6 Best Restaurants in Krakow, Poland

This lovely French bistro, with its friendly staff and a happy chef who often dances in the kitchen, stays open from morning until night. You can pop in practically any time for a croque monsieur or a more substantial dish from their not-so-small and very scrumptious menu, which manages to be both simple and sophisticated at the same time. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try cuisses de grenouilles (frog legs with parsley) or escargot. The selection of cheeses and other delicacies is excellent, all imported from France. The locals sometimes pop in to buy some cheese and baguette to take home and be on their way, but the space is so inviting that they may stay for a cup of coffee. The huge window offers a perfect vantage point for observing life passing through Szpitalna Street, and the lovely brick vault above is conducive to dreaming.

To some extent, visiting Cechowa resembles time travel. The decor, the menu, the hairdos of the staff (as well as the staff themselves) have not changed in decades. This is the place to sample traditional dishes such as raw beef tartare (always fresh), bigos (sour cabbage and meat stew, a traditional hunter's dish), or a meat roulade wrapped around pickled cucumbers and served with buckwheat and gravy. It's all honest, no-nonsense, traditional Polish food. Furthermore, Cechowa will not bankrupt your budget since prices remain very reasonable.

This health-conscious cafeteria a few steps from the Rynek is a great choice for breakfast, but it continues to serve fresh and tasty bites late into the evening. Daily lunch specials come in both vegetarian and nonvegetarian versions. You can also order smoothies, fresh fruit juices, organic snacks, and cakes, plus excellent specialty coffee all day. The latter is a locally roasted brand with great quality, and portion sizes are large. Never too much of a good thing!

It may be difficult to find a better dining deal in Kazimierz—or, indeed, in the whole of Kraków. Carrot with Peas focuses on simple dishes, many of the milk bar variety, meaning fresh and inexpensive food such as pancakes, potato cakes, and soups. The atmosphere, though, is not that of a milk bar, but a grandmother's dining room with wooden tables and chairs. Homey and cozy, it's very busy most of the time.

Here's the one and only place in Kraków serving authentic Neapolitan pizza (made with AVPN certificate no. 584) in different variations, plus excellent desserts. The modern interior is sophisticated but still cozy, and service is prompt, polite, and friendly, and there's a nice courtyard for outdoor dining in the summer. It's so little and so much at the same time. Hint: check out the black and white ermines, part of an art installation playfully based on Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine." Although Nolio isn't small, reservations are essential, and in a short time this place has become one of Kraków's favorites.