Poles are ice cream obsessed — lody (ice cream) shops dot every neighborhood, and summer queues can stretch around the block. The standout chains and independents:
Good Lood is the undisputed champion, with queues from opening to closing in summer. All-natural ingredients, seasonal flavors (rose petal, salted caramel with sea buckthorn, Polish forest berry), and a texture that rivals Italian gelato. Multiple locations — the Kazimierz branch on Jozefa has the shortest wait.
Lody na Starowiślnej is a local institution serving ice cream from a window on Starowislna Street since the 1970s. Simple, creamy, and nostalgic — the vanilla and chocolate are perfect. Cash only, expect a queue.
Pianino Cafe in Kazimierz makes small-batch gelato with interesting flavor combinations — lavender and honey, matcha and white chocolate, goat cheese and fig. The space also serves excellent coffee.
For Italian-style gelato, Il Calzone Gelato near the Main Square imports techniques and some ingredients from Italy. The pistachio and stracciatella are outstanding.
Budget hack: the grocery chain Biedronka sells excellent Polish ice cream brands (Koral, Grycan) for a fraction of shop prices. A tub of Grycan pistacja by the Vistula is peak Krakow summer.
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