Pasaż Bielaka Krakow – Always on the way!

A narrow corridor merges the Main Market Square with a street famous for its embassies (Stolarska). This is Bielak's passage (Pasaż Bielaka) – a cult place, always on the way to somewhere else.

The history of this place begun when, at the end of the 19th century, Józef Bielak became the owner of one of the tenement houses at Main Market Square. Since he already was the owner of an adjacent tenement house at Stolarska Street, he decided to merge them both with each other, by creating a so-called passage, initially surrounded by shops. After the renovation works in the 60s, shops were gradually replaced by cafes, hairdressers and a cinema, which was open there till the beginning of the 21st century.

Bielak's passage is one of these places where I often drop by before or after a party - it's always on the way. It is just perfect to hang out with friends or to hide from the rain - although the whole passage is covered, it feels like you're sitting in a summer garden.

Depending on my mood, I either relax in the "Pasaż", sitting on one of the pallets, get a snack and a small beer from "Herringe Embassy" (located at a former hairdressers' - old hairdresser gadgets are still hanging on the walls) or order one of dozens of shots at "Szototo". It gets crowded especially in the evenings and on weekends.