For those in Nowa Huta looking for a literal taste of the PRL era without resorting to a milk bar, this is an excellent option. Right on Plac Centralny, this large locale has retained much of its socialist realist design, which is a good thing quite frankly. For over fifty years it operated as the 'Skarbnica' (Treasury) bookshop, and though the bookshop's closure was a bit of a local tragedy, today's 'Treasury of Tastes' is not bad at all for a next act. The interior nods to the space's past life with some bookshelves still intact, as well as PRL work posters and historical photos, but there are also some rather elegant and even colourful touches to the new decor. The original layout still gives off a spacious and imposing grandeur, the enormous windows let in plenty of light and they also have a large sidewalk patio on Plac Centralny in warm weather. Skarbnica Smaku pays homage to Nowa Huta's past, rather than still being stuck in it.
 

In terms of food, this is traditional Polish cuisine at its best without trying to reinvent classic dishes like the breaded pork cutlet or chicken broth with noodles. You'll also find maczanka po krakowsku, potato pancakes with shredded beef, and even some old-school dishes that have fallen out of favour and off of most Polish menu like flaki (beef tripe soup). A great place to get the gist of Polish cuisine, they also have a separate kids menu and daily lunch specials. If you only came to Poland for the pierogi, the same owners have a place next door that specialises in just that - Manufaktura Pierogów - and their homemade dumplings are also on the menu here. Honestly, this place seems to be testing Kevin Costner's maxim of 'if you build it, they will come.' In addition to local families, it perfectly serves the needs of tourists; now let's see if they start filing in.