Have a nice lunch in Utrecht
Quickly grab a sandwich and move on, that's how we do it in the Netherlands. A shame, because there are so many nice lunch spots. Especially in Utrecht. Utrecht has a lot to offer! Small Amsterdam but with its own face. For when you just can't see the forest for the trees, you feel like having a tasty sandwich or an extensive lunch: you are guaranteed to have a good time here have lunch in Utrecht.
Immediately check out this list of the nicest outdoor addresses (read: terraces!) in Utrecht. And then make a reservation! The nicest outdoor addresses Utrecht.
Best lunch spots in Utrecht city center
Dodici Utrecht is the new hotspot for Italian lunch lovers. Located at Wittevrouwenstraat 12, this deli serves twelve different schiacciatas, a Tuscan sourdough focaccia, daily. From creamy burrata with spicy salami to a vegetarian version with provolone and fresh vegetables, you'll want to try it all! The atmosphere is informal, homey, and perfect for a quick lunch or coffee and a treat.
A long lunch that slowly turns into an afternoon of wine? Then you’ll want to head to Bar Rosie on Lucasbolwerk in Utrecht. It’s the kind of place where you settle down for a good coffee, linger for a French Dip or shrimp croquettes, and before you know it, a glass of natural wine sits in front of you. Inside, it’s warm, dim, and cozy, with just the right amount of buzz, while on the terrace, the afternoon glides by peacefully. The crowd comes for the relaxed atmosphere, the delicious food, and the feeling that there are no expectations. Exactly what you want on a day off, a lunch date, or an afternoon when you don’t really need to go anywhere else.
Nonna Rosa is a gem for those who love authentic Italian comfort food. With two locations in Utrecht, on Oudegracht and Mariastraat, Nonna Rosa serves freshly baked schiacciata, a Tuscan sourdough focaccia, daily. From the creamy burrata with zucchini and mint to the spicy nduja with stracciatella and roasted peppers, every sandwich is a party. And don't forget the cannoli, they are a Must!
A small café for coffee and breakfast on one of our favorite squares in the city, Mariaplaats. Café Elize is nice, nothing more and nothing less. A bit French; bistro tables and folding chairs in front of the door, baguettes and cake behind the window, a bit of summer all year long, a bit industrial and a bit girlyBy now, you can take a seat at two locations: Café Elize bij 't Plein at Mariaplaats 44 and Café Elize bij 't Spoor at Wagenstraat 50. Two addresses, the same. relaxed realm.
You don't come to Concours Wine & Foodbar in Utrecht for a quick bite. It is a stylish spot, yet it also feels relaxed, with large windows, soft colors, and tables where you effortlessly stay longer than planned. Our tip? Go for the extensive lunch and let yourself be surprised by the chef's menu. This is exactly the kind of place for a business lunch that turns into casual drinks, or an afternoon with a friend where one glass of wine can easily turn into a bottle.
How about having lunch in a stunning old English courtyard that borders 13th-century Fresenburch Castle and is surrounded by the remains of the wall of Drakenburg Castle? Sounds awesome. But... Did you know that in the Middle Ages, the sack carriers formed the guild of transporters? The front part of the restaurant was known at the time as the guild house of the sack carriers. Over the years, a café developed here. The sack carrier is the place to be for a quick bite during a day in Utrecht. Oh, and it's also a treat for the wine lovers among us.
For quick sandwiches, pasta, and casual lunch
Another favorite when it comes to takeout sandwiches. If you don't have time but want a good lunch, this is the place to go. The best Italian sandwiches in Utrecht can be found here. Bigoli can be found on the Schoutenstraat, between Het Neude and De Ganzenmarkt. And we're not the only ones who love this thing; There is often a queue around lunchtime, but hey, you have to be prepared to fill your stomach with good Italian food. And while you're waiting, you can drool over all the Italian delicacies they sell there. Who knows, you might even score a good meal for the evening, it will make you happy, it really will.
For months now, Ombretta has been all about one thing: those sandwiches. And Utrecht knows it. There is almost always a line outside, but no one seems to mind. In fact, it has become part of the experience. Inside, the sandwiches are topped with Italian cheeses, cured meats, and creamy spreads, all on an incredibly crispy base that sits somewhere between a focaccia and a thin pizza crust. You choose from cheese, meat, or both, and for an average of around €8,50, you get a lunch people are happy to wait fifteen minutes for. Our favorite? Stracciatella, spinata, and paprika. Simple, full of flavor, and exactly the kind of sandwich you would happily join the line for again the next day.
Not in the mood for Italy today? Then we’ll send you straight to Spain. Tucked away on a side street off the Neude is Bocata, a small spot where everything revolves around authentic Spanish bocadillos: generously topped sandwiches on crispy Spanish bread, filled with Manchego, Jamón Serrano, chorizo, or a good tortilla española. It feels like you’ve stepped into a lunch bar in Madrid, complete with Spanish beers, paella, and a chef who clearly knows what he’s doing. Our tip? Order the Bocata Piripi with grilled chicken, Serrano, Manchego, and aioli, or keep it classic with Manchego y Jamón. Simple, full of flavor, and exactly the kind of lunch you’d gladly make a detour for.
At Bakkerij Mischa, it’s not about dozens of pastries or an overflowing display case. Here, it’s all about good bread. Very good bread. The bakery has grown into one of the most popular spots in Utrecht, and that’s hardly surprising. Think: artisanal sourdough bread, long fermentation, a crispy crust, and exactly that no nonsense an approach that enthusiasts will go out of their way for. The atmosphere is urbanMinimalist and uncomplicated. Everything here feels deliberately simple, but behind that simplicity lies great craftsmanship. Our tip? Take home a still-warm sourdough loaf and grab one of the sandwiches for the road while you're there. Simple, pure, and precisely for that reason so good.
A household name in Utrecht, you would say Mario sandwich can best describe. Actually since 1977. The business is on the Oudegracht the one and only place where you can find the tastiest composition of Italian ingredients on fresh bread. So Mario sandwich, it contains: cheese, salami, chorizo, raw vegetables and a pepper (not super spicy). A must try, and don't forget to bring cash, because you cannot pay by card here.
Farina is located on the Twijnstraat, perhaps the coziest street in Utrecht. It is a small Italian eatery where the aroma of freshly baked focaccia greets you even before you step inside. Here, everything revolves around good dough, Italian ingredients, and the art of keeping it simple. Think richly topped focaccia, good coffee, and sweet Italian classics to go with it. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the clientele is a mix of locals and lunch lovers who know exactly where to go. Our tip? Go for a focaccia with mortadella or burrata and take something home for later. Also handy: Farina now provides catering for office lunches, drinks, and events, allowing you to bring that same Italian atmosphere to your own table.
Have you even been to Utrecht without a bee? Ben sandwich to have visited? Many students (and actually all residents of the city) stand in line here. Don't expect a luxury sandwich shop, but a stall. You can find this stall, for example, on the bridge opposite the HEMA at the Oudegracht. You can choose from sandwiches with 50 different types of fillings. The plus point is of course the price.
A gigantic café-restaurant with a... over the top interior full of hidden corners and cozy (vintage) hanging benches – perfect for a 'secret date' is Jozef. Just saying. But the most interesting thing about Jozef is that the restaurant normally opens its doors early in the morning, closes them again quite late and continues throughout the day, from breakfast and lunch to dinner and late night snacks, serves. There's another one on top of that high tea expats must register with the local municipality and obtain a high beer to devour – nothing wrong with that. Would you like to know a recommendation? The smoked mackerel sandwich is gigantic and delicious! And as if that weren't enough, the people at Jozef regularly organize a range of (musical) events and there is a nice terrace, even until late. Like!
For long lunch dates and wine afternoons
Step into Pitot and be transported to the sultry atmosphere of the Orient: olive green, wood, and soft lighting. Here, Mediterranean flair blends with Utrecht's warm and welcoming atmosphere. Think good company, a glass of wine that never seems to empty, and dishes meant for sharing (even if you don't really want to).
When was the last time you had a truly delicious French meal? At Leo Leo. A cozy bistro with a touch of boutique hotel, right at the beginning of Twijnstraat, that charming, somewhat quirky street where Utrecht reveals its heart. Here, it's all about good food without the fuss: Chef Thijs cooks French classics with his own twist, and everything is perfect. The food, the wine, the atmosphere.
For a lunch with French bistro vibes, head to Le French Café. It's right in the heart of Voorstraat, but it immediately feels like Paris: cozy inside, and a lively terrace outside. The lunch menu includes: croque madame, salads, mushroom brioche And—you guessed it—oysters, of course. Pair it with a glass of natural wine or something non-alcoholic, and the people-watching, chatting, and enjoyment can begin. Everything feels casual, flavorful, and exactly how an afternoon in Paris should be. Lunch in Utrecht, but with a French twist.
So, Bar Barak. In the old Pieter Baan Center – once a women's prison, now a cozy restaurant with a courtyard full of greenery. "Where thick walls meet rich flavors," they say, and that's no lie. Shared dishes with surprising flavors arrive, the kind that immediately makes you think: another one, please. It all feels very casual, just a group of Utrecht entrepreneurs serving what they themselves love to eat. And that's precisely why it's so perfect.
Pastoe Foodbar is one of those places where everyone seems to feel at home. Situated by the water, just outside the hustle and bustle of the city center, it is a favorite for a long lunch date in the sun, but just as suitable for an afternoon with the whole family. While you look out over the Vaartsche Rijn from the terrace, there is plenty of room inside for a relaxed lunch in an interior that will delight design lovers. Extra special: Pastoe Foodbar is housed in the former Pastoe factory, the iconic Utrecht furniture factory known for decades for its timeless Dutch design. You can still feel that history reflected in the building. The menu features accessible dishes, good coffee, and lunch classics that make both adults and children happy. Our tip? Pull up a chair on a sunny afternoon by the water and be sure to take your time. It is exactly the kind of place where a lunch date effortlessly transitions into an afternoon of drinks, while the children have a great time too.
Anne&Max is the kind of place where you know it's always going to be good (and it's very tasty). All products are pure and fresh, so they are completely good for you and for the world. You can enjoy (extensive) breakfasts, lunch, cakes or drinks at four different places in Utrecht. In the Domkwartier join us after a walk through the city the Domstraat you start with breakfast and side dishes Mayor Reiger stop for coffee to-go on the route to the University. Spread throughout Utrecht, with more than enough space for games, laptop work (fast internet, nice places and large mugs of coffee so you can keep going), reading the newspaper or catching up with friends. In any case, you will find yourself in a nice spot at Anne&Max.
Looking for even more coffee addresses? Check out our list of lots of great coffee tips.
In a striking dark blue building on the Mariaplaats (you can hardly miss it, and also a terrace in front of the door), is sitting Le Jardin. The highlight (besides that special menu, we'll talk about it in a moment) of Le Jardin: the interior. You are – literally – sitting between the plants, it looks green, although everything else is mainly painted blue. The menu may not be for everyone; There are mainly vegetables on the French-oriented menu and you have to be in the mood for that (although the French vegetable menu alternates with “a nice piece of meat, fish or poultry”, nice for the carnivore). Le Jardin even has a plant shop, neatly located in the middle of the store, a direct addition to the vegetables-plants-herbs-everythinggreen concept.
Lunch outside the city center
Ladies and gentlemen, anyone looking for Luxury Lunch with capital letters in Utrecht: look no further, Water tower is the answer. No simple sandwich – no, just a four (or more) course meal is style. The view and interior are perhaps even more spectacular during the day than in the evening and a light breeze through your hair is a great addition to your meal.
Sowing a little love and harvesting great flavors, at the restaurant in the greenhouse of City kids they know how. Stadsjochies is located just outside the city center, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Dishes here come together mainly with home-grown products. In addition to a restaurant, they are also a cultivation company and in the greenhouse restaurant you can see the products growing around you that you are then served in the dishes. Fan? We certainly do! Lunch, drinks or dinner? Why not all? From a one- to six-course surprise lunch: everything is possible. Don't have all the time in the world, but you still need to have a good lunch (of course)? Then there's the fast kid, a quick and unique lunch – one course. So go to Kas restaurant Stadsjochies for a quick bite or simply for an extensive lunch, drink or dinner, whatever you choose.
Hello Asia, uuuuh Utrecht. Bee LE:EN imagine yourself in an Asian atmosphere. So you guessed it: Asian fusion dishes on the menu share. Of course with an Asian beer or home-made LE:EN beer. In addition to the (large number of) tables, you will also find lovely lounge sofas and a more than pleasant bar. It is especially enjoyable here in the ROTSOORD district on the terrace. The terrace is decorated with Asian butterfly bushes and lanterns. Be sure to try the rice balls with fried grasshopper and, if you can't choose, the bento box.
LE:EN is located in an old welding and construction hall, which of course makes it the perfect place for parties. Do they know all about this too? Be sure to check the agenda on the website.
Yes, it's exactly what you think, eating where there used to be a swimming pool. And the history of the building is still clearly reflected in the restaurant. The former waiting rooms of the Bathhouse are now private spaces for small groups. The interior of the entire restaurant is inspired by the Amsterdam School architectural style. And where in the past, after fifteen minutes, the lifeguard would bang on the doors: “Dry off, get dressed, hurry up! You're not going to get any cleaner," you are now welcome to stay as long as you want.
It all started with 3 local residents: Hans, Haik and Ybel. They have transformed the old library of Utrecht into a pleasant meeting place for the entire neighborhood. So this is what it is like here now 'Country House In The City'. That is exactly what it is, a beautiful restaurant in greenery and on the water. We do it just for the location, but we certainly come for the typical 'Utrecht' dishes. A good cup of coffee with homemade cake, breakfast, a delicious lunch, dinner and Utrecht beers. Where possible, all ingredients used come from the environment and are animal and nature friendly.
The restaurant is located at the beautiful Buitenplaats DoornBurgh The Sisters located in what was the former monastery of Doornburgh (called the priory). DeZusters have a regularly changing menu, so this is a place we return to every time. Reservations can be made from Thursday to Saturday for the seven-course or five-course menu. On Sundays there is an extensive lunch with dishes to share. yes please. Reservations in advance are necessary.
A discovery, if we can call it that On South; especially in the summer months. Very nice in an old factory building (ah, that's why it's so beautiful) and right on the water. Just Water edge (in Amsterdam) on the water. With her legs dangling over the quay kinda on the water. Anyway, Op Zuid is nice with the sun. And isn't it there? Then you just come by for the pizzas from the brick oven. Best decision of the day.
Coziness in the middle of the Vogelenbuurt, that is a neighborhood café At Guusjes. Guus (not really a Guus, but hey, Bart isn't really a Bart either) serves burgers and beers – nothing to worry about. In winter you can settle indoors at one of the vintage tables and in the middle of summer this is one of those tents where you can often still find a nice spot on the terrace. Also a nice spot for the young parents among us and for our dear four-legged friends. There is also a nice selection of beer if you want to start that five o'clock drink a little earlier.
You will find it just a stone's throw from Vaartsche Rijn station Oorloff aan de Kade. The sunny and cozy terrace overlooks the water and the Westerkade (hello Koffie Leute and Don Kounosuke). Early Birds is the headline above the breakfast menu. The 'Orloff breakfast' regularly inspires us to get out of the nest on time. How is it possible to resist a breakfast with croissant, jam, low-fat cottage cheese with granola and fresh fruit? You also get avocado, smoked salmon, a boiled egg, toast, fresh orange juice and coffee or tea. If that's not a good start to the day, we don't know what is. So you can also score very tasty pizzas, and you can make us very happy with that.
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