Forum Przestrzenie

Forum Przestrzenie occupies the ground floor of the former Hotel Forum, a concrete slab of a building from the communist era on the south bank of the Vistula. Left empty for years, it was reopened as a bar and cultural space and has become one of Krakow's favourite spots for a riverside drink. The draw is the setting: a long terrace of deckchairs facing the water and the Old Town skyline.

Inside, the old hotel lobby has been kept raw, with retro furniture, plants and a stage used for concerts, markets and film nights. It works as a cafe by day and a bar by night. Outside, the deckchairs run along the embankment, which is where most people end up when the weather is good. The programme of events changes constantly, so it is worth a look at the venue's listings.

It suits an easy afternoon coffee by the river, a sundowner, or a late night when a DJ is on. The crowd is young and local, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than smart. Come for the view and the setting more than for a full meal.

The bar stands on ul. Marii Konopnickiej, on the Podgorze side of the river below the Debniki bridges. Wawel Castle is a short walk along the bank and across the water, which is what the terrace looks out on at sunset. Deeper into Podgorze you will find ZaKladka Food and Wine for a proper sit-down meal. The Krakow guide covers how the districts connect.

The building's status is part of the story. The Hotel Forum's brutalist slab, once a flagship of Soviet-era design, has been added to Krakow's register of historic buildings, so the raw concrete you drink beneath is now formally protected.

Beyond the bar there is a food hall. The ground floor pairs the cafe and a craft-beer and cocktail bar with several separate kitchens running different concepts, from pizza and burgers to sushi, so groups can eat across a few cuisines in one spot. The riverside deckchairs are a summer fixture, while the terraces are covered and heated once the weather turns.