Everything you always wanted to know about going out in Krakow, but you were afraid to ask.

What are different kinds of going out places.

In Poland we don’t have pubs in a sense this word is used in Great Britain. Socializing and spending evenings in pubs is not part of polish culture, even though it’s changing rapidly as people look into western style of life. Of course - you do have pubs, but they play different role compared to those known from England, Scotland, etc. For instance - many of them wouldn’t provide any food, only drinks. Many would skip on serving more exclusive and expensive drinks. Also majority of people would be between 18 and 30 years old, mainly students. Older folks usually don’t have the time to socialize - they’re focused of their works and family life. That’s why pubs in Poland are designed and equipped mostly for younger public.

On the other hand, unlike in England where every pub look alike, you have bigger variety of pubs. Many of them are themed - you can go to a pub which screams gay (Kitsch), the one which only plays the music from 70’s and 80’s and there are communistic artifacts all over (Łubu Dubu). There is a pub for people in love with open sea (Start Port), and those fascinated with Tolkien books (Podziemie). So every of them looks completely different.

Pubs with dance floors

Forget of quiet conversations - those are places to have wild fun and to dance until the morning. Many of them themed as well. So you can go to Jazz Rock Cafe - a place for young, people listening to heavy music, or to always popular Music bar 9 - known for being best place to get to know young and posh girls.

Clubs

There are many clubs in Warsaw and Krakow. Because clubbing and club culture became popular in early 90’s club life started to became visible and discussed. It’s mostly associated with high standard, posh and trendy life of wanting-to-be middle class young people, professionals, single. Clubs provide clubbing music and variety of cocktails and dance floors. To be let in you have to drop the idea of wearing sport clothes - clubbers don’t like people wearing them.

In Krakow most pubs and clubs are located near the Market Square or in the heart of Kazimierz - old Jewish district. Many people do clubbing which is basically walking between many pubs or clubs on one night without stopping in any of them for longer. So people migrate - meet others, drink, dance, exchange thoughts.