Dining out in central Leiden
Surroundings1
A café-restaurant on Rapenburg. Café de Gaper combines food and drink in a relaxed setting, with a focus on quality on the plate and in the glass.
- Address
- Rapenburg 97, 2311 GL Leiden
- Opening hours
- From 17:30
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | From 17:30 |
| Wed | From 17:30 |
| Thu | From 17:30 |
| Fri | From 17:30 |
| Sat | From 17:30 |
| Sun | From 17:30 |
Open from 17:30 Tuesday to Sunday. The official channels do not publish a fixed closing time.
2
French-inspired restaurant on the Nieuwe Rijn. Café Toulouse serves classic bistro dishes, from steak frites to crème brûlée, in a stylish interior and on a waterside terrace.
- Address
- Nieuwe Rijn 19, 2312 JB Leiden
- Opening hours
- 17:00–22:00
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 17:00–22:00 |
| Wed | 17:00–22:00 |
| Thu | 17:00–22:00 |
| Fri | 17:00–22:00 |
| Sat | 17:00–22:00 |
| Sun | 17:00–22:00 |
Surroundings3De Waag
€€€Restaurant De Waag is housed in a monumental building on the Aalmarkt with canal views. The menu offers refined dishes where French and Dutch flavours meet.
- Address
- Aalmarkt 21, 2311 EC Leiden
- Opening hours
- 17:00–22:00
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 17:00–22:00 |
| Wed | 17:00–22:00 |
| Thu | 17:00–22:00 |
| Fri | 17:00–22:00 |
| Sat | 17:00–22:00 |
| Sun | 17:00–22:00 |
4Restaurant City Hall is located right next to Leiden's town hall. A modern restaurant where seasonal ingredients take centre stage and the building's history sets the atmosphere.
- Address
- Stadhuisplein 1, 2311 EJ Leiden
- Opening hours
- 17:00–22:00
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 17:00–22:00 |
| Wed | 17:00–22:00 |
| Thu | 17:00–22:00 |
| Fri | 17:00–22:00 |
| Sat | 17:00–22:00 |
| Sun | 17:00–22:00 |
Illustrative photo5
Tabú
€€€A Latin American restaurant on Rembrandtstraat. Tabú brings together dishes from different Latin American cuisines and also serves bar bites and cocktails.
- Address
- Rembrandtstraat 27, 2311 VV Leiden
- Opening hours
- From 11:00
Opening hours
| Mon | From 11:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | From 11:00 |
| Wed | From 11:00 |
| Thu | From 11:00 |
| Fri | From 11:00 |
| Sat | From 11:00 |
| Sun | From 11:00 |
Open daily from 11:00; the kitchen is open until 22:00. The official website does not publish a fixed closing time.
Opening hours and prices are indicative — check the website before visiting.
Match dinner to the rest of your evening
Choose the district as carefully as the menu. Nieuwe Rijn and the old centre work well after sightseeing, while station-area restaurants are convenient before a late train. For a theatre or film night, tell the restaurant your required departure time.
Menus, set-price arrangements and kitchen hours change more often than editorial lists. Confirm them on the restaurant's own channel, reserve on busy nights and report allergies in advance.
Frequently asked questions
- What time do people eat dinner in Leiden?
- Many kitchens begin dinner service around early evening, but exact seating and closing times vary. Reserve a time that fits your plans.
- Where should I eat before a Leiden event?
- Choose a restaurant close to the venue and leave extra time on festival nights. The city centre is walkable but busy streets can slow you down.
Continue exploring Leiden
- Top 5 lunch spotsCompare five lunch spots in Leiden around Nieuwe Rijn, the old centre and Leiden Centraal, with current addresses, opening details, maps and route ideas.
- Five breakfast and brunch spotsCompare five breakfast and brunch spots in Leiden's historic centre, with current addresses, practical details and maps for planning your morning.
- Top 5 restaurantsWhere to eat in Leiden: our five favourite restaurants, from café classics to fine dining — with address, map and booking tips.
- Top 5 coffee spotsFind the best coffee in Leiden at five specialty coffee spots, including Borgman & Borgman, 30ml and iScream Coffee, with addresses and maps.