Farina, hidden somewhere between the historical monuments and old streets of Cracow, is the treasure chest of the best fish in the town. With fresh mussels, lobsters, tuna, sole and many other sea-fruits, Farina brings you simple, tasty meal. The interior is simple, too, but the dark wood and always fresh flowers make the place cozy and casual. My personal favourite- the black pasta with baby-octopusses. Love it!
Trzy Rybki (Three Fish) is a restaurant situated in Hotel Stary (The Old Hotel), which is Cracow’s most fine place to be and to eat. The food here is simple, but with a twist of Asian & Polish fusion. I really enjoyed eating the tuna tatare- it was chopped in a way, that it seemed to look like pasta. And that wasabi sauce all around… Yum! If talking of the interior, Trzy Rybki is truly a star. Old, stone walls, glass, red roses and medieval wooden floor. Sounds simple, but the effect is stunning. That’s a first place you need to tick on your Cracow “to be” list.
Cracow, after my city, is the most beautiful place in Poland. It’s so romantic, so mesmerizing… and looks the best in the evening, when it’s old market and architecture feels gloomy, but proud and fine. I also truly love Cracow’s hidden gems- non-chalant stores full of Polish designers (Gosia Baczynska, Robert Kupisz & MMC Studio) and refined, but not too sophisticated restaurants which really offer a lot of yum. Here are my photos and more to come up soon!
I am constantly discovering new Polish brands which create and produce unique, innovative and beautiful pieces of daily use. This time, I met the Warsaw-based label THIS IS PAPER, which first started with 100% ecologically-made bags and rucksacks, and now is all based on very various items. From knitwear to garden tools and from “raw” homeware to printed magazines, the brand keeps it’s fresh, but simple, high quality level. They create objects which are lasting, keep on being sustainable and well-designed. Launched in 2013 by Aleksander and Zuzanna, the project values timeless over trendy, plain over fancy and less over more. In response to that, THIS IS PAPER decided to curate an online collection of objects that they would be proud to own, designing and collecting items which are made from natural resources. Some of the products they source are from manufacturers and craftsmen in Poland. Others are designed and manufactured by their studio itself, by hand, at THIS IS PAPER Warsaw studio. All of them are made with respect for the Earth’s scarce resources and little concern for passing trends. More on thisispapershop.com
And here are my favourite objects from their appealing on-line store…
As you might now, I am really in love with Ania Kuczynska’s designs. Her Warsaw-based label, which is the most coveted in Poland, is a beautiful mixture of nonchalance and minimalism. And, oppositely to other Polish designers, Ania is not concentrating on the so-called “sponsored wall” or stars which should be invited for the show. No. For her, the most important are clothes and atmosphere, which is usually, modern and elegant. This time, for AW14 season (yep, sounds strange while the SS15 collection round have just ended), Kuczynska took us to the iconic Bristol Hotel, where she presented a dark, elusive collection full of sheer dresses and heavy, floor sweeping coats. The clothes, which had feminine, but simple cuts, reminded the Night Porter silhouettes. The name of this mysterious collection, LAVA, was possibly all about the fluid-like heaviness of the dark materials, while the quiet stars felt like a good way of having a dreamy night. Big bravo for this mesmerising collection because it (just like the whole concept of the label) truly out-stands the Polish fashion scene. Backstage photos via i-D Poland.
Design & Culture by Ed 