Jama Michalika

Jama Michalika on Floriańska Street is one of Kraków's most storied cafés. It was founded in 1895 as a confectionery, and it was here that the Zielony Balonik, or Green Balloon, cabaret was created. More than 120 years later, the café presents itself as a museum of cabaret, Kraków Art Nouveau and Young Poland painting as much as a place to eat cake.

Stepping inside is the point of a visit. The café's links to Kraków Art Nouveau and Young Poland painting shape the experience, and the effect is very different from the modern coffee bars elsewhere in the Old Town. Take a little time to look around before you sit down, as the décor is part of what you are paying for. Floriańska is one of the busiest streets in the Old Town, so the café also offers a welcome change of pace from the crowds outside, and a slow coffee here is a good way to rest between sights on the Royal Route.

The cakes are the other draw. The house specialities include chocolate and nut tortes named after Kraków landmarks, such as the Wawel, the Michalik Mariacki and the Barbakan, as well as Kraków cheesecake, kremówka cream slices, karpatka and szarlotka apple cake. A slice with coffee or tea is the classic order, but the café also serves Old Polish dishes if you want something more substantial. Groups and tour operators are offered reduced rates, and the rooms can host banquets and celebrations for up to 120 guests.

Jama Michalika suits anyone with an interest in Kraków's cultural history, couples looking for an atmospheric stop, and visitors who simply want a good slice of cake on the Royal Route. Families will find the cakes an easy sell, though the interiors are better appreciated by adults. Opening hours are not listed on the café's homepage, so check by phone if you are planning a visit at either end of the day.

The café is at Floriańska 45, on the Royal Route that leads down to the Main Market Square. The Barbican and the Czartoryski Museum are a short walk away, so it is an easy break before or after a visit to either.