Don’t be fooled by Krakow’s oh-so cute facade – there’s an exciting after-dark scene waiting to be painted red.

Once you’ve had your fill of sightseeing, dive into the city’s kaleidoscope of late-night coffee culture, microbreweries and underground clubs – there’s something for every night owl going. Discover the top places to visit when evening falls with our Krakow nightlife guide.

Eszeweria, ul. Józefa 9

Get your hipster on

Head to the characterful Kazimierz district and among the vibrant street art and boho shops, you’ll find this loved-by-the-locals hangout. It’s a dinky drinking den, complete with sewing machine tables, old oil paintings and candlelit corners.

Alchemia, plac Nowy

Vintage vibes guaranteed

The steampunk-style makes this another classic Kazimierz haunt. You might think you’ve walked into someone’s dining room as you take a lace-clothed table beside the fireplace and lamps. And you could catch a band on in the basement. After, swing by the street vendors outside for a slice of zapiekanka – a pizza-ish baguette.

Jazz Club u Muniaka, st. Floriańska 3

Amazing acoustics and cosy cocktails

This brick-built cellar bar in the Old Town is the place to catch some great live jazz, any night of the week. Make your way down into this dimly-lit vault and get ready to toe-tap along to the tunes.

Ursa Maior, plac Wolnica 10

Bottoms up for beer

If you fancy yourself as a beer connoisseur, you must pay Ursa Maior a visit. Expect an upcycled, folksy feel at this city-centre outlet of a countryside microbrewery. You can book a tasting with the pros, buy beer to take home or just pop in for a quiet pint. The smoked brown ale is a top choice.

Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa, ul. Szewska 20

A cultural time wrap

If there’s one thing you have to tick off, it’s a milk bar. Krakow is famed for these Eastern bloc era cafés and Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa is one of the best. It’s a no frills, order-and-eat at the counter kinda joint. The food is cheap and carb-loaded and the vodka is plentiful – get every flavour imaginable for just €1,5 a shot.

Cybermachina Game Pub, ul. Stolarska 11

For 90s nostalgia

This one’s for all you Guitar Hero fans. Smack bang in the heart of the Old Town, this is the place to bring your A game as Nintendo, Xbox, Wii and PlayStation are all set to entertain for hours. There’s a football table and board games for old-school drinkers, plus the beer is cheap as chips. Want in on a little secret? Look out for Super Mario at the bar.