Bars in Groningen

A Groningen institution on the Grote Markt, open all day from breakfast through to late evening, with a terrace facing the square and the Martinitoren that fills up fast on any warm afternoon. The Hooghoudt name is woven into the city’s history: the Hooghoudt distillery was founded in Groningen in 1888 and produced jenever, vodka, and beerenburg here for over a century, and the cafe’s identity draws on that heritage across its spirits and beer selection. Grand Cafe Hooghoudt is an all-day operation serving breakfast through lunch and dinner to specialty beers and wine in the evening, with service staff in traditional uniform who add a pleasantly old-fashioned character to the place. One of the most natural first stops for anyone spending an evening on the Grote Markt.

A Brussels-style grand cafe on the Hoge der A with what is widely regarded as the finest terrace in Groningen: a waterside position on the city’s oldest canal, with old boats moored alongside and illuminated trees on warm evenings. The interior is equally considered, with custom stained glass, paintings made specifically for the space by Olga Wiese, and collected objects from across Europe that give each corner a different character. Open from 8am daily, running from breakfast through dinner to late evening drinks, making it equally good at noon or midnight. The combination of the canal setting, the interior craftsmanship, and the all-day format makes it the finest spot in Groningen for a long drink by the water.

One of the most popular and distinctive bars in Groningen, on the Poelestraat with a view toward the Forum cultural centre. Food sharing runs throughout the day, specialty beers come from Dutch and international breweries, coffee is made from house-roasted beans, and board games sit on the menu alongside food. Vegetarian and vegan options are properly integrated rather than an afterthought. The eclectic interior uses vintage doors as tables and repurposed objects throughout, giving it a warm, slightly chaotic character that suits the anything-goes atmosphere. The Sunday Brakke Brunch buffet, with salads, snacks, eggs, and spring rolls, has become a Groningen institution. Works equally as a lunch spot, a study break, a board game evening, or a late-night out.

Groningen’s most celebrated beer bar, tucked down the Kleine Kromme Elleboog in one of the oldest hospitality neighbourhoods of the city, reached through cosy alleys that give it a genuine sense of discovery. The first Belgian cafe to open in Groningen and still its finest: voted best cafe in the city and ranked in the top 100 best cafes in the Netherlands. The selection runs to 25 taps and around 80 bottled beers including Trappists, Belgian classics, Dutch craft, and international rarities rotating throughout the year. The staff know the list well. Bar snacks including bitterballen round it out. Consistently rated 4.5 stars by over 1,000 visitors.

A craft beer bar with over 400 beers spanning bottles, cans, and 13 taps, of which eight rotate constantly to bring in new releases from Dutch and international breweries. The fixed list runs to around 250 beers at any given time, including Dutch and Belgian craft, English, Scottish, American, and Scandinavian offerings alongside eccentric sours and imperial stouts. The cosy brown-cafe atmosphere is a counterpoint to the extraordinary scale of the selection. Staff are knowledgeable and guide visitors through the list with genuine enthusiasm. A waterside terrace with heating lamps extends the season. Consistently described by beer enthusiasts as one of the best craft beer destinations in the Netherlands.

A brown cafe and local institution open since 1988, with a wood-panelled interior, vintage decor, and a neighbourhood pub character that has kept it relevant through every shift in the Groningen bar scene. Over 100 beers on the list including rare and specialty brews, single malt whiskies, board games, and occasional live music and pub quizzes. A waterside terrace added in recent years extends the appeal into warmer months. The kind of bar locals recommend when asked where the real Groningen drinks: unpretentious, consistent, and genuinely enjoyable.

A craft beer bar consistently cited as having the widest selection of interesting rotating taps in the city, with an emphasis on local and international craft breweries and a team that actively enjoys guiding visitors through what is on. Particularly strong on Dutch craft and stouts, with experimental and small-batch releases that differ from De Pintelier’s Belgian focus or De Koffer’s comprehensive range. Popular with the international student community from the University of Groningen for its English-friendly staff and quality selection. A compact, energetic space that fills up quickly on Friday evenings.

The tasting room tied to the Hooghoudt distillery, founded in Groningen in 1888, preserving a historic interior that is almost entirely unchanged: colourful wallpaper, wooden panelling, historical paintings, and an atmosphere that genuinely feels like stepping back several decades. Six traditional jenevers and spirits are served on a special tray. Chess sets are available; the regulars know how to play. A very different experience from the craft beer bars around it, and worth visiting for the sense of place alone. Open from 2pm on most days, Mondays from 3pm. The NOK bar-restaurant is a few minutes away at the top of the Forum if you want to continue the evening somewhere with a very different character.

A lively and popular bar tucked between the Harmonie complex and the Kromme Elleboog, hidden from the main streets in a way that rewards those who find it. The interior has a charming, slightly quirky character matching its off-the-beaten-path location. Good beer selection, friendly staff, and a buzzy but not overwhelming atmosphere. Close to De Pintelier, making it a natural second stop on any beer-focused evening in this part of the city. Consistently recommended by Groningen locals as a favourite neighbourhood bar for those who want something livelier than a brown cafe but quieter than the Poelestraat strip.

A neighbourhood brown cafe in a relaxed quarter north of the immediate centre, away from the student bar strip, with a loyal following of locals who return for the reliable draft beer selection, low-key atmosphere, and genuine neighbourhood pub feel. The kind of place that fills with regulars on a weekday evening and is genuinely lively rather than performatively so. Recommended by Groningen residents who want to show a visitor where the city actually drinks rather than where the guidebooks point. A natural end to an evening that started in the centre and drifted north along the canal.