Meet the Chef · Kraków, Poland
Meet the Chef of Copernicus Restaurant, Kraków: Krzysztof Waś on Pierogi and Polish Tradition
Sixteen years in one storied kitchen on Kraków's oldest street — the chef of this MICHELIN Guide restaurant inside Hotel Copernicus, a Relais & Châteaux property, on bryndza-and-truffle pierogi, caviar with beetroot, and letting the plate breathe.
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On Kanonicza Street — Kraków's oldest, winding toward Wawel Royal Castle — Copernicus Restaurant occupies the ground floor of a Renaissance townhouse that was once home to cathedral canons, now Hotel Copernicus, the first hotel in Poland to join the Relais & Châteaux association. A fixture in the MICHELIN Guide, its kitchen is led by Krzysztof Waś, who has spent sixteen years in this single historic room — seven of them as sous chef before taking over as head chef — building a signature tasting menu rooted in Polish tradition and finished with modern restraint. We sat down with him to talk about the pierogi he can't take off the menu, the caviar-and-beetroot pairing that defines his cooking, and why he wants guests to simply breathe out.
"We don't overcomplicate things. We focus on simple forms and the highest quality on the plate, without unnecessary additions."
Sixteen Years in One Historic Kitchen
Waś began his career in esteemed Kraków restaurants, working alongside chefs such as Rafał Targosz, before the opportunity came to join Copernicus. For seven years he served as sous chef to Marcin Filipkiewicz, then stepped up to head chef — and he has now been in this one kitchen for sixteen years. The place has given him rare company along the way: the chance, as he puts it, to cook shoulder-to-shoulder with legendary Grand Chefs of the Relais & Châteaux association, among them Thomas Bühner, Norbert Niederkofler, and Simon Taxacher.
Ask what he is proudest of, and he looks not back across all sixteen years but at the last four. He is proudest of the journey the team has made in that time, and of how the plates look today. The philosophy is subtraction, not addition: simple forms and the highest quality, with nothing unnecessary getting in the way.
What to Order First
For a first visit, Waś does not hesitate: the pierogi. They are a permanent fixture on the menu — and nearly weren't. A few times he wanted to take them off the card, he admits, but they are one of the guests' absolute favorites. So instead of removing them, the kitchen keeps reinventing them, regularly changing the filling and toppings. The current version pairs Polish bryndza cheese with truffles — a dumpling that is at once deeply traditional and quietly luxurious.
That same tension defines the menu as a whole. Asked for the ingredients that capture his cooking, he deliberately names two: caviar and beetroot. Neither outranks the other, he says; they complete each other. It is that marriage of simplicity and a touch of luxury — the earthy root and the glint of caviar — that sums up the philosophy of the kitchen.
Off the Clock
Away from the restaurant, Waś keeps things fast and unfussy. When no one is watching, he says, it is usually a quick pasta dish or pancakes — the latter a favorite of his daughter. On his days off, he simply doesn't like to spend too long in the kitchen. As for what he reaches for at the end of a long shift, his answer is honest rather than romantic: water, which keeps him company through the whole service anyway. Though, he admits, he would most gladly reach for another coffee — he loves its aroma.
He is energized, too, by where restaurants are going. What fascinates him is the sheer diversity of today's dining — everything from street food to fine dining, and how many different fields contemporary cooking now draws on. In that context, he says, travel becomes essential for a chef: a way to constantly broaden horizons, find new inspiration, and keep developing the craft.
Where to Sit, and When
Copernicus is not a large restaurant, but it offers two distinct rooms, and Waś is even-handed about them. There is an intimate fireplace room, ideal for quiet, close gatherings — and an open, vibrant patio, perfect for watching the team work up close, its glass roof filling the space with natural light by day. Which is best, he says, comes down entirely to the guest's own mood.
The Feeling That Matters Most
For all the history around him, Waś measures a meal by how a guest feels leaving it. He wants them to walk out with a sense of complete relaxation and authentic care — for a visit to the historic property to be not only a culinary experience but a chance to fully breathe out and feel genuinely special. It is a quietly ambitious goal for a kitchen that prizes restraint: not to dazzle, but to put a guest completely at ease.
Beyond the Restaurant
Kraków, Waś says, is a city made for walking — nearly everything can be reached on foot. Beyond the iconic Main Market Square, he points visitors first to Wawel Castle, just steps from the hotel, then along the picturesque Vistula Boulevards to the historic Kazimierz district for a more local feel, and across the river to the atmospheric Podgórze district. For anyone after fresh air and movement, he recommends the Błonia meadows or the green ring of Planty — both perfect for a peaceful walk or a morning jog.
As for the restaurant itself, he makes the case in a sentence. Copernicus serves a signature tasting menu deeply rooted in Polish culinary tradition but presented with modern accents, all within the exceptionally atmospheric interiors of a historic, heritage townhouse. It is, he says, the perfect place for anyone seeking a rare combination of history, passion, and high-level flavor.
Copernicus Restaurant — At a Glance
- Head Chef
- Krzysztof Waś
- Restaurant
- Copernicus Restaurant
- Property
- Hotel Copernicus — the first hotel in Poland in Relais & Châteaux
- Recognition
- MICHELIN Guide–listed
- Cuisine
- Modern Polish — signature seasonal tasting menu
- Setting
- Renaissance townhouse on Kanonicza Street, near Wawel Castle
- Signature dish
- Pierogi with Polish bryndza cheese & truffles
- Address
- ul. Kanonicza 16, 31-002 Kraków, Poland
Plan Your Visit
Copernicus Restaurant, a MICHELIN Guide–listed kitchen, serves a season-led Polish tasting menu inside Hotel Copernicus, a Relais & Châteaux property on Kraków's historic Kanonicza Street, steps from Wawel Royal Castle. Reserve a table or plan a stay in the Old Town.
Reserve a TableFrequently Asked Questions
Who is the chef at Copernicus Restaurant in Kraków?
Krzysztof Waś is the head chef of Copernicus Restaurant at Hotel Copernicus. He has worked in the restaurant for sixteen years — seven as sous chef to Marcin Filipkiewicz before taking over as head chef — and leads its signature Polish tasting menu.
What should I order on my first visit to Copernicus Restaurant?
Chef Krzysztof Waś recommends the pierogi, a permanent fixture on the menu and a guest favorite. The kitchen regularly changes the filling and toppings; the current version features Polish bryndza cheese and truffles.
What kind of food does Copernicus Restaurant serve?
Copernicus serves a signature seasonal tasting menu rooted in Polish culinary tradition and presented with modern accents, built on simple forms and high-quality ingredients. Caviar and beetroot are among the pairings that define its philosophy.
Where is Copernicus Restaurant located?
Copernicus Restaurant is inside Hotel Copernicus at ul. Kanonicza 16, 31-002 Kraków, Poland — on Kraków's oldest street in the Old Town, steps from Wawel Royal Castle. Hotel Copernicus was the first hotel in Poland to join Relais & Châteaux.
Does Copernicus Restaurant have a tasting menu?
Yes. Copernicus serves a signature tasting menu that changes with the seasons, deeply rooted in Polish tradition but presented with modern accents, within the historic interiors of a heritage townhouse.
Is Copernicus Restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide?
Yes. Copernicus Restaurant is listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Led by head chef Krzysztof Waś, it sits within Hotel Copernicus, the first hotel in Poland to join Relais & Châteaux, and serves a signature seasonal Polish tasting menu.
How do I make a reservation at Copernicus Restaurant?
You can reserve a table or plan a stay through the Copernicus Restaurant page on the Hotel Copernicus website, or by contacting the restaurant directly. The restaurant sits within the Old Town on Kanonicza Street.
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