Pierwszy Lokal...

The service was very good and our waiter both friendly and quick to keep those beer glasses filled, which we like. We were served some of the best tapas I have tasted in a long time, completely void of oily sausages and over spiced meat balls. Our mixture of scallops, hare, fish, veil and mussels were prepared to tasty perfection, without leaving us with that classical and sause everywhere feeling that tend to follow the tapas experience, at least here in Norway. I almost felt like I was eating healthy, and I mean that in the best possible way, not the and dry celery kind of way.

Pierwszy lokal na Stolarskiej po lewej stronie, idac od Malego Rynku is the full - and, unsurprisingly, rarely attributed - name of this bar in Krakow's Old Town. It means "first place on Stolarska street on the left side, coming from the Maly Rynek (Small Market Square)." Unlike it's name, I have always found the bar rather unexceptional, and struggled to understand why certain elements of the expat community have formed an attachment to it equally as strong as to their favourite teddy. Maybe I've mellowed in my old age, however, because what once represented a nondescript bar now seems to me a rather refined hangout with oodles of comfy seating, real Polish ale on tap (yippee!), and a crowd that I'm pretty confident won't break a bottle over my head if I accidentally step on their toe on the way to the toilets. Or maybe it was simply the fact that last time I went the place was full of cute girls - one of whom (the tall blonde) was definitely eyeing me up. Either way it's great.

It's ok and I prefer it much more when it's non smoking. Still the staff is a bit slow and depending on a day, sometimes just not so friendly. I remember this place from many years ago and it seemed to be amazing then. Sayin that, coffee is ok!

Haven't ever ventured into the sandwich territory, but this is certainly a very cool cafe. Enjoy!

I love this place for spending an afternoon with a good book and a pint of beer. It is cosy, quiet, (sometimes smoky), and has some very comfortable places to sit. A real favorite.

Haven't tried the rolls but this is a great cafe. Seems to attract an arty clientele. Can be a bit smoky, but has character!

Check out the bread. If it seems reallyreally tasty to you (and I'll bet it does...) you can get it at the bakery in Topolowa street (between Lubicz and Lubomirskich, parallel to both of them). And remember: in this case the early bird gets the bread... the only thing latecomers can count on is crumbs :))