Kraków is a popular destination for travellers across Europe. Most are drawn here by its architecture, tumultuous history and nightlife. For us, it was the first two; I’m a little too old for clubbing. There are plenty of blog posts on what to do in Kraków; however, there are far fewer focusing on what to eat (outside of articles on the best Milk Bars). In all honesty, this is a bit of a shame. Whilst not being renowned as a foodie destination like Tokyo, Rome, Beijing, Chengdu or Chongqing (a bit of a China bias there), there are some fantastic places to chow down in Krakow.
Eating in Krakow
Like any popular travel destination in Europe, you can find a huge variety of cuisine. However, very few Chinese options (not a bad thing, finding good food outside of China is surprisingly tricky). We were searching for restaurants serving traditional Polish food, or twists on classic recipes, and we managed to find a couple of excellent options.
This was my first visit to Krakow, and I expected that food would be significantly cheaper than back in London, where I live. This reputation extends across Eastern Europe, and in some cases is correct (Budapest being markedly more affordable than London). However, outside of the Milk Bars, restaurants were not much cheaper than in London. This is the result of rocketing popularity. Kraków is a small city that receives almost 3 million visitors a year, more than the capital, Warsaw!
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not London prices, but it’s certainly more expensive than I thought it would be. However, the food we had was excellent, so swings and roundabouts, I guess.
Whilst food is not as cheap as I expected, alcohol is much more affordable than it was back in London.
Miód Malina
This excellent little restaurant can be found just off Grodzka. I would recommend booking, as it is very popular with locals and foreign workers in the area. Whilst we were eating, we saw numerous groups get turned away.
Miód Malina serves many classic Polish dishes, alongside some European dishes with a twist. I would very much recommend their pork knuckle and pierogi.
Old Town
Tucked away just off the main square, this is another eatery that is frequently full. It is a more intimate setting than Miód Malina and, as a result, seems to be a popular place for couples. We visited late on a Saturday evening after a long day of communist history, heavy rain, and the salt mine.
A fantastic place for two hungry souls with wet socks to recoup and recover
Czarna Kaczka aka Black Duck
Wow, wow, wow. This may be one of my favourite meals ever. Seriously. The place is popular; we tried to book a table twice, only to be told that they were fully booked, but that maybe they might be able to squeeze us in if we came by later. It’s pretty close to the centre, but is down a quiet alley, so it certainly feels like you’re getting away from the people.
We dropped by, and we were lucky enough to snag a table each time (yes, it was so good we went twice). Each time we got half a duck with potatoes, vegetables, apples and sauces. Too good to get a proper photo of. Absolutely incredible.
Bar Mleczny (Milk Bar)
This lovely little milk bar just off Grodzka is a popular spot serving up the simple home cooking you’d expect from a milk bar. It gets quite popular from around 11 onwards, but is quiet in the morning, making it a lovely place for breakfast after a morning walk through the old town. The goulash and potato cakes are excellent.
Tradycyjne Polskie Smaki (Milk Bar)
Another milk bar, slightly more glamorous than Bar Mleczny. Whereas the above is more popular with tourists, Tradycyjne Polskie Smaki is pretty popular with the locals (a pretty good sign). The pork cutlet and pork knuckle were favourites of ours.
Despite being located in the heart of the old town, it’s in a quieter area that will give you some respite from the tourists.
JADŁODAJNIA Wczoraj i Dziś (Milk Bar)
We uncovered this place whilst visiting Oskar Schindler’s factory. It’s well off the beaten track, with an English menu not being the default. Thank goodness there was one, as my Polish is particularly bad.
