From pink-walled caves serving an endless breakfast menu to tucked-away student cafes with unbeatable prices and views. Cafes in Krakow come in all shapes and sizes, each one worthy of both your time and your pennies.
I spent a blissful three days in Krakow on my travels around Poland. They were filled with an inordinate amount of walking, liters of fresh lemonade, and copious amounts of luscious food. The latter two were the result of both the heat and the abundance of quirky cafes.
Previous travels around Poland led me to Warsaw, Lodz and picture-perfect Gdansk, whose waterholes pale in comparison to Krakow. If you are visiting Krakow, make sure to allow enough time for the simple act of cafe-hopping. The below 10 cafes in Krakow are a great starting point.
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10 Cafes in Krakow You Don’t Want to Miss
Cafe Szal
Arguably the cafe with the very best view in all of Krakow. Located on the roof of the cloth hall overlooking the main square. Cafe Szal offers a variety of light foods, fresh juices, cocktails and desserts. It is not open year-round, so make sure to check their website before planning your visit.
Good to know: The entrance to Cafe Szal is not super well indicated, in fact, we had to ask the guard at the Rynek Underground Museum which door to duck into. It turned out to be two doors down from the Underground Museum. Located on the first floor, the elevator was broken when we visited.
– Vegetarian options available
– Open for lunch/snacks
Address: Rynek Główny 3, 31-048 Kraków, Poland
Latest opening hours: Daily from 10.00 am, closing time varies. Check Website
Massolite Bookstore
The combination of books, coffee and cakes is a match made in heaven. This little bookstore has countless books in a variety of languages (mainly English and Polish). It serves a dual function of cafe and bookstore, therefore even if you are not in the market for a new book do not hesitate to step inside.
They have a delightful selection of hot and cold tea, lemonades, a selection of baked goods and a few bagels.. Make sure to wander around and do not miss out on their second floor which has an even larger selection of books and a comfy reading nook.
– Vegetarian & options available
– Open for lunch and (early dinner)
Address: Felicjanek 4, 31-104 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Hevre
Hevre was probably my favorite cafe in Krakow. Not only was the food and the fresh lemonade delicious, the service was great and the cafe is housed in a beautiful building. The building itself was a former synagogue dating back to 1896.
The upper floor was reserved for women and children, while the ground floor was for the men to pray. Gently peeling frescoes adorn the wall, dimly lit by opulent chandeliers dangling from the roof. It is a genuine stroke of luck this building remained (more or less) intact after WWII.
Learn about Hevre via this youtube documentary.
– Vegetarian options available
– Open for lunch and dinner
Address: Beera Meiselsa 18, 31-058 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Metrum Restobistro
Looking for a bar in Krakow with a view? This is without a doubt the absolute best the city has to offer! One thing to keep in mind is the fact Metrum Restobistro is anything but a traditional rooftop bar. In fact, it is located on the top floor of the Music Academy where its main clientele are students.
Budget-friendly breakfast/lunch options are served, alongside a decent cup of coffee or a refreshing lemonade. Come here in the early morning for a spot of breakfast, to be enjoyed on one of the two panoramic terraces.
GOOD TO KNOW | There is no flashy sign to indicate the location of the Metrum Restobistro. Head inside the Music Academy, inform the guard you are there for the rooftop bar and make your way up to the top floor with the elevator.
– Vegetarian options available
– Open for breakfast and lunch
– Closed during school holidays
Address: Świętego Tomasza 43, 31-027 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Kawlarnia Chicowsky
This coffee shop was about as local as it gets. We walked in and were greeted by a sea of eyes, surveying us over steaming cups of coffee and plates piled high with sweet pastries. The eyes soon averted themselves and continued chatting as we sat down on one of the free tables.
Kawlarnia Chicowsky is a wonderful little spot the head for breakfast. Aside from their coffee shop, they have an adjourning pastry shop serving a wealth of local baked goods. The cakes from the pastry shop can also be eaten in the cafe and card payments are accepted!
– Vegetarian options available
– Open for breakfast/lunch
Address: Starowiślna 21, 31-038 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Dawno Temu na Kazimierzu
Once upon a time in Kazimir is an absolute must if you are traipsing around the Old Jewish Neighborhood (Kazimierz). The façade look like a set of early 20th-century trade shops, a whisper of a bygone era.
It might be tempting to snap a shot of the outside and walk on. But I highly recommend you step inside to discover the wonderfully decorated interior. The pieces have been carefully chosen to reflect the bustling local businesses that were once housed between these very walls.
TIP | Come here for dinner and enjoy live klezmer, folk or ethnic music. Make sure to double-check the website for the program before you go.
– Vegetarian options available
– Open for lunch, dinner
Address: Szeroka 1, 31-053 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Singer Cafe Krakow
One of the very first bars in Kazimierz and undeniably still one of the most cozy ones to this day. Named after the iconic singer sewing machines which have been transformed into decorative tables. Weather permitting, plonk yourself down on the terrace and enjoy one of the best people-watching spots in the area.
As the sun starts to set, step inside the wonderfully cozy bar with vague notions of a speakeasy pub. I say vague because as the night wears on, the cocktails get stronger, the music gets louder and – if you are lucky – the regulars start dancing until the sun comes up.
Best time to go: Evening
Address: 3W2W+G8 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Monday-Wednesday 09:00-02:00, Thursday 09.00 – 03.00 am Fri 09:00-06:00, Sat 10:00-06:00, Sun 10:00-02:00.
Cytat Cafe
Another wonderful cafe in Krakow to either get a spot of work done, or simply grab a book and spend the day reading in one of their comfortable armchairs. Make sure to check out the Harry Potter and Star Wars-themed bathrooms, they are an absolute hoot!
We popped in quickly for a refreshing glass of lemonade, which was excellent. Cytat Cafe also serves breakfast and a variety of (light) lunch options.
GOOD TO KNOW | Cytat Cafe has grown wildly popular in recent years due to social media. It tends to get very, very busy in high season. Either go early or perhaps skip and head to nearby Hevre or Once Upon a Time in Kazimierz
– Vegetarian options are available
– Breakfast, lunch
Address: Miodowa 23, 31-055 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website (only in Polish)
Czarka Tearoom
As we were walking through Old Town Krakow, I peeked inside the window and stopped dead in my tracks. This little tearoom lured me inside thanks to the undeniably cozy vibes. As we walked in, the first thing I noticed was a sea of tin boxes filled with every imaginable kind of tea. Heaven!
We sadly did not have time to sit and enjoy a cup of tea here, but rest assured it’s the first place I am heading to when I come back to Krakow. Aside from tea, a small selection of cakes is available to nibble on.
– Vegetarian friendly
Address: Szpitalna 24, 33-332 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Website
Camelot Cafe Krakow
These pink walls have seen their fair share of action, once a brothel, then a movie set now one of the most popular cafes in Krakow. The charming interior, copious portions and surprisingly good coffee took me completely by surprise. If I lived in Krakow, this is where I would be spending my Sunday mornings!
Camelot serves a wide variety of international dishes and probably has the most extensive breakfast menu in town! Next door Camelot Lulu is its younger, slightly more upscale sister, equally worth checking out!
– Vegetarian options are available
– Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Address: Świętego Tomasza 17, 33-332 Kraków, Poland
Menu & latest opening hours: Facebook
MORE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR POLAND
Warsaw: 48 Hours in Warsaw
Lodz: Complete guide to Lodz, Poland
Gdansk: 15 Unmissable things to do in Gdansk
Europe: Scenic train journeys around Europe
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