Location: Leiden
Top Restaurants in Leiden
Top Things to do in Leiden
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Top 10 restaurants in Leiden, The Netherlands
Home to the Netherlands’ oldest university and the birthplace of Rembrandt, Leiden also served as a several-year stop-off between England and the New World for America’s Pilgrim fathers in the early 17th century. Today, lovely Leiden boasts the second-largest Dutch city center after Amsterdam. The National Museum of Antiquities has an impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts. The Hortus Botanicus, established in 1590, was the site of the planting of Holland’s first tulip bulbs in 1593.
Things to do in Leiden
1. Artikel 461 Verboden Toegang
Overall Ratings
4 based on 162 reviews
Reviewed By Chris D - Leiden, The Netherlands
Always a pleasure to find a restaurant that allows you a cosy corner to eat and chat with friends. This restaurant has a lovely old bar next to it where you can have an aperitif and rendezvous and enjoy the views along Rappenburg, one of the loveliest scenes in Leiden. Despite its name Entry Forbidden, Verboden Toegang is the opposite, a delight to enter, a delight to eat well cooked food. The white fish [ I think it was Hake] was perfectly cooked - succulent and tender. The plate of carpaccio of beef was also beautifully displayed and succulent. When food is delicious in texture and flavour then you know there is a good chef.
2. Puur Eten & Drinken
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 157 reviews
Reviewed By sue d - Abiquiu
Puur source only from organic proveners. The food is outstanding, surprising, and amusing. Very reasonably priced. Good wine and very friendly staff.
3. El Gaucho
Overall Ratings
4 based on 353 reviews
Reviewed By Stefano S - Camponogara, Italy
I chose the restaurant El Gaucho after Reading some advises on Tripadvisor and I agree with the general evaluation. The restaurant is warm and very cosy. The menu proposes a large choice of meats, mostly beef, but lamb and pork as well. Portions are correct and the cooking of the meat perfect. The wines from Argentina are tasty and not expensive at all. Saturday evening you must absolutely reserve your table.
4. India Way Tandoori Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 231 reviews
Reviewed By mikkelarendt - Aarhus, Denmark
Our family loves Indian food and it doesn't get any better than this! We tried four different currys. They were very different yet all exceptionally tasteful.
5. Bistro Noroc
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
Gezellige knusse bistro voor de lunch of diner in het historisch hart van leiden
Reviewed By NatashaEdwin - Leiden, The Netherlands
Been here before, situated in the city center of Leiden, in a nice ally with little boutiques, near the beautiful st Pieters church.
Hot and cold lunch menus. We ate a delicious typical Italian caprese salad, freshly made. And a aubergine/ eggplant salad. With freshly squeezed orange juice and good strong espresso. We'll come again!
6. Oudt Leyden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 391 reviews
Reviewed By Robin R - Brussels, Belgium
We enjoyed a tasty pancake lunch here, washed down with some good local beer. The pancake menu is very extensive, but there are also some other dishes available too. The pancakes are about 40cm across and served on very large plates decorated with typical blue/white patterns. Service was friendly and nice, although a bit slow at times (we were in a side room and it seemed we were out of sight, out of mind). But overall, a good experience.
7. Restaurant In den Doofpot
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 271 reviews
High class service, topfood and fine atmosphere. Established in 1997, more than twenty years Leiden's finest!
8. Crabbetje
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 157 reviews
Reviewed By Scrapmate - London
We wanted to eat some seafood and also wanted to visit Leiden during our recent visit to Holland. A quick search of TA brought this restaurant up and it didn't fail to impress. It is a small place with an open kitchen and the chef produces everything himself with occasional help from an assistant. It was wonderful to see his methodical and skilled manner of working - none of the rushing around and shouting as you see in kitchens on TV. We discovered that the place has been running for 25 years and this showed in the friendly efficiency in the kitchen area and front of house. Sensing we would be in for an unexpected treat we opted for the 5 course chefs menu which changes according to what is available. We were presented with a selection of starters (the tuna tartare was a standout dish), a prawn dish, scallops, 3 fillets and dessert or cheese. Each item of seafood was cooked to perfection and accompanied by various puréed and foams. Wine is available by the glass which is great when only one of you drinks alcohol and enables you to select different wines for each course. The selection of desserts and cheeses was spot on as well. All-in-all this was a very pleasurable dining experience and I would highly recommend a visit. Due to the size of the place and the fact that there is only the one chef I would advise booking to avoid disappointment.
9. Fratelli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
Reviewed By Eleni L - Bristol, United Kingdom
Best pesto i have ever had. Fresh, tangy and garlicky. However, me and my two friends had a couple of beers before going there for food. We really did not feel like having more alcohol so we asked for water. The waitress tokd us we had to order at least one drink as "the water is free". Seriously?! What if we dont want alcohol and we dont like soft drinks either?! How much profit did they make from the coca cola we ordered? Quite bizarre.
10. Het Prentenkabinet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By RP-Netherlands - Leidschendam, The Netherlands
We had a 4 course meal at this excellent restaurant. The building is very old and has great charm. the interior consists of several smaller rooms with 6-8 tables in each of them, which gives it an intimate feel. Our 4 course meal was very well balanced with delicate flavors, the plating was beautiful and the service was super. We had the wine arrangement accompany the meal, so we got 4 glasses of wine, white and red (with the duck). The wines were served with an explanation not only of the wine itself, but also of the reason why they paired that particular wine with the dish it was served with. All of this doesn't come cheap, but the price is in line with the quality of the food, staff and setting. We will be back, not next week, but when we have something to celebrate!
