Morskie Oko

Morskie Oko, which translates as 'Marine Eye', is named after the largest lake in the Tatra Mountains that divide Poland and Slovakia. The restaurant Morskie Oko provides a grand opportunity for those hungry folks unwilling to make the journey south to Zakopane to enjoy typical Polish Highland hospitality.

Situated on Plac Szczepanski, the hard to pronounce but most recently renovated of central Krakow's squares, Morskie Oko occupies spacious cellars in an elegant Art Nouveau building. Inside, however, the décor is pure highlands - rough-hewn stone, exposed wood beams and even a water wheel. From Tuesday to Saturday there is thigh-slapping live Polish folk music from Polish folk in traditional costume, and every night there are generous helpings of hearty mountain fare.

Meat is the thing at Morskie Oko: grilled pork knuckle, beef tenderloin, lamb skewers (one of the few restaurants to feature lamb to any great extent), roast veal, rabbit and various sausages including Polish black pudding. Bigos - the hunters' stew - and pierogi also feature large, as do sauerkraut and delicious mountain sheep cheese. It's also worth pointing out that the prices are very reasonable.

On the drinks front it's beer to wash your food down and an impressive selection of regional vodkas - in particular the 'miodula' or honey vodkas. There's also a fair selection of cocktails, but to be honest the reason you'd come here is all about the food. Overall the impression is one of a warm and hearty welcome, in a surprisingly authentic recreation of Polish Highland culture in the heart of Krakow.