Exciting flavours from the streets of Polish towns

Poland is famous for its fine, diverse and delicious cuisine. Every region has its specialties, mysterious culinary legends, flagship dishes and delicacies.

Tracking down different flavours, discovering echoes of history and cultural heritage in local cuisines – all this makes culinary tourism in Poland extremely attractive.

The streets of Polish towns and cities have welcomed global culinary trends in the form of all kinds of street food: from street food kiosks, through food trucks and stalls selling fresh produce, to breakfast markets and culinary fairs. Most importantly, though, popular international street food is supplemented with typically Polish regional treats well worth trying when visiting Poland’s many attractive sites. In fact almost every tourist destination will offer a local Polish delicacy.

In Zakopane, the treats to try include oscypek cheese – a trademark of the Podhale region. You can buy it not only along the Polish winter capital’s main promenade – Krupówki Street, but also in streets, marketplaces and at fairs in many other mountain resort towns. Add other highland cheese varieties like bundz or bryndza and you will end up with a medley of cheese snacks that are delicious cold or grilled, great for eating during a picturesque stroll or on a mountain hike.

Besides elegant and historical restaurants, Krakow – a gem of national cultural heritage – offers a flourishing street food scene: the cult-status though contemporary zapiekanka (grilled open sandwich) and the traditional maczanka krakowska (pulled pork sandwich) dating back to the 16th century are sold from stalls and food trucks in Kazimierz, a district famous for its street food.

In the streets of Poznań you simply must try a sweet delicacy this time – rogal świętomarciński (St. Martin croissant), in Lublin – cebularz (onion pastry), in Warsaw’s Praga district – flaki (tripe) and pyzy (potato dumplings)… In any corner of Poland, you can find pierogi, bigos (a cabbage and meat dish), żurek (sour rye soup), bread with smalec (a pork fat spread), kiełbasa (sausage), strawberries, apples… Be sure also to try some refreshing craft beer, delicious mead or colourful liqueurs made from Polish fruit.