Page 188 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

186  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Krakow has always been known as a good where customers queue up to order at the
place for eating out. Even during the counter, or in the finer restaurants serving
Communist era, when Polish restaurants were traditional specialities like roast duck with
notorious for having very little on the menu, apples. There is a growing number of haute
Krakow’s culinary culture survived unscathed. cuisine restaurants offering Mediterranean,
Now one of the busiest tourist destinations French and contemporary Polish cooking,
in the country, Krakow boasts hundreds of often blended with Asian influences. Italian,
restaurants, many of the highest quality. Asian, Mexican and South American eateries
Traditional Polish food is at its best here – can all be found in Krakow. Some of the best
whether in the budget canteen restaurants places in the city are listed on pages 192–5.

Restaurants The Krakow dining scene is
Those who enjoy good food witnessing a rise in the number
in a pleasant atmosphere will of vodka-and-herring bars,
not be disappointed in Krakow. some of which are open
Many of the city’s restaurants round the clock. These places
are housed in historic buildings sell spirits and traditional bar
or medieval cellars, usually snacks (marinated herring
painstakingly restored and being one favourite) for very
tastefully furnished. Eateries little money.
in the bohemian quarter of
Kazimierz frequently opt for
a range of retro styles, with Street Food
candles on the table and Krakow pretzels, or obwarzanki,
antique furniture. Restaurants are sold by street vendors
on the main Market Square and throughout the city and make
on Szeroka Street in Kazimierz Del Papá, considered by many to be one of an excellent snack. Very much
have large areas of outdoor Krakow’s best Italian restaurants (see p193) a local speciality, they are
seating, although pavement traditionally coated with salt
terraces are a rarity elsewhere. “milk bar”), a budget canteen crystals, poppy seeds or sesame
Evenings and weekends tend to restaurant where customers seeds. You will also see street
be particularly busy, so booking order at the counter, choosing sellers offering delicious hunks of
a table in advance is advisable. from a menu of inexpensive oscypek, smoked sheep’s cheese
Wherever you go, restaurants soups, pierogi, potato pancakes, from the Tatra Mountains.
are not too formal, and there pork chops and other Polish Arguably Poland’s favourite
is no real dress code. staples. The decor is often plain street snack, the zapiekanka is
in these places, but prices are Poland’s answer to the pizza:
rock bottom – visitors can enjoy a halved baguette covered in
Canteen Restaurants and a three-course meal for as little meat, cheese and vegetables,
Vodka-and-Herring Bars as 20zł. Jadłodajnias often close then toasted. Zapiekanki are Zapiekanki are Zapiekanki
Much of the best local food early – usually late afternoon sold from fast-food kiosks all
can be enjoyed in a jadłodajnia or early evening, or when the over the city, notably on plac
(also known as a bar mleczny or bar mleczny or bar mleczny food has sold out. Nowy, the centre of nightlife
in Kazimierz.
Another ubiquitous feature
of the Krakow street-food scene
is the grilled sausage. The best
sausages are sold at the outdoor
grill on plac Nowy in Kazimierz
and at the kiosk near the Market
Hall in Grzegórzecka Street,
where they are available until 3
o’clock in the morning.

Eating at Night
The majority of restaurants in
Krakow close around 11pm,
The chic outdoor area at Someplace Else, within the Sheraton Hotel (see p195) but several establishments in