What constitutes a ‘dive bar’ is definitely a matter of debate, as proven by pretentious restaurants who offer signature cocktails and fusion cuisine categorising themselves 'Dive Bars' on Facebook, as well as when companions of ours, incensed by such social media misnomers, tried to claim that Kraków has ‘no real dive bars.’ Well. We wholeheartedly disagree on all accounts, and we’re here to set the record straight about dive bars in Kraków.

 
With smoke-stained walls, junkstore furnishings and candlelight, Eszeweria is the quintessentiual Kraków dive bar, and even a romantic place for a drink during the day. [Photo by Przemek Czaja; madeinkrakow.]

While by no means definitive, below we offer a list of bona fide dive bars that you can still find right in the centre of Kraków.