Kanonicza 22

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.

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
• Eight-minute walk to Rynek Głowny (Main Market Square) 
• 10-minute walk to the Kazimierz (Old Jewish Quarter)
• 10-minute walk to Collegium Maius (Jagiellonian University)
• 13-minute walk to the Czartoryski Museum 
• 13-minute walk to St. Florian's Gate
• 17-minute walk to the ICE Krakow Congress Centre
• 18-minute walk to the National Museum in Krakow 
• 18-minute walk to Krakow Glowny railway station
• 20-minute walk to Galeria Krakowska
• 14-minute drive to Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum and MOCAK 
• 24-minute drive to John Paul II Krakow-Balice International Airport 

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. 

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.