Szewska, HARLEM APART

Szewska, HARLEM APART Overview

So I ended up staying at Szewska, HARLEM APART mostly because it was the only place I could find last minute in Wrocław’s Old Town during that crazy Christmas market weekend. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star spot, but this place actually surprised me. It’s tucked away on Szewska Street, which sounds touristy but it’s actually one of those streets where locals still do their grocery shopping at the little corner store that stays open until 8 PM. You know what I mean? Not some polished boutique hotel experience, but there’s character in the worn wooden floors and the way the radiator clanks to life each morning around 6 AM—which, fair warning, might wake you up if you’re a light sleeper.

The apartment I got was a decent size, not huge but enough space to spread out your stuff, and the kitchenette actually had real pans instead of those flimsy ones some places throw in just to say they have a kitchen. There’s this little balcony that overlooks a courtyard where you can hear the church bells from St. Elizabeth’s every hour, and honestly, it’s kind of nice waking up to that instead of traffic noise. The neighborhood gets busy, sure—especially when the Christmas market is going or during those summer festivals when Stare Miasto just floods with people—but by 10 PM everything quiets down. Well, except for maybe Friday nights when the bar downstairs gets a bit rowdy, but nothing crazy. You’ll find better parking options if you stay a few blocks toward the river, but honestly, being able to walk to the Market Square in like four minutes was worth the mild hassle of finding street parking.

What really sold me on Szewska, HARLEM APART was how unpretentious it felt. The check-in guy knew exactly what was going on with the tram delays that week and casually mentioned which bakery on Bernardyńska makes the best paczki on Saturday mornings. That kind of local insight? Priceless. The WiFi worked without needing a password written on a sticky note, and the shower actually had good pressure, which sounds basic but you’d be surprised. I mean, it’s not some luxury place and the rating of 7.6 feels about right—it’s good, solid, no major disasters, just the kind of spot where you can crash after a day of wandering around and not feel like you’re missing out on anything flashy. If you’re the type who wants charm over perfection and likes being in the actual heart of the old town rather than on the outskirts, this is a solid pick. Just bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper, and maybe a small flashlight for that one slightly dim hallway that doesn’t always light up properly after midnight.