Must-see restaurants in South Holland

  • Fenix Food Factory

    Rotterdam

    Almost everything in this vast former warehouse is made locally and sold by entrepreneurs making their mark on the food scene. They include Booij…

  • Villa Augustus Restaurant

    South Holland

    Chefs here make the most of the harvest from the large attached kitchen garden and orchard, supplemented by what is in season at the local markets…

  • In den Doofpot

    Leiden

    Given the sky-high calibre of chef Patrick Brugman's food, advance reservations here are essential. This is extremely assured and creative cooking, with…

  • Urban Espresso Bar

    Rotterdam

    Could this be Rotterdam's best cafe? The coffee here is definitely a cut above most of its competitors (Giraffe beans, expert baristas), as is the food …

  • Kek

    Delft

    The baskets of organic fruit and vegetables at the front of this stylish cafe are a good indicator of what's on the menu – freshly squeezed juices, fruit…

  • De IJsmaker

    Rotterdam

    Fresh flavours reign supreme at this artisanal ice cream parlour on Witte de Withstraat and only quality produce is used – the simply spectacular…

  • Pierre

    Rotterdam

    Like many locals, we love visiting Pierre at all times of the day. At breakfast, the croissants are buttery; at lunch the baguettes have delectable…

  • De Basiliek

    Den Haag

    Moody lighting, comfortable seating and unobtrusive service set the scene for enjoyable meals at this classy choice. The menu is predominantly Italian and…

  • Parqiet

    Rotterdam

    The wild flowers in Kilner jars, terrace seating and striped deckchairs on the front lawn all contribute to the charm of this cafe in a former coach house…

  • Fouquet

    Den Haag

    The three-course 'market fresh' menu at this elegant restaurant is an excellent and bargain-priced introduction to Sebastiaan de Bruijn's seasonally…

  • Tante Nel

    Rotterdam

    Differing from traditional patat (fries) stands in a number of crucial ways, Tante Nel has pleasant street-side seating where its many and varied regulars…

  • CEO Baas van Het Vlees

    Rotterdam

    Meat lovers should be sure to book a table at Rotterdam's best steakhouse. Working in their open kitchen, chefs cook spectacular cuts of beef to order. We…

  • AJÍ

    Rotterdam

    Good-quality Asian food is hard to source in Rotterdam, so we were thrilled to discover this chic bistro serving dishes inspired by Asia and the…

  • Op het Dak, Inside

    Op Het Dak

    Rotterdam

    Perched on top of the Schieblock office building, Op Het Dak ('On the Roof') is a pavilion with indoor, deck and garden seating amidst one of Europe's…

  • Angelo Betti, facade

    Angelo Betti

    Rotterdam

    Serving a flavourful array of soft, rich gelato, Angelo Betti has come a long way since its humble beginnings as an ice-cream cart in 1922. Four…

  • Lot en de Walvis

    Leiden

    The name translates as 'little things mean a lot', but it's not the little things that make this cafe in the handsome 1889 De Volharding warehouse a…

  • De Waag

    Delft

    With a sprawling terrace behind the town hall and atmospheric eating and drinking spaces inside this 16th-century waag (weighing house), this is a perfect…

  • Restaurant Frits

    Rotterdam

    Inside a pretty Delfshaven canal house, with an intimate split-level, dark-timber interior, Frits serves an astounding-value eight-course surprise menu…

  • O'Pazzo

    Rotterdam

    Generations of Rotterdammers have grown up eating the tasty Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked by Italian pizzaioli (pizza makers) in O'Pazzo's huge tiled…

  • HMB

    Rotterdam

    Nestled in the shadow of the mighty Erasmusbrug, this sleek restaurant on the ground floor of the iconic De Rotterdam building serves artistically…

  • Tosca

    Rotterdam

    This old-fashioned place has everything you want from a neighbourhood bistro: friendly staff, well-priced food and lovely surrounds including a grapevine…

  • Bistro Twee 33

    South Holland

    In fact, there's nothing twee about this modern bistro and wine bar, which features a warm colour scheme, pendant lights, wine-lined shelves and an open…

  • Brasserie de Engelenbak

    Leiden

    In the shadow of the 17th-century Marekerk, this elegant brasserie's menu changes seasonally, and might feature smoked duck with stout sauce or baked…

  • FG Food Labs

    Rotterdam

    François Geurds' food lab sits under timber and silvery pressed-tin ceilings within Station Hofplein. This is where the FG staff experiment with dishes…

  • Bertmans

    Rotterdam

    Asian accents are as pronounced as those from the Mediterranean in the menu at this popular neighbourhood cafe overlooking the serpentine De Rotte canal…

  • La Zia Maria

    Rotterdam

    There is limited table seating at this old-fashioned and aromatic deli, but if you don't manage to snag a sit-down spot, it's still a fabulous place to…

  • Basaal

    Den Haag

    Neighbourhood bistros are rarely as stylish as this one, and few have locations as pretty. Overlooking a canal, with waterside seating in summer, it…

  • Zebedeüs

    Den Haag

    Abutting the walls of the Grote Kerk, Zebedeüs serves open sandwiches, toasties, pastas and soup all day, and a limited menu of more elaborate mains at…

  • Madame Poulet

    Den Haag

    This lady sure knows how to roast a chicken. Free-range and raised without antibiotics, the juicy chickens are basted with aromatic herbs and roasted in a…

  • 't Ouwe Bruggetje

    Rotterdam

    This long-operating restaurant has an atmospheric timber-panelled interior, as well as seating by the iron-framed drawbridge out front and on a floating…

  • FG

    Rotterdam

    He's cooked with luminaries including Heston Blumenthal and is certainly Rotterdam's best-known chef, but we're not convinced that François Geurds' menus…

  • Bazar

    Rotterdam

    Sampling menus from across the Middle East and North Africa, Bazar dishes up versions of Turkish kebaps, Egyptian falafel, Moroccan couscous, Persian…

  • De Klok

    Leiden

    A large klok (clock) and jaunty black-and-white awning signal this restaurant's presence on one of the town's major foodie strips. The menu is resolutely…

  • Oker

    Den Haag

    Take your taste buds on a journey around the globe at perennially popular Oker. The menu of small plates draws on Italian, Japanese, Thai, French, Chinese…

  • David's Gelato

    South Holland

    The young entrepreneur who owns this ice-cream parlour was the subject of Mirjam Van Veelen's 2017 documentary Chill: The Road to David's Gelato, the…

  • Dudok

    Rotterdam

    Ask any Rotterdammer to nominate their favourite sweet treat, and there's a good chance they will opt for the apple pie served here. A cinnamon-spiced…

  • Oudt Leyden

    Leiden

    The giant Dutch-style pancakes here widen the eyes of kids and adults alike. Whether you're after something savoury (marinated salmon, sour cream and…

  • Lof der Zoetheid

    Rotterdam

    Its name means 'In Praise of Sweetness', and this stylish cafe certainly serves delicious sweet stuff. Sample the goods in the daily afternoon tea, which…

  • Oogst

    Den Haag

    Classy is the appropriate descriptor for this small restaurant on Den Haag's prime foodie stretch, and it applies to everything from the interior (brocade…

  • Magazijn

    South Holland

    As hip as Dordrecht gets, this hybrid bar, cafe and restaurant shares an airy and historic space with an art gallery at the rear and a music shop with…

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