Poland’s beer scene has traditionally been dominated by strong lagers. There’s brands famous worldwide like Tyskie and Żywiec, plus lots of smaller brands, and you’ll find these on tap in most bars and restaurants across the city. I’d personally recommend checking out the Ksiązęce brand if picking from the mass produced brands.

Craft Beer in Kraków

Poland’s craft beer scene has absolutely exploded over the last decade though and there’s now more microbreweries and tap-houses than you can shake a stick at. You’d very commonly see quality IPA’s and double IPA’s, Hazy beers, Stouts, Porters and Sours. Red and Brown Ales are less common but there really is something for everyone.

Foreign Beer Influence in Kraków

Polish beer has been hugely influenced by it’s Czech neighbours and by the time under the Austro-Hungarian Emprire. So expect find some fanstastic Czech pubs, lagers and pils as well as beer hall style Austrian options. Belgian Beer is increasingly popular and there’s even a British Ales Brewpub in town. Plus pretty much every kind of import you can imagine in the taphouses.

How Much Does a Beer in Kraków Cost?

Typically around 15 pln (£3 or €3.50) for a local lager and around 20 pln for a local craft beer. You can get some really good deals in the right places though, with largers going for as little as 9 pln and IPA’s for 15 pln. Obviously if sitting on the square or a fancy rooftop or partying in nightclub you can expect to pay a bit more.

Hidden away just off Kraków’s busiest tourist street, Viva La Pinta is a Tap Bar owned and run by one of the first craft beer producers in Poland… Browar Pinta.

A personal Recommendation: Apetyt na Życie which means appetite for life, a light and citrusy rye beer. It’s especially refreshing in summer but pleasing year round. There are always seasonal beers available from Pinta too, so expect something dark and spiced in winter.

Viva la Pinta has quite cozy spaces inside, and knowledgeable barmen who can make really informed suggestions based on what you’re looking for and what they have. In the summer they have a nice open beer garden in front of the bar and in winter this is closed and patio heaters are placed in the conservatory, with blankets on chairs. Cherry on top… They also do bar food, the onion rings are amazing!

The location makes Multi Qlti one of the best tap houses in the city to start your night, particularly if you’re going to follow it up with some clubbing. The bar itself hosts great selection of regional beers and some nice vodka options too. 

If looking for a wateringhole to fill the gap on a pub crawl between the Old Town and Jewish District, there’s no better than BroPub. The brewery (Brocreacja) supplying the taphouse is absolutely top notch. 

In the heart of Kazimierz, just around the corner from Plac Nowy, is one of the earliest and most well stocked Craft Beer pubs in Krakow. Omerta. They’ve probably got the best selection of international craft beers in Krakow too. Inside Omerta are two bars on opposite ends of the premises, one side pouring domestic Craft Beer, and the other pouring imported.

Omerta is a dark and cozy, with small tables to have a beer with one or two mates, or large sofas to sit around with a bigger groups. In our opinion, knowledgeable bar staff make a big difference when you walk into a Craft Beer pub. They need to be able to pick out something for you to try based on what you tell them you’re looking for. Brilliant bar staff can even tell you some history about each beer they sell. Omerta earns big points with knowledgable bar staff. In our humble opinion, this is the best tap house to come to if you’re going to follow it up with a night out in Kazimierz.

Weźże Krafta was a famous spot in Dolnych Młynów, before the entire area was sold off for development. Re-opened in Kazimierz, Weźża Krafta is still one of the best places to find beer in Krakow, and of the best spots to kick off an evening in Kazmierz.

In Summer it’s got lots of outdoor seating and in winter it’s spacious enough for you and your friends to find somewhere to sit on a Friday night. The pizza is surprisingly good, up there with some of the best pizzerias in town.

Based around the very distinctive abandoned communism-era Forum hotel, Forum is one of the most famous places in the city. You name it, it has it. Awesome breakfasts, street food halls, multiple bars, craft beer, cocktails, river views, deckchairs, techno-parties and even now a rooftop cocktail bar.

Zabłocie is one of the cities up and coming districts. Tourists pass through on walking tours or while visiting Shindlers Factory but walk straight past a few gems like Hala Lipowa.

Lipowa is predominatly a food hall, with six different street food restaurants including burgers, pizza, Mexican, Greek, Italian and Japanese food.

The bar is also excellent though with a wide selection of quality craft beer, cocktails and spirits. If you don’t mind the industrial vibes of the area then there’s a huge amount of outdoor seating in summer as well.

Fresh beer brewed on site in a brick ceiling beer cellar and restaurant. This is a really good place to go with a group of friends, share a yard of ale and dig into delicious and hearty Galician cuisine. 

Expect to find some of the cities only Bitter and best Pale Ales.  Monday nights they host a Pub Quiz -the perfect accompaniment to quality beer. They also have some rooms downstairs where you can view the brewing process.

Lastly, in summer there are seats outside to enjoy your beer in the sun by the river. The prefect stop for a walk along the Vistula river.

If what you had in mind was something between classic British pub culture and locally brewed Polish beer, TEA Time is what you’re after. 

Expect to find some of the cities only Bitter and best Pale Ales.  Monday nights they host a Pub Quiz -the perfect accompaniment to quality beer. They also have some rooms downstairs where you can view the brewing process.

Lastly, in summer there are seats outside to enjoy your beer in the sun by the river. The prefect stop for a walk along the Vistula river.

Opposite House of Beer you’ll find a little beer gem. Beer Gallery specialises in Belgian beers from around the World. It’s only a tiny venue but if it’s Belgian beer that takes your fancy then this is your spot. The only downside is that as you’d expect, it’s not cheap.

With Poland sharing a border with the Czech Republic, Czech beer obviously has a huge influence in Kraków. If you’d like to try some nice Czech beers then this place is well worth checking out.

Nalej Se: Self serve craft beer from 24 taps. Pour yourself a sip from every tap, enjoy a couple of small beers or pour a pint and recline on a deckchair outside. Often there’s a fanzone outside during the Euros or World Cup.

Nowy Kraftowe: Fully worth a section of it’s own, we’ve left it out only because we’ve already mentioned it’s sister bars in Szklanki & Weźże who have similar selections but more outdoor seating.

Radocha: Hidden between Kazi and Old Town, nice beer garden with hammocks. Small but quality selection of beers and surprisingly good vodka selection as well.

Beer Street: Large craft beer selection, football on the TV and real darts boards downstairs.

Strefa Piwa: One of the classics. Big selection in a cosy venue.

Domowka: Board games bar with lots of craft piwo.

RE: Not an amazing beer selection but easily the best beer garden in the city.