Dining at Hotel Stary, Krakow

After a day of meetings in Krakow, my local colleagues treated me to dinner at Hotel Stary, right near the main market square. "Stary" means "old" in Polish, and the hotel is housed in a building likely erected in the 15th century. The hotel opened in 2006 and the interior blends modern style with the building's ancient architecture.

We took the glass elevator up to the roof to begin our visit with wine on the highest terrace (I counted three terraces in total), with a lovely view of the square (see photo on left). We then headed down to the restaurant for a formal dinner. The bread basket was one of the best I've experienced, with a great variety of breads and breadsticks to sample while we waited. Complimentary polenta with what I think was chicken livers (or some other tiny organ, surprisingly tasty) was delivered before the main course. The three of us all ordered the veal in marjoram sauce with pureed vegetables, which was extremely tender and delicious. Prior to dessert, complimentary chocolates were served. My dessert was an amazing chocolate creation with honey sauce and cumin ice cream. Yes, cumin ice cream - sounds weird but tasted very good.

What little I saw of the hotel (mainly the lobby) was a good sign that the rooms and other amenities are probably pretty cool. The hotel boasts two indoor swimming pools, sauna & steam room, gym with classes like Pilates yoga, and more. Not to mention, the location is a great starting point for wandering Krakow's quaint streets and seeing the historic sites.

My overall rating of the Hotel Stary for food, restaurant service, and view: fabulous!

More photos of the hotel, and the very cool rooms, can be found on Expedia. Rates start at 195EUR per night for a single room.

Hotel Stary

Szczepanska 5
Krakow, 31-011

http://www.stary.hotel.com.pl/