Massolit Books & Café

The only place I know in krakow where you can find a huge selection of English books as well. Atmosphere is cozy with nice interior and lovely staff. Coffee is good too.

Super pretty café/bookshop serving good drinks and delicious pastries. A perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon reading a good book, eating cakes and drinking tea or coffee. The main room is quite small, but there's also a second room, so there's plenty of seating. A place to try out!

This book café was truly impressive. There's an incredible selection of books available, including many in English! Additionally, the atmosphere is very pleasant, making you feel right at home. We ordered cocoa and tea and noticed there are board games tucked away on a shelf in the back, so we played chess and Scrabble. It's a lovely place to unwind. Oh, and the service was excellent too! 🌟

Very unique experience. Interesting choice of beverages and the selection of books is incredible. Great time.

When I think of a coffee shop that I can do work in, one I want to relax in, this is it. It's fantastic. The hot chocolate or cacao was great, although I'm not sure why they served it in a glass? It's open fairly late until 8, but I wish it was 10. Overall, I plan on coming back quite often.

Have been living in Kraków for almost 3 years now, and this cáfe/bookshop has been one of my most favourite places in the whole town throughout all of this time. The atmosphere is really cozy and almost feels like one’s grandparent’s place (in the most positive sense). Many unique books on variety of topics can be found here, and the drinks and snacks are always good. Huge bonus points for being queer-friendly. I genuinely wish the owners/workers of this place all the best, really. 100/10

10 out of 10. I loved every detail. I lost myself in the bookshelves. I recommend this place to everyone. Almost all the books are in English. You can grasp one of them and read while drinking your coffee.

Amazing bookstore. Queerfriendly, they have a cafe and such a nice arrangement of books!

When I think of a coffee shop that I can do work in, one I want to relax in, this is it. It's fantastic. The hot chocolate or cacao was great, although I'm not sure why they served it in a glass? It's open fairly late until 8, but I wish it was 10. Overall, I plan on coming back quite often.

I enjoyed this bookshop/cafe and it became a great workplace/respite. The book selection is expertly curated and the tea selection is outstanding.

I'm back in California now, but my mind still wanders to this super cozy bookshop of my dreams. My Airbnb was right across the street, and I loved that I could sit here on an unseasonably cold and rainy fall day, in front of foggy windows in the basement and on a comfy, leather chair with shelves and shelves of books surrounding me. The guy downstairs in an awesome wool sweater was also really helpful in selecting a book. I remember being in the car near midnight my first night in Krakow and seeing the bookshop (English language) go right past me, and I just knew this would be good, haha. I love the labyrinth of books that still feels so manageable. You walk in through the ground floor, a coffee shop, and toward the back is a door that you then go through to go downstairs where there are more books. Definitely one of my favorite places in Krakow.

Not very often we find a place where we can gather our thoughts, find solace, have a cup of coffee and browse through an impressive collection of literature - fiction and non fiction. After visiting Auschwitz, I came back to Krakow in the evening and wanted to be at a place that can ......... Read my review here. https://prashantmudgal.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/a-quiet-place-to-sit/

I'd read about Massolit in a NY TImes article way back on 10/8/06 and I knew we'd return to Poland eventually, so we finally went there today. We ate lunch at the (small & cozy) café and we loved everything about it. There's a *very* limited selection, but no matter; we each got a serving of both kinds of quiche (spinach & mushroom) and a slice of chocolate peanut butter pie, in addition to (homemade) lemonade. The portions were generous, the food was *delicious* and the total cost was only 62 PLN. Plus, the guy working there was *very* friendly. We enjoyed lingering (and we were able to partake of their free WiFi), after which we explored the bookstore. When you enter by the café, you might not realize there's a much bigger section of the bookstore (which can be reached via a door from inside the café [and then you go down a long hallway] or via a separate entrance from the street). Massolit sells (a huge variety of) English-language books and it has an eclectic selection. The original owners were Americans who opened the store and café back in 2002. The ambiance is very pleasant.

Oh, Massolit, how I wish I could have packed you up in my suitcase and brought you home with me! My summer apartment was fortuitously located right down the street from this wonderful little shop, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots. Massolit has a great selection of books -- don't do what I did and almost fool yourself into thinking the front is all they have! The door to the right of the cafe counter leads you to even more literary goodies, most of which are very inexpensively priced (by American standards, anyway). I purchased a number of new, unused, perfect condition hardcover history books for around $9-13 (USD) -- fantastyczny! The little area in the back of the shop is great for studying or relaxing with a newly discovered book or tasty snack from the cafe (the raspberry spritzer was my favorite). Big windows with tons of natural sunlight, dark woods, and an eclectic collection of vintage furniture make for a great atmosphere and space for solo customers and groups alike. The only downside I found was that the WiFi connection was tenuous on my device when I sat in the back. If you need internet access, it might be best to stick to the tables around the cafe counter where the connection seems to be stronger and more consistent. Overall, one of my highlights during my time to Kraków, and a place I will miss greatly.

Interesting idea: rustic cafe within a bookstore (or bookstore paired with a cafe inside). To be honest this was the first time I've ever walked down this street. But it's nice being away from the bustling market square (but still within walking distance of all the action). Most of the seating is in the back rooms, down the hall to the left of the register. It's one of the few places in Krakow that serves bagels. They also have a small selection of cakes available (among other items) but if you're looking for additional options, they have a separate bakery/coffeeshop around the corner.

With the prefect balance of old school unpretentious bookstore charm, yummy cakes and snacks, and expertly poured lattes this little shop sets a very high standard for any bookstore cafe to reach. They even happens to have handy a book that wad recommended to me the prior evening. Clearly a sign I need to stay for a bite. I couldn't have been more glad that I did. Massolite really has it right. Go here and check it out.

Rainy day? Check. Massolit? Check. One of the most charming bookstores I've spent time in. Can't wait to visit Krakow again & spend an entire day there.

This is one of the places that the most surprised me in Krakow. I first came here only for the purpose of buying a book in English, but what I discovered is way more than a simple bookstore. Indeed, this is also a cafe and generally just nice place to stay some time to read, study or relax. About the place: the decoration is very simple, wood furniture, nothing brand new. I like this atmosphere, it feels a bit like a time travel in the past, and almost everywhere there are shelves with books. At the beginning, you may be surprised thinking "what a small place" but it is actually kind of a labyrinth and you have to be brave and curious enough to discover the other rooms :) The book part now: they have a large selection of books. If I remember well it is mainly English but you can also find other languages. They have different sections with various topics like very various topics! Concerning the food I didn't try it so far, I only had coffee or cocoa (that were good) but I've read and heard lot of good comments about it. This is a pity I leave far from it or I would spend all my weekends in there that's for sure! I only withdraw one star because it was quite moist during winter and pretty dark and I wouldn't be against a cozy fluffy sofa :)

Been going here for a few years now, amazing place for the english speaking krakow crowd, a book store with books in English disguised as a cafe, perfect way to spend a Sunday when you want to get away from life's stress and just cozy up in a nice book with some coffee and pastries! Should you also decide to continute reading at home all the books are for sale at an extremely good price! One of my top 3 cafe's in Krakow!

Everyone raves about this book shop and yes it's like stepping back in time to those small independent book stalls. Thankfully it's not black books (English TV reference sort). They do have a small cafe so if you find what you want then perfect to sit and read. The selection although wide in terms of authors is very hit and miss. I was after a specific author so had little hope but if you don't have a book in mind a perfect place to browse. So if you want a certain author in English or book then order on line. If you want to step back in time then visit. It's not for me for purchasing books but very quiet and relaxing.

Massolit is a true gem, and it has set the bar for my cafe and book store experiences ever since I first entered it. I have been going to this fantastic spot for about a decade now, and I make a point to stop in each time I am in Krakow. Upon walking through a narrow door into what appears to be a floor to ceiling library, the wonderful smell of fresh coffee, baked goods and old books invitingly envelopes you. The cave of books with a scattering of small tables and comfy nooks is a great place to 'unplug' and indulge in a great book, magazine or quiet conversation. This place is stacked with primarily english language books, and offers amazing cookies, pies and cakes. Note that there is an additional complex of book filled rooms through the door to the right of the bar area. I love the atmosphere and old library like feel of this place. It is only a short walk from the Rynek through the Planty, at just about 7 minutes. I highly recommend stopping in!

Awful awful awful coffee, worse is only stuff :((( Internet is slow like hell: had to ask to restart it like 3 times I was very very dissapointed (specially with unhepful stuff)

The cutest place to grab coffee and cake and sit down for a good read or a chat. There's a coffeeshop down the road with the same name but not the bookstore part. Just FYI.

One of my favorite bookstores in the world, and they have really good coffee and good pastries/baked goods too. Wish I could spend more time in Krakow just to visit here. Oh yes, and they are great with recommendations too!

Espresso is good, cakes need a little bit of love, since they were dry. BUT the atmosphere of this place is what makes this place fly! Just sitting here makes me want to write a book!

Another of the utterly charming and quirky Kafkaeusque cafes that Poland does so outstandingly well, with a thrifted granny apartment ambiance. And here you can add bookstore to the cafe, such a treat! When we visited they only served cakes and coffee and no food. The cakes were a bit on the dry side, but oh the mileu, so so lovely!

No way this place ever gonna survive in NYC or even in Boston, however, it's really by far one of the most beautiful bookstore I've ever seen. The feeling and the toe guys are running it, the old music in there and the books, the coffee, the cappuccino the cocoa and more! So amazing!

Great atmosphere to study, read, find something interesting and kill some time.

I love Massolit so much. The environment is very calm and nice. The book selection is fantastic and the food is simply the best. It's a great place to take a break and relax.

This little place, an English language bookstore and cafe, is a winner! It seems very small when you first enter. Then you realize that through a door to the left of the counter are two rooms with tables for having coffee, tea, soup, or connecting to their wifi. Very nice for cafe-type activities. I visited in the Fall when it was not yet cold so I couldn't get the benefit of their masonary stoves, one in each of these rooms. These wonderful heating devices are found all over eastern and central Europe. They appear as large tiled cylinders or boxes. They burn very little wood and produce a wonderful heat long after the brief fire is done. To learn more, go to www.mha-net.org. In the room that you initially enter, there are some shelves of books, but not a large amount for a bookstore. To the right of the counter, however, there's another door with a sign "More books". Go through it, across a hall, and into a second door clearly labeled also. There you hit several rooms with the main collection. There's a good group centering on Polish and Eastern European affairs and history, among many other topics. The books are very reasonably priced, especially for one coming from the U.S. The collection has both new and used books. Pay a visit. You'll love this little gem.

Methinks this is the best book store for English language books in Krakow. The cafe in the bookstore (not to be confused with Massolit Bakery Cafe around the corner on Smołenski 17) has coffee and some cakes/tarts/quiche to enjoy whilst you browse. Speaking English no problem. Wifi works--most of the time. Go through the door to the right of the counter and across the hall to get to the larger part of their available collection.

I really like this place. Coffee is great, same as bread, salads and tabouleh. I do not eat too much cakes but they look great there. Place worth visiting.

The best home made American Chocolate Chip Cookies & brownies in Poland!! Very friendly staff too who will help you with information on all things Krakow. A great place for a tourist to use the Wi-fi. They also buy & sell books.

Nice cafe where I took my morning coffee and read a book and found a geocache....

Massolit exemplifies the most important elements, for myself at least, of what makes a cafe go from being a nice place, to somewhere that you would want to frequent to such an extent that the barristas become mildly unsettled in your constant presence, all in the distant hope that you could one day enter and be greeted by name and with the flick of a wrist be issued your regular. It is a place where you can spend several hours in a mildly caffeinated haze, browsing their extensive collection of books to a soundtrack of jazz and lazy sunday morning tunes (which is a delightful change from sean paul thumping away desperately at my ear drum), skim through the conglomeration of various newspapers and magazines that are lying around and ogle, in the manner of Charlie Bucket, at american brownies, cakes, bagels or cookies. I've also found that it is a wonderful place to study or get some work done, as the atmosphere is ridiculously calm and quiet, yet at the same time there are intriguing conversations going on in all directions in a copious variety of languages and dozens of people tapping away at their laptops sipping wide-eyed from their floral coffee cup antiquities - all of atmospheric value, of course. And as a final note, they also frequently hold events that range from music to radio debates. All in all, it is the perfect place to sip, snack and ponder - whether it be over a book or casually deciphering the intricacies of life, all in an afternoon's work.

a combination of bookstore and café, where they serve amazingly good (and big!) quiche. They have a lot of english books, and you definitely need to go through the door to the other part of the bookstore. It has books E-VE-RY-WHERE. It simply doesn't end, and the rooms have lots of nice sofas and chandeliers. Just too amazing to miss, I could live here.