Great Food Markets in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw, Poland

During hot spring and summer days, after walking in the sun from early morning hours and taking 1000 pictures of churches, statues and lovely little streets, all we want is relax with delicious food and drink to get more energy for taking another 1000 pictures. During days like this, there is nothing better than eating some fresh fruit and vegetables. Juicy, cold, sweet – the real taste of summer!

Undoubtedly, super fresh fruit and vegetables in Warsaw can be bought daily in Mirowskie Halls – a historic food market in the heart of Polish capital.

Hala Mirowska – historic fresh food market in Warsaw, Poland.

HALE MIROWSKIE – WARSAW
Address: Plac Mirowski 1, Warsaw
Opening hours: Monday – Friday -7:00a.m. – 8.00p.m. & Saturday 7:00am – 6:00am

Mirowskie Halls were built between 1899-1901. Formerly the baroque pavilions were barracks of the Crown’s Mounted Guards. Mirowskie Halls, except for the walls, were almost entirely destroyed during Warsaw Uprising (bullet holes are still visible on the northern wall of one hall) and then rebuild after World War II.
The west hall, called Hala Mirowska, since 1997 has been owned by the company called “Społem”. The east hall, called Hala Gwardi, for many years served as a sports centre.

Nowadays, it’s “a heaven on earth” filled with fresh foods. People from Warsaw say that it’s worth coming here even from the farthest parts of the city. It’s not just about the fruit and vegetables, but great atmosphere and surroundings. The beautiful architecture makes this market a perfect place to shop and edmire. Here you can find all kinds of vendors – elderly ladies with fresh eggs and homemade jams, exotic stands with purple potatoes and kids selling wild blueberries they picked with their grandmothers in the morning.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to pay with credit cards and sometimes there are long lines, especially during the spring weekends, but despite that, the place is amazing. Make sure you find time to stop by during your stay in Warsaw.

Stary Kleparz – fresh food market in Krakow, Poland

STARY KLEPARZ – KRAKOW
Adress: Rynek Kleparski, Kraków
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 7.00a.m. – 7.00p.m.
Saturday 7.00a.m.-3p.m.

Do you know how to recognize real Cracovian? That’s the person that will always haggle over the price during shopping. That’s just the way things are here and there is no better place for that than Stary Kleparz and Hala Targowa. People have been shopping at Stary Kleparz since the 17th-century. Located in the center of the city, the place is always full of busy people – shouting sellers, gossiping ladies and shoppers exchanging recipes.

Sellers are nice, there are many choices of fresh products and the smell is seductive, guiding you through the entire market – from colorful stands with seasonal vegetables to the line for fresh milk and cottage cheese ( Polish cottage cheese is fabulous!). There is also a fish-stall with the best fresh fish in all of Cracow. It’s one of those places where shopping is a real pleasure. The best time for shopping is always in the morning before noon, later you might have problems with finding what you want. Many Cracow’s famous chefs shop here, too.

Another special place for fresh food shopping in Cracow is Hala Targowa. During the week you can find a lot of small shops with clothes, meat, bread and spices. On Sundays, it’s a flea market. You can find everything there – from household goods to shoes, silver watches, sweets to guitars and clothes. It’s a unique mix of trash and treasures. Of course haggling over the price is obligatory!

Kielbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski – Sausages from the Blue Minivan in Krakow, Poland.

But the most important part of Hala Targowa experience is trying Sausages from the Blue Minivan. That’s the only place in the world where you can get a grilled sausage, with fresh bread and orangeade from two gentlemen serving it from the Blue Minivan. “Kiełbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski” – as they are called, are for everyone. There is always a line from 8p.m. till 2a.m. There you can see students, tourists, hipsters, kids, and even nuns enjoying the sausages. It’s just a sausage, with fresh bread, mustard and an old Polish drink, but somehow it’s special.

Hala Targowa – fresh food market in Wroclaw, Poland.

Adress: Piaskowa Street 15, Wrocław
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 8.00a.m. – 7.00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9.00a.m. – 3.00p.m.

There is also something for fresh-food lovers in Wroclaw. Hala Targowa was build in 1908 and from that year on became a very popular place to buy fresh meat, fish, vegetables, sweets and flowers. There are also small shops with cosmetics, clothes, leather goods and jewerly on the upper floor. One can easily spend an entire morning browsing, tasting and experiencing this unique place. Make sure you bring your camera for an opportunity to take great pictures of fresh produce and people.

For a local shopping experience visit these fresh food markets on your next travels to Poland!