St Mary's Basilica dominates the eastern side of the Main Market Square, its two mismatched towers visible from most of the Old Town. Every hour a trumpeter plays the hejnał from the taller one and stops abruptly mid-phrase, a tradition tied to a legend about an archer's arrow during a medieval siege. It is the sound most visitors remember longest.
White Chocolate is a few streets north of it, at ul. Św. Tomasza 16. Close enough to hear the Square, far enough to be somewhere else entirely: a vaulted brick cellar behind an unmarked door, one floor below street level.
The Old Town at Street Level and Below
The Mariacki is the Old Town at its most visible - towers, altarpiece, crowds. The cellars are the same district at its least. Both have been there for centuries and only one of them appears on postcards.
Spending an evening in the second version is a reasonable way to understand how the city actually works after dark.
Easy to Reach on Foot
From the basilica it is a short walk north, crossing toward ul. Św. Tomasza which runs roughly parallel to the top of the Square. A couple of minutes, entirely within the pedestrianised core.
The Old Town is compact, and almost everything worth reaching in it is closer than people expect.
After the Sightseeing
Most guests arrive having already done the Square. We open at 20:00, and the room is at its best from around 22:00.
Smart dress, strictly 18+, and worth calling ahead at weekends since the venue is small and has a fixed number of seats.
Frequently asked questions
How far is it from St Mary's Basilica?
A couple of minutes on foot. We are at ul. Św. Tomasza 16, a few streets north of the Main Market Square where the basilica stands.
What is the hejnał?
The trumpet call played every hour from the taller tower of St Mary's. It breaks off mid-phrase, a tradition linked to a legend about a trumpeter struck by an arrow during a medieval siege.
Can we walk there from the Square at night?
Yes, easily. The Old Town core is pedestrianised, well lit and compact. It is a short and normal walk.
What time should we arrive?
Doors open at 20:00. Most guests come from 21:00 onward and the room is at its best from around 22:00.
Do you have a dress code?
Yes, smart. No trainers, sportswear or beachwear. We are also strictly 18 and over.