I am looking for some recommendations for good Polish restaurants in Krakow. I'm a huge pierogy fan - do they actually translate them to "dumplings"? - so I would appreciate getting pointed to the best place in town for those for one suggestion.

I am far more into places with historical atmosphere that 4 star elegance and will trade in the finest nouvelle cuisine for some hearty meals of fine pork, etc..

Thanks,

We had excellent pierogy at Miod Malina, a nicer restaurant off the main square. For a cozier, more historical ambiance head to Camelot Cafe (also just a block off the square, the opposite end though). The zurek there is fantastic.

Info and pics from our trip to Krakow at http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/

Katrinab - loved the info and pics. Thanks for sharing your website.

the turnip

Delicious dumplings are at "Babcia Malina" or "Pod Wawelem" - best with cabbage. In "pod Aniołami" restaurant you can eat amazing dumplings and admire 13-century interior.

One of my favorite travel stories concern a tour I was taking about 5 years ago. As with many tours, the way it works in each new burgh is they do a morning orientation tour turn you loose in some central location and have an optional afternoon tour...any way we finished our tour in the main central square of Krakow and the local tour guide is describing the many fine restaurants in the area and me, being a most unadventurous eater, was simply not impressed with the menu choices he was mentioning. So sarcastically, and it really was meant sarcastically when I said it, I said, "Yeah, yeah yeah, and where is McDonald's?" Without missing a beat, he said to me, right around the corner but you don't want to eat there. I said why not. He sasid, you don't know what you're going to get. I said sure I do. I'm going to get a quarter pounder with cheese, fries and a coke light.

Anyway, I walk around the corner and sure enough there is McDonald's jammed with locals. I bravely get on the queue, wait my turn, and ask for Cheeseburger royal (what they call through many parts of Europe a quarter pounder with cheese), fries and a coke light (what they call diet coke before the advent of coke zero) and that's exactly what I got...and you know something. It tasted exactly like it would have tasted if I ordered the same thing in Chicago (but not in NY because McDonald's in NYC have gotten special permission not to put mustard on the hamburgers and cheeseburgers. We NYers only want ketchup on our hamburgers and cheeseburgers). One of the better meals, unfortunately, I had in Poland.

I ate at Babcia Malina near the Florian Gate. Watch out for the number of grams you get - I had a plate of pierogies that could have fed an army - 20 of them. I managed to eat 6 and that was forcing myself. I asked the people I rented the apartment from to recommend a typical Polish restaurant and this is one of the two they recommended.

I also enjoyed Cafe Camelot but had pasta there. They have a small terrace for dining/drinks in the nicer weather.

A friend ate at a traditional milk bar - Bar Mleczy recommended by her hotel.

xyz123 - One of your FAVORITE travel stories is eating at McDonalds? Sad.

From my 2008 trip report:

The restaurant name is Guliwer, ul. Bracka 6, and it turned out to be one of the best restaurants of the trip.  When we arrived, we were shown to our table, and true to his word, it was the only empty table in the house.  As we sat dining, many others were turned away.

This is one place where I will describe the dishes.  They were that good!  Mary started with a wild mushroom soup (Polish specialty) and went on to Provencale-style chicken liver with onions and red peppers along with roasted potatoes.  

I had a scrumptious veal cutlet with herb garlic butter, fried apples paired with some delicious pan-fried potatoes.  It received a “Wow” rating. 

This would be a night for “Wows. Tracy’s first “Wow” dish was a refreshing, cold cucumber and watermelon soup.  Her duck filet with a pepper sauce and celery salad with raisins and nuts was great, too.  

With dishes like these, we could not stop. 

On to dessert!  I had a Crepe Suzette, which was fabulous, but Tracy’s second “Wow” of the night came in the form of vanilla and chocolate crepes filled with ice cream, an orange-chocolate sauce, whipped cream and lots of orange zest.  We were told the orange-chocolate sauce is made in-house.



All this and a bottle of 2004 Chateau Pertignos Bordeaux made this dinner most memorable.  I highly, highly recommend Guliwer for dinner. 

oops sorry, Guliwer is not a "Polish" restaurant, but more international cuisine, although the wild mushroom soup was a "Polish specialty." It was still very good, just in case you're not in the mood for pig knuckles one night.

I agree with katrinab. The food at Miod Malina is wonderful. In fact, it was our favorite restaurant in the four days we were in Krakow. We loved the Russian-Style Dumplings with potatoes, fried onions, and cheese. And then there was the fantastic apple pancake with caramel and vanilla sauce. It brings back delicious memories.

Good dumplings served in 10 ways are in Pierogarnia on Miodowa street. A little piece of heaven for those, who like dumplings is "Pierożki u Vincenta" na Lea 114 street or on Bożego Ciała 12 street.