Utrecht is an incredible place. If you haven’t read our blog on Things to do in Utrecht (click here!). Likewise, there are so many incredible Places to eat & drink in Utrecht.
Keep reading (and drooling) if you want our suggestions for the best places to eat & drink in Utrecht!
Winkle van Sinkel
We stumbled upon The Winkel Van Sinkle by sheer luck. We were walking through the area to see the Utrecht Town Hall, and it was lunch time so our bellies were rumbling. It was a sunny and warm day and the building that occupies the restaurant caught our eye, due to its beauty. The building opened its doors as the first department store in the Netherlands in 1839. It was then a bank for over a century. Now, it is a restaurant by day and a club by night.
Unquestionably elegant marble tables, with red embroidered chairs and gold metal legs were set up on the steps outside of the restaurant. The food….. wow. Even though there weren’t many gluten-free options, there was a salad there that was screaming my name. I’ll never understand why a salad is more money than anything else on the menu, but I’d pay €17 for that salad any day. Make sure you pop inside as well.
The beauty of the outside of the building was matched on the inside. The space was huge, with high ceilings, elegant red walls and ornate ceilings and decor…it just oozed class. Also, use the toilet… The toilet is in the basement. High ceilings again made me feel like I was in a tunnel under the canal. I wish that I had taken my phone and snapped a picture, but alas, I left it at the table.
Sea Salt Saloon
If you like seafood this is the place for you to eat in Utrecht. We ventured over on a recommendation from a friend of a friend, so here is our recommendation to you. It is right around the corner from the Dom Tower. The saloon was full. We didn’t make a reservation so we were very lucky to snag the last available table inside (if you want to go there, make a reservation to be sure you get a table).
The atmosphere was electrifying. Everyone was chatting away, laughing, and having a great time. The dim lights enhance the vibe, as the chefs behind the counter prepare dishes with great care. Start off with a bottle of white wine and some oysters, I promise they won’t disappoint.
The food was incredible. Everything was so fresh and had so many different flavours and aromas. The Razor Clams were my favourite. I don’t know if I’d order the gambas again, only because I hate having to peel them, but they were also very tasty.
It’s not overly expensive, definitely not as cost-effective as a greasy fish and chips meal, but 10/10 a better option if you can spend the money and have time to sit and enjoy the meal. This is definitely at the top of our list of places to eat & drink in Utrecht.
Ted’s
We stopped at Ted’s for breakfast before heading to Castle de Haar. They are open daily from 9 am – 5 pm, only a 1-minute walk from the Dom Tower, and right along a canal! Normally we try to avoid chain restaurants but Ted’s had good reviews and it was very close to our hotel and on the way to the train station.
The building is original but the inside is updated and modern. We were greeted with a friendly hello and served a lovely breakfast. We both had Eggs Benedict but Trevor had it with a croissant and I had it with gluten-free toast.
Our meals were €10,95 each, which was a bit pricey, but delicious, so it was worth it. The Hollandaise sauce…. incredibly creamy. You’ll find that food in the Netherlands isn’t cheap unless you hit up a McDonald’s or a Fast Food joint.
We would definitely suggest Ted’s if you’re looking for a hearty breakfast to fill you up before touring around Utrecht. Add it to your list of places to eat & drink in Utrecht!
The Rum Club
The Rum Club is an incredible place to grab a quick drink or stay for a few. It is on the lower level of the canals on Oudegracht aan de Werf. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day and we suggest you do the same if the weather allows. It is so neat to be able to sit right next to the canal and watch the boats go past as you enjoy a beverage. If the weather isn’t agreeable, you can definitely sit inside. It has the coolest exotic, tiki bar vibe.
They are open Monday to Thursday from 3 pm- late and Friday through Sunday from 12 pm- late. You know it’s a party when they don’t have a closing time set in stone. Even though the name is The Rum Club they do serve other drinks but their specialties are Rum Cocktails. Trevor normally just drinks beer and did have one beer here, but he was up for the adventure of trying some cocktails with me as well.
We had just as much fun reading the menu and picking the drinks as we did actually drinking them. Along with the creative names each drink has a different slogan, hilarious.
I’ll give you one example and leave the rest for you to discover when you go. Cocktail name, “Mojitos having sex on the beach” slogan, “You look mint, let’s have sex on the beach”. This drink has; Rum Club rum, pineapple, peach, lime, demerara and mint, absolutely delicious.
The drinks were comparatively priced to everywhere else in the Netherlands we’ve been to. They range between €9 and €14 (as a reminder, it’s not cheap to drink in the Netherlands). Definitely, a must-visit place to drink in Utrecht.
Vegitalian
Gluten-free and vegan pizza options? Sign me up! We were so happy that Google led us to this wonderful restaurant. It was a Friday and it was packed. Originally got turned away because they were full, but then it quickly turned into a wait of 10 minutes for a table. Waiting all night would have been worth it if it meant a chance to eat here. It was only a 5-minute walk from the Dom Tower, which was just by our hotel, so a great location.
We sat inside, at a table by the bar and started off with an Amaretto Sour while we decided on our pizza (it was so good, which makes this a great place to both eat & drink in Utrecht!).
Are you ready for the most delicious-sounding pizzas?
I had the FIG & BALSAMIC (Red tomato base – mozzarella – figs – caramelized onions – rocket – balsamic glaze) gluten-free and plant-based. The gluten-free crust was perfect (not all gluten-free crusts are created equally).
Trevor had the NO PEPPERONI (Red tomato base – plant-based pepperoni – grilled paprika – jalapeño – mozzarella – scamorza). This had all the gluten and the pepperoni tasted just like the real thing. The pizzas were mouthwateringly delicious.
If you’re in Utrecht, definitely give Vegitalian a try (perhaps call and make a reservation first). Even if you’re not into gluten-free or vegan food (thanks, Trevor for being so supportive) it’s worth it. The atmosphere was bright and cheerful and very well priced.
Most restaurants charge extra for GFO or VG options but not here!
Additional Tips
We also went to Behind Bars, a cocktail bar right around the corner from Domkerk and the hotel we stayed in. The drinks were AMAZING. It’s just this little hole-in-the-wall but it was packed. They were so full that the bartender was turning people away! Unfortunately, we didn’t get any photos, but we would definitely suggest Behind Bars if you like cocktails.
There were two other places that were suggested to us but weren’t able to fit them in; The Food Club (which is 100% gluten-free) and Mr. Finch.
If you make it to either, please let us know how you enjoyed it!