Mercure Krakow Fabryczna City

Poland’s second city, Kraków, is impossibly old and impossibly picturesque — so much so that it would arguably be a mistake for a luxury hotel to attempt to compete in the arena of historical splendor. Much more sensible for a hotel like the Mercure Kraków Fabryczna City to opt for a more contemporary, Modernist-influenced style, and leave the ancient opulence to the rest of the city.

That’s not to say the Mercure is without historical interest. The Fabryczna (or Factory) City development is a mixed-use complex built from the brick-clad century-old structures that once comprised the state-owned vodka distillery, and the hotel makes much of the post-industrial textures of its warehouse-style buildings. The rooms and suites themselves venture into Art Deco and Bauhaus territory and beyond, meanwhile, with delicate herringbone floors, mid-century graphic elements, and classic modernist furnishings.

The hotel’s position within the Factory City means it has easy access to no fewer than six restaurants, including two in-house, as well as its own pool and wellness center. And though the development is largely self-sufficient, you’re not isolated; the old city center is a scant two miles to the west.