Bistro Las, located on Wladyslaw Orkana Street, is a true paradise for vegans and vegetarians visiting Zakopane. The restaurant, which opened in 2016, was one of the first in the city to introduce a fully vegan menu, a true revolution in a region famous for its traditional meat-based highland cuisine. The history of the place is fascinating - the founders, fascinated by mountain culture and at the same time promoting a healthy lifestyle, decided to prove that even in the heart of Podhale it is possible to create a place friendly to those on a plant-based diet.

Bistro Las is primarily famous for its breakfasts, which are a true feast for the palate. Scrambled tofu on turmeric with fresh herbs is a flagship dish that delights even those unconvinced by vegan cuisine. You should also try tofu cottage cheese with chives and radishes, which pairs perfectly with crusty whole-grain bread. For lovers of sweet breakfasts, Bistro Las prepares a fluffy chickpea omelet with seasonal fruits and homemade raspberry jam.

Another unique aspect of Bistro Las is its decor - the interior is decorated in an eco-minimalist style, with lots of natural wood and plants, creating a cozy atmosphere conducive to relaxation. The establishment offers a picturesque view of the surrounding hills, which further enhances the time spent over breakfast. According to local legend, the building that houses the bistro stands on the site of an old highlander's hut, where local herbalists used to meet to share their knowledge of the healing properties of Tatra plants.

Slightly different in character is the Filiżanki Café, a hidden gem located on Grunwaldzka Street. It's a place with soul, which was created out of a passion for good coffee and healthy food. The café has been operating since 2014, and during this time it has gained a loyal customer base, both among locals and tourists. The restaurant is famous for its homemade baked goods and a wide selection of vegetarian breakfasts.

The menu at Café Filiżanki includes such offerings as oatmeal with forest fruits and nuts, served with homemade rhubarb compote - the recipe for this dish is said to have come from the owner's grandmother, who collected herbs and fruits in the Tatra Mountains. Also noteworthy are pancakes made of millet groats with apple mousse and cinnamon, inspired by traditional Podhale recipes, but prepared in a meatless version. For hungrier guests, the café offers a rich breakfast plate consisting of avocado paste, hummus, seasonal vegetables and sourdough bread from a local baker.

Filiżanki Café also stands out for its atmosphere - the interior is decorated in a vintage style, with lots of old photographs of Zakopane on the walls and books on the history of the region to browse through while you eat. The owners proudly talk about how many of the furnishings are recycled or made by local artisans. An interesting fact is that some of the herbs used in the preparation of food and drinks are grown in a small garden behind the cafe, where they are grown according to traditional, organic methods.

STRH Bistro Art Cafe, located on the famous Krupówki Street, is a place that combines two worlds - art and culinary. The restaurant was established in 2015 on the initiative of a group of Zakopane artists who wanted to create a space where one can not only eat well, but also interact with art. The name 'STRH' is an abbreviation for 'Attic' - originally, the café was located in the attic of a historic building, where the studio of renowned Tatra painter Stanislaw Witkiewicz operated before the war. Although the premises now occupy other rooms, it has retained its artistic character.

The interior of STRH Bistro Art Cafe is a true art gallery - paintings and photographs by local artists hang on the walls, vernissages and intimate jazz music concerts are regularly held. According to local legend, members of Zakopane's pre-war artistic bohemia used to meet in the building, and the ghost of Witkacy is said to still occasionally haunt the premises, inspiring the chefs to create unique dishes.

STRH Bistro Art Cafe's breakfast menu is a veritable feast for vegetarians. Inspired by his travels around the world, the chef has created a menu that combines traditional highland flavors with international influences. One of the flagship dishes is 'Tatra Morning' - a composition of local cheeses (including oscypek for non-vegetarians and its vegetable alternatives for vegans), cranberry jam, honey from a local apiary and bread baked on site. For lovers of Mediterranean cuisine, there is an 'Artist's Breakfast' - toast with roasted bell pepper paste, hummus with Tatra herbs and raspberry tomato salad.

Another unique aspect of STRH Bistro Art Cafe is their proprietary coffee - the beans are imported from a small, family-owned plantation in Ethiopia, then roasted according to a special recipe developed by the owners. The coffee is accompanied by vegan baked goods, including a blueberry tofu cheesecake that is famous throughout Zakopane.

Interestingly, STRH Bistro Art Cafe was the first place in Zakopane to introduce dishes inspired by fusion cuisine to its menu, combining traditional highland ingredients with exotic spices. The chef regularly organizes cooking workshops, during which he teaches how to prepare simple but impressive vegetarian dishes using local products.

The restaurant also stands out for its commitment to environmental efforts - it uses biodegradable packaging, segregates waste, and works with local suppliers to reduce its carbon footprint. According to some guests, STRH Bistro Art Cafe's terrace has one of the most beautiful views of Giewont in all of Zakopane, making breakfast here an even more enjoyable experience.

As a historical tidbit, in the basement of the building where STRH Bistro Art Cafe is now located, there was a secret printing shop during World War II, where leaflets for the resistance movement were printed. Today, in one of the café's rooms, you can see a small exhibition dedicated to this history, which adds an extra historical dimension to the place.

Bubuja Bistro, located on Jozef Pilsudski Street, is the youngest of the described establishments, having opened in 2018, but has already managed to gain recognition among locals and tourists alike. The name 'Bubuja' comes from the Highlander term for something soft and fluffy - which perfectly reflects the nature of the food served here. The restaurant was created on the initiative of a young couple who, after years of working in renowned restaurants in Krakow and Warsaw, decided to return to their hometowns and create a place that combines a modern approach to cuisine with respect for local traditions.

The history of Bubuja Bistro is closely tied to family tradition - the owner's grandmother was a well-known herbalist in the area, who collected Tatra herbs and prepared medicinal infusions from them. Many of her recipes have been adapted to today's bistro menu. According to local legend, where the building that now houses Bubuja stands, centuries ago there was a spring with healing properties to which sick people from all over Podhale made pilgrimages.

Bubuja Bistro's breakfast menu is a true journey through flavors - from traditional, to Mediterranean, to oriental. The flagship dish is the 'Highlander Power Bowl' - a composition of millet groats, roasted yam, avocado, sprouts and a dressing of Tatra herbs, inspired by a traditional highlander dish, but prepared in a modern, vegan version. For lovers of classics, 'Podhale Breakfast' was prepared - scrambled eggs with tofu and smoked tempeh, served with sourdough bread and paste made from 'Beautiful Jas' beans - a variety grown in Podhale for centuries.

A unique aspect of Bubuja Bistro is also the drinks - the owners prepare their own fermented kombucha with local herbs and fruits. Particularly noteworthy is the 'Tatra Kombucha' with sage, thyme and berries, whose recipe is inspired by traditional infusions prepared by highland herbalists.

Bubuja Bistro's interior is decorated in Scandinavian style, with lots of natural wood and minimalist decorations, which creates a cozy but modern atmosphere. On the walls hang black and white photographs depicting Zakopane from the early 20th century, which is an interesting contrast to the modern decor. During the summer season, guests can enjoy the small but charming garden, which offers a view of the Tatra Mountains panorama.

An interesting fact is that Bubuja Bistro was the first place in Zakopane to introduce dishes inspired by zero waste cuisine to its menu. The chef regularly organizes workshops to show how to use whole vegetables and fruits without wasting any part. The bistro also cooperates with local farmers, from whom it sources organic vegetables and fruits.

Comparing all four establishments, one can see that each has its own unique character and specialization. Bistro Las stands out for having the most extensive vegan offerings and eco-minimalist decor. The Cup Café has the most homey atmosphere and specializes in traditional baked goods in a vegetarian version. STRH Bistro Art Cafe combines culinary with art and offers the most international menu. Bubuja Bistro, on the other hand, focuses on a modern approach to local traditions and zero waste cuisine.

Price-wise, the most affordable is the Cup Café, where one will pay an amount in the price range described as cheap for a full breakfast. Bistro Las and Bubuja Bistro are in the middle price range, while STRH Bistro Art Cafe, due to its location at Krupówki and artistic character, is the most expensive of the places described, although still within reasonable limits for this type of establishment.