Mercy Brown

Mercy Brown is a pseudo-speakeasy, a bar designed to feel like a secret even though plenty of people know where to find it. It sits on Straszewskiego Street, hidden upstairs above the Smakołyki restaurant. There is no sign outside, which is part of the game: to get in, you tell the porter at the desk downstairs that you would like to go upstairs.

Inside, the setting is dim and theatrical, evoking a 1920s Parisian salon with an electro-swing soundtrack. On some nights the bar stages live jazz concerts and burlesque shows, which add to the period mood; follow its social media pages for upcoming events.

The cocktails are the reason to come. The bar makes its own tinctures, stocks top-shelf spirits and changes its menu of artisanal drinks regularly, so there is usually something new to try even on a return visit. If you are unsure what to order, describe the flavours you like and let the bartenders steer you. Prices are higher than in the beer bars of Kazimierz, but this is a place for one or two carefully made drinks rather than a long session.

Mercy Brown suits couples on a date, small groups celebrating something and anyone who enjoys cocktails and atmosphere. It is less suited to large, rowdy groups. Local listings show it opening in the evenings from 18:00, closing at about 1:00 at the end of the week and earlier from Sunday to Wednesday, and closed on Mondays, but check its social media pages for the latest times. Arriving early in the evening gives the best chance of a seat, particularly at weekends. Because the bar is upstairs, guests with limited mobility should ask the porter about access before heading up. Part of the fun is the arrival itself, so if you are bringing friends who have never been, resist the temptation to explain how to get in and let them discover the hidden bar for themselves.

Mercy Brown is within walking distance of the Main Market Square and Collegium Maius. Dinner downstairs at Smakołyki is a convenient way to begin an evening before heading up to the bar.