Krakow is southern Poland's historic and cultural capital, home to one of Europe's largest medieval market squares, the Wawel Royal Castle and the atmospheric Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. The city of roughly 800,000 inhabitants sits on the Vistula River and is a UNESCO World Heritage city.
Krakow's nightlife centres on Kazimierz (Plac Nowy, ul. Józefa, ul. Estery) and the Old Town cellars. Many bars stay open until 02:00 or 04:00, and the compact layout means most venues are a few minutes apart.
Cellar bars, student clubs, craft breweries and vodka counters dominate. Drinking in the Main Square's outdoor terraces in summer is the most popular evening activity.
At a glance
- Peak hours
- Friday and Saturday 22:00-03:00; weeknights are busiest in student term time.
- Average drink
- Beer 0.5 L 12-22 PLN (~$3.2-5.8 USD); vodka shot 8-15 PLN (~$2.1-3.9 USD); cocktail 25-45 PLN (~$6.6-12 USD).
- Dress code
- Smart casual in cocktail bars; casual elsewhere. Sports kit may be refused at some clubs.
- Cover charge
- Bars are free to enter; clubs may charge 10-40 PLN (~$2.6-10.5 USD) at weekends. Venue hours change seasonally, so confirm opening times on the day.
Nightlife districts
Where the action happens after dark.
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Alchemia
Alchemia is a candlelit Kazimierz pub with mismatched furniture, live music in the cellar and a courtyard.
Known for: Candlelit pub with live music
ul. Estery 5, 31-056 Kraków
Mercy Brown
Mercy Brown is a hidden cocktail bar with a vintage look, reached through a door on ul. Straszewskiego; it is small, so arrive early.
Known for: Cocktail speakeasy
ul. Straszewskiego 28, 31-066 Kraków
Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa
Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa is a standing-counter bar serving flavoured vodka shots and beer at low prices, open late on Floriańska.
Known for: Vodka and beer counter
ul. Floriańska 34, 31-019 Kraków
Finka
Finka is a compact bar at the edge of Plac Nowy, easy to combine with a zapiekanka stop.
Known for: Small cocktail and shots bar
ul. Warszauera 1, 31-056 Kraków
Pod Jaszczurami (Under the Lizards)
Pod Jaszczurami is a cellar club under a Main Square townhouse with concerts, jazz and dance nights.
Known for: Student club and live music
Rynek Główny 8, 31-042 Kraków
Klub Studio
Klub Studio is a student-run venue on the AGH campus hosting concerts and club nights.
Known for: Student club and concerts
ul. Budryka 4, 30-072 Kraków
Stara Zajezdnia
Stara Zajezdnia brews several house beers in a former tram depot with a courtyard beer garden and a Polish grill; phone +48 664 32 39 88.
Known for: Craft brewery and beer garden
ul. Św. Wawrzyńca 12, 31-060 Kraków
Eszeweria
Eszeweria is a long-running Kazimierz bar with antique furniture and a bohemian crowd.
Known for: Bohemian vintage bar
ul. Józefa 9, 31-056 Kraków
Singer
Singer is a Kazimierz bar whose tables are sewing machines, a well-known meeting point for drinks.
Known for: Vintage bar with sewing-machine tables
ul. Estery 20, 31-056 Kraków
Piwnica pod Baranami
Piwnica pod Baranami is a cellar cabaret venue on the Main Market Square, founded in 1956, with concerts and literary evenings.
Known for: Cabaret and live music cellar
Rynek Główny 27, 31-010 Kraków
Harris Piano Jazz Bar
Harris Piano Jazz Bar is a basement bar on the Main Market Square with live piano and jazz in the evenings.
Known for: Jazz and cocktails
Rynek Główny 28, 31-010 Kraków
Forum Przestrzenie
Forum Przestrzenie is a bar and cultural venue in the former Hotel Forum building with deckchairs by the Vistula in summer.
Known for: Riverside bar and deckchairs
ul. Konopnickiej 28, 30-302 Kraków
Clubs
For dancing into the early hours.
Live entertainment
Music, theatre, and performance venues.
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
C
a
r
r
y
I
D
,
a
s
e
n
t
r
y
a
n
d
a
l
c
o
h
o
l
s
a
l
e
s
a
r
e
r
e
s
t
r
i
c
t
e
d
t
o
a
d
u
l
t
s
(
1
8
+
)
.
C
a
r
d
s
a
r
e
w
i
d
e
l
y
a
c
c
e
p
t
e
d
b
u
t
k
e
e
p
s
m
a
l
l
c
a
s
h
f
o
r
d
o
o
r
f
e
e
s
.
T
a
x
i
s
t
h
r
o
u
g
h
B
o
l
t
o
r
U
b
e
r
a
r
e
t
h
e
s
a
f
e
s
t
l
a
t
e
-
n
i
g
h
t
t
r
a
n
s
p
o
r
t
;
n
i
g
h
t
t
r
a
m
s
a
n
d
b
u
s
e
s
r
u
n
o
n
s
o
m
e
l
i
n
e
s
a
f
t
e
r
m
i
d
n
i
g
h
t
.