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Kraków Restaurants & Cafes

With the development of the market in Krakow, the number and diversity of places to eat has become incredibly wide and is improving all the time. That's not to say that it's all good: ethnic cuisine is still too often brutalised to make it more acceptable to Polish palates and some industry insiders consider Kraków's esteemed culinary rep to be a bit generous.

The sheer number of places available now means that while you don't have to search for a place to eat it is worth taking a moment to find a place worthy of your time and money, as well as being aware of those places with prime locations worth avoiding. Our print guide carries a wide selection of these while the In Your Pocket website and iphone app carry even more.

The figures we quote in brackets are the cheapest and costliest main courses on the menu. The opening hours we list are given to us by the restaurants but are rough guidelines as to when you can expect the chef to be working. Below is a list of recommendations depending on what you're looking for.

Splurge
Wierzynek remains the king of Kraków – the city’s oldest and most upscale restaurant, right on the Rynek. Wentzl and Pod Róża are arguably not far behind, but if you want fine dining that doesn’t bludgeon you over the head with huge hunks of meat, our top picks are the French Cyrano de Bergerac and the sophisticated wine list and seasonal cuisine of Copernicus.

Cheap
A traditional Polish milk bar is as cheap as you’ll eat anywhere with a menu in your life, and the clearly marked ‘Bar Mleczny’ at ul. Grodzka 43 is the easiest to find. For something Polish with a bit of atmosphere try Polakowski. If you’re not a fan of Polish food, Bagelmama is tough to beat or head to Momo for something healthy and – you’ll never guess – green.

Lads
Rooster remains the default choice for stag dos thanks to the visual feast the staff provide, or visit Jeff’s where the skimpy outfits are less of a fashion disaster. For local feed try Pod Wawelem where huge portions of meat are served with side dishes of more meat – enough to make the most carnivorous caveman consider a light salad for his next meal - and the bathroom features a vomitorium for those who over-consume.

Families
Kraków now has two cafes designed specifically for kids in Cafe Culca and Mufinka (see Cafes). If you're looking for more of a meal than a snack, take the nippers to Sioux for wild west décor and a special kids’ menu, or better yet, drag them to Pod Wawelem where they’ll wear themselves out in the ball pit while you devour hunks of meat and drain steins of lager. Everybody wins.

Couples
Finding a romantic spot in this city is not difficult. The city itself is a marvellous backdrop for a romantic weekend and with cafes and restaurants seemingly on every corner and tucked into picturesque courtyards you shouldn't have to search far for something. Try Resto Illuminati, Marmolada, Trufla or Aqua e Vino, or for a particularly memorable evening, take a cab out to enjoy the outstanding views at U Ziyada.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT