Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
82 SHOPPING<br />
Retail opportunities have come a long way since the days of<br />
queueing around the corner for the off-chance of buying a<br />
crust of bread. Today Wrocław’s shopfronts are stocked with<br />
everything you’d expect to find in a cosmopolitan metropolis,<br />
with bountiful pedestrian shopping opportunities around<br />
the market square, ulica Świdnicka and ulica Oławska.<br />
Odrzańska, Kiełbaśnicza and Mikołaja streets are home to<br />
upmarket boutiques and galleries, Jatki (A-2) is known for its<br />
row of artisan galleries, and souvenir hunters will find plenty<br />
in the small stores hidden along the avenues underneath the<br />
Town Hall. For familiar international labels and big brands,<br />
look no further than one of Wrocław’s glistening new shopping<br />
malls; there are several comfortably within the city<br />
centre, while Magnolia Park is Wrocław’s largest consumer<br />
temple, a short cab ride away. Lastly, don’t miss visiting Hala<br />
Targowa for a truly Polish cultural experience while catching<br />
a bargain. As this is PL, remember most shops close early<br />
on Saturday and take Sunday off altogether.<br />
Alcohol<br />
You may have noticed that here in PL, it’s a bit of a drinking<br />
culture; more of a national pastime, really, compared to the<br />
country’s success at football. <strong>In</strong>deed, nothing says ‘I’ve been<br />
to Poland’ like a suitcase of vodka (a new bride being the<br />
second hottest commodity). The Poles have been distilling<br />
and draining vodka since the early Middle Ages, and Poland<br />
can make a legitimate claim as the spirit’s primordial homeland.<br />
As such, you should put it at the top of your souvenir<br />
list, even if it’s not to your taste. Belvedere and Chopin<br />
are the elite brands you’ll find in fancy gift sets, but don’t<br />
miss Żubrówka (bison grass vodka), Krupnik (herbal honey<br />
vodka), Żołądkowa (herbal stomach liqueur) and Goldwasser<br />
with its signature gold flakes.<br />
Winnica Adoria ul. Żurawia 33, Zachowice, tel. (+48)<br />
605 04 24 33, www.winnicaadoria.pl. When thinking of<br />
wines made in Poland it can be difficult to imagine… well,<br />
that they actually come from Poland. Winnica Adoria wines<br />
come directly from a Polish vineyard about 20 kms south of<br />
the city. You can, of course, visit their winery in person and<br />
try some of their specialties on site. Keep in mind, however,<br />
that you’ll need to drive back to the city at some point and<br />
- just like everywhere else - drinking and driving is a deadly<br />
serious matter in Poland. American owned and run since<br />
2005, Adoria is still too young to have many older vintage<br />
wines, but they do make Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay<br />
and others. Recent years range from 50-90 zł per bottle<br />
and can be bought in person or online. Visit their website if<br />
you’d like to make an excursion to Polish ‘wine country’ and<br />
see the vineyard for yourself. QOpen 09:00 - 13:00, Sat,<br />
Sun 11:00 - 17:00.<br />
Amber & Jewellery<br />
Vodka isn’t the only golden nectar popular in Poland. For<br />
centuries amber drew craftsmen, traders and thieves to<br />
Central Europe and the Baltic. While the thieves may be<br />
gone, amber and its enthusiasts remain, and today Poland<br />
is renowned for its craftsmen who handsomely shape the<br />
fossilised resin into unique and coveted pieces of jewellery.<br />
Come back from PL without bringing baby some Baltic Gold<br />
and you’ve booked yourself a stint in the doghouse.<br />
Galeria Biżuterii Artystycznej Derecki E-6, ul.<br />
Powstańców Śląskich 2-4 (Arkady Wrocławskie), tel.<br />
(+48) 691 59 43 34, www.derecki.art.pl. Unfortunately<br />
forced to move further from the centre, this is still an excellent<br />
shop and worth a look even if you’re not in the market for<br />
a rare meteorite ring. Master goldsmith Sławomir Derecki<br />
has won numerous awards and applies his skill to exclusive<br />
amber pieces, fossils, moon rocks, crystals and more. <strong>In</strong><br />
addition to apparently ‘inventing’ a new kind of amber a few<br />
years ago, Derecki is also an avid historian and collector who<br />
incorporates authentic ancient Greek and Roman artefacts<br />
into his work and even makes his own high-quality handmade<br />
Roman weaponry and period costumes. What does your dad<br />
do? QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 10:00 - 20:00.<br />
Galeria Schubert B-3, Rynek-Ratusz 20/22, tel. (+48)<br />
71 343 95 51. Located in the Town Hall, World of Amber has<br />
an impressive and reasonably priced array of amber-themed<br />
jewellery and pieces. For those less keen on amber, they also<br />
offer other precious stones and metals and took a page out of<br />
the Bohemian book with a small section of crystal-ware. If amber<br />
is on your Wroclaw to-do list, Schubert will do nicely without<br />
killing your travel budget or drawing you away from the heart<br />
of the city. QOpen 09:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00.<br />
Magic Silver A-3, ul. Odrzańska 7. This small family-run<br />
shop just off the market square specialises in high quality<br />
silver jewellery that incorporates semi-precious stones and<br />
certified authentic amber pieces. Q Open 11:00 - 19:00,<br />
Sat 11:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun. From October open 11:00 -<br />
18:00, Sat 11:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.<br />
Art & Antiques<br />
Antiques are a popular commodity in Poland and you’ll find<br />
no shortage of antiquated oddities in Wrocław. As you walk<br />
about town keep your eyes peeled for signage with the<br />
inscriptions ‘Antyki,’ ‘Antykwariat’ and ‘Starocie’ (junk); ul.<br />
Kiełbaśnicza (A-3) is a good place to start. Knowledgeable<br />
dealers offer prices comparable with the rest of Europe, but<br />
there are still plenty of bargains and undervalued treasures<br />
to be found. Bear in mind that if you intend to take art that<br />
is more than 50 years old and of a potentially high value<br />
out of the country, you’ll have to get some papers in order<br />
first (see Customs, under Basics). Most proper dealers can<br />
provide this straight-away, but you may want to check before<br />
opening your wallet.<br />
For artisan galleries in Wrocław, head straight to ul. Jatki<br />
(A-2). <strong>In</strong> addition to being Wrocław’s oldest, most narrow,<br />
most charming and possibly most touristy street, this row of<br />
former medieval butcher stalls is today home exclusively to<br />
artist studios and galleries, with the exception of one small<br />
art supply shop. For non-commercial art gallery listings, visit<br />
our Culture section.<br />
Galeria Antyki Ars Silesia A-3, ul. Kiełbaśnicza 29,<br />
tel. (+48) 71 372 46 91. Antiques, coins, military objects,<br />
porcelain, glass and paintings - with a focus on Lower Silesian<br />
art from the interwar period. QOpen 11:00 - 18:00, Sat<br />
11:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.<br />
TAX FREE SHOPPING - GLOBAL BLUE<br />
Non-EU residents can claim VAT<br />
refunds on purchases made in shops<br />
bearing the Global Blue logo. The<br />
only condition is a minimum outlay<br />
of 200zł on your part on the item<br />
purchased. Claim your Tax Refund<br />
Cheque, have it stamped at customs<br />
before claiming your money back at<br />
your nearest Global Blue Customer<br />
Service. For full details check www.global-blue.com.<br />
Wrocław <strong>In</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Pocket</strong> wroclaw.inyourpocket.com<br />
Galeria Domus A-2, ul. Jatki 7/8, tel. (+48) 71 344 53<br />
15, www.galeriadomus.pl. Graphic art, jewellery, ceramic,<br />
glasswork and more. Also at (A-3) ul. Więzienna 1/4. QOpen<br />
11:00 - 18:00, Sun 12:00 - 17:00.<br />
Galeria Retro A-3, ul. Kiełbaśnicza 24, tel. (+48) 71<br />
343 90 84, www.galeria-retro.com. Antique (rather than<br />
‘retro’ in the western sense) store specialising in glassware,<br />
ceramics, clothes and jewellery. QOpen 11:00 - 18:00, Sat<br />
11:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.<br />
<strong>In</strong>ny Świat w Piwniczce Gotyckiej A-3, ul.<br />
Kiełbaśnicza 24, tel. (+48) 71 344 61 03. 76 square<br />
metres of art and antiques from all over the world located<br />
in a gothic brick cellar. The extensive collection includes<br />
a large range of silver, porcelain, Art Nouveau glass, Art<br />
Deco furniture, Polish and German graphics, paintings<br />
and sculpture. QOpen 12:00 - 18:00, Sat 11:00 - 15:00.<br />
Closed Sun. Opening hours could not be confirmed before<br />
press time.<br />
Books, Music & Film<br />
De’ Molika B-4, ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 65, tel. (+48)<br />
71 346 89 26, www.demolika.pl. Closest thing in Wrocław<br />
to the indy record store you’ve always wanted to open. Run<br />
by two devoted owners this tiny shop has all the new and<br />
vintage vinyl you won’t find in the megastores. QOpen 11:00<br />
- 19:00, Sat 11:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun.<br />
Empik Megastore B-3, Rynek 50, tel. (+48) 71<br />
343 39 90, www.empik.com. This massive store selling<br />
books, music, movies, video games, coffee, greeting cards<br />
and more, also has the best selection of foreign papers<br />
and magazines in town, though you can expect to pay a<br />
hefty mark-up for the privelege. Dictionaries, phrase books,<br />
maps and a limited English language fiction section are also<br />
inside. Other locations in Magnolia Park, Pasaż Grunwaldzki<br />
and Renoma (see Shopping Malls). QOpen 09:00 - 21:00,<br />
Sun 12:00 - 21:00.<br />
Falanster E-4, ul. Św. Antoniego 23, tel. (+48) 609<br />
66 13 30, www.falanster.pl. One of Wrocław’s most<br />
switched-on venues, this hip hangout takes on many guises,<br />
including gallery, bookstore, free trade cafe, concert venue,<br />
and counter-culture meeting grounds, wearing all of them<br />
well simultaneously, and with complete seriousness. Head<br />
here to hang with local artists and activists, while enjoying<br />
delicious coffee and perusing an expanding selection of<br />
English-language books from Kraków’s Massolit. Recommended.<br />
QOpen 10:00 - 02:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 04:00, Sun<br />
10:00 - 24:00.<br />
wroclaw.inyourpocket.com<br />
SHOPPING<br />
Souvenirs & Tourist service<br />
Geschenke & Stadtrundfährte<br />
Pamiątki & Usługi turystyczne<br />
Plac Solny 20, Wrocław<br />
tel. +48 71 799 90 01<br />
biuro@nasolnym.pl, www.wroclawsouvenirs.com<br />
Fashion & Accessories<br />
<strong>In</strong>ternational designer clothing and fashion brands can most<br />
easily be found in Wrocław’s shopping malls, though you’ll find<br />
some clothing brands along the pedestrian streets Świdnica<br />
and Oławska. High quality Polish brands include Reserved,<br />
Vistula, Wittchen and Tatuum, none of which as you’ll<br />
notice actually sound Polish, apparently part of a sly, shared<br />
business plan to increase marketability. For a more local<br />
take on consumerism, do some loitering around the massive<br />
clothing market on Plac Zielińskiego (see Markets) or visit<br />
one of the find secondhand clothing stores marked ‘Tania<br />
Odzież’ (Cheap Clothes) you’ll see scattered about the city.<br />
These stores range in quality, from items sorted in dishevelled<br />
bins to others on actual hangers; many are priced by<br />
weight and all have that distinctive embalmed babcia smell.<br />
polish amber jewellery<br />
with certificate of authenticity<br />
Magic Silver<br />
ul. Odrzańska 7B<br />
50-113 Wrocław<br />
puki.co@o2.pl<br />
September - December 2012<br />
83