The Best Lunch Spots in Kraków 2024
No wonder you asked me for dining recommendations in Kraków — even the best establishments, including Michelin Star restaurants, don’t have a website!
I have not been to Kraków since I was a child, which is why I didn’t want to recommend anything myself. However, I have a wonderful friend who lives there, Dominika, and the list below is hers. She put it together with a culinary critic, which means this list is delicious!
Here are her favorite places for 2024:
Karakter
This Michelin Star 2024 restaurant has a lively atmosphere thanks to its loud music, cocktails and pared-back décor. The charming young team serve an extensive menu with a focus on offal, so be prepared for sweetbreads, brains and horse meat tartare, the last of which is one of their signature dishes. The cooking of these less-common ingredients is original and refined, blending many different flavours together. The set lunch menu is a steal!
Instagram: @karakter_restaurant
Address: Brzozowa 17, Krakow
Bufet KRK
Bufet KRK is bringing back forgotten Polish classics with a modern twist. Above all, their menu is based on seasonal, local, and sustainable produce. They source all ingredients from fellow growers and farmers who operate nearby. You will find a harmonious blend of classic vintages and avant-garde expressions, representing both the timeless allure of renowned appellations and the adventurous spirit of emerging wine regions.
Website: Bufet KRK
Instagram: @bufetkrk
Address: Dajwór 8 St. 31-035 Kraków
Restauracja Miód Malina
Restauracja Miód Malina is an Intimate restaurant with folksy decor including lace-covered hand-painted dressers & rustic wreaths. With traditional Polish and European cuisine, this eatery is located in Kraków’s Old Town and is perfect for lunch, dinner, and dessert.
Website: Miód Malina
Instagram: @miod_malina_krakow
Address: Grodzka 40, Kraków
Salute! Bar
Salute Bar is a little off the beaten path in the modern industrial neighborhood of Kraków and giving new life to the city’s bar scene. This neighborhood club has combined Polish flavor with the tradition of Spanish tapas to create delicious small plates and amazing cocktails.
Website: Salute Bar
Instagram: @salutekrakow
Address: ul. Romanowicza 4, Kraków
Zazie Bistro
Another Michelin Star winner, Zazie Bistro is a bustling little French cafe in the city's historic Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. Ask for a table in the characterful cellar, which mixes French memorabilia with brick and stone walls. The Gallic influence continues into the cooking, with dishes like beef Bourguignon and classic onion soup with Gruyère cheese among the gutsy and generously sized options on the menu.
Website: Zazie Bistro
Instagram: @zaziebistro
Address: ul. Józefa 34, Krakow
Restaurant 13
This hidden gem is located right next to the Central Square on Level 1 in Pasaż Vitkac which is the original medieval Krakow. The kitchen is open, so guests can watch how their dishes are prepared with the greatest care. Menu changes seasonally and the cooks select products from the best suppliers and also from Delikatesy13 located in the Pasaż.
Website: Restaurant 13
Address: 33-332, Rynek Główny 13, 33-332 Kraków
Szara Gęś w Kuchni Restaurant
In the city's Grand Square, you’ll find this family-run, brasserie-style restaurant which boasts a hand-painted Gothic ceiling and a lovely terrace. The charming, vaulted dining room plays host to traditional Polish fine dining – accompanied by a large wine list. The well-executed, hearty dishes are brought to the table by an efficient service team.
Website: Szara Gęś
Instagram: @szara_ges_leprive
Address: Rynek Główny 17, 31-008 Kraków
POD Wawelem Kompania Kuflowa
Located at the foot of the Royal Castle in Kraków, Pod Wawelem serves Traditional Galician Hospitality & Cuisine. The local cuisine specializes in filling, traditional Polish dishes derived from various traditions of multicultural Galicia. The restaurant is famous for pork shanks and other excellent meats, regional products and fresh beer. Guests can enjoy the historic rooms of the restaurant, as well as a four-level playground for the youngest guests, which has received many awards for its family character.
Website: Pod Wawelem
Instagram: @podwawelem
Address: Świętej Gertrudy 26/29, 31-048 Kraków
Chimera
Located in the heart of the Old Town, Salad Bar "Chimera" is the first and largest of its kind in Krakow. It is located in a roofed and heated courtyard of a medieval tenement house. Here you will find a ten-meter counter full of various salads (over 40 types), warm meat and vegetarian dishes (30 types), homemade pastries and natural juices.
Website: Chimera
Instagram: @chimerakrakow
Address: Św. Anny 3, Kraków
Pod Nosem
A Michelin Star 2024 Restaurant! The bright ground floor of this characterful medieval-style restaurant is hung with tapestries and the white wooden banquettes have tapestry seat cushions to match; downstairs, amongst the brick and stone, it’s more dimly lit. Classic Polish recipes are given appealing modern updates. Above the restaurant are three richly furnished suites – with prices to match. Located in Kanonicza 22 Suites Hotel.
Website: Kanonicza 22 Suites
Instagram: @podnosemkanonicza22
Address: ul. Kanonicza 22, Krakow