Places in Utrecht

Favorite places in Utrecht

Your (new) home in Utrecht. Maybe you're new here and want to get to know the city. Or perhaps you are just interested in finding out more about our favourite places in Utrecht. On this page you'll find the places we love to eat at or have drinks, where we go shopping or how we escape the city’s hustle and bustle every now and again.

Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands with its very own unique character. It’s a city full of charm, with its medieval city centre, beautiful canals and their characteristic quaysides, churches, monuments and the iconic Dom Tower. The must-see attractions of Utrecht are endless -it’s impossible to get bored. With Utrecht at the centre of the Netherlands, it’s easy getting to other cities such as Amsterdam, which is less than half an hour away.

Food & drinks Shopping Greenery in and around Utrecht Let's get sporty

Food & drinks in Utrecht

Coffee bars, restaurants and cafes. Utrecht is full of them, and we thought we'd help you out a little by sharing our favourites with you. These are the places where we go to for great coffee or a really good lunch or dinner. They are located in and around the city centre. Have fun and, most importantly, enjoy yourself!

The Village Coffee

The Village Coffee is a vibrant coffee hotspot where live music is a dime a dozen. This pleasant coffee spot is ideal to rest a bit after a day of wandering around the city center. Enjoy your well-deserved coffee, grab a magazine or newspaper and strike down on the comfy sofas!

Voorstraat 46 // The Village Coffee

Elize

Elize is the perfect spot to drop by in the morning. Get a quick espresso to go before starting your day or sit down for a lazy Sunday morning. More time on your hands? Enjoy a scrumptious brunch in French atmosphere. It’s never too early for that mimosa, it’s always five o’clock somewhere, right?! But don’t forget it is never too late to order that coffee. So go for it – it tastes even better when served by Elize herself, of course.

Mariaplaats 44 // Elize

Rabarber

Well… this is just a perfect spot. Good coffee and a Croque-Monsieur are frequently ordered here. Find a spot at the window so you can daydream a little. The great thing with Rabarber is that you can order everything all day. It doesn’t matter a what time you order breakfast it is always the perfect time at Rabarber to order a breakfast.

Zadelstraat 20 // Rabarber

Ted's all day brunch

Ted’s is a typical all-day-every-day brunch restaurant, no matter what time you arrive, Ted's will always have a Bloody Mary waiting for you. Besides the all-day brunch, Ted's serves delicious sandwiches, fresh salads, and tasty high teas. Like they always say at Ted’s “a great story never started with someone eating a salad”, We couldn’t agree more!

Lichte Gaard 8 // Ted's

LUC

LUC is one of those places you shouldn’t miss out one when wandering around Utrecht. Enter this green oasis and enjoy all the loveliness on their menu, a blend of classic and surprising dishes.

Voor Clarenbrug 8 // LUC

The Streetfood Club

Welcome to a real happy place! The Streetfood Club is a mixture of luxury and street. They take you on a food trip from the slums of Mexico to the streets of Bangkok, all whilst enjoying the amazing cocktails from their master bartender. They're open for lunch and dinner. Cheers!

Janskerkhof 9 // The Streetfood Club

ROOST aan de Singel

ROOST aan de Singel started out as a pop-up restaurant and luckily it turned out to be a real keeper. It is our absolute summer favourite. Enjoy a nice drink and delicious BBQ food straight from the braai (South African outdoor grill). In summertime they are open for lunch, afternoon drinks, snacks, and dinner. A perfect spot for a sunny day!

Paardenveld 1 // ROOST aan de Singel

Sea Salt Saloon

Think crisp shrimp croquettes, a Dutch lobster “bitterbal”, ceviche or divine cockles! Get the picture?! Order a Belgian white beer and enjoy! Most dishes at the menu are to share. However, if you decide that today is not the day to share, just eat those lobster bitter balls on your own. The dishes vary in price so you can get as fancy as you wish.

Wed 3 // Sea Salt Saloon

Spaghetteria

Slide into a seat at their large wooden tables and enjoy a truly great Italian pasta. The Spaghetteria is a popular pasta bar with 3 locations throughout Utrecht. The (ever-changing) menu is fairly straightforward with its 6 delicious pasta specials. We suggest you finish off with tiramisu, espresso or homemade limoncello. Buon appetito!

Wittevrouwensingel 44, Korte Koestraat 4 & Adriaen van Ostadelaan 22 // Spaghetteria

Florent

Florent, one of those restaurants that remained hidden for those who don't really know their way around Utrecht. You'll find the restaurant next to the Maria square. They serve French-Belgian dishes and the chef loves working with local and seasonal products.

Visschersplein 75 // Florent

De Rechtbank

Let’s not forget about our very own restaurant which absolutely deserves to be included among our favourites. De Rechtbank is a perfect place to enjoy lunch and dinner. Tip: our famous risotto featuring grana padano, prepared at your table!

Korte Nieuwstraat 14 // De Rechtbank

Shopping in Utrecht

Sorry, the ‘9 Streets District’ of Amsterdam, you say? No, the ‘7 Little Streets of Utrecht’ is the real place to be! The Zadelstraat, Lijnmarkt, Lichte gaard, Vismarkt, Oudkerkhof, Domstraat and Domplein are all part of the district and worth a visit. Full of fashion boutiques, interior design stores, gift shops, cafes and restaurants. These are our favourite shops in Utrecht that you don’t want to miss out on.

Rood & Bloem

This is one of our favourites, just off the 7 little streets but too good to keep from you! If you're a plant lover and like great interior design items, this is the place for you.

Springweg 14 // Rood & Bloem

Hutspot

Oh yes! We're so happy with this great concept store in Utrecht. If you're looking for more than 'just a shop' go and check out Hutspot's great mix of fashion, lifestyle and interior brands. We love the fact that they support young creatives, you'll find their work all around the store. Enjoy your shopping!

Vinkenburgstraat 19 // Hutspot

Styled by Juuls

Styled by Juuls is a great Parisian boutique store just around the corner from the iconic Dom Tower. At Juuls you'll find unique items of luxury brands. What we love about Juuls is that they believe in a personal approach and if you're looking for an outfit that's really just you, this is where you'll need to go!

Korte Janstraat 18 // Styled by Juuls

It’s a Present

Whether you’re looking for a birthday present, an anniversary gift or a stylish souvenir, the solution is very simple: visit It's a Present! Not only are they located in a beautiful canal house, they sell the most original and fun products, from funny gadgets to the most beautiful home accessories!

Lijnmarkt 16 // It's a Present

Keck en Lisa

With over 15 years’ experience, Keck & Lisa is Utrecht’s most popular gem according to locals. The colourful windows are simply irresistible and will lure you in, where you can’t help but crave one of their kitchen accessories, handy gadgets or funny must-haves.

Zadelstraat 38 // Keck en Lisa

Greenery in and around Utrecht

Living in the city is wonderful, however we understand more than anyone else that everyone needs some greenery at times. It's easy to escape the busy city centre, as Utrecht is surrounded by plenty of nature. Head towards Maarssen, it's a really nice bike ride along the Vecht river. Or how about a picnic in the park? We're more than happy sharing some of our favourite green escapes with you.

Enjoy the surroundings

No outdoor area, no garden? No problem, half of Utrecht is in the same boat and fortunately there are plenty of places in Utrecht which are as just as good as your own garden. The Bemuurde Weerd quayside is such a place, where Utrechters get together on a sunny day. Bring some drinks, snacks and enjoy the lovely view. A big bonus is all the boats passing by which come in from the Weerdsluis lock.

Bike trips out of Utrecht

Riding your bike in the city can be pretty stressful right? Try heading out of town because Utrecht is surrounded by a lot of greenery and cute little villages which are perfect for a pit stop and for enjoying a cup of coffee on a terrace. The cycle route along the Vecht towards Maarssen is one of our favourites. Houseboats, villages, photogenic spots or a refreshing dive into the lake of the Maarsseveense plassen? Check out this website for more routes around Utrecht.

Park Lepelenburg

A lively park near the historical city centre. When the sun is out, this is one of those places where people gather. Perfect for all ages and for barbecues and picnics. The park is regularly used for fun events, so if you'd like to read more about the park or want to check out when and what events are scheduled to take place, you can visit this website.

Wilhelminapark

You can easily spend the day here at this romantic monumental city park. It’s perfect for a short walk, there is a playground for the kids and in the middle of the park you'll find a pond with a fountain. Quite a lovely place for a picnic, right? If you don't fancy bringing your own food and drinks, there are plenty of restaurants nearby. Please visit the website for more information on the Wilhelminapark.

Griftpark

Also a fantastic park! There is a playground, skatepark, children's farm and a restaurant. And plenty of grass to settle down onto with your picnic, especially alongside the pond area. Griftpark is where Utrecht food events take place in summer, so make sure you check out the website for more information.

Let's get sporty

Utrecht offers a great variety of options when it comes to working out. If you are into running, we'd suggest a run around the so-called Singel, which will lead you around the historical city centre. An early morning run is best, right before the city starts waking up. Utrecht has plenty of gyms and other cool workout concepts, we've got you covered!

FIG - Food & Gym Bar

Yes, a new kid in town! FIG - Food & Gym Bar is a gym and restaurant in one. The gym area is where total-body group workouts take place, such as 'Burn & Body' and 'Box & Strength'. No need for a membership as it has a pay-as-you-go option. After your workout you can enjoy a nice juice, smoothie or healthy meal. FIG believes that exercising should be fun and that a healthy lifestyle is all about balance. For that very same reason, FIG serves a glass of wine or a piece of cake to go with your coffee. You will find all the information you need on their website.

Rocycle

Next-level spinning -if you're looking for a party on a bike, then Rocycle is for you! Cycling shoes, workout towels for on your bike, luxurious, hotel-style towels in the locker rooms, and showers stocked with organic care products. What else could you wish for? Rocycly has a pay-as-you-go option, so there are no membership hassles here. You can purchase your rides online.

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