Belgisch Biercafe Olivier is a bar in Mariaplaats, Utrecht.
Former hidden Catholic church from 1860 with original vaulted ceilings and pipe organ. Belgian beer list and food in the most atmospheric bar room in Utrecht.
Food program: Belgian mussels, stoemp and Belgian cheese
Tip: Sit in the original nave under the vaulted ceiling; it is one of the most striking bar spaces in the Netherlands.
Address: Achter Clarenburg 6A, 3511 JJ Utrecht
Arthouse cinema and brown cafe on Springweg, open since 1885. Two film halls with world cinema, a loyal local crowd at the bar and a street-side terrace.
Signature drink: House pilsner with a bowl of traditional Dutch borrelnoten
Food: Soups, sandwiches, arthouse cinema snacks
Tip: Buy a cinema ticket and return to the bar for a drink between screenings; the bar stays open after films end.
Open-fire bar in a former forensic centre on Gansstraat. Wild and craft beers on tap, natural wines by the glass and food from the in-house Lavett bakery.
Signature drink: Wild-fermented sour ales from Dutch and Belgian craft breweries
Food: Open-fire small plates, Lavett sourdough
Tip: The wild-fermented tap list changes weekly; the barman will let you taste before you commit to a pint.
Arthouse cinema and brown cafe on Springweg, open since 1885. Two film halls with world cinema, a loyal local crowd at the bar and a street-side terrace.
Signature drink: House pilsner with a bowl of traditional Dutch borrelnoten
Food: Soups, sandwiches, arthouse cinema snacks
Tip: Buy a cinema ticket and return to the bar for a drink between screenings; the bar stays open after films end.
Maximus Brewery taproom in Leidsche Rijn on 20 taps. Brutus IPA and seasonal wheat beers are the flagship pours. Brewery tours on Saturday afternoons.
Signature drink: Maximus Brutus IPA on draught, fresh from the tank
Food: Bar snacks, pizza on weekends
Tip: Saturday afternoon is the best time to visit; brewery tours run at 14:00 before the taproom fills for the evening.
Oproer plant-based taproom in Overvecht, inside a converted industrial building. All beers brewed on-site; food menu entirely vegan from the open kitchen.
Signature drink: Oproer Session IPA and seasonal sour ales
Food: Fully plant-based taproom kitchen
Tip: The seasonal sour ales and their experimental series are only available at the taproom; worth the trip north.
Mediterranean sharing-plate bar-restaurant on the Oudegracht with a cocktail bar, a canal terrace and a centuries-old warehouse cellar dining room.
Signature drink: World wines by the glass with a view of the Oudegracht
Food: Antipasti, tapas and mezze with homemade bread
Tip: The werfkelder cellar is the atmospheric choice in cooler months; the terrace fills fast on the first warm evenings.
Utrecht institution since 1996 in four distinctive red buildings on the Neude square. Lunch, dinner and drinks with a busy pavement terrace facing the square.
Signature drink: House pilsner with Dutch bitterballen
Food: Dutch cafe classics, lunch and dinner
Tip: The terrace on the Neude is one of the liveliest in the city centre; arrive early on a warm afternoon for a square-facing table.
