Morskie Oko

Morskie Oko brings the mountains to the middle of Kraków. Named after the famous lake in the Tatras, the restaurant was created out of a love for the culture and traditions of Zakopane, the resort town at the foot of the Polish mountains, and it recreates the feel of a highlander inn inside an Art Nouveau townhouse on Plac Szczepański. Candles glow around the rooms, and in the background you will hear live góral singing, the distinctive folk music of the highlanders.

The kitchen serves regional Polish cooking in a highlander spirit. The dish the restaurant puts first is roast lamb prepared in the góral style, served with a caramelised onion sauce, which is a good choice for anyone who wants a hearty mountain meal. Placek po zbójnicku, the robber's pancake, is another speciality, a filling dish for cold days. Pierogi are also a house speciality, so a plate to share at the start of the meal is a sensible way to begin.

This is a lively, theatrical place rather than a quiet one, and it suits groups of friends, families and visitors who want a taste of Polish folk culture with their dinner. If you are not able to travel to Zakopane during your stay, it gives a flavour of the region's food and music in the city centre. Those looking for a calm, intimate dinner may prefer somewhere quieter. Children may well enjoy the music and the rustic decoration, and the menu of filling regional dishes makes it easy for families to order plates to share around the table.

Morskie Oko is open every day from 12:00 until midnight, which makes it useful for a late lunch, an early dinner. Reservations are taken through the online form on the restaurant's website, and booking is a good idea for groups and for weekend evenings. The long opening hours also make it a practical fallback when other restaurants have closed their kitchens.

Plac Szczepański is a square in the Old Town, a couple of minutes' walk from the Main Market Square. Collegium Maius and the Czartoryski Museum are both within a short walk, so it fits easily into a day of Old Town sightseeing.