As you walk through the streets of Krakow during the summertime, you may start to wonder if ice cream is some kind of Polish specialty because it seems like there’s an ice cream shop around every corner. This frozen treat is so common that lody, the Polish word for ice cream, is possibly the first word you’ll learn after you arrive. Summertime in Poland is quite short, so Polish people make the most of the season. This involves taking every opportunity to enjoy the warm weather and eating a lot of ice cream. Especially popular right now are lody naturalne — natural, artisan, ice creams made with high-quality ingredients. In fact, there has recently been a huge growth in the number of ice cream shops in Krakow. And now that there are so many options, it raises the question: Where is the best place to get ice cream in Krakow?
In this post, we’ll tell you about our favorite ice cream shops in Krakow. We judged them based on texture, the variety of flavors, quality of ingredients, and finally — on the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. We hope you’ll enjoy these suggestions and that they will help you to find the perfect place to satisfy your ice cream craving.
Lody Na Starowiślnej
upadate: Still thriving and shining, Lody na Starowiślnej remains one of the most popular spots among locals.
This small shop is an established favorite and has been in the business of making ice cream for over three decades. Their traditional recipe has remained constant for years and they have best chosen as the best ice cream in Poland. Our favorite flavor is nuts and dried fruit, which is difficult to describe but is absolutely perfect. You’ll just have to try it and we promise you won't be disappointed. This shop is open from March to November. In the winter, instead of ice cream, you’ll find delicious pączki — Polish donuts. The Lody Na Starowiślnej, which translates to simply “Ice Cream on Starowiślna,” has become an iconic product in the city and sometimes you’ll find a huge line outside, so be prepared. Nevertheless, this is our number one choice and we promise the ice cream is worth the wait.
FB | Address: Starowiślna 83
Photo by Delicious Poland
Good Lood
update: This ice cream spot is better than ever! Currently, they operate at 15 locations around the city and you can find them now in Warsaw as well!
It’s true the Good Lood is incredibly trendy and has become a very popular choice for ice cream in Krakow over recent year. It is known for its value, serving huge portions at a reasonable price. We do love their ice cream (dark chocolate is our favorite), but these shops have a tendency to be crowded, especially those on Plac Nowy and Plac Wolnica, in the Kazimierz district.
Good Lood offers traditional flavors, like vanilla and dark chocolate, but they also have more modern flavors like oreo, salted caramel and more. Growing quickly and widely popular, this has become a local chain, and there are currently ten locations in Krakow.
FB: | Address: Plac Nowy and Plac Wolnica 11
Photo by Delicious Poland
Lodziarnia Tiffanny Ice Cream
update: Tiffany is still open and continues to bring joy to a faithful group of local fans every day.
Located in the heart of Krakow, just a few steps from the Main Square is this tiny shop. It is the only place in Krakow with authentic Persian ice creams made with an original recipe. Run by a Polish-Persian couple, this shop’s ice creams are prepared on location, with some ingredients imported from Iran. The flavors change from time to time, and their most unique flavor is saffron, prepared with the world’s most expensive spice.
FB | Adress: plac Szczepański 7
Photo by Delicious Poland
Emil kręci Lody
update: Emil still operates at its usual location, and it's as good as always!
If you’re looking for variety, Emil kręci Lody is our top choice. This shop has a huge variety of flavors, possibly the biggest selection in Krakow. It just opened this summer and is located in Podgorz, just in front of the Rynek Podgorski, where the beautiful St Joseph’s church is located. With an open, modern design, this shop is a comfortable and unique place to sit and enjoy an ice cream with the whole family. Our favorite flavor choices here are mango and peanut butter.
FB | rynek Podgórski 13
Photo by Delicious Poland
Nice Ice Lody
update: Unfortunately, Nice Ice Lody has ceased its operations and remains closed.
Open for only a few months, this shop is located on Krupnizca Street. Their six standard flavors are produced in the back of the building. Our favorite flavor, and also their most popular, is peanut butter. The owners also plan to begin operating an ice cream truck, as part of Krakow’s burgeoning food truck scene, and we love the idea!
FB | Adress: Krupnicza 28
Photo by Delicious Poland
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