I hesitated even stopping for coffee since we got a rather late start to the day, but I’m glad we did, for I found a great little café in the heart of Krakow.
Best Coffee In Krakow, Poland
With a somber day ahead at Auschwitz–Birkenau, I stopped for coffee on the way (the coffee at my hotel, the DoubleTree, was not great…)
Wesoła Cafe
Rakowicka 17
31-511 Kraków, Poland
+48 513932810
7:30AM – 6:00PM (Wednesday – Monday)
7:30AM – 4:00PM (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Wesoła is located on a quiet side street in the middle of the city and rather plain looking from the outside. But inside, great coffee awaits…and pastries, breakfast, and lunch as well if you are so inclined.
Most importantly, the coffee was excellent…I had a flat white and my friend had a cappuccino. On a crisp, cold day it really hit the spot.
The dining area includes tables several indoor tables, but there is an even larger terrace that was pleasant enough when I was there and I bet is lovely during the warmer months.
I did order a second cup before we left…
Jumping ahead to the following day, we found our flight from Krakow to Chicago delayed. With an unexpected extra three hours at the airport and rental car already returned, I used my flight delay meal voucher for a cup of coffee at Boccone Trattoria.
Boccone Trattoria
John Paul II Kraków-Balice International Airport
Kapitana Mieczysława Medweckiego 1
32-083 Balice, Poland
+48 123505167
4:00AM – 11:00PM
The coffee menu was nice, the machine was nice enough, but perhaps the barista was inexperienced because the flat white came out…flat and was served far too hot. I mention it, though, because it was good quality coffee and I would certainly give this place another try, with the hope that the baritsa has sharpened her skills over the last several months.
CONCLUSION
Wesoła Cafe was such a treat and a pleasant balance to what a very sobering day.
My coffee posts are never meant to be exhaustive, but posts from which I hope to build upon as I return to a place. I will certainly return to both of these coffee shops, but I always welcome your recommendations for other great coffee in Krakow.
Bit of trivia about Krakow: It’s allegedly Steven Spielberg’s favorite city and I believe Tom Hank has a place in his heart for it as well. The country where Hank’s character, Victor Navorski, in Terminal was from was called “Krakovia”. Poles gifted Hanks a restored Polski Fiat.
Seeing Krakow gives one an idea of what a gem Warzszawa was like before it was destroyed in WWII and how much of a tragedy it is that the capital city of the nation is largely post WWII brutalist Soviet architecture and glass office buildings during the 90’s.
It was Krakozhia. One of my favorite movies! 😉
Coffee was something I’ve never had any interest in trying. Kind of strange since when I would time with my grandmother I can always remember smelling fresh brewed coffee in the mornings (she also made incredible pancakes) and thought it smelled very nice.
When I was traveling Europe, a friend would drink coffee at times and thought Switzerland had the worst coffee. Maybe they can do chocolates but not coffee? Or just a bad experience.
In the Germanic countries, Austrians seems to do coffee well but I find the coffee generally pretty bad in Germany and Switzerland.
Krakow are nice place to visit but unfortunately overprice .coffee with milk $4.50 cappuccino $5. food $ 15-$20 for small portion per person .majority of people make $1000- $ 1500 per months
I was there about 6-7 years ago and the prices back then were much affordable. Back then, my wife and I had two meals and a beer for $5 USD.
Once the Germans and Brits find out… that’s the end of bargain prices. 🙂 Plenty of stuff still left to see. Lviv is similar to Krakow about 10 years ago (if you can handle the slight risk). Other wonderful places in Poland include Nysa and Prszemysl. Zakopanie is a bit overpriced by Polish standards but may be affordable by westerners. What 100 euros will get you in Gstaad, about 40 will get you in Zakopanie.
I don’t mind sharing this with all of you because more tourism for Poland is generally better for Poland (more revenue.) Spread the love outside of the usual tourist traps.
I’m Polish heritage,yet never much cared for Warsaw or Krakow,though I respect them.But Wroclaw and Szczecin are truly lovely with wonderful young vibrant populations,as is Gdansk and the Baltic coast ,where electing gay mayors is not an issue.Hel is like a Scandinavian fishing village,Poland is full of surprises.