Restaurant Farina – French sun and Polish flavours

"Just off Kraków’s Main Square on St Mark’s Street, this popular restaurant occupies an old residential palace whose renovation revealed Mannerist columns and carved wooden beams dated 1618, setting an artful, historic stage for a meal that marries Mediterranean sunshine with Polish soul. Conceived by chef-co-owner Monika Turasiewicz and her husband Juliusz as “Flour and Fish,” the menu balances monthly seasonal inspirations with a long-running hall of fame: a legendary shot of vodka with fresh oysters; baby octopus sautéed with thyme; prawns with chilli and honey; and “mussels à la Farina” in a silky sauce of cream, white wine and sautéed leeks, seasoned with garlic and a pinch of curry. The “flour” side brings plump black tortellini with salmon in a light cream sauce set with a whole dried chilli for DIY heat, hearty gnocchi with spinach and gorgonzola, and homemade tagliatelle with a half lobster, while fish are kept simple and authentic, grilled or roasted whole (in the early days presented on a trolley and portioned at the table). Details of the setting reflect the owners’ travels, from a Greek-inspired trolley to silver-plated Champagne coolers spotted in London. With Juliusz as executive sommelier, the wine program aims to be Kraków’s best yet accessible—Champagne by the glass and rare bottles imported via their own Farina Wina—supporting a lively evening scene in a turquoise, high-ceilinged room where the clink of glassware and the soft pop of corks mix with Polish and foreign voices. Long recommended by MICHELIN and included in the first official Polish selection, the restaurant celebrates 20 years still evolving on the strength of its remarkable, professional team and a hospitality-first ethos." - The MICHELIN Guide