Where to drink well in Utrecht by the glass and the bottle: natural, classical, and worth the cab fare.
Wine bars in Utrecht. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.
Natural wine bar on the Predikherenstraat. Low-intervention French, Italian and Spanish producers; small plates, charcuterie and cheeses from 16:00.
Signature pour: Rotating orange wine by the glass from French or Italian natural producers
Wine focus: Natural wine, low-intervention European producers
Food: Small plates and charcuterie
Tip: The terrace fills fast on warm evenings; arrive before 18:00 to claim an outdoor table.
SAAR doubles as a wine bar and restaurant with 34 seats, a canal terrace and a natural-wine list from small European producers. Small plates from 16:00.
Signature pour: Natural Chenin Blanc from Loire Valley producers
Wine focus: Natural wine, small European producers
Food: Small plates, seasonal vegetables, oysters
Tip: Walk-in at the bar is the easiest way in; the restaurant tables book out fast but bar seats are first-come.
Bar Bet on the Weduwe canal holds 250 bottles and 30 wines by the glass. Gault-Millau recognised kitchen; the most extensive wine programme in the city.
Signature pour: 30-bottle-by-the-glass selection, changes weekly
Wine focus: 250-bottle list, natural and conventional European
Food: Seasonal small plates, Gault-Millau kitchen
Tip: The weekly sommelier's selection of three bottles at a fixed price is the best-value route through the list.
The cellar wine bar beside Hemel en Aarde restaurant. Low-intervention bottles by the glass from a curated list. Good for a single glass, walk-in only.
Signature pour: Champagne and petillant naturel by the glass
Wine focus: Natural and low-intervention bottles, cellar bar
Food: Light small plates paired with wine
Tip: The cellar bar is walk-in; reservations for the restaurant upstairs are separate. No food minimum.
Classic wine shop-and-bar in a werfkelder on the Oudegracht. French, Spanish and Italian bottles to drink in or take away; charcuterie served all evening.
Signature pour: Grand Cru Burgundy by the glass from their cave
Wine focus: Classic French and Spanish, conventional list
Food: Cheese and charcuterie boards
Tip: The cave-temperature werfkelder is perfect for wine storage. Ask the sommelier to open a grand cru by the glass.
Spanish wine room on the Drieharingstraat. Best-stocked Iberian wine bar in Utrecht, focusing on Rioja, Cava and Verdejo with monthly pintxos evenings.
Signature pour: Rioja Reserva by the glass with Iberian ham
Wine focus: Spanish wines: Rioja, Cava, Verdejo
Food: Spanish tapas and pintxos
Tip: The house Rioja Reserva at €6 a glass is one of the best wine values in the city centre.
The front bar at Paloma runs all-day on Spanish wines, sherry and Cava. Walk-in only; lively at weekends with daily live music on the Mariaplaats.
Signature pour: Manzanilla en Rama sherry served ice-cold
Wine focus: Spanish wines, sherry and Cava
Food: Tapas and seafood bar, all-day
Tip: The en-rama sherry served cold in a copita glass is the signature drink; pair it with the anchovy pintxo.
Kasvio curates low-intervention and biodynamic bottles to match their plant-based tasting menu. Sommelier-led pairings available. Reservations essential.
Signature pour: Biodynamic Burgundy by the glass with the tasting menu
Wine focus: Low-intervention wines paired with vegan tasting menu
Food: Five-course plant-based tasting menu
Tip: The wine pairing adds €35 to the tasting menu and is the recommended way to experience the full menu.
Ndujame's werfkelder pairs its Calabrian pasta and secondi with a wine list from southern Italian producers in Calabria, Sicily and Campania.
Signature pour: Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore from Calabria
Wine focus: Southern Italian wines, Calabrian and Sicilian producers
Food: Calabrian Italian tasting menu and pasta
Tip: The Ciro Rosso from Calabria is served by the carafe; the best match for the slow-cooked lamb ragu.
De Zakkendrager in its walled garden is one of the most pleasant wine-with-lunch spots in Utrecht. French and Dutch bottles matched to the seasonal menu.
Signature pour: Loire Valley white by the glass to match seasonal asparagus
Wine focus: French and Dutch wines, conservative list
Food: French-Dutch set menu, lunch and dinner
Tip: Book the conservatory table at the edge of the beech garden for the best setting with a bottle of white Burgundy.
Feu's drinks programme at Veilinghavenkade pairs natural wine and craft beer with open-fire cooking. Georgian orange wines match the smoked plates.
Signature pour: Orange wine from Georgian producers paired with smoked meats
Wine focus: Craft beer and natural wine pairings
Food: Open-fire cooking, grilled and smoked plates
Tip: The natural wine pairing with the tasting menu is curated weekly; it changes with whatever is on the fire.