As we were planning our trip to Wroclaw, Poland at Christmas, I had visions of pierogies dancing in my head.
The hearty, meaty and utterly satisfying Polish cuisine pairs perfectly with brisk weather and we were ready to tuck in to the best food in Wroclaw.
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Thick soups, savory dumplings, mounds of potatoes and pillowy donuts are a few of the top things to eat in Wroclaw – and we were intent on finding the best restaurants that serve them.
On our endeavor to track down the most delectable Wroclaw food, we stumbled upon some phenomenal establishments and discovered a few hidden gems!
Must-Try Wroclaw Food
Our list of what to eat in Wroclaw features the must-try foods in the city. We also share where we ate each dish – and at the end of the article, we provide a map with restaurant locations.
#1 Zurek Soup
An unmissable taste of Wroclaw cuisine, Zurek soup is said to have originated from the Silesia region.
It’s one of the oldest dishes in the country – originally made for hard-working miners – and proudly holds the honor of being the national soup of Poland.
The rich, sour rye bread soup varies by region, but in Wroclaw it’s often enhanced with kielbasa, fresh sausage, potatoes and boiled eggs.
Top Tip: Zurek isn’t the only soup to try! Barszcz czerwony (beetroot soup) and grzybowa (mushroom soup) are two others we sampled – and loved – during our trip.
Where To Eat Zurek in Wroclaw
We tried Zurek a couple of times – but in our opinion the best was from Bar Pierożek.
The modern milk bar has two locations where you can quickly grab a steaming bowl of soup at an incredibly affordable price.
(They also serve divine potato-and-bacon pierogies and savory crepes…but more on those later.)
#2 Pierogies
The most traditional food in Wroclaw – and what we were most excited to eat – is pierogies. (Seriously, we could have eaten them every day!)
A staple throughout the country, Polish dumplings are little pockets of dough filled with common ingredients, like potatoes, cheese, meat, cabbage or mushrooms.
In Wroclaw, the most typical pierogi are ruskie. The humble dumplings are filled with a mixture of mashed potatoes and tangy Twarog cheese.
After being boiled, they are topped with fried onions and sometimes served with a side of sour cream.
While the tried-and-true combinations are the standard, some chefs are eager to experiment with cooking methods, fillings and toppings.
They are helping to usher in a new spirit of up-market dumplings (and we would happily sign up as their taste-testers!).
Where To Eat Wroclaw Pierogies
It’s not difficult to find a good pierogi in Wroclaw; truly, there wasn’t one we tried that we didn’t like. That said, the ones that left us craving for more were the gourmet dumplings at Pierogi and Co.
Made by hand with quality ingredients and no preservatives, the Miesne z Kiszonym pierogies are out of this world.
Packed with pork and beef, then topped with pickles, bacon bits and fresh dill, it was an absolute explosion of flavor and very much worth the higher price!
#3 Zapiekanki
A firm part of the Wroclaw food culture, Zapiekanki are open-faced, baguette pizzas.
An incredibly versatile food, the bread can be layered with an array of toppings – from ham and mushrooms to chicken and feta.
We enjoy Zapiekanki as an easy grab-and-go lunch, but the street food is a favorite late-night snack, as well.
Where To Eat Zapiekanki
We first tried this Polish-style pizza in Krakow (where they are wildly popular). We were interested to see how the ones in Wroclaw stacked up – and were not disappointed!
We absolutely loved the cheap and basic zapiekanki from Tostoria – a hole-in-the-wall spot in an pedestrian underpass. With crunchy bread and gooey cheese, it hit the spot!
At Zapiekarnik Wrocław, however, they take pizza breads to another level by churning out exquisite (yet quite expensive) baguettes topped with unique flavor combinations.
The Drwal (Lumberjack) was like heaven on a plate (or, in this case, in a box). The savory toppings – garlic, bacon, mushrooms, potato, cheese and potato – are balanced with a slightly sweet cranberry mayo. Yum!
#4 Kotlet Schabowy
One of the classic and comforting Wroclaw dishes, schabowy is fried pork cutlet – and it’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
The thin tenderloin is battered and fried until crispy then served atop a pile of mashed potatoes with a side of cabbage or salad.
Not introduced to Poland until the 19th century (and likely influenced by Austrian Schnitzel), the simple and unsophisticated meal became more prevalent post-WWII, when meat was a luxury.
Where To Eat Schabowy
We believe the best place to order schabowy is at an old-school milk bar – and Bar Mleczny Mewa is an excellent choice!
The communist-era cafeteria is a true culinary gem. The menu (in Polish only) is posted on the wall, and you place your order (cash only) – and pick up your food – at the counter.
The schabowy was nearly the size of the plate…and it tasted like it was made in a Polish grandma’s kitchen.
Foodie Tip: Bar Mleczny Mewa is also known for their pierogies, but we missed the chance to try them. The dumplings are served at 12:30pm and sell out fast!
#5 Bigos
A kitchen-sink stew of sorts, bigos – or hunter’s stew – can trace it origins to medieval times.
The dish was first introduced as a meal of game for nobles but evolved into a peasant’s dish to use up leftovers. Today, it’s a classic food to try in Wroclaw.
Made from a combination of various meats, sauerkraut, cabbage, mushrooms and other vegetables and spices, there are no steadfast rules about how to make bigos.
Well, except for one: The longer you cook it, the better it tastes!
Where To Eat Bigos
Our first introduction to Bigos was at the Wroclaw Christmas Market. Enormous vats of it are slowly stewed for hours on end and the tempting scent wafts through the air.
Where we first ate it, however, was at Lepione. The buffet-style café sells food by weight, which is a fantastic way to sample a number of different dishes.
(Plus, they offer steep discounts in the hours before closing, making it a great budget option.)
Two other restaurants that have bigos on their menu are Konspira and Setka.
Konspira is a famous Wroclaw restaurant known for its collection of communist memorabilia and Solidarity movement tributes…and there is usually a long wait to get a table.
Setka is a restaurant that celebrates Polish heritage with a full menu of traditional favorites…but their bigos stew is unusually served with fries.
#6 Placki Ziemniaczane
The almighty potato takes center stage in placki ziemniaczane, a treat that is savored in Wroclaw and throughout Poland.
Potato pancakes weren’t invented here, but they wiggled their way into Polish cuisine via monasteries in the 17th century. Today, they are a greasy snack, a substantial side dish or a meal on their own.
Made with grated potatoes mixed with onions, eggs and flour, placki ziemniaczane are either deep fried or pan fried to golden perfection.
The cakes are typically topped with sour cream or mushroom sauce – but can be served with sweet sauces, as well.
Where To Eat Placki Ziemniaczane
All traditional food restaurants in Wroclaw serve placki ziemniaczane – but we wanted to try the culinary treat from an establishment that specializes in them.
We went the extra mile (literally) to sample the highly rated potato pancakes from Plackarnia Arena Wrocław…and – oh my – were they sinfully delicious!
#7 Pączki
Not all traditional Wroclaw foods are savory. Paczki – Polish donuts – are an indulgent, sugary treat…and we couldn’t get enough of them!
The rich, dense, yeasty donuts are typically filled with rose jam, but bakers also stuff them with fruit preserves, custard creams and syrupy chocolate.
Paczki are wildly popular in the weeks leading up to Lent, with Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday) being labeled ‘Donut Day.’
But don’t worry, dedicated shops and bakeries churn out paczki year round.
Where To Eat Paczki
In the name of research, we ate a lot of donuts in Wroclaw…and we don’t regret a single calorie. However, in the end, we couldn’t agree on one solid winner. Instead, we picked three.
Gorąca Pączkarnia uses quality ingredients to make artisan donuts by hand. Best when still warm (and they usually are), the chocolate ones are like a little taste of heaven.
At Nasza Pączkarnia, which was established in 1989, the old-fashioned donuts are perfectly glazed and decorated. The Nutella is the shining star.
For ones with rose filling, the best place to go is Cukiernia Łomżanka. In business since 1935, it’s the city’s oldest confectionary and the rose donuts are a true delight!
#8 Nalesniki
Nalesniki wasn’t originally on our list of things to eat, but we ordered it on a whim when we wanted a more substantial lunch before setting off on a walk around Wroclaw.
The thin, rolled pancakes quickly gained stature on our list of Best Wroclaw Food. Similar to crepes, nalesniki can be sweet or savory…and sometimes they are fried.
Where To Eat Nalesniki
Of the many different variations, the best ones we ate were the earthy mushroom nalesniki from Bar Pierożek.
That said, the slightly sweet farmer’s cheese pancakes from Bar Mleczny Mewa provided an excellent balance to our salty schabowy.
#9 Kompot
A traditional fruit drink that originated in the Middle Ages, kompot (or compote) is a healthy, natural beverage.
The simple concoction consists of boiled fruit or berries, water and sugar (or honey). It can be served hot or cold – and should have pieces of fruit in the bottom of the glass.
The red juice is inexpensive, tasty and a fantastic alternative to carbonated beverages.
Where To Order Kompot
The drink is most often homemade, but is served in school cafeterias, milk bars and traditional restaurants.
At milk bars, like Bar Mleczny Mewa where we tried it, trays of kompot sit atop the counter; we just let the cashier know that we wanted a glass.
#10 Podpłomyki
A rustic, unleavened flatbread, Podpłomyki has ancient origins in early Slavic cultures.
Historically, the dough is made from just flour, water and salt – and it was cooked on hot stones near a fire (which is why it is also referred to as ‘under the flame bread’).
In the modern Wroclaw gastronomy, the flatbreads are eaten with butter or lard – or used as a pizza base.
Where To Eat Podpłomyki
Szynkarnia is a modern tavern dedicated to utilizing high quality, local ingredients and they make the dough on site daily.
The spicy Dzikie Chorizo tantalized our taste buds with a combo of wild boar chorizo and hot, garlicky honey (both from family-owned farms).
We were equally impressed with the Litewski, which combines sour cream, aged sausage and potatoes.
#11 Sernik
Not too sweet and just slightly sour, sernik is a distinct type of cheesecake that has a long legacy as a much-loved Polish dessert.
The secret ingredient that makes it undeniably unique is the use of fresh twarog cheese from cow’s curd. It makes the texture light and creamy – and gives it quite a distinguishable taste.
Where To Eat Sernik
It’s fairly easy to find places that serve sernik; just about any café in Wroclaw will have the cheesecake on offer. That said, the best sernik we had was from the EPI grocery store.
Similar to Whole Foods (but hyper local), EPI boasts a pastry counter that doles out scrumptious cakes and cookies.
Top Tip: Their deli counter is superb for picking up picnic supplies. If you have access to a kitchen, check the prepared-food counter for top notch ready-made main dishes, like gołąbki cabbage rolls.
#12 Chleb Zytni
Part of Polish culinary heritage, chleb zytni is a dense rye bread with robust flavor.
It’s often eaten at all three meals of the day. It can be sliced and buttered, used as a bread bowl for soup or made into sandwiches.
Our preferred way of eating it is with a thick layer of smalec – a rendered pork fat – and then topped with pickles, onions and kielbasa.
Where To Eat Chleb Zytni
As a typical food, you can find rye bread just about anywhere in Wroclaw! Chleboteka, near Salt Square, has a good selection.
However, for traditional bread with an old-fashioned flair, the cash-only Piekarnia A.J.M. Żelezny is our top choice.
#13 Burgers
No translation necessary for this one! Like in most parts of the world, artisan burgers have gained popularity in Wroclaw, too.
Where To Eat Burgers in Wroclaw
When locals insisted that Burger LTD makes the best burger in Wroclaw, we had to check it out for ourselves!
Committed to using 100% Polish beef and a fascinating array of toppings (like banana, bacon and peanut butter), the burgers here blew us away.
Sticking to regional flavors, I ordered the Polish Burger with smoked cheese, beets, a sausage patty and horseradish – and it far surpassed my expectations.
Be sure to check out the seasonal specials; that’s where we found the sensational Oklahoma Smash Burger!
#14 Zakąsk
A Wroclaw food tradition, zakąsk are small plates of appetizers served alongside beer or vodka at bars.
Tatar (or tartare) is, perhaps, the most beloved bar snack…but one we were not brave enough to try. The platter consists of raw minced beef cradling an equally raw cracked egg accompanied by pickles, onions and bread.
Another appetizer that often appears on bar menus is gzik – and this is one we loved. Gzik is a cheese dip made from twarog cheese, sour cream and spices and served with boiled potatoes.
Cured sausages, pierogies, herring and toasty sandwiches are popular snacks at bars, too.
Where To Eat Zakąsk
Przedwojenna – which translates to Pre-war – is our favorite bar in Wroclaw for zakask.
Like stepping back in time, the venue retains the vibe of the pre-war era, with classic snacks, cheap drinks and time-worn décor.
The franchised Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa Shot Bar (there are four in Wroclaw alone) is another nostalgic venue that serves classic small plates.
#15 Wroclaw Craft Beer
Wroclaw has a cracking craft beer scene – and we didn’t hesitate to hoist a few pints.
While the city has a long, 800-year history of making beer, local breweries are veering from tradition and producing a range of modern IPAs and fruity sours.
Best Craft Beer Bars in Wroclaw
With a number of brewery taprooms and multitap bars, beer aficionados are spoiled for choice.
Browar Stu Mostow: The taproom is right on the main square, but we liked the bar at the brewery even better (but it’s a bit out of the way).
Pinta: The industrial-style taproom has an amazing 24 craft brews on tap, with an absolutely fabulous line up of IPAs.
AleBrowar: Cozy and inviting, the brewpub taproom pours signature, hoppy beers from 10+ rotating taps. (Plus, they have pizza!)
Doctor’s Bar: A fun multitap with 8 beers on draft, minimalist décor and really good burgers.
Szynkarnia: We already mentioned this spot for flatbreads, but with 16 beers on tap (and just around the corner from our apartment), it was our go-to spot!
Nasyp: We loved these bars in the arches under the railroad tracks; the ones most notable for craft brews are FAM, Mistrz I Malgorzata, U Augusta and Lamus Craft Bar.
Targowa Craft Beer Pub: Hidden in the basement of the Old Town Market Hall, they offer an eclectic list of Polish brews.
Wroclaw Breweries on Rynek Square
Even though we didn’t go to these bars, it would be remiss if we didn’t mention them!
Piwnica Swidnicka (one of oldest breweries in Europe) is also located below Old Town Hall; they produce traditional beers in an upscale space.
Spiz (situated in the cellar of New Town Hall) is a microbrewery known for odd-flavored beers, like banana and caramel.
Browar Zloty Pies brews a fairly standard line up of dog-themed beers on site. Whoof, whoof!
Wroclaw Foodie Tips
We’ve shared our list of the best food in Wroclaw, but have some additional advice to pass along for your trip.
Polish Milk Bars
The cash-only, cafeteria-style milk bars – called Bar Mleczny – are a true throwback. The ambiance – or lack thereof – can be off-putting, but we feel that is precisely what makes them so endearing.
Known for serving hearty dishes at more than fair prices, they are a great option for sampling a number of our listed foods to eat in Wroclaw.
We already mentioned Bar Mleczny Mewa, but it’s far from the only one in town.
Bar Mleczny Miś is close to the university and popular with students (as noted by the long line that often extends out the door).
The iconic Bar Mleczny on the ground floor of the Hala Targowa Market is atmospheric (and is notable for its plates chained to the counters, which is a reference to a 1980s film).
In the grittier Nadodrze district, Bar Mleczny Mikrus is about authentic as it gets (yet, the staff are kind and welcoming).
Wroclaw Food Markets
We find that one of the best ways to get acquainted with local food is to peruse the goods at a marketplace.
The Market Hall in Old Town is a fantastic place to start – but if you want a true Wroclaw food experience, we recommend making your way to Centrum Handlowe ARENA.
The Sunday Flea Market at the decommissioned Dworzec Świebodzki Train Station is another prime opportunity to see – and taste – local eats.
If the flea market’s a bit too overwhelming, there is a posh food hall inside with vendors doling out international eats!
Wroclaw Food Tours
With so much to eat, joining an organized food tour can be a brilliant way to sample the cuisine. Reserve a spot on a highly rated tour – like this one!
Map of Wroclaw Restaurants
Use this Google Map for an interactive version of our recommended restaurants in Wroclaw.
Start planning your trip to Poland! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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