Zakopane, snowy spring time
A charming trip to the Polish mountains.
Celebrating my friend’s 30th birthday! After a — probably decade-long — break, I visited Zakopane, considered by many the capital of the Tatra Mountains. It turned out to be a great town for a short getaway, with beautiful landscapes and constantly changing weather adding an element of surprise. (Yes, this is secret code for: it started to snow so heavily on the second day we got there. Keep your warm hats close, and your gloves even closer!)
STRH Bistro Art Cafe
The crowd’s favorite! In terms of food, this place was the absolute highlight. It's popular for its location, with a window view that’s truly lovely, and a nicely varied menu. I treated myself to a vegan burger with plant-based cheese, courgette, and other tasty additions. Definitely worth trying, and surely worth a second visit.
Tatra National Park
To the second spot from my list, lesniczowka_resto_bar, you can take a magical walk right through the Tatra National Park. It looks especially dreamy when covered in snow, but the route is still very easy to manage. The food itself is satisfying and can be complemented by cold or hot drinks of your choice. I would definitely encourage everyone to wander around the area, as it’s just breathtaking, really - and I cannot stress this enough.
Restauracja Po Widoki
After boarding a cable railway* to a popular viewpoint in Zakopane, you might be lucky enough to be enchanted by the panorama of the Tatra Mountains. But if the weather isn’t on your side this time, you can always spend a few minutes (or hours) at Restauracja Po Widoki to lift your spirits. I spent my time there with a small soy cappuccino, it was super nice and relaxing. *The journey takes no time at all, and you can stay as long as you like.
Morskie Oko
This is more of a recommendation for anyone who’s into walking, a perfect route to add extra steps to your trip and daily count. A bit time-consuming? Around 3–4 hours to go all the way to the top and back, with some breaks during the hike. Still, it’s totally worth to have it done. From Zakopane, catch a bus at the main station (next to the trains), with Morskie Oko as the destination. You’ll end up right at the beginning of the path.
Cafe Tygodnik Podhalanski
Another chance to discover beautiful sights outside the window! On top of that, their menu is pretty big, with hidden gems, like non-alcoholic drinks (pictured: a 0% martini-based option). Give it a try!
More: Cyrhla Bistro, Bistro Las, La Mano Speciality Coffee & Wine, Restauracja Per Amore la Cucina Italiana
