maitaitom

I'm tired of asking train and driving questions, so a drinking question sounded fun.

Have any of you visited a vodka bar in Krakow? I'm always in the mood to try a new martini (sorry Ira, I know you only believe in gin martinis).

If you have visited a vodka bar in Krakow, I would like to know what you thought. Thanks.

maitaitom

I'm on my third martini and still nothing. No vodka drinkers out there?

FainaAgain

Don't they have polska vodka in the "russian" stores in LA? why do you have to travel that far and in addition to it lose money in exchange?

hopscotch

Me thinks you are wasting your time, money, and tastebuds looking for a martini in Krakow. You will be served a neat glass of Martini wine, with no gin.

I was in Krakow last year. My notes show that I had a shot of vodka for 5Z in 3 pubs. The only one I recorded was the Bull Pub. It appeared to be an Irish pub of no reknown. But it did have a long beer list.

skatedancer

We are heading there this summer, and I have in my notes from reading another forum to try Tatanka, which is bison grass vodka mixed with apple juice....

GSteed

Vodka...the water of life! Polish males as well as other neighbors get right to it. Straight vodka, chilled, exhale and then 'bottoms up'. Never try keeping up with a native...Vodka is sold in many flavors as well as neutral and in many strengths 35% to 70%. Practiced drinkers equate alcohol content with price. Most vodka consumption is on Saturday...Sunday is a rest day and work is on Monday.
Caution, Life expectancy, males: USA-75, Polish-70 and Russian-62.5.
My choice - żUBRóWKA
Vodka Martini, vodka and dry vermouth plus a small pickled onion served ice cold.

maitaitom

skatedance: "Tatanka...which is bison grass vodka mixed with apple juice...."

Oh give me a home where the Tatanka roam. I expect a full report on that drink alone, skatedance.

GSteed..."Most vodka consumption is on Saturday."

Fortunately, we will be in Krakow on a Saturday, which doesn't bode well for my Sunday in Krakow.

I am in the process of googling "Vodka bars in Krakow." If any sound interesting, I'll post them here so those of you who go to Krakow before me can scout them out.

Na zdrowie!

Christina

I've been to Krakow twice, but don't go to vodka bars anywhere. I don't like mixed drinks that much, but if I did, it wouldn't be vodka. I mainly drink wine. Which is unfortunate in Poland as they don't have very good wine there, and it's hard to even get them to serve a decent Spanish wine or something like that (they try to give you Polish or Czech wine, which is pretty bad). So I had beer more there.

They don't drink martinis much there, they are more manly and drink vodka shots, not mixed drinks. Chpin and Belvedere are the best ones, I think. They have a lot of bars in Krakow, a lot. I like low-key ones and there were several I liked around my hotel -- like Philo on ul. Tomasza, and I liked Nic Nowego which is more an Irish cafe-bar.

But if you really want vodka, you must go to the bar by that name, Wodka on ul Mikolujska. Obviously, it's known for that. The Qube bar in the Sheraton Krakow is also trendy and popular, and more upscale, if you want a different kind of place. Here is their location and a photo (they call it a vodka bar)
http://www.sheraton.pl/krakow/restaurants.php

oh I found the website of one bar I like, but I don't think it's your vodka bar-type place, stick to Wodka
http://www.nicnowego.com/

Christina

I couldn't find a website for Wodka, but this mentions it a bit and gives you the location. That was near my hotel, also

http://www.cracowonline.com/227-Bar_Wodka-Pub

maitaitom

Christina, thanks for all the info. I have promised my liver I won't overdo it. I also like low key bars, but I am sure we will have to try Wodka one night.

Christina

of course you should.

BTW I dropped a letter, the vodka's name is Chopin