti Tap Bar

If you need a break from the vodka and want a beer, head to Multi Qlti Tap Bar! It’s a great beer place just off the main area. Their selection is way better than the average bar in Poland, so this is the place if you’re looking for a pint.

Breakfast & Coffee

Knitted Coffee

If you’re walking around and need a caffeine fix, Knitted Coffee is perfect! It’s right on the main street, so it’s an easy stop as you explore. They have the classic espresso drinks, perfect for pairing with a bagel or donut.

Bagel carts

I’m not giving a location because these are everywhere! The best bagels are from street carts. You’ll always need cash for these.

Dobra Pączkarnia

Getting a donut for breakfast is another classic choice! I got one at Dobra Pączkarnia and it was delicious and enormous, perfect for a quick bite before exploring.

Hotels

Because Krakow is so affordable by European standards, you can get a nicer hotel for way less! Here are a few options in the two best neighborhoods for your trip.

Old Town

Jewish Quarter

I’ll share more soon, but there’s one must-do day trip in Krakow. Visiting a concentration camp is such an important experience for anyone visiting Europe, and Auschwitz-Berkinau gives a unique insight into the camps.

If you’re looking for the rest of my recommendations for Krakow restaurants, you can grab them all on Thatch. Or head to Instagram to see where I am these days!