Cocktail barHistoric Belgian beer cafe€€€mariaplaatsMon 11:30-23:00, Tue 11:00-23:00, Wed 11:00-23:00, Thu 11:00-24:00, Fri 11:00-01:00, Sat 11:00-01:00, Sun 11:30-23:00
Former hidden Catholic church from 1860 with original vaulted ceilings and pipe organ. Belgian beer list and food in the most warm-lit bar room in Utrecht.
Signature drink: Chimay Bleue served at cellar temperature
Food: 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.
Cocktail barWild craft beer and natural wine bar€€€overvechtWed 17:00-23:00, Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri 16:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
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.
Cocktail barArthouse cinema bar€€€mariaplaats
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.
Cocktail barCraft brewery taproom€€€leidsche-rijnWed 16:00-23:00, Thu 16:00-23:00, Fri 14:00-24:00, Sat 12:00-24:00, Sun 12:00-20:00
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.
Cocktail barPlant-based craft brewery taproom€€€overvechtWed 15:00-22:00, Thu 15:00-23:00, Fri 15:00-01:00, Sat 13:00-01:00, Sun 13:00-22:00
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.
Cocktail barCanal-side Mediterranean bar-restaurant€€€oudegrachtTue 12:00-22:00, Wed 12:00-22:00, Thu 12:00-22:00, Fri 12:00-22:00, Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-22:00
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 evocative choice in cooler months; the terrace fills fast on the first warm evenings.