Bars in The Hague

One of the oldest and most characterful cafes in The Hague, in a magnificent historic building steps from the Binnenhof on the Dagelijkse Groenmarkt. A long tradition of serving politicians, civil servants, journalists and locals who appreciate that some interiors are worth sitting in regardless of what you are drinking: high ceilings, dark wood and a covered terrace that is one of the finest people-watching spots in the city. The political history of The Hague has been witnessed from these chairs for generations. A natural stop before or after visiting the Binnenhof or the Mauritshuis nearby.

A large traditional Dutch grand cafe on the Grote Markt with one of the best outdoor terraces in the city centre. Busy at all hours but particularly good on warm evenings when the square fills with politicians, civil servants and the professional crowd who work in the surrounding government buildings. A reliable place to watch The Hague life go past over a cold pilsner. The terrace on a summer Thursday evening, when the Binnenhof crowd decamps here after work, is one of the better social experiences the city offers.

A proper Dutch brown beer cafe in a short alley in the old centre with an extraordinary drinks selection: around 150 whiskies, 60 types of specialist beer and their own house brew, the HuppALE, on tap. The Oude Molstraat is one of the more characterful short streets in The Hague, with several good bars and restaurants clustered together. Huppel has a warm, relaxed atmosphere that is entirely local in character and is consistently cited as one of the most welcoming bars in the city by both residents and visitors. Good music too, with vinyl played from the bar on the first Monday of each month.

A grand cafe and wine bar on the Plein, the large square behind the Prime Minister’s office and one of the most politically charged outdoor spaces in the Netherlands. Millers has an extensive wine list, good food and a terrace that fills with the Binnenhof crowd on Thursday and Friday afternoons from spring through autumn. The Plein on a warm evening is a genuinely particular experience: surrounded by government buildings, with a crowd that ranges from ministers to journalists to civil servants, all apparently unable to leave. One of the best after-work spots for expats working in the international zone nearby.

The Hague’s only Tiki bar and consistently rated the best cocktail bar in the city. An immersive tropical interior on the Grote Markt with a bamboo bar, panther-print furniture and a cocktail list of over 60 rum-based recipes that has been running since 2007. The drinks are properly made and the atmosphere fully commits to the Tiki aesthetic without apologising for it. Gets busy at weekends; come early for a seat at the bar or expect to wait. One of those bars that sounds gimmicky but has earned genuine local respect through the quality of what it serves.

A sophisticated cocktail bar and restaurant in the Hilton The Hague on the Mauritskade, serving creative cocktails from an in-house cocktail lab alongside Nikkei bar bites in a well-designed room that attracts a well-heeled international crowd. The cocktail list is genuinely inventive, the bar team takes its work seriously and the room is designed to impress. A good choice for a special occasion drinks evening or a first meeting where the setting should carry some of the weight. Sunny terrace on the Mauritskade in summer.

A harbour bar in the historic Zeemanshuis at the head of the Scheveningen fish auction, opened by the Caipi Collective, a group of friends from the music, surfing and cocktail scene. Warm, slightly raw and full of character inside; a large sunny terrace outside facing the harbour and the boats. The cocktails are house-made using their own craft liqueurs and cordials. Bar bites and comfort food with an Asian twist complete the picture. Lunch, dinner and dancing on weekends. One of the most original bars in The Hague and unlike anything in the city centre. Worth the tram ride from town.

A rooftop bar on the upper floors of the Hague Tower with panoramic views across the city: government buildings, church spires, Scheveningen and the coast on clear days. One of the very few elevated drinking spots in The Hague and one of the best sunset locations in the city. Good cocktails and a drinks menu that is more than adequate for the setting. A natural choice for a special occasion, a first-date drink or any evening where the backdrop should do much of the work. Worth booking ahead on summer evenings when the terrace fills up.

The granddaddy of craft beer bars in The Hague, run by the Pasman brothers since the late 1980s on one of the city’s most attractive canal-side streets. A focused selection of Dutch and Belgian craft and specialist beers on draught and in bottle, knowledgeable staff and a canal-side terrace with a barge moored alongside in summer that has been cited as one of the best outdoor drinking spots in the city. Open daily from 15:00. The Dunne Bierkade is also home to Restaurant Basaal and Warung Mini, making it the best short street in the centre for eating and drinking.

A well-loved neighbourhood bar on the Denneweg with the warmth of a Dutch brown cafe and a slightly more curated drinks list. One of the best terraces on the street and a natural meeting point for The Hague’s professional class on an evening out along the Denneweg. The Denneweg combines good independent restaurants with a walkable bar strip; Cafe Hoogeboom is a reliable anchor. The street’s best restaurants, including Walter Benedict next door and Pizza Beppe further along, make it a natural base for a full evening.

A busy gastropub and brewery on the Prins Hendrikplein in the Zeeheldenkwartier that brews its own beers on site alongside an imported selection of specialty beers. Good food including burgers, ribs and their own Van Kinsburger with a large bar menu. DJ from Friday evening. The Prins Hendrikplein is one of the most sociable squares in The Hague in summer; Van Kinsbergen is the natural anchor for an evening that starts with food and continues with drinks. Weekly specials including chicken Mondays and cocktail Thursdays make it a regular haunt for neighbourhood residents.

A neighbourhood wine bar in the Zeeheldenkwartier with a seasonal selection of natural and conventional wines by the glass and bottle, good snacks and small plates and the relaxed convivial atmosphere the neighbourhood does well. Wicked Wines is known for wines from less common regions, particularly Australia and New Zealand alongside a European selection, with knowledgeable staff willing to talk through the list. A good starting point for a Zeeheldenkwartier evening, close to Vincenzos, Van Kinsbergen and several other good options on the surrounding streets.

A wine and champagne bar at the top of the Denneweg overlooking the canal, specialising in champagne and a well-chosen wine selection with upbeat music and a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. Good for an aperitif before dinner further down the Denneweg or a celebratory glass at the end of an evening. The corner location on the canal provides one of the nicer outdoor settings on the street in summer. The most natural champagne stop in The Hague for those who want something more considered than a bottle ordered with dinner.

A restaurant and wine bar at the end of the Dunne Bierkade where the food is built around the wine list rather than the other way round. Start with a bottle from the enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff, then choose dishes accordingly from a seasonal menu of classics and modern Dutch cooking. Mussels, steak tartare and an extensive cheese board are constants. The canal setting and the unhurried approach make it a good choice for a date night or a long dinner for two. The adjacent wine bar Envido belongs to De Kade and is good for a drink without committing to a full dinner.

One of the most popular beach clubs on the Scheveningen seafront with a large terrace facing the North Sea, DJ nights throughout summer and a lively international crowd that reflects The Hague’s character broadly. Good cocktails, a solid food offer and the North Sea as a backdrop that is hard to improve on during a warm July evening when the sun sets late over the water. Busy from late afternoon onwards on weekends and a standard destination for The Hague’s international community when summer finally arrives.

A craft brewery and pub on the Dr. Lelykade in Scheveningen’s old harbour, brewing its own beers on site alongside a selection of Dutch and Belgian craft options. The harbour-side location is excellent, the brewery format gives it a sense of place and purpose, and the food is good enough to anchor an evening rather than just a drink. The Dr. Lelykade has developed into one of the better eating and drinking streets in Scheveningen in recent years, with Lemongrass wine bar and several good restaurants nearby. A more local and less beach-club alternative on the Scheveningen waterfront.