Jazz is instantly recognizable and has become a global phenomenon since its beginnings in the early 20thcentury. It may come as a surprise, but Krakow is one of the best places to go for jazz in the world.
For an off-the-beaten-path experience, consider visiting one of Krakow’s many jazz bars, where live music is played almost every night. This article will tell you everything you need to know about finding jazz in Krakow and visiting a very special location: Jazz Club u Muniaka.
History of jazz in Krakow
Through our research, we have learned that jazz came to Poland after WWI with Polish-Jewish musicians. When Poland was under communist control post 1945, jazz resurged (albeit illegally) and jazz clubs were a gathering place for students and those who spoke out against communism. Many Polish jazz musicians were pioneers of the free jazz movement.
In the democratic Poland of today, jazz continues to thrive!
Choosing a jazz bar in Krakow
Many jazz bars are conveniently located in or near the Old Town and the famous Market Square. Many jazz clubs host live bands nightly, with music beginning around 9pm. Some clubs impose a cover charge to sit and listen to the music.
Do some online research to find one that suits you. Harris Piano Bar and Jazz Club u Muniaka are two of the most popular choices that we found. We visited the Jazz Club u Muniaka in early May during our 12-day trip to Poland.
Jazz Club U Muniaka
The club was founded in 1991 and was co-owned by renowned Polish jazz musician Janusz Muniak until his death in 2016. Housed in a small red brick cellar, it’s a favourite among locals. As soon as you descend the stairs into its crowded interior, you’ll see why. This club’s atmosphere is truly unbeatable.
You can find more information on their website here.
Music
Jazz Club U Muniaka has live jazz music every night from 9:30pm to approximately 1:00am. During our visit, the “admission” tickets were 30PLN (about $10 CAD or $7 USD) and charged upfront.
The Club welcomes an assortment of different bands, each with their own unique style. Jazz enthusiasts may want to research the bands playing during their stay in order to attend the one that suits them most. As jazz amateurs (ourselves included), we enjoyed the music without any knowledge of the band.
The band playing at the club during our visit was fantastic. They even spoke English to describe each upcoming song (which we really appreciated).
We stayed for 1.5 hours after the music began and were the first people in the club to leave. That was more than enough for us to gain an appreciation of the music and we loved watching the musicians and the locals enjoying a night out.
Reservations at Jazz Club u Muniaka
Reservations are a must, especially as the club fills up with locals. Jazz Club U Muniaka does not make reservations later than 9:00pm. Our advice: make your reservation for 9:00pm and you can have a drink while you wait for music to begin at 9:30pm. There is a small cover charge that we paid in cash upon arrival (see above).
It will be very difficult to find a table without a reservation unless you visit at 8:30pm or earlier. When we entered the club at 9:00pm, every open table was reserved.
If you arrive after 10:30pm, you can wait for a table. While waiting, you can stand and listen to the music (you’ll still be able to hear the music in the waiting area, but not see them). We saw a small crowd waiting for tables as we were leaving.
Reservations can be made by phone or email. We had to email a few times before getting a response, but they eventually got back to us and confirmed our reservation. At the time of our visit, there was no booking system on the website.
Who should visit Jazz Club U Muniaka?
Everybody should visit Jazz Club U Muniaka in Krakow! It is an essential part of Krakow’s culture.
Jazz Club U Muniaka is a non-smoking club that seemed family friendly for older children. the noise levels in the club were very high with the music and we had a hard time hearing each other even when shouting, but it was okay – the music was great!
THE BIG PICTURE
Jazz Club U Muniaka is an atmospheric experience. We loved the music, the musicians, and joining the local Cracovians in a city tradition. We will gladly return next time we are in Krakow!
