Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And if you miss that, well then call it brunch! I’ve picked out some of my favorite spots and based these recommendations on what has hit the spot for past guests, so you know each place has been tried and tested thoroughly!
Alchemia Od Kuchni
Alchemie od Kuchni specialises in eggs, they also serve good american style pancakes. They have vegan and vegetarian options. Breakfast is served as late as 02:00pm, great for late risers! Located in Kazimierz, on the corner of Plac Nowy, this is a buzzing spot throughout the day and long into the night too.
Vegan Cafe
Something a bit outside the box (and a bit outside the centre – but still not too far away, especially for the folks staying around the Old Town area, or generally this side of the city). They are a 100% vegan and gluten free place mostly known for their toasts and ciabatta. You’ll find avocado in most of the dishes. Also, they have different salads and even a vegan cake. Everything on the menu is served for the duration of the entire day (08:00 am-06:00 pm).
Milkbar Tomasza
Tomasza is not really the classic type of milk bar, considering that it was opened a bit less than 10 years ago, albeit it’s laid out in a similar way, in that it’s more of a self-service place. Breakfast is more English type than American, and most of the dishes focus on eggs, with some interesting choices like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon or with black pudding (banned in the US!). They do have other things like pancakes, and they also offer traditional Polish main courses, such as pork chops or pierogi. Breakfast is served the whole day (08:00am-08:00pm, on Sundays from 09:00am, closed on Mondays). Prices are extremely competitive given the location.
Mo-ja Café & Bistro
Mo-ja is located just between the Old Town and Kazimierz. They have a very good selection of delicious food for breakfast/brunch, from toasts to burgers to tortillas to hot dogs, although they can be a bit pricey. Vegan options are available too. Breakfast and Brunch is served all day (08:30am-06:30pm, till 10:00pm on Fri and Sat).
Gossip Cafe
A good option for early birds, Gossip Café is open from 07:30 am (the branch at Zwierzyniecka St., close to Wawel Castle. There is a second branch at Świętego Jana 30 on the northern side of the old town that starts at 09:00 am.) For breakfast they offer primarily all sorts of omelettes, but not exclusively. They’re known for their very good coffee too. Not the biggest of places, so it can get a bit crowded some days.
Bistro Bene
Bistro Bene, tucked away in a corner of the Old Town, has a good variety of breakfast options (including waffles with fruits) and sandwiches as well as the calorific example pictured above. Breakfast is served from 08:00am till 01:00pm. Sandwiches and main courses from 01:30 pm till 10:30 pm.
Żarówka Cafe
It’s a rather minuscule cafe, and there’s not a crazy big choice of food options on the menu, but their main dish is really tasty: bagels (those characteristically known in Krakow, the Obwarzanek) served warm with various fillings (like cheese, ham, mozzarella), including vegetarian options. This place is a bit hidden, off the most busy Florianska street, but just inside a courtyard. There’s space to sit outside in the shade on comfortable chairs. Everyone I’ve ever sent there gave overwhelmingly positive feedback afterwards.
Forum Przestrzenie
I’m a big fan of Forum Przestrzenie for many reasons. It’s an unusual building for Krakow, a repurposed communist era concrete hotel, but it has a great setting, at the Vistula river boulevards, with a nice view of the Wawel Castle. They offer very good breakfast menus (for example the “San Francisco” – frankfurters, toast with turkey, bacon, sweetcorn, pancakes, fried egg, green apple for lunch), and very reasonably priced. Breakfast is served from 10:00 am till 04:00 pm.
