Nightlife in Krakow: Best Bars & Clubs in The City
By day, Krakow is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Enchanted by history, it comes with stunningly diverse architecture, medieval castles, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and beyond.
But when the sun goes down, does Krakow disappear?
Well, partly, yes, because most of the fun just happens to be underground! Nightlife in Krakow is elegant yet crazy, and it’s unique and lively more than ever. Let us help you discover some of the best spots to capture the essence of Krakow’s nightlife to make that morning headache totally worth it.
Let’s go!
Shall we?
Top 5 Clubs in Krakow
Wild dance floors followed by crazy crowds, intriguing cocktails, and a beat to make your move until sunrise. If that sounds like you, then check out these Top 5 Clubs in Krakow that will blast the fun through the roof!
# Prozak 2.0
One of the oldest underground clubs and a long-time veteran in the bustling nightlife scene, the Prozak 2.0 is up there with the best of them. The club is a maze and a labyrinth of fun and not only attracts producers and DJs from all around the world but is also equipped with three dance floors and four separate bars.
Let’s not forget the world-class sound system, high-quality service, and an impressive line-up of DJs, all in a 600-square historic medieval basement with three levels. Count me in!
# Shine
If you’re looking for something glamorous, luxurious, and sparkling, then let your inner party animal go and shine in this modern and spacious club.
Let more than 3,000 LED lights surround you while you enjoy an elegant setting with comfortable sofas, mezzanines, mirrors, and exclusive dance platforms to let all your worries go away in a fashionable manner.
Shine is located in the Old Town, the location adds another charm to its presence from carnival parties, robot shows, and many more themed parties. Here diversity never gets boring. Enjoy!
# Frantic
Attracting mostly youthful and energetic crowds, the Frantic club is another piece worth mentioning in our nightlife puzzle. The modern basement boasts not only stylish, trendy and minimalistic décor that you will love but also high-quality perks.
Often visited by DJs, it also has regular theme parties every Wednesday till Saturday to mix things up! Add fantastic four bars, excellent service, and air-conditioned rooms, and you have a combination that is not going to disappoint.
# Zoo Club
The nightlife in Krakow was taken to a whole new level when the Zoo Club opened its doors. Located in a tenement house in the vibrant and laid-back district of Kazimierz, it quickly became the place to be for night owls and party animals alike.
This super popular nightclub is everything you could want – well stocked with an eclectic range of drinks, from classic Margaritas mixed by their legendary barkeepers to exotic fruity twists or even some crazy cookie concoctions.
But perhaps the best part is the atmospheric garden you can access on long, hot summer evenings where you can dance till dawn – while also knowing that they are one of the few clubs in Krakow that are LGBTQ+ friendly.
# Boat Party Club
Say goodbye to the conventional pub crawls and clubbing night outs. It’s time to add a whole new level of excitement to your partying!
Hop on the special party boat, get ready for the ultimate experience as you cruise through beautiful views of Wawel Castle, indulge in your favorite drinks, mingle with new people, and groove along to awesome music!
Are you ready for an out-of-the-box experience? Come aboard and join a unique party – it’s gonna be the best party of your life!
Click here to book your party in advance!
Do you want to stay in a 4-star hotel that offers a luxurious experience?
Mercure Krakow Fabryczna City is the perfect place to stay while you’re in town.
When you stay at Mercure Hotel Krakow, you’ll enjoy a delicious meal at restaurant, relax in the fitness center, and take advantage of convenient private parking.
You'll have the best possible experience when staying with Mercure, as they offer a great value for your money, so you can save on your travel expenses.
Top 5 Bars
According to some urban legends out here, Krakow has the highest density of bars on the planet. And frankly, it just might be true!
For those who enjoy spending the evening the good old way, with a cold one in your hand while surrounded by friends, the city has great news. The pub culture here is fantastic, and beer choices are almost endless! Here are the top five bars in Krakow.
Club & Bar Crawl is one of the best and most obvious thinks you can do if you want to experience a new place in the proper way.
# Alchemia
Old furniture, beer to be loved, and the rustic atmosphere of a good old pub. What’s not to love about Alchemia?
In this legendary bar, you will find some of the best craft beer Krakow has to offer, together with quality food and unforgettable live concerts. All blended up for one very “Kazimierz” experience.
Popular among both locals and tourists, don’t be surprised if you find the place crowded and buzzing at 03:00 AM because it is that awesome!
# Strefa Piwa
Another marvelous place for beer lovers in Krakow. This small but friendly bar, the “Beer Zone,” is not only a place to drink but also learn. Engage with staff and learn about the beer, or go on for one big beer journey with the selection that is simply wild here.
Strefa Piwa is lined up with dozens of taps as well as craft beer bottles. Pick one or taste as much as you can and enjoy a vibrant and chatty venue.
# Propaganda
Looking for something alternative that stands outside your typical bar image?
Here comes the Propaganda! One of the oldest, most characteristic, and fun pubs you will find in Krakow, and besides quality beer, it offers a setting that takes you back in time.
It pokes at communism in the best way possible with one elegant parody inside. From slashed portraits and scrappy rustic items to communist wallpapers and radios so old and chunky that it almost makes it seem real that it’s the mid-1900s outside!
# Harris Piano Jazz Bar
Craving some soulful, sweet, and charming Jazz & Blues music to accompany your beer?
Head to the Harris Piano Jazz Bar and discover yet another interesting, lively and funky place in Krakow. Once ranked among the best jazz clubs in Europe, it is also the only one in Poland to host authorial jazz concerts every day!
Harris Piano Jazz Bar is everything you would expect from a bar and more. It has multiple rooms, professional service, a fabulous selection of drinks, a soulful vibe, and concerts that go beyond classic jazz, with many styles like rock’n’roll, Latin jam, folk, and many more chiming in.
# Forum Przestrzenie
Last but not least, we have a trendy and popular Forum Przestrzenie bar, sitting beautifully on the picturesque riverbank. Definitely radiating that hipster feeling, it is a place located in something monstrous, yet tragically beautiful at the same time, the old, abandoned, and maligned Soviet-era hotel.
Be it day or night, here, a lot of perks are offered for the visitors, and quickly Forum Przestrzenie has become one of the coolest places to be in.
Starting with stellar food, for both carnivores and omnivores alike, to great outdoor spaces equipped with charming views and beach chairs, lively events, ping-pong tables inside, and as always, a beer that never disappoints.
Bartosz
Bartosz is a travel writer, photographer & founder/editor of theuniquepoland who tells stories of adventure, history and current affairs. He writes mainly about travel, with special focus on Poland. He loves travelling, discover new unknown and inspire others.
18 Comments
Darren
I love Krakow I went for a long weekend a few years back and had a great time. Lots of trendy bars and the drink was extremely cheap. I remember going to propaganda it was a great bar. What is you favourite bar in Krakow? Are you doing this for all cities in Poland? Would be good to see which cities you prefer as well?
Bartosz
Hi Darren, there is a couple of great bars in Krakow, I really enjoy spending time with friends in Strefa piwa. I’m planning to do the same for other cities like Warsaw, Wroclaw or Gdansk. Thanks for your comment.
Ben
As a craft beer lover I love the sound of Strefa Piwa or ‘Beer Zone’. It sounds fantastic with all the variations of craft beer and the staff sound excellent to provide such knowledge and insight. What is the average age of the crowd that normally visits this bar? Your article makes me really want to visit Krakow and experience these bars and clubs for myself!
Bartosz
Hi Ben, this is friendly and a quiet bar with a variety of beer. It is hard to say the average age of the crowd that normally visit the bar but I can assure you will find friendly locals and tourists alike. I’m happy you have enjoyed my article. If you decide to visit Krakow you will not be disappointed! Thanks for stopping by!
RoDarrick
Hello Bartosz, wow! Krakow is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and would be worth exploring someday for me. Being the fact that it has great sites and even recognized by UNESCO. Wow!. By the way, the offer it gas for night crawlers is definitely amazing. Ive never seen any club as unique as the Lokal Krakow in my life. Such a beautiful place to be. And it dies offer some nice bars to. Altogether,I think group exploration would be the best way to enjoy the stay at Krakow in the night.
Bartosz
Hi RoDarrick, group exploration is a really good idea, Krakow has a lot of interesting things to offer and nightlife is amazing! I recommend to stay there over the weekend and hit these awesome locations. Thanks for your comment.
Henderson
Who doesn’t love a great night life to get a good wine or great beer booze and dance and get stress free? Definitely not me. This a very beautiful time in Krakow I must say. I have not visited Poland before but if I ever do, I’ll be sure to explore all the beauty of the night with friends. I particularly like the local setting of the hush live.
Bartosz
Hi Henderson, Hush live has a unique and authentic vibe with original Polish party culture. I encourage you to visit Krakow with friends to explore these unique places. Thanks for stopping by.
Feochadan
Now I REALLY want to go to Krakow! I’ve never been but the scene looks awesome!
Although I’m not really into clubs I could definitely see myself going on a good pub crawl there. I just love craft beers, especially those I haven’t tried yet. The ambiance in the various clubs and bars is just spectacular! What a diversity! I would have to say that if you can’t find a place to call your own and hang out with friends in Krakow you just aren’t trying! Kudos to Krakow!
Nimrodngy
Wow. You really got me with this article.
This year I set out to visit Krakow where I heard that it is the best beer in Europe. Last days we were looking for where to find the best bars where to drink more assortments of beer. Now I know for sure where to go and what to expect. I will definitely choose Harris Piano Jazz Bar because I am the biggest fan of jazz music and i can wait to get there.
Thanks a lot for sharing with us such an amazing bars and clubs in Krakow and explanation given. Wish you all the best!
Fluffy Duck Studios
Bartosz, what a great post! These bars are fantastic, each with their own distinct flavour and ambience. I’m drawn to the Forum – it seems a really good place to just chill and enjoy good food and entertainment. Definitely adding Krakow (and the rest of Poland) to my future travel itinerary.
I know seasons won’t matter too much because all except one of the bars/clubs is indoors, but what time of the year do you recommend to visit this amazing city?
Bartosz
Hi,
Due to its warmer climate in the summer, weather wise the best time to visit Krakow is between July and August although this time of year also attracts huge crowds and is very busy. The best time to visit is May and June as spring is in full bloom and the days are longer.
regards
Fiona K
Hi
Woow Woow Woow, Poland is such a beautiful place, oh my goodness such beaut has to be seen , I live in South Africa I have travelled to each and every province here but l have never came across such beautiful places, Poland is the place to be for a vacation, this is something I have to think about though it looks very cold. I am putting this one on my bucket list of things to do. My next destination outside my country will be Poland.
Thank you for sharing such beauty of Poland hope this will help a lot of tourists wanting to visit as you have everything covered including bookings. I am learning a lot from reading other people’s article and blogs and it’s great to see other parts of the world here.
Good luck, stay blessed
Benny
Hello, I really want to first appreciate your effort in putting this great website together and writing this article. I have heard a lot about the frantic and hush live but I have really never had the opportunity of going there.. I will have to make plans for a visit to Poland. Probably a vacation from work. Thank you for these wonderful information.
JJ
I have never thought of travelling to Poland. It is so far away from where I am (Caribbean) but when I travel to Europe, I always make the most of that trip across the Atlantic. This article and the images show me that this is a place i would like to visit. The great architecture, the historical sites and the night life are my type of travel entertainment. I would have to check out possibilities for accommodation, and make sure to include Harris Piano Jazz bar (I am a musician) to hang out. Thank you for this review
Parveen
Hey, I enjoy a lot while reading your guide on top 5 Clubs in Krakow. Krakow is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and would be worth exploring someday for me. Being the fact that it has great sites and even recognized by UNESCO. I have not visited Poland before
but if I ever do, I’ll be sure to explore all the beauty of the night with my friends. Thanks for sharing the updated news.
MrBiizy
Hello Bartosz. Krakow is one of my favourite city in Poland that I’d love to visit. I have heard so much about this beautiful city and I am eager to visit. I love night life because I do most of my stuffs at night, I love travelling at night (although it’s bad, lol). These clubs are so elegant and are fun filled. Night life is beautiful in Krakow indeed.
Lalita
Your guide on Poland is very awesome for people. Now a day my family is planning to visit Poland. Nightlife in Krakow is elegant yet crazy and it’s unique and lively more than ever.
Let us help us discover some of the best spots to capture the essence of the Krakow’s nightlife to make that morning headache totally worth it. While coming Poland we will surrely visit Prozak 2.0 & Frantic etc.