Restaurant in Zakopane

Karczma Zapiecek

A cosy timber inn on Krupowki serving mountain classics after a day on the trails.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

Karczma Zapiecek is a timber inn on Krupowki, the main pedestrian street through Zakopane. A karczma is the highland take on a country inn, and this one keeps to the form: a warm wooden room serving mountain classics. It is an easy choice for dinner after a day on the trails, right where the town is busiest.

Mountain classics after the trails

The kitchen sticks to mountain classics, the sort of Podhale cooking you find across the town's karczmas. That tradition covers kwasnica, the sour cabbage soup of the region, grilled and roasted meats, and oscypek, the smoked sheep cheese of the Tatras. The exact menu changes, so check the board or the venue's channels for what is on and for prices.

The cosy timber inn

The timber interior gives the warm, informal feel of a mountain inn. Being on Krupowki means it is central and easy to reach on foot, though that also makes it busy in the high seasons. It suits a relaxed dinner rather than a formal one.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants regional food in a central spot after a walk. For a larger, music-led feast, see Gazdowo Kuznia; for a more refined dinner off the same street, there is Restauracja Tatrzanska.

On Krupowki and nearby

The address is Krupowki 43, in the middle of the main pedestrian street, so the town's shops, stalls and sights are all a short walk away. For orientation, see the Zakopane guide.

The dining room is built around a whitewashed clay stove, with highlander décor throughout and a kitchen that follows Old Polish recipes and Podhale tradition. From early evening a highlander band plays live, so dinner here tends to come with music rather than quiet. Menus change with the seasons, so check the current list and any live-music timings through the restaurant's official channels.

Good to know

Its spot on Krupowki means it can be busy in peak weeks, so consider booking in the ski and summer seasons. Check the venue's official channels for current opening hours and prices.

Frequently asked questions

The kitchen sticks to mountain classics of Podhale cooking, which typically covers kwasnica (the region's sour cabbage soup), grilled and roasted meats, and oscypek, the smoked sheep cheese of the Tatras. Check the board for what is on.

The address is Krupowki 43, in the middle of Zakopane's main pedestrian street, so the town's shops, stalls and sights are all a short walk away.

Its spot on Krupowki means it can be busy in peak weeks, so consider booking in the ski and summer seasons. Check the venue's official channels for current hours and prices.

It suits anyone who wants regional food in a central spot after a walk. For a larger, music-led feast the guide points to Gazdowo Kuznia, and for a more refined dinner to Restauracja Tatrzanska.

More restaurants in Zakopane

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Bakowo Zohylina

A proper highlander karczma with open-fire grilling, live folk music and oscypek cheese.

Bakowo Zohylina Wyznio

A large timber karczma decked with folk carvings, serving kwasnica, roast meats and highlander platters with live goral music most evenings. One of the town's best known traditional venues.

Gazdowo Kuznia

A rustic wooden karczma near Krupowki with an open grill, roasted lamb and pork knuckle, and regular folk bands. Popular with groups for a full highlander feast.