Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century inn
Karcma u Borzanka is a highland tavern in the oldest coaching inn of Nowy Targ, the capital of Podhale. The inn with its carriage house was built at the end of the 18th century of rough-hewn stone and brick; its main body is fronted by a portico on two round pillars and the roof is shingled. It stood on the old wine and salt route: Hungarian carters hauled wine from Eger and Tokaj via Niedzica, Czorsztyn, Dębno and Nowy Targ to Wieliczka, and even sang that no one could pass Borzanek’s inn by.
The building’s history is turbulent. In 1976 it was nationalised and was meant to house a regional museum, but nothing came of the plan, and in 1990 the neglected building collapsed. The former owner Michał Borzęcki won back the plot — in effect a heap of rubble — and slowly rebuilt the inn; in December 2003 the tavern welcomed guests again. The name comes from the owner’s surname: highlanders call him Borzanek. The building is a listed monument, and according to the town it is the oldest inn not only in Nowy Targ but on the whole Gothic Trail (Szlak Gotycki) of Lesser Poland.
Why go
- Taste Podhale cooking in historic walls — the tavern won the “Perła 2008” award in the “Nasze Kulinarne Dziedzictwo” (Our Culinary Heritage) contest for its highland kwaśnica with smoked rib, and in 2022 a “Silver Crocus” in the Podhale tourism awards as a restaurant showcasing the region’s traditional flavours. Other distinctions include “Godło Agro Polska 2009” for grilled pork tenderloin to Grandma Borzankowa’s recipe and first place in Lesser Poland in the “Wielkie Odkrywanie Małopolski 2010” poll in the gastronomy category.
- Buy home-made treats from the pantry — lard spread, cranberry and raspberry sauces, biscuits and oscypek.
- Sit in the summer garden — a handy stop on the way from Nowy Targ to the Pieniny.
What to taste
Kwaśnica — the highland sauerkraut soup with rib and potatoes, the tavern’s pride. Grilled oscypek with home-made cranberry, crispy “fries” of moskole (Podhale potato flatbreads) with grated oscypek, outlaw-style potato pancakes with beef goulash under cheese, home-made pierogi (including Russian-style under oscypek), potato pancakes “Nowy Targ style” and “shepherd’s style” with porcini sauce, roast mutton, local mountain trout from the grill, and tripe to Grandma Borzankowa’s recipe. In winter — hot “outlaw” trójniak mead. Prices (October 2026): kwaśnica 20 zł, grilled oscypek 22 zł, outlaw-style pancakes 60 zł.
Practical information
Address: ul. Waksmundzka 105, 34-400 Nowy Targ — in the Bereki district, on the street leading east from the centre towards Waksmund; about 2 km from the market square, with parking. Hours (as of October 2026): Mon–Thu 11:00–19:00, Fri–Sun and holidays 11:00–21:00. A lunch of the day is served daily. Phones: +48 18 264 10 87, +48 661 262 828; [email protected]. Family-friendly, with a children’s menu. The tavern also hosts family celebrations and groups, so at weekends it is wise to phone ahead and book a table.
Nearby
- Nowy Targ market — the weekly fair with wool, cheese and sheepskins.
- The wooden church in Dębno — on the same old route to the Pieniny.
- Ludźmierz sanctuary — the “Gaździna of Podhale”.
Official website: uborzanka.pl
Photos: uborzanka.pl.
Getting there from Ukraine
Border crossings
- Krakovets – Korczowa — road, 24/7
- Shehyni – Medyka — road, 24/7 Pedestrian crossing is not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service — check dpsu.gov.ua before the trip.
- Smilnytsia – Krościenko — road, 24/7
- Hrushiv – Budomierz — road, 24/7
- Mostyska – Przemyśl (rail) — rail, 24/7
By car
Lviv – Zakopane ≈421 km, ≈5 h 10 min without border queues. Route: M-10 Lviv – Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa checkpoint → A4 motorway (Rzeszów – Tarnów – Kraków) → Kraków southern bypass → S7/DK7 → DK47 ('Zakopianka') via Nowy Targ → Zakopane. The A4 Katowice – Kraków section (Balice and Mysłowice toll plazas) is tolled, but this route does not use it. In summer and at weekends the DK47 near Zakopane is often congested.
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
Location on the map
Comments
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedKoninki Kowaniecvia Stare WierchyElevation profile604–1 107 m14.3 kmascent 721 m≈ 5 h walking2 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century inn
EasyOne-dayMarkedNowy Targ Kowaniec Bukowina ObidowskaElevation profile616–952 m4.1 kmascent 336 m≈ 1.5 h walking2 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century inn
HardMulti-dayMarkedSzczebel Kowaniecvia TurbaczElevation profile424–1 289 m32 kmascent 1 334 m≈ 10.5 h walking2.7 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innNearby attractions
MuseumPodhale Museum in Nowy Targunder 1 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innThe Czesław Pajerski Podhale Museum (Muzeum Podhalańskie im. Czesława Pajerskiego) is the town museum of Nowy Targ, the "capital" of Podhale between the Tatras and the...
Mountain meadowHala Długa below Turbaczaltitude 1 202 m9.6 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innHala Długa is a large mountain glade on the ridge of Turbacz, the highest peak of the Gorce (1,310 m).
LakeLake Czorsztyn18 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innLake Czorsztyn (Jezioro Czorsztyńskie) is a reservoir on the Dunajec river in the Nowy Targ Basin, between the Pieniny and the Gorce.Craft nearby
All craft places
Markets & fairsNowy Targ Fair (Nowa Targowica)under 1 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innThe fair in Nowy Targ is the largest and oldest market in Podhale. On Thursdays and Saturdays highlanders from the surrounding villages, Slovaks from across the border...
Water parks & thermal poolsTermy Gorący Potok (Szaflary)9.2 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innTermy Gorący Potok is a complex of outdoor thermal pools in Szaflary, between Nowy Targ and Zakopane, about 15 km from Zakopane.
Water parks & thermal poolsTermy Szaflary (Termy Podhalańskie)9.4 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innTermy Szaflary is a thermal complex in the village of Szaflary, between Nowy Targ and Zakopane. It used to be known as Termy Podhalańskie, a name still found in older...
Water parks & thermal poolsTerma Bania11 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innTerma Bania is a large thermal water park in the village of Białka Tatrzańska, at the foot of the Kotelnica ski slope.
Water parks & thermal poolsTermy Gorce thermal baths15 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innTermy Gorce is a small, cosy thermal complex in the village of Poręba Wielka, in the municipality of Niedźwiedź, at the foot of the Gorce Mountains.
Eco farmsOrawskie Ranczo Educational Farm, Harkabuz: animals and craft workshops16 km from Karcma u Borzanka, Nowy Targ: highland food in an 18th-century innOrawskie Ranczo is a small family educational farm (zagroda edukacyjna) in the village of Harkabuz near Raba Wyżna, where Orawa meets Podhale.