Our favourite restaurants in 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 The official channels do not publish a fixed closing time.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.
How to choose and reserve a Leiden restaurant
Use the list as a shortlist, then compare cuisine, atmosphere and location for the day you are planning. A canal terrace suits a relaxed lunch, while a tasting menu needs more time and usually a reservation. Kitchens can close earlier than the venue itself.
Reserve directly with the restaurant for Friday, Saturday and event weekends, and mention allergies when booking rather than on arrival. Current menus, prices and opening times always belong to the venue's own website.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a restaurant reservation in Leiden?
- Reserve for Friday and Saturday evenings, larger groups and festival weekends. On quieter weekdays you may find a table without booking.
- Where are most central Leiden restaurants?
- Many are around Nieuwe Rijn, Pieterskwartier, Beestenmarkt and the streets between the station and town hall.
Continue exploring Leiden
- 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.
- Five terraces to compareCompare five terraces in Leiden, from waterside seating to the Hortus garden, with current addresses, practical details and maps.
- 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.
- HaarlemmerstraatThe Haarlemmerstraat is Leiden's longest shopping street: more than a kilometre of shops, from big chains to local specialists.