The majority of people have heard of the most famous Silesian beer. Tyskie is one of Poland’s most recognisable exports and has dominated the domestic market here for almost 200 years. Even in the UK, if you step into almost any supermarket or corner shop, you will likely see cans of this mass-produced and if I’m honest, fairly tasteless lager, lining the shelves of the fridge.
Although most drinkers are familiar with the brand, few people know that it takes its name from the small Silesian town in which it is produced. Located just 20km south of Katowice, the suburb of Tychy has been brewing beer since the 17th century and its history is deeply intertwined with the amber nectar.
Alongside Tyskie, Silesia is also home to another well-known, domestic beer giant – Żywiec – which gets mass national distribution and helps to give Polish beer a bad name on distant shores. Thankfully, anyone who has spent even a short amount of time in the country will be aware that this water-weak lager is hardly representative of the nation’s thriving beer scene.
Poland is home to hundreds of progressive and experimental microbreweries that hold their own against the craft beer scenes in countries like the US and the UK while the prevalence of expansive multitap bars in all of the major cities means you are never short of places to sample the best beer and breweries that the country has to offer.
Katowice is no different. As the city has modernised and, dare I say it, become cool and trendy, a couple of well-respected microbreweries and all manner of craft beer establishments have popped up.
Biała Małpa is the oldest and is considered by many local beer aficionados to be the best, but places like Browariat and Upojeni are looking to take that crown with their fine selection of craft beers sourced from all over Poland. That isn’t to say there aren’t good places to check out the national brews from around Silesia and the nearby Czech Republic: Hospoda represents the close ties between the two nations by serving frothy, ice-cold pints of Kozel, Gambrinus, Radegast, and Budvar while dishing out plates of traditional Czech food.
If you prefer something brewed locally, then look no further than Absurdalna Brewpub, which features 12 taps of beer from their own brewery Starkraft, or Browar Mariacki, who are pumping out traditional styles of beer from the brew kit that takes pride of place in the centre of their slick restaurant on Mariacka. Na zdrowie.
Where to Find Craft Beer in Katowice
Whether you are looking for a hyper local beer brewed on-site, or a multitap that dishes out a mix of internation craft ales and Polish specialties, there are plenty of options for places to drink in Katowice. Here are my favourites.
Biała Małpa
Head down a short alley way off Katowice’s main drag and you’ll find yourself in the hidden beer garden of Biała Małpa, possibly the best craft beer bar in the city. The heated, open space is overlooked by an enormous mural and surrounded by stylish warm woods, exposed brick, making it the perfect place to pull up a deck chair and sample one of the 24 keg beers on offer.
This is multitap is actually the biggest and oldest in Silesia and has managed to garner an almost cult-like status amongst local beer aficionados. This may be due to the fact that as well as having a huge tap list, they also stock over 400 different bottles and cans of Polish, Czech, Belgian, and international beers and ales.
If working your way through all of these drinks has worked up an appetite, the owners have also opened up their own Mexican street food spot, Biała Małpa Mexico, which shares the same courtyard and has an enormous range of tequila’s (available to taste in a hangover-inducing tequila flight).
Where: 3 Maja 38
When: Sun to Thurs 12pm – 12am; Fri & Sat 12pm – 2am
Absurdalna Brewpub
A bar that combines modern art, street food and craft beer all together in one venue, the incredibly quirky Absurdalna can feel a little more like a disjointed modern art gallery than a pub.
The eccentric and idiosyncratic interior of the colourful bar consists of a large front room that plays host to a rotating exhibition of contemporary pieces, while the area around the bar has a few cosy nooks filled with retro and antique furniture where you can sit and dine on their menu of Mexican street food while sipping one of the 16 beers on offer from their taps.
You’ll find that the beer list is mostly taken up by beers from Starkraft, the brewery that was set up in 2022 specifically to provide drinks for Absurdalna. Somehow their small, 5hl brew kit manages to keep the bar well stocked with some of the best beers I drank in Katowice.
Where: Dworcowa 3
When: Mon 5pm – 11.30pm; Tues to Thurs 3pm – 12.30am; Fri & Sat 3pm – 2.30am; Sun 2pm – 12am
Upojeni
I have a soft spot for Polish new-wave multitap pubs. Some people may thing that they can be excessive – especially when the number of taps can run into the dozens – but when has more choice ever been a bad thing, other than the fact that it is generally impossible to sample every beer that takes your fancy in these places.
Upojeni feels a little more upmarket than most. Hidden away in a modern courtyard just off Świętego Jana, this stylish and elegant two floor bar looks like the kind of place to be serving expensive cocktails rather than offering 14 taps of the best Polish craft brews. Alongside the beer, they also have great food; from burgers, salad and pizza to a fairly extensive tapas menu featuring dishes such as herring tartare, goat cheese with raspberry, and beef tartare.
Where: Świętego Jana 10
When: Sun to Thurs 3pm – 12am; Fri & Sat 3pm – 2am
Browariat Craft Beer Zone
They say not to judge a book by its cover, and this certainly applied to Browariat. From the outside, it gives the appearance of a small multitap basement pub, but wander past the compact front bar and you’ll find yourself in a warren of hallways and side rooms that lead up to one of the best hidden beer gardens in the city.
The guys behind Browariat know a thing about beer too. While they built their reputation around serving mostly Bavarian craft beer brands, they have an enormous international selection in bottles and cans, and the taps feature any and all of the Polish microbreweries that are worth knowing. You just have to look at the extensive beer list scrawled on the blackboard behind the bar and you will see why this is my favourite craft beer bar in Katowice.
Where: Francuska 11
When: Sun 5pm – 10pm; Mon to Thurs 4pm – 11pm; Fri 4pm – 2am; Sat 5pm – 2am
Restauracja Browar Mariacki
Occupying a former warehouse, the industrially-styled Browar Mariacki feels upmarket, sleek and elegant, if a little soulless compared to most of the city’s other craft beer spots. This is first and foremost a restaurant with a brewery attached, which can be seen if you wander to Mariacki’s back room where diners sit around the gleaming copper tanks.
It’s direct from these tanks that they pour their beers, and it’s worth getting a flight to sample all of them; Pils 12.5°, Pszeniczne 12.5° and AIPA 16° as well as a couple of seasonal specials.
The dining room, complete with decor that’s reminiscent of Katowice’s industrial heritage, is the perfect spot to sample some as well as a good selection of steaks and other meat-heavy dishes. It’s also open for breakfast if you fancy getting started on the bevvies early.
Where: Mariacka 15
When: Sun 7am – 8pm; Mon to Thurs 6.30am – 1pm & 4pm – 11pm; Friday 6.30am – 1pm & 4pm – 12am; Saturday 7am – 12pm & 1pm – 12am
CyberTap
If you’re looking for a craft beer bar in Katowice with a difference, then CyberTap on ul. Francuska 12 is a fairly unique concept; It’s a self-service, 30-tap beer bar where you can pour your own pints.
I’ll admit that I was a little confused about how the system works when I first walked in. The idea is that you load a card with a pre-paid amount of zlotys and use this to dispense beer at the taps, only paying for the amount poured. The result is that you are not limited to pints or half pints, and instead can sample just a few millilitres of as many beers as you desire.
If craft beer isn’t your thing (although I don’t know why you would be reading this blog post if it wasn’t), CyberTap offers a variety of drinks from self-service taps other than beer such as sparkling wines, whiskeys, liqueurs and non-alcoholic beverages such as Kofola.
Where: Francuska 12
When: Sun to Thurs 3pm – 12am; Fri & Sat 3pm – 1am
Bierhalle
A sprawling shopping mall complex may not be the kind of place where you would expect to find a decent craft beer bar, and in a way you would be right. Bier Halle isn’t a typical microbrewery.
Bierhalle is a chain of breweries and restaurants that have branches in Kraków, Wrocław, Warsaw, Bydgoszcz and Łódź alongside their outpost in Katowice which is strangely located on the first floor of the Silesia City Center shopping centre, above the food court and beside the multiplex cinema.
Each venue prides itself on the fact that its beer is brewed on-site, with patrons being able to observe the process thanks to the glass brewing vessels and kettles that dominate the centre of the restaurant.
There’s a range of brews to choose from; pilsner, amber, marcowe, and wheat (pszeniczne) as well as a couple of seasonal beers that are usually on offer. Each is served unfiltered and unpasteurised and was better than I was expecting from the kitcsh, Oktoberfest theming of the restaurant; Staff wandered around clutching steins and wearing Dirndl and Lederhosen while the interior is a mix of faux-Bavarian decor with a rustic touch.
Despite all this, Bierhalle makes for a good stop on a beer crawl of the city if you are looking to indulge in some stodgy Polish staples such as pork knuckle alongside a frothy glass of lager. It does even have a slight, cheesy charm.
Where: Silesia City Center, CH, Chorzowska 107
When: Mon to Fri 12pm – 9pm; Sat 11am – 9pm
Browar Przystań
Browar Przystań isn’t quite in Katowice. Instead, you will find it in the lush, lakeside surroundings of Silesia Park in Chorzów. As such, it’s the only place on this list that I didn’t get to visit personally but thought that the fact that they brew their own beer in-house coupled with their stunning location makes it worth a mention here.
The stunning Przystań café was first established in 1953 and designed by Zbigniew Rzepecki, the architect behind the Silesian Insurgent House and the Zagłębie Palace of Culture. It was one of the first developments in Silesian Park and was to play a key role in the cultural development of the area, playing host to elegant New Year’s balls and proms with visits many important celebrities and international figures.
While the cuisine is the main focus, Przystań has its own brewery, producing a pilsner, witbier, marcowe, honey beer and nasze pszeniczne, a top-fermented beer with a distinct clove-banana aroma. Just be warned that booking is recommended and the cafe only takes cash, so make sure to visit an ATM before you stop by.
Where: Aleja Klonowa 4, 41-516 Chorzów
When: Mon to Thurs 1pm – 9pm; Fri & Sat 12pm – 9pm; Sunday 12pm – 8pm
Katowice Beer map
Whether you are planning a Katowice pub crawl or just want to locate one of the breweries or bars mentioned above, this map includes all the best bars and microbreweries that were covered in this guide.
Using this map: This map shows both the city’s breweries (red icons) and craft beer bars (orange icons). The list can be seen and filtered by toggling the icon on the top left-hand-side of the map, and each location can be explored further by clicking them. Expand the map by clicking the icon on the top right-hand-side.
Where to Stay in Katowice
Both Katowice and the wider Silesia region are a prime destination for business and industry as well as festivals and events, meaning that there are an abundance of business-class hotels littering the city centre. Beyond that, there are still a good amount of hostels and cheaper rental apartments available just a short distance from the main sights.
Budget
Ibis Budget Katowice Central
You always seem to know what you are getting with the Ibis Budget brand and their outpost in the centre of Katowice is no different. With each room boasting a flatscreen satellite TV, air-conditioning and a decent bathroom, their presence in Katowice is a boon for travellers looking for something on the cheaper end of the price scale without wanting to compromise on comfort.
Mid-Range
Courtyard by Marriott
The Courtyard by Marriott Katowice City Center is difficult to miss. Occupying the top 9 floors of a modern tower block the dominates the skyline, it offers sweeping views of the region from any of its 150 rooms. The contemporary interiors are smart and elegant and all guests are free to use the fantastic cocktail bar that sits on the 27th floor of the building.
Luxury
Hotel Monopol
With almost 120 years of history, Hotel Monopol is Katowice’s most elegant and sophisticated hotel. It reopened in 2003 following a complete refurbishment but managed to retain much of its original features, such as its exquisite mosaic floor and walnut furnishes while adding a modern, industrial chic look. This iconic building features 108 guestrooms spread over 5 floors, with 2 on-site restaurants, a wine cellar and a wellness and spa area, all within walking distance to Katowice’s imposing “spaceship” arena.
How to Get to Katowice
There are regular flights from the UK to Katowice Airport, which is located 34km northeast of the city of Pyrzowice.
Buses run frequently between the airport and the city centre, departing from just outside the terminal building with a schedule and departure times that are coordinated with flight arrivals. Tickets can be bought from the driver or booked in advance here.
Taxis wait outside of arrivals and a ride to the city centre will cost you around 95-160zł. An Uber will be in the region of £20.
Pre-booking a private transfer from Katowice Airport is also a good option. The service often costs around the same price as an Uber, with the bonus that you will not need to wait for your pick-up or potentially have to traipse to a meeting point. This is particularly useful if arriving late at night, meaning you won’t have to worry about the stress of finding a taxi when tired. I usually use Get Transfer, who will arrange for a driver to meet you on arrival. They will always arrive at a specified time or check the latest flight arrival times in case of delays. Pick-up at the airport with a nameplate is also included in the service price.
From Krakow
Krakow is reasonably close to Katowice and travel between the two cities by public transport is easy. There are plenty of direct trains that depart from Krakow’s central station and the journey takes an hour.
Tickets can be purchased at the train station or in advance from the easy-to-use PKP train portal. Choose Kraków Główny for the departure station and Katowice for the arrival.
Book train tickets between Krakow and Katowice here.
If you would prefer to travel from Krakow by coach, INFOBUS runs direct services from Kraków’s Dworzec Autobusowy, to the Sądowa Dworzec in Katowice, close to the main train station. The journey takes around the same amount of time as the train trip.
Direct From Krakow Airport
For my trip to Katowice, I flew into Krakow airport and took the bus directly from there to Katowice bus station. FlixBus have a service that runs every few hours (it is more regular towards the middle of the day) and takes just one hour. Prices start at £5.99 each way.
