Cracow's coffee world is a fascinating journey through flavors, aromas and traditions. The first two places in our ranking are true pearls on the coffee map of the city, which have revolutionized the approach to brewing and serving this beverage in the former capital of Poland.

Wesoła Cafe, located at 17 Rakowicka Street, is one of the most recognizable specialty cafes in Poland. Opened in 2013, it pioneered the coffee movement in Krakow and still maintains the highest standards today. The restaurant is located in an atmospheric tenement with a charming courtyard, which adds to its unique character. The history of the place is fascinating - the building where the café is located remembers the pre-war times and survived the turmoil of the 20th century to become a space where tradition meets modernity.

What sets Wesola apart is first and foremost its uncompromising approach to quality. The café works with the best roasters from all over Europe, offering guests carefully selected beans from all over the world. Baristas here prepare coffee using both classic espresso methods and alternative brewing techniques, such as drip, aeropress and chemex. Each method brings out different flavor notes from the beans - from chocolate and nutty to fruity and floral. Interestingly, the Merry Cafe also organizes workshops and trainings for coffee lovers who want to deepen their knowledge of the beverage.

Wesola's culinary offerings are another reason to visit. Breakfasts are served throughout the day, and the menu is inspired by cuisine from different parts of the world. All dishes are prepared from seasonal and local products, reflecting the place's philosophy based on quality and freshness. Prices at the Merry Cafe are at a medium level, which, combined with the quality of the food served, makes the place attractive to a wide range of customers.

The second gem in our list is Tociekawa - Specialty Coffee at 37 Dluga St. This small cafe has won the hearts of Cracovians thanks to its unique approach to coffee and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is located in the historic part of the city, in a tenement that remembers the times when Cracow was the cultural and intellectual center of Poland. According to local legend, the same building housed a popular patisserie before the war, where Krakow artists and writers used to come.

Tociekawa stands out from other cafes primarily because of its proprietary approach to coffee brewing. The owners personally select the beans, often traveling to the countries of origin to establish direct relationships with the growers. As a result, the menu features unique single origins from Ethiopia, Colombia or Rwanda, which are hard to find elsewhere. Each coffee is served with information about its origin, bean processing method and flavor notes, allowing guests to better understand and appreciate its character.

Tociekawa's interior is a minimalist design with elements referring to the coffee production process. Photographs from the plantation hang on the walls, and the bar equipment is designed to allow guests to observe the process of preparing drinks. The café also offers in-house baked goods - pastries and cakes that go perfectly with the coffee served here. Prices are at an average level, but the quality of the products fully compensates for this.

The two cafes, although different in style and approach, share a passion for coffee and a commitment to excellence. Merry Cafe is a well-established place with a wide range of culinary offerings and a spacious interior, ideal for longer meetings. Tociekawa, on the other hand, is an intimate place for true connoisseurs, where each cup of coffee is a small work of art. The choice between the two depends on individual preferences, but one thing is certain - both Wesoła and Tociekawa are a great starting point for exploring Krakow's coffee scene.

While wandering the streets of Krakow in search of the perfect coffee, it's worth paying attention to places that are less obvious, but equally fascinating. The next two cafes in our ranking are true hidden gems that will delight even the most demanding coffee drinkers.

Szalej Cafe at 16 Kremerowska Street is a place with soul and character, which stands out from other cafes in Krakow. The name alludes to the venomous shalej - a plant that, in proper doses, has healing properties, but in excess can be dangerous. This metaphor perfectly reflects the philosophy of the place - the coffee is meant to be strong and distinctive, but at the same time balanced and pleasant to drink. The restaurant is located in a historic building from the early 20th century, which before the war belonged to a well-known Cracow merchant family. The interior has retained many original architectural elements, such as high ceilings, decorative stucco and wooden floors, which creates a unique atmosphere combining history with modernity.

Szalej Café is primarily famous for its proprietary coffee blends, which the owners compose in cooperation with local roasters. Particularly recommendable is their flagship blend 'Szalej Blend', which combines beans from Brazil and Ethiopia, giving a rich, chocolatey flavor with notes of forest fruits in the cup. The café also offers seasonal single origins, which change according to the availability of the best beans on the market. Interestingly, Szalej is one of the few cafes in Krakow that also serves coffee prepared using the siphon method, a spectacular brewing technique that brings out the beans' unique purity and complexity of flavor.

Szalej Café's culinary offer is another reason to visit here. The menu is based on local products and traditional recipes with a modern twist. Homemade baked goods are particularly recommended - cheesecake with white chocolate and raspberries or tart with pears and cardamom are items that have their regular fans. Prices at Szalej Cafe are at an average level, and the quality of the products served fully justifies the price tag.

Another hidden treasure on the coffee map of Cracow is Somnium Cafe Bar at 5 Beer Meiselsa St. The name 'Somnium' comes from Latin and means 'dream' or 'dream', which perfectly reflects the character of this place - it's a cafe that transports guests to another dimension of taste experience. The restaurant is located in the heart of the former Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, in a building that housed a tailor's shop before World War II. During the renovation, the original design elements were discovered, which have been painstakingly restored and incorporated into the café's modern design.

Somnium is distinguished above all by its experimental approach to coffee. Baristas regularly test new brewing methods and unconventional flavor combinations. The establishment's specialty is infused coffees - infused with natural flavors such as vanilla, cardamom or orange peel. The flagship product is the 'Somnium Experience' - a tasting set of three different coffees prepared using different methods, served with a card describing the flavor profiles and suggesting how best to appreciate each sip.

Somnium's interior is a fusion of industrial style with art deco elements. The raw bricks contrast with soft velvet chairs, while brass lamps cast warm light on the wooden tables. The café regularly hosts cultural events, from intimate jazz concerts to poetry nights, adding to the guest experience. The culinary menu is small, but carefully considered - each item has been selected to pair perfectly with the coffee. Prices are at an average level, but the unique experience Somnium offers fully justifies the expense.

Szalej Cafe and Somnium Cafe Bar represent two different approaches to specialty cafes. Szalej focuses on tradition, quality and proven recipes, while Somnium experiments and seeks new ways. Szalej offers a cozy, homey atmosphere, while Somnium offers a more refined, artistic experience. What they have in common, however, is a passion for coffee and a quest for perfection in every aspect of the business. For coffee drinkers looking for authentic, non-touristy places, both of these cafes are a must-see on the map of Krakow.

Cracow's coffee scene is constantly evolving, and the last two in our ranking are examples of innovative concepts that are breaking the mold and setting new trends. These cafes combine a love of coffee with unique ideas, creating spaces that are more than just a place to sip a good espresso.

Kawa - Romanowicza Café, located at 4 Tadeusza Romanowicza Street in the Podgórze neighborhood, is a place that was born out of a fascination with the post-industrial aesthetic and history of this part of the city. The café is housed in a revitalized building of a former cosmetics factory from the 1930s, which gives it a unique, austere character. The history of the place is fascinating - during World War II the factory produced hygiene products for the German military, and after the war it was turned into a state-owned plant. When the building fell into disrepair in the 1990s, it seemed that it would share the fate of many other industrial buildings in the area. But thanks to passionate local historians and enterprising visionaries, the space has been given new life as a cultural and gastronomic center, of which Kawa - Romanowicza is an important part.

What sets this coffee shop apart is its holistic approach to coffee. The owners control the entire process - from selecting the beans, to roasting them (they have their own micro-roaster in the back of the premises), to serving the finished beverage. This allows them to offer unique flavor profiles not available anywhere else. Romanovich's specialties are coffees with a long fermentation process, which are characterized by intense, fruity notes. The café is also famous for its experimental brewing methods - it is the only one in Krakow to offer coffee prepared using the Kyoto (cold drip) method, in which cold water slowly seeps through ground beans over many hours, resulting in an extremely aromatic, deep brew.

Romanovich's interior is a real feast for design lovers. The original brick walls, concrete floors and steel structural elements are complemented by minimalist furniture and thoughtful lighting. Of particular note is the coffee bar made from a single piece of solid oak wood, which is the focal point of the space. Old photographs of the factory and its employees hang on the walls, emphasizing the cafe's connection to the history of the place. Prices at Romanovich are on the average level, but the quality and uniqueness of the experience fully justify the expense.

The last, but equally fascinating place in our list is the Citation Café at 23 Miodowa St. This café is a true tribute to literature and the written word. The name is not accidental - the walls of the establishment are decorated with quotes from literary works, and each table is named after a different writer or poet. The café is located in a turn-of-the-century tenement house, which before the war belonged to a well-known Krakow bookseller and publisher. According to local legend, banned books were hidden in the basement of the building during the occupation, to be destroyed by the Nazis.

Quote Café is a place where coffee meets culture. The owners, themselves lovers of literature, have created a space that encourages reading, writing and discussion. The café has an extensive library that guests can use during their visit, and regular literary events - from author meetings to book clubs - attract Krakow's intellectual community. Interestingly, Cytat Café also publishes its own quarterly literary magazine, which publishes texts by local authors.

When it comes to coffee, Cytat relies on classics made to perfection. The beans come from carefully selected roasters from all over Europe, and the baristas prepare the drinks with precision and attention to detail. The establishment's specialty is flat white - a perfectly balanced combination of espresso and velvety milk, which reaches near perfection here. For lovers of alternative brewing methods, Citation also offers coffee prepared in a chemex or aeropress.

Citation's culinary offerings are primarily homemade baked goods inspired by literature - 'Proust's Magdalenes' cakes, 'The Great Gatsby' cheesecake or 'Anna Karenina' tart are just some of the creative offerings. The café also offers light snacks and breakfasts, perfect for morning reading. Prices are at an average level, which, combined with the pleasant atmosphere and high quality of the products, makes Quote Café a place you want to return to.

Coffee - Romanovicha and Cytat Café represent two different but equally fascinating approaches to the café concept. Romanovicha pays homage to industrial history and an artisanal approach to coffee, while Citation celebrates the relationship between coffee and culture. Romanovicha offers a raw, minimalist interior and experimental brewing methods, while Citation offers a cozy, intellectual atmosphere and classic drinks made to perfection. For coffee drinkers looking for places with character and history, both of these cafes are a must-see on the map of Krakow.

To sum up our ranking of the best cafes in Krakow for coffee drinkers, it is worth noting that each of the described places has its own unique character and approach to coffee. From the pioneering Merry Café to the experimental Somnium to the literary Citation, Krakow's coffee scene offers a variety of experiences that will satisfy even the most demanding lovers of the beverage. Whether you're looking for classic espresso or innovative brewing methods, you're sure to find the perfect café for you in Poland's former capital.