Is it OK to ask for a doggy bag? Where can the public toilets be found?

 
 
Unexpectedly I received two questions regarding ?the food processing? last week. No one doubts that it would be good to know the answers to these questions. Most tourists would agree that there are three basic things necessary for a comfortable trip: good shoes, something to drink and a toilet.

There are several ways of finding a toilet/ restroom/ WC in the city. You may enter any restaurant or bar and ask for permission to use their toilet. If there are only one or two people in your party, that should not be a problem.

If however your group is larger (and not eating at the restaurant), the establishment may wish to charge 1 or 2 zloty for using their restroom. In this type of situation, it is always easier to use public toilets.

There are several public toilets within the tourist area of Krakow: in the Planty area, just at the front of the Radisson Hotel, at the end of Sienna Street, close to the Wawel Hill parking place, in the courtyard of Collegium Maius, on Wawel Hill, at the main railway station, etc.

Before entering any of them, look at the sign. Sometimes there is a symbolic picture on the door (a little boy or girl doing what you?re there for).
Often however there isn?t such a picture.  It is customary in Poland that ladies toilets have a circle or the words dla pan (for ladies), whereas gents toilets have a triangle or the words dla panow (for men). It can be quite confusing for tourists when only these signs are shown.

Public toilets usually charge from 1 to 2 zloty, so make sure you have some change available.

Regarding the question of ?doggy bags?? you needn?t bother to look for them in local restaurants.

It seems that in contrast to the USA, local consumers feel at least a little uncomfortable taking food home from a restaurant. 

The only exception might be found in some worldwide fast food chains like Pizza Hut. But in general it is better to order one dish for two people.  At least among younger customers, this has become socially acceptable.

Although the more expensive restaurants tend toward stylishly small servings, most restaurants dish up really big portions, more suitable for two hungry diners than for one. But as a general rule of thumb, Poles never take food home from restaurants as it is not popular and a bit embarrassing.
 
Malgorzata Zielina has many years experience working as a guide in Krakow. The main profession of a guide is answering all your questions. We will start with the questions she has heard most often during her career. You can also ask your own question by sending her an email at: editor@krakowpost.com. Malgorzata will answer the most interesting questions in The Krakow Post.