kafee de Baas
Lijnmarkt 8
Formally an
eetcafé (a cafe where you can have
dinner), De Baas serves environmentally non-destructive food at good
prices (around
fl 15). Often crowded during dinner time,
but don't forget to check upstairs for additional tables. Run by
volunteers, the proceeds are donated to the charity of the month.
On Sunday afternoons you can unfortunately no longer listen to live
jazz music, but on Thursday thru Saturday the bar now stays open
late--no food served after 10pm though. And last but not least,
smokers need no longer worry: de Baas has finally installed a
cigarette vending machine (it's upstairs). This non-profit bar is
always looking for a helping hand. If you are interested in working
there, call them at 030-2315185.
9 FEB 00
Our rating:
out of 5
stadscafe de Bacchant
Vinkenburgstraat 20
A new pub in the very center of town with an uninspiring interior
and two levels. Serves lunch and a reasonably-priced dinner, along
with a huge selection of different teas--there's even a separate tea
list. Features regular live performances (mostly jazz dance) and on
Sunday afternoons there's live jazz. Apparently a good place to go
dancing at night, but during the day you often have to endure muzak.
Cheap beer in large quantities every Thursday evening.
5 APR 99
Our rating:
out of 5
Bartje
Donkeregaard 6
Always packed to the roof with fratboys and sorority girls--young
people who prefer standing outside, showing off and talking loud.
Their capuccino is pretty good though.
10 FEB 00
Our rating:
out of 5
de Bastaard
Jansveld 17
This used to be
Jules' favorite
hangout a long time ago, but a couple of years ago they completely
reworked the interior--not a great improvement in my opinion.
Aluminium chairs and tables add little to the atmosphere. At the
entrance you'll find four stalls which are nice to sit at; if
they're already taken, go someplace else. On the up side, the
personnel is friendly, the place hardly ever too crowded, and the
audience quite varied. They have a pool table (
fl 2 a
game) and a small outdoors at the back. If the pool table jams
after you insert the coins, hit it hard immediately to the right of
the coin insertion slot. If this doesn't work, the bartender will
happily hit it for you.
23 APR 99
Our rating:
out of 5
Bastille
Hamburgerstraat 17
Straight across from Utrecht's court building, you would expect many
a customer drinking in joy or despair. However, the small cafe with
a somewhat out-of-touch old-brown interior offers no such
excitement. It's a fine bar, in a typical Utrecht-style street, but
nothing special. Either closed down or changed both interior and
name.
22 APR 99
Our rating:
out of 5
de Bastillion
Oudegracht
(Sorry, not reviewed yet.)
België
Oudegracht 196
Located near the popular
het Wed, this place is frequented
by a more alternative audience. In summer people are allowed to sit
on the sidewalk in front, but be careful not to get hit by the
occasional car. In honour of its name this cafe has a choice of
over 300 different kinds of beer; the complete catalog (along with a
list of last month's best-sellers) can be found on the huge
chalkboard opposite the entrance.
9 FEB 00
Our rating:
out of 5
de Beurs
Neude 39
Although the concept of this café was quite interesting, its
terrible and noisy audience spoils it all. Just like at a real-life
stock market, you could proffer your bids--but it's drinks you're
buying, not stock options. If you were lucky (or either smart or
fast enough) you would have ten beers for only fifteen guilders; but
with some bad luck you might as well have paid sixty. On Fridays
and Saturdays there is disco for students only. You have to show
your OV-kaart or collegekaart if you want to get in, but a
ten-year-old Woo-pass (the Woollomoolloo is a students-only disco)
will do the trick as well.
24 APR 99
Our rating:
out of 5
Binnenbest
Biltstraat 63
Great place to meet authentic locals. Cheap, very friendly service,
and in summer you can sit outside and watch the cars roar by.
Typical old brown interior with portraits of regular constumers on
the walls. Famous for being the first place in Utrecht to serve
beer after WWII. Did we already mention that the service is really
very very friendly?
22 APR 99
Our rating:
out of 5
het Bolwerk
Lucasbolwerk 1
Yet another attempt to create a cozy atmosphere by stashing a bar
with `antiques', which include musical instruments, old photo's and
prehistoric guests. Not a place for the young and trendy, but
presumably fine for a drink after visiting the city theatre across
the street. Serves fancy birds such as ostrich and pheasant for
those who can afford it.
10 FEB 00
No rating yet.
Boothill Saloon
Twijnstraat 5
A Wild-West-styled bar that opened somewhere during spring of 1996.
Yeehaaaw interior, complete with saloon-doors, huge cactus
in the front window and boots hanging from the ceiling. Strangely
enough, the only American beer they serve is Budweiser; however,
they do have their own brand of beer. Good atmosphere,
unfortunately no nachos--but a pool table to make up for this.
23 APR 99
Our rating:
out of 5
Boslust
Mariastraat 31
Interesting cafe in the shopping-area with a nice interior,
including an extremely lazy cat named Frits. A good place for
passing sleepy Sunday afternoons. (Ehrm. It was recently pointed
out to us that Boslust is, in fact, closed on Sundays. Luckily,
Saturday afternoons are very pleasantly spent there as well. We
apologize for any inconvenience.) The varied food is rather good,
and includes a large selection of dinner salads. The small terrace
is not very exciting.
9 FEB 00
Our rating:
out of 5
Bougainville
Veeartsenijpad 150
This restaurant/cafe is situated in a beautifully restored stable on
the picturesque grounds of the former Veterinary School. It has a
nice terrace from which to watch people strolling by on sunny days
and is a stylish place to enjoy a stylish, but unfortunately fairly
high-priced, dinner.
22 APR 99
No rating yet.
Broers
Janskerkhof 9
Has a nice terrace, especially if you like watching car-races three
feet from your chair. (We're being sarcastic here.) Somewhat
absent service. Reputedly mice have been spotted running around the
place--and there's a lot of space to run around! The interior is
somewhat reminiscent of Vienna during the twenties. On Sunday
mornings during high season they serve an unbelievable champagne
brunch for approximately
fl 25.
9 FEB 00
Our rating:
out of 5
Brussels
Drieharingstraat 22
parkcafe Buiten
Prins Hendriklaan 2
Most accurately described as a drinkrestaurant with
extremely good (though slightly expensive) food, friendly service,
and conveniently located next to the Wilhelminapark. Usually very
crowded, especially around dinner time. Spotting the many bicycles
going to and from the university campus de Uithof makes for
an interesting pastime.
9 FEB 00
No rating yet.
