ul. Kanonicza 22, Krakow, Poland | (251) 219-4428
Convenient, photogenic location in Old Town near top attractions
Situated in a meticulously restored Baroque townhouse
Only three intimate, 1,075-square foot suites on site
The Royal features antique frescos and a timber ceiling
The Ducal boasts historic Krakow-themed tapestries
The Imperial adds a terrace overlooking Wawel Castle
All units include flat-screen TVs, audio systems and AC
Minibars and free liquor carafes are standard issue
Beautiful bathrooms contain slipper tubs and bidets
The ground floor holds a fine Polish restaurant
Sustaining breakfast and Wi-Fi included in rate
Few on-site features: no spa, gym, or business center
Little communal spaces aside from the restaurant
It’s hard not to be dazzled by the three sprawling suites that make up this posh, four-and-a-half-pearl property near Wawel Castle. Housed in a 14th-century building, each unit occupies a separate floor and incorporates original architectural elements with sumptuous furnishings and finishes. Modern perks -- like air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, audio systems, minibars, and free Wi-Fi -- are also plentiful. Downstairs, guests can dine in the hotel's atmospheric and highly regarded restaurant. However, there’s little else in the way of standard hotel features here; even a proper lobby is lacking. Travelers looking for a place with more amenities in the same pearl category might prefer the less-impressive but better-equipped Radisson Blu, which has a bar, fitness center, spa, meeting rooms, and underground parking.
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Scene
A historic, high-end hotel with a low-key ambiance
Originally erected in the 14th-century, expanded over the years and extensively renovated in 2014, Kanonicza 22 appeals mostly to couples, and understandably so. This Baroque townhouse -- a designated historic monument -- has a romantic fairy-tale look and settling. Nestled among residential and commercial buildings on a picturesque cobbled street, the creamy four-story edifice defines Old-World elegance. The vintage-luxe look of the hallways (evident in the ornate oak doors and curvaceous staircase) is amplified in the actual suites, which provide an atmospheric retreat for privacy-seeking twosomes. There's just three suites in total, making this property incredibly intimate. But apart from the on-site restaurant, there's little in the way of communal spaces, so travelers looking to meet and mingle would be better served by a larger hotel.
Location
On a cobbled street in Old Town, just minutes from Wawel Castle
Named for its enviable address, Kanonicza 22 sits on Krakow’s oldest street and puts guests within a two-minute walk of Wawel Castle with its adjacent cathedral and museum complex. Other top sites are also in strolling distance, including the massive, restaurant-ringed Main Market Square (home to St. Mary's Basilica, Town Hall Tower, and the shop-filled Cloth Hall) as well as the Kazimierz or Old Jewish Quarter. All can be accessed on foot in 10 minutes or less. Crossing the Wisla River to reach the building which now houses both Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK) takes about half an hour, but public transit and hop-on tourist buses are available for those who don’t feel like making the hike. Add-on airport or train station transfers can be arranged through the hotel, and, if you’re driving, secure paid parking can be arranged nearby. Note that Kanonicza Street gets very little vehicular traffic (cars are restricted in Old Town), but horse-drawn carriages clopping over the cobbles en route to the castle can create noise; the suites, however, are well soundproofed. - Two-minute walk to Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral
Rooms
Grandiose suites combining historic appeal with contemporary comforts
The hotel has a trio of three-room suites, each covering an entire floor and each individually decorated. Take the decadent Ducal: It’s richly appointed from the living room with its centuries-old tapestries and the bedroom dominated by an antique four-poster right through to the bathroom finished in green marble. On the first floor, 17th-century polychromes, a canopy bed, handwoven carpets and heavy draperies give the Royal a suitably regal look, while the Imperial on the top floor injects more modern elements (note the round bed topped with faux fur) and features a private roof terrace with a whirlpool and eye-popping castle views. All showcase modern amenities like air-conditioning, digital safes, flat-screen TVs, high-tech audio systems and free Wi-Fi. Minibars, tea/coffee-making equipment, fresh flowers, fruit platters, and free carafes of vodka and whiskey are also included. All, moreover, have stunning bathrooms complete with bidets, walk-in showers, freestanding soaker tubs, and heated floors.
Features
A fine, atmospheric restaurant but little else
The downside here is that, because of the hotel’s diminutive size, there is a definite lack of on-site facilities. So if a spa, fitness room, business center, or even a proper lobby is on your must-have list, you’d best look elsewhere. On the other hand, fans of fine Polish food will be pleased to hear that Kanonicza 22 does contain an award-winning restaurant. Offering seating indoors and out, Pod Nosem is a Baroque beauty specializing in time-honored regional dishes with a modern twist; picture goose-stuffed dumplings or venison with chestnuts and sour cabbage. The caviar menu is an added bonus, as is the impressive wine list curated by an in-house sommelier (you may even be invited to select a bottle from the exclusive cellar). A full bespoke breakfast is free for guests, and room service is available. Property-wide Wi-Fi is also included in rates, and airport transfers can be arranged.
