WINE, DINE & TAKE IN SOME GOOD VIBES.
With more than 200 restaurants and bars, the city’s dining and drinking options are pretty on point. Whether your seeking a casual bite on the main square or a Michelin-starred feast, we’ve got you covered. Many restaurants don’t take reservations, but below you’ll find a few of our faves to check out while you’re here:
Eetbar DIT
DIT is on of our favorite places for lunch, dinner or drinks in Den Bosch. Funky, relaxed and always good, DIT is located in the ever-cute Snellestraat and is an easy crowd-pleaser for the whole crew. No reservations for groups under 6.
Nom Nom
Nom Nom is hands down our favorite restaurant in town. With an ever-changing tapas-style menu and a cute terrace that’s a solid place for people-watching, you can’t really go wrong. No reservations.
Buurt
A little outside the city center (but the walk along the canal to get there is so worth it) this is a lovely spot for coffee, lunch or drinks and we’ve spent many an afternoon here having brews in the sun. Walk-ins welcome.
Located in a cozy house from the 1800’s, Auberge de Veste is a French staple in the city with an exceptional wine list and pre-fix and surprise menus on weekends.
Kaserne
Kaserne is one of the most prestigious restaurants to eat in Den Bosch. It’s set in a beautiful old building, which once used to house military vehicles. The menu is filled with dishes made from local produce. If you’d like a little bit of a tasting feast, order the King’s menu or Bastion menu.
Eleven-time Michelin star restaurant, led by chef Dennis Middeldorp, Sense is loungey, colorful and modern - oh and the locally-sourced food is rather excellent, too.
A favorite among the locals, De Stip is a rustic eatery with communal tables, large portions and tasty bites.
Mariapaviljoen — Formerly a hospital, Mariapaviljoen is a fantastic place to grab a lunch, a brew or some fresh mint tea.
CAFEs
Coffeelab
Within a minute from the train station, good coffee awaits (the french toast or eggs Benedict or rotating homemade cakes are a win).
Sarah’s favorite place to grab a great coffee, practice her Dutch and have an unnecessary dessert.
Hip, bustling coffee shop that — you guessed it — works to be anything but boring. Great for grab-and-go or a sit down coffee chat.
Hippy cafe with freshly-made vegan dishes and healthy eats. Snag a patio table if you can.
BARS
The best barkeep in town works here and he, coincidentally, happens to be family. Let the team at Bobby’s make you one of their outstanding, hand-crafted cocktails.
Old world weird, new world fun Bonte Palet boats seats for 20, inviting and eclectic decor that spans the floors and ceilings and a lively gaggle of bar hosts and patrons.
An old brown café in the center of Den Bosch with the best view of Saint John in the city. They have about 70 specialty beers on offer, 10 of which are on tap and change often.
A wine bar/ restaurant in the heart of the city. For a small bite, a large bite or just a glass, Stijn’s is a quaint local spot for a well-selected glass of vino and a snack.
The only brewing stage in the Netherlands—a brewery, stage, pub, terrace and recently also a restaurant, Bossche Brewers is run by our pal Leo. Here you can try more than 100 types of beer, both from in-house or from afar and enjoy The Silos— the reimagined artist and nightlife hub aof town.
Catch all the sports—all the time—at Legend’s, the most popular sports bar in town. For football (soccer) matches get there early to snag a seat.
For the meat lovers in the room, ff Swanjéé is a true gem (they even have some veggie and fish dishes to please us hippies). With delicious flavor combinations, fresh cocktails and excellent wines in a relaxed atmosphere, try to call ahead for a table.
Chic but not pretentious and good as all get out, Benjamin’s French + Asian style menu is an excellent stopover near the Saint John Cathedral and other local landmarks.
With beach volleyball courts, kid sandboxes, DJs and live art, Costa de Silo is in Tramkade — aka the Greenpoint of Den Bosch—is a happening spot to hang for all.
An old and tasty fish house on one of the two main restaurant streets (Korte Putstraat) with ample wines, great for groups, families and plate sharing.
Easy peasy pizza bar with a wood-fired oven, a decent wine selection and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
As the first Afghan restaurant in the South of the Netherlands, the sister-owned culinary creation is a journey through Afghanistan. Be sure to try their homemade fig liqueur, fig whiskey and Sarban coffee!
MUST TRY DUTCH FOOD
Bitterballen is a classic fried food that you’ll find at most bars around the Netherlands. Made with beef or vegan substitute, bitterballen are typically served piping hot with mustard.
Stroopwafel, one of the most delicious Dutch desserts to eat and they’re best fresh on the town square. You can find these at the grocery store and just about everywhere.
Herring is a deboned fish with tail, served raw with chopped onions — strange? Not if you ask the Dutch. It is safe to eat if you’re up for an adventure, just drop it in your mouth while holding the tail.
When you’re at the drugstore or the supermarket, be sure to look for Engelsdrop, the name for licorice in Dutch (literally English drops).
Spekkoek is an Indonesian cake is made with cinnamon, developed during the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia. It’s meant to emulate the European layered cakes, although I’d argue that it’s far more interesting than a standard cake.
Got your eyes on the fries? Vlaamse Frites all over the Netherlands, aka Belgian fries. The real difference between French Fries and Belgium Fries are that Belgium fries are double fried. Once to cook them, then again just before serving to make them extra crispy and hot. Go full Dutch and get the mayo dipping sauce.
Oliebollen is traditionally Dutch New Year’s treat. These fried dough balls covered in powdered sugar come out warm and are reminiscent of NOLA beignets and you’ll find some made with rum or raisins.
Dutch pancakes are definitely worth trying as they’re thinner and less sweet than American pancakes. Closer in width to a crepe, you’ll typically find savory toppings.
Bear with me, but the bread that you’ll find at Dutch bakeries is of higher quality than you might find at home. Give it a whirl.
While its true the Stamppot creators likely hated vegetarians, it is a traditional Dutch food served with potatoes, spinach, sauerkraut, and some other veggies. It’s quite a heavy dish, so diners beware.
The Netherlands is one of the biggest dairy producers in the world and not surprisingly, cheese (known as kaas) is a big contributor to the Dutch and a fave of many tourists. Give these shops a try:
