Zakąski Przekąski

We thought this trend was out of hand in Kraków, but apparently Wrocław wants to be the herring capital of Poland. Known as 'Zakąski Przekąski' (literally 'Appetisers & Snacks'), or 'Polish Tapas' as it's been dubbed by some, these 24 hour budget snack bars have been appearing all over the city (and the country for that matter), cashing in on communist nostalgia and the appeal of low prices as everything else is getting more expensive. The Zakąski Przekąski formula includes a small selection of simple, local appetisers typically served cold and priced at 8zł, with drinks (coffee, vodka, beer, wine) at a fixed rate of 4zł. Familiar as the bar snacks of the lean communist years, the menu reads like a list of correct answers to questions from the Jeopardy category 'Foods that follow vodka' and typically includes śledz (pickled herring in oil), galaretka (pig trotters in jelly), kiełbasa (sausage), pierogi, pickles and tartare. Much like a milk bar with a liquor license, Zakąski Przekąski offer budget food and drink late at night and are a great place to meet the city's strangest characters. Having seemingly sprung up on every street in Wrocław, we list the best below: