Polish cuisine - often forgotten and underrated, is one of the best ones to find in the Eastern part of Europe. The land of pierogi and sour cabbage will surprise you with the diversity and flavor fullness it provides. If you ever find yourself in Krakow - Poland’s former capital and the most beautiful old city in the whole country, you might want to eat something. Here is a list of Krakow’s best Polish cuisine restaurants for every taste and budget.
Why Trust Trip101?
✅ Over 50,000 articles reviewed and published by our experienced team
✅ Over 50 years of combined experience researching, writing and reviewing travel articles
✅ Over 40,000 hours spent on research and fact-checking from credible sources (last year’s data)
✅ Optimizing content from data-driven insights collected directly from users on our platform
✅ Focus on authentic and up-to-date information by collaborating with local guides, global travelers and other industry experts
✅ Long-standing partnerships with credible brands like Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, GetYourGuide, Viator, RVShare and more
✅ Full disclosure on any partnerships or sponsored content
Trip101’s team of writers, editors, and content managers oversees the publication of all travel content, including destination guides, accommodation recommendations, and travel tips. They have extensive experience in the travel industry and no content, written or visual, gets published without a review. Many of our team’s work has also been featured in Travel+Leisure, National Today, The Indian Express, The Telegraph (India), Robb Report, The Adventure Handbook, Tripoto, Korea Tourism Organization, and Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Some of them are also members of professional organizations like the Society of American Travel Writers and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance.
Each member of the team follows Trip101's methodology and strict editorial guidelines to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and relevance.
1. Pod Baranem
Zakupiliśmy dziś świeżutką polędwicę wołową pyszną i kruchą, z której między innymi przygotowujemy danie przedstawione na zdjęciu. Polędwica a'la Barbakan jest naprawdę grzechu warta. Zapraszamy!!!
Posted by Restauracja Pod Baranem on Saturday, 10 March 2012
Starting with “Pod Baranem”, this restaurant is a perfect start when venturing into the Polish cuisine. This fancy, yet not too pricey restaurant will surprise you with its variety of different menu items that are largely inspired by the Polish cuisine, but are also influenced by flavors from all over Europe and even the world. This makes Pod Baranem a perfect place to ease yourself into the, sometimes a little eccentric, cuisine, as it will involve familiar elements, yet will still provide a true Polish experience. The interior is also inspired by traditional Polish motives with modern inspirations, which perfectly match the menu. A place of the true Polish experience, where you can slowly get accustomed to the Polish cuisine without experiencing a major culture shock.
Pod Baranem
Address: Sw. Gertrudy 21, Krakow 31-048, Poland
Price: from 12 USD
Opening Hours: 12pm - 10pm
Duration: around two hours
Access: 5 minutes away from Wawel castle
Contact: +48 124294022
Website: Pod Baranem Restaurant
2. Wesele
Continuing with the fancier, yet still quite affordable theme, I present to you “Wesele”. Wesele directly translated means a wedding, but it can also be translated as a great happiness or happy event. The latter goes perfectly with the nature of the establishment. This lively restaurant located in the middle of Krakow’s Main Square will definitely bring a huge smile to your face. The menu consists of typically traditional Polish cuisine staples that locals love and foreigners need to try. The interior is a bright, inspired by traditional motives, cozy restaurant, with the possibility of eating in the outside table garden, emerging from the front of the restaurant and overlooking the beautiful Main Square. Wesele is more typically associated with pure, uninfluenced Polish cuisine, so it is definitely a great next step on your culinary adventure around Krakow.
Wesele
Address: Rynek Główny 10, 31-042 Krakow
Price: from 12 USD
Opening Hours: 12pm - 11pm
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Access: At the Main Square
Contact: +48 124227460
Website: Wesele Restaurant
3. Milkbar Tomasza
Posted by Milkbar Tomasza on Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Cutting down the costs, we are now moving on to one of the last milkbars left in Poland, that were broadly popular in Communistic Poland. Milkbar’s concept is inexpensive, home-made food. This is exactly what you will find in “Milkbar Tomasza”. Unpretentious and humble interiors may not scream “glamour” or “luxury”, but the flavors you will find there will rock your world. The bar offers a short menu consisting of Polish staples that are known to all humble Polish households. The place is not a typical tourist destination, but do not let the locals keep this gem to themselves. Step in to Milkbar and relive the experience of a Polish family meal from the 80s, but also very commonly served today in many households. Treat yourself to this unique Polish hearty culinary experience for close to no money, you will not regret it!
Milkbar Tomasza
Address: ul. Sw. Tomasza 24 | 31-027 Krakow, Poland
Price: 1-4 USD
Opening Hours: 8am - 8pm, closed on Mondays
Duration: less than an hour
Access: 10 min from Main Square
Contact: +48 124221706
Facebook: Milkbar Tomasza
4. Przystanek Pierogarnia
Jesień ! Tak wiec żegnamy borówkę. I zapraszamy na pierogi ze śliwka węgierką ! Są pyszne ....:) Od dziś dostępne w każdym z naszych lokali przez okres jesienny.
Posted by Przystanek Pierogarnia on Thursday, 8 September 2016
Another inexpensive stop on your Polish cuisine exploration journey is “Przystanek Pierogarnia”. Pierogi - Polish boiled flour dough dumplings, are one of the classics that you need to try during your visit to Poland. Loved by all age groups, pierogi come in all variations, from traditional fillings such as mushroom and sour cabbage, to more modern-inspired flavors such as pizza. At Przystanek Pierogarnia you will encounter a large menu, from which you will definitely find something that will make your taste buds go crazy. Pro tip: Pierogis are usually best enjoyed in places that serve them exclusively, because the dough is usually hard to master. Places who are devoted to pierogi tend to serve them better than restaurants that have a more varied menu.
Przystanek Pierogarnia
Address: ul. Bonerowska 14, Krakow 31-030, Poland
Price: from 2 USD
Opening Hours: 11am - 8pm, closed on Mondays
Duration: less than an hour
Contact: +48 796449886
Facebook: Przystanek Pierogarnia
Krakow Tour Guide
Eugeniusz Daszewski
I believe that Kraków is one of the best places to visit and to live. Maybe it's because of Wawel Chakra, which is considered to be one of the place of enourmous power?! Or maybe thanks to its unique mixture of the Old Town, Jewish history and the communist legacy?! Or perhaps the famous polish pierogies and kielbasa?! I believe that everyone will find something for himself. During 8 years o... Read more
Tours by Eugeniusz
5. The Black Duck
Lastly, I present to you “The Black Duck”. This restaurant is often referred to as “the diamond in the rough”. It is another example of a typically Polish cuisine served at the highest quality possible. Small and cozy interiors provide a home-like atmosphere, with a menu that matches perfectly. Consisting of a small selection of Polish cuisine staples, The Black Duck not only further puts emphasis on the home-like experience, but also assures its guests of the top quality of the food. The Black Duck is like a warm hug on a cold, rainy night - essential to try and heart-warming. If you do not have a polish grandma that could prepare a hearty, local meal for you, The Black Duck will give you the closest experience possible, maybe except the hugs.
The Black Duck
Address: ul. Poselska 22, Old Town, Krakow 31-002, Poland
Price: from 5 USD
Opening Hours: 12pm - 11pm
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Contact: +48 124265440
Website: The Black Duck
Taste the pierogi!
Polish cuisine may seem a little intimidating at first, but once you get past the initial shock, it will welcome you with a warm hug of pierogi and hearty soups and stews. If you ever find yourself in the beautiful city of Krakow, do not forget to visit at least some of the establishments on this list for an unforgettable culinary experience that will last a lifetime.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
