The office retirement do is one of the more dispiriting rituals in professional life. A sheet cake in the meeting room at three in the afternoon, a card, a short speech, and then everyone goes back to their desks. For someone finishing a career of thirty or forty years, it is a strikingly thin gesture.
An evening somewhere with genuine atmosphere works considerably better. White Chocolate is a small, exclusive club in a vaulted cellar under Krakow's Old Town: six private salons, warm gold light, white leather and black velvet. It is comfortable, it is quiet enough to talk, and it does not feel like a work function.
Quiet Enough for Stories
A retirement party is mostly people telling stories about the person leaving, which requires being able to hear each other. That rules out most of what a night out in a city centre normally offers.
The salons here are separated and low-lit, and the sound stays at a level where a table of twelve can hold a single conversation. That is the practical requirement, and most venues fail it.
Comfortable Across Generations
Retirement parties bring together colleagues of every age, from people who started last year to contemporaries of the person retiring. A seated, elegant room handles that mix far better than anywhere built around a dance floor.
The dress code is smart, which for this kind of occasion tends to be what everyone was going to wear anyway.
Arranging It
Call with the headcount and the date and we will match you to a salon. Tell us it is a retirement and we will pace the evening accordingly and seat the guest of honour somewhere they can actually see everyone.
Open nightly from 20:00. Midweek is quieter and easier to book, which suits an occasion that does not need to be a Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
Is the venue suitable for older guests?
Yes. It is a seated, intimate cellar rather than a loud club, and the salons are quiet enough for conversation. Do note the venue is below street level and reached by stone stairs.
Is there step-free access?
The cellar is reached by a flight of stone stairs, so access is not step-free. Please call ahead if any of your guests would find stairs difficult and we will talk it through honestly.
Can we make a speech?
Yes. A private salon is well suited to it and considerably better than trying to make yourself heard in a public bar. Mention it when you book.
What size groups can you take?
Six salons of different sizes cover groups from around four up to twenty or so. Tell us the number and we will suggest the right room.
Which nights are easiest to book?
Midweek. Sunday to Wednesday we are open from 20:00 to 03:00 and availability is much better than at weekends, particularly outside December.