Chess lifestyle / Kraków Old Town
In the very center of Kraków’s Old Town, in interiors designed by Princess Ingrid Lubomirska, Hotel Gródek and ChessboArt have prepared a small surprise for everyone who believes that a great evening can be even better with a chessboard nearby.
By Michał Fudalej / ChessboArt · Updated 1 July 2026 · In partnership with Hotel Gródek
A boutique hotel with a story
Hotel Gródek is a five-star boutique hotel hidden just off the main streets of Kraków’s Old Town, at ul. Na Gródku 4. Its interiors were designed by Princess Ingrid Lubomirska, which gives every room and corridor a very specific character — elegant, intimate and carefully thought through.
It is exactly the kind of environment where chess naturally feels at home. When architecture and interior design are this intentional, a board on the table does not look like a random object; it looks like a natural extension of the room.
Chess in the hotel bar
Inside the hotel’s bar, our chess sets and clocks are now available so you can simply sit down and play. A glass of wine, a whisky, a good conversation and a real board in front of you — for us, that is one of the most natural forms of chess lifestyle.
The bar sits close to the restaurant space, which makes it an inviting corner not only for hotel guests, but also for anyone who appreciates elegant interiors and a slower, more thoughtful evening in Kraków.
This is not a showroom installation. It is a real invitation to play, relax and spend time well, surrounded by architecture that was composed with care.
Wine, whisky and a real board
Some places ask for speed. Others ask for attention. Hotel Gródek belongs to the second category, and that is why chess fits there so naturally.
There is something timeless about playing in a historic interior, with the noise of the city just outside and the board creating its own quiet center. You do not need a tournament, a pairing or a clock running down to enjoy the game — sometimes all you need is the right table, the right company and the right mood.
The DONIMIRSKI code for guests
There is also one more possibility prepared together with the hotel. Guests can use the code DONIMIRSKI to receive free shipping within the European Union on orders from 200 EUR.
We liked the idea immediately because it turns the evening into something more than a one-time experience. You discover the pieces in Kraków, enjoy the atmosphere there, and then your own chess memory can travel back home with you.
Code: DONIMIRSKI
Benefit: free EU shipping from 200 EUR
From the bar to your wall
For many people, the natural next step after a good evening is this question: how do I bring a piece of this atmosphere back home? One answer is vertical chess — wall-mounted boards that turn the game into part of the room.
If you feel that a board from the bar should live on your own wall, start with our wall chess concept and build a set that fits your space. A single evening in Kraków can become a long-term ritual in your own living room or office.
Timing your Kraków games
Chess clocks play a quiet but important role in this story. In a hotel bar, they do not exist to create stress; they exist to give your game a rhythm and a clear sense of shared time.
If you want that feeling at home — timing friendly games, blitz sessions or focused training — our chess clocks collection offers pieces that are meant to be kept, not just used. From analogue designs to more modern forms, the idea is the same: the clock should be a natural part of the table, not a distraction.
Discover ChessboArt at Hotel Gródek
If you are in Kraków, visit Hotel Gródek, enjoy the atmosphere, sit down for a game and make the evening your own — and if you want that mood to follow you home, explore our wall chess and chess clocks.
Text: Michał Fudalej / ChessboArt. Hotel reference: Hotel Gródek. Wall chess: ChessboArt Build Your Wall Chess Set. Chess clocks: ChessboArt chess clocks collection.