Krakow abounds in cafes and restaurants, but all foodies await the opening of new places with bated breath. It's no different when another culinary space from under the One Flag arises. This flag has been familiar to Cracovians for many years - first through Massolit Books & Café, then, located nearby, Massolit Bakery & Café.
It's safe to say that each of the four Massolit has its own unique character. The two newest have one thing in common - they were designed by the same architects. Barbara Nawrocka and Dominika Wilczynska of miastopracownia approached both spaces with respect and interest.
massolit cooks
It's been two years since Kazimierz opened to New York-Jewish cuisine. At 25 Józefa St., behind inconspicuous white double doors, lies not only delicious breakfasts, lunches and desserts, but also an intriguing interior. For regulars, it is just like the dishes served - traditional with a twist!
The architects designed the interior with great attention to detail. Yes, even the stripped, scarred and punctured walls are part of this care! Along with the cracked industrial screed, the floors contrast with the refined elements of the interior design - the copper-covered bar, or the finely crafted mosaic decorating the wall.
creative recycling
This is perhaps the most apt term to describe Massolit Cooks. The designers had no plans to obliterate traces, to erase history. Hence the distinctive wall devoid of excess plaster and the raw floor. However, the architects went a step further and created benches from wood from old veneered cabinets from the 1950s, which they placed along the walls. In places, one can come across a shiny keyhole, betraying the secrets of the material.
The most distinctive feature of the space is the circular window between the two rooms. On one side it allows you to see the mosaic on the opposite wall, on the other - the metalwork flowerbeds. The two views are interconnected - the divisions in the flowerbed's design are a patrix of the mosaic, its layout alludes to the arrangement of grout in the tiles. Simple furniture complements the space, allowing its greatest assets to resound. The essence of Massolit Cooks is a laid-back atmosphere, which has been achieved, thanks to the work of the city studio.
massolit bakes
Massolit Bakes
photo by PION
The baked goods you can buy at Massolit are unique. It is probably the only place in Krakow where you can get fresh bagels (with a choice of poppy, nigella, sesame). To buy bread, you have to come first thing in the morning, although sometimes you can count on a stroke of luck during the day.
For the past few months, residents of Podgórze can also enjoy the famous bread. At 3 Targowa Street, a new bakery - Massolit Bakes - has been established in the building of a former bakery. The new owner was bequeathed a large antique oven, from which baked goods are once again coming out - in addition to the aforementioned breads and bagels, there are cakes, baguettes, cookies and challahs. The architects decided to expose the memorabilia left behind by the previous "tenant" - a glass window was introduced , which made it possible to see the old oven from before the counter.
The idea of using wood with the past worked well here too. Its color harmonizes perfectly with the green of one of the walls, and the whole contrasts with the white of the others. Entering Massolit Bakes, one can have a sense of stepping back in time, which is enhanced by the large scale and metal shopping baskets - both artifacts straight from the old Społem stores. However, neither the scale nor the baskets perform their original function anymore - the former has become a flowerbed, the latter garbage cans for bread. An interesting idea is to let the secret out - the curious can take a peek at the back of the bakery.
