Abounding in legend and myth, Krakow is Poland’s most incredible city, evoking romantic stories of past kings, invading Tartar hordes and fantastic images of dragons and pigeon-knights. The city’s Old Town is picture perfect with its massive medieval market square – Europe’s largest – and the impressive Wawel Castle rising on the eponymous hill, overlooking the Vistula River.

Having the immense luck to survive World War II without being wiped out, Krakow then went through the communist era without having to be choked by concrete apartment blocks that now cram the other major cities in Poland, therefore keeping its charm and appeal until this very day.

The city’s rich architecture is beyond compare and matches Europe’s most renowned tourist destinations. In fact, Krakow’s Old Town was one of the first places to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, setting the bar high for the following candidates. All the historical richness the town presents was preserved across the centuries and wonderfully restored to show its beauty even in the present day.

With countless historic monuments, museums, art and architectural gems, famous universities and academic centers and a modern legend which says that it’s the town with the highest density of bars and clubs in the world, Krakow has it all. A rich architectural, historical and cultural heritage and a dazzling nightlife that will allure anyone to explore it.

First Impression

Within walking distance from Krakow’s Old Town, right across Krakow Glowny Railway Station, the Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto Hotel is quite a sight with its modern and super clean facade. The location couldn’t be better. The hotel’s in the middle of everything but the good sound proofing makes it quiet at the same time. The private underground parking is also an ideal addition, if you come here by car.

The interiors of the hotel are a modern interpretation of the Kings and Queens motifs of the Jagiellonian Dynasty found in the decor and architecture of the Wawel Castle itself. The interior design was made by Kaczmarek Studio, with most of the materials and furniture used, supplied by the local Polish producers.

With an elegant and uncluttered modern design, the hotel looks extremely clean, combining an ethereal atmosphere with the typical Polish and Krakow character to offer a first class lodging experience. The lobby, bar and restaurant are also neatly decorated and will give you a preview of how awesome it is to stay there. We were already pleased by everything even before getting to our room.

Accommodation

All their rooms look fresh, modern and stylish, but we were lucky enough to try their brand new Superior Double Room. The room keeps the pace with our modern world and has all the gadgets you could possibly think of. Every little detail seems to be very carefully thought out and embodied into the design of the room, with plenty of extra little bonuses. One thing to mention here is that adjusting the light in the room is a little bit trickier than one would think, but no real problem.

The bathroom matches the room as well. It’s spacious, has super good lighting and the rain shower was a bliss. Add to that the magnifying mirror, comfy bathrobes, hair-drier and lots of storage space for toiletry bags and other accessories you might have with you.

There is a Nespresso coffee pod which will make every morning start on a good note and a minibar with three drinks of your choice included in the price of the room. The cleanliness is amazing, the beds are very comfortable, the rooms are well sound proofed, so there are no noises coming in from the outside. All in all, the rooms in Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto tick all the boxes.

Eating & Drinking

Now to the part many of us love, food and drinks. The hotel’s Winestone Restaurant is the place where every busy day will end in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere with savory dishes and exquisite wines.

The international cuisine offers many delightful dish choices which are served on the renowned Les Planches stone pads and come accompanied by a great selection of wines.

The breakfast is a buffet offering a wide variety of fresh local foods and the a la carte menu, though a little bit more pricey than eating in town, provides a wide range of meats, fish and pasta.

Overall, the service and food were very good, with quality dishes and professional staff.

Final Thoughts

First class is what we have to say about the staff of both the hotel and restaurant. They rise to very high standards, from the spoken English to the quality of their service. They’re very friendly, efficient and helpful.

The room left us with a very good impression, covering all our needs and wants, and everything felt comfortable. Definitely a very good choice when in Krakow.