Anna Wontorczyk (1983)

Romantic, mouth-watering, expensive: those are the three words that come to mind when I think of Pimiento.

Steakhouses are still a rarity in Krakow, but what makes Pimiento even more unique is its imported beef. Argentina is known for its superb quality of beef so when you order you stake at Pimiento you know you’re getting your money’s worth.

My first impression of the restaurant was: stylish. The upstairs was full (of satisfied costumers) so we were led downstairs. The waiter was friendly, helpful and attentive, coming back every few minutes to discreetly check whether we needed anything.

The smell of the food as it was carried down to us was pure torture. We were famished and, without hesitation, dove right in as soon as the waiter put down the tray. We decided to split the 600g “Pimiento Paririllada”, a sample tray of all four types of beef that the restaurant offers. A loaded baked potato and a glass of red wine topped off the perfect meal.

As inarticulate as this may sound, mmmmmm mmmmm mmmmmm is probably the best way to describe what my taste buds were feeling.

When you pack your bags and move to another country one of the things you miss most about home is the food.

I’m a big bagel fan so, naturally, I was disappointed when I found out there are no bagels in Krakow…or so I thought. After almost three years I’ve discovered a place! It wasn’t actually me discovering it, my friend took me there for lunch once and changed by life.

It’s not even the bagels, although they are great, the place itself is very charming, too. There is plenty of room to spread out if you want to work or study and it’s fairly quiet so you won’t be distracted. Because Bagelmama is located just off the beaten path, the view out the window is not picturesque in any sense of the word, but that’s what makes this place great. Krakow is a city of contrasts and if you only stay in the Main Square you don’t get to see what it’s really like.

Bagelmama has been in business for about ten years now. Although the menu has grown and the new location is more spacious, the atmosphere and philosophy hasn’t changed. Everything revolves around bagles; it’s simple but it works.

If you’re a fan of the Godfather you’ll probably want to visit a place that pays homage to the drama. According to The Godfather Wiki, “Omertà is a popular attitude and code of honor, common in areas of southern Italy, such as Sicily, Calabria, and Campania, where criminal organizations like the Mafia, ‘Ndrangheta, and Camorra are strong.” A common definition is the “code of silence”. The code of omertà says that: “Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without police protection is both. It is as cowardly to betray an offender to justice, even though his offences be against yourself, as it is not to avenge an injury by violence. It is bastardly and contemptible in a wounded man to betray the name of his assailant, because if he recovers, he must naturally expect to take vengeance himself.”

Knowing all that, you’ll probably expect a place called Omerta to have low lighting, location that’s central but easily unnoticable, wooden finishes, men in suits smoking cigars and secret rooms where shady dealings take place. I can’t speak for the secret rooms as I’ve never been invited to one, smoking is also prohibited indoors so you won’t find anyone blowing smoke in your eyes, but the rest is all there! The menu is dominated by beer from all parts of Poland, but you can also get a decent cup of coffee. After all, Mafiosos like a dark roast.

“Where can I get a drink around here?” A simple question, right? Not in Krakow.

I’ve heard that there are over 200 places to drink in and around the Main Square alone so finding the perfect spot can become quite a tedious task. The good news is that, since every place has a unique vibe and attracts a specific crowd, your perfect watering hole exists somewhere nearby, just waiting to be discovered.

If you’re an artist or posses an artistic soul you should check out Pauza. Not only is it a place to get a drink above ground (most bars are underground here) but you can go upstairs to check out their gallery or downstairs to the club to dance the night away. Did I mention the theatre? Yes, you can even catch a screening of an indie flick on the 3rd floor from time to time.

There’s plenty of liquor to choose from, but I always ask for “Barmanska”. It’s a vodka, sugar (brown or white, your choice), and lemon (or lime) concoction that always leaves me wanting more.

“This place reminds me of the bar in Cheers” my good friend said as we passed Zaraz Wracam Tu one night. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the American programme, it was about a local bar: cozy, friendly, low-key, and most importantly, comfortable.

Zaraz Wracam Tu (translates to “I’ll be right back here”) is the younger sister of Zaraz Wracam (“I’ll be right back”) and follows her footsteps. I like Zaraz Wracam Tu because it’s the closest bar to my house and it’s always open.

When you enter the place you’ll notice sheets of paper hung up on walls with some Polish scribbles on them. Those are all the drinks and shots you can order. Yes, there are a LOT of choices. All the drinks have creative names (One Night Stand, Sins of Youth, Next Round on Me, Sweet Idiot, etc.) and shots can be ordered in sets. Add karaoke to the mix (every Thursday) and you have one hell of a party, not to mention the hangover the next day.