Massolit Books & Café

Massolit Books & Café is a Kraków institution for English-speaking residents and visitors alike. Part bookshop and part café, it has been trading for many years on Felicjanek Street, just west of the Old Town, and it is widely regarded as one of the best English-language bookshops in Central Europe.

The book stock covers all subjects, but the shop's particular strength is Polish, East European and Jewish literature in English translation. For a traveller trying to understand Kraków, that makes it an excellent place to find novels, poetry, history and memoirs about the region that are hard to locate elsewhere. The shelves also include remaindered titles from the United States, and prices are kept notably low, so it is easy to leave with more books than you intended to buy. A good approach is to browse the Polish and Jewish literature sections first, since that is where the shop stands out, then take your pick to a table with a coffee. Readers who enjoy translated fiction may discover writers they have never come across, and the low prices make it easy to take a chance on an unfamiliar name.

The café side is simple and relaxed. Coffee, pie and wine are the staples, and recent English-language periodicals are left out for customers to read over a drink. It is the kind of place where people settle in for an hour with a new book, write postcards or simply escape the bustle of the Main Market Square on a rainy afternoon.

Massolit suits solo travellers, students, readers and anyone who wants a quiet break, and it is a good stop for families with older children who enjoy books. It is also a useful place to pick up reading for the rest of a trip, or a book on Polish history before visiting the city's museums. Check opening times before a special trip, as they can change on holidays.

The bookshop is on Felicjanek Street, a short walk west of the Planty and within walking distance of both the Main Market Square and Wawel, so Massolit makes a convenient stop after a morning of sightseeing. The same team runs related ventures, including an American-style bakery, Massolit Bakery, on Smoleńsk Street, and a bistro in Kazimierz.