Bars in Haarlem

Named best bar in Haarlem multiple times by both public vote and professional jury. Bar Wigbolt sits just off the Grote Markt in a warm, history-referencing interior, open Wednesday through Sunday. The cocktail menu runs from classics to house inventions with Haarlem-themed names, and the spirits collection is exceptional: over 100 varieties of vodka, whisky, gin, rum, and jenever. The bartenders build bespoke drinks based on your preferences, which explains why so many regulars never look at the menu. The whiskey sour is cited by locals as among the best in the Netherlands.

Inspired by New Orleans drinking and dining culture, The Louisiana sits on the Zijlstraat with a heated outdoor patio and an interior that packs in more character than the narrow space has any right to contain. The cocktail programme leans into American mixology with an outstanding whiskey and bourbon selection. The kitchen adds to the draw: lobster rolls, dirty burgers, and fried chicken. Live jazz and blues sets run most evenings, and the bar is one of the few places in Haarlem where the atmosphere builds properly late into the night. Open until 01:00 on weeknights and 04:00 on weekends.

Jopen has revived Haarlem’s ancient brewing tradition in one of the most atmospheric settings in the Netherlands: a converted 19th-century church where copper brewing kettles sit in full view of the grand cafe on the ground floor. The brewery produces Haarlem-rooted styles drawing on medieval local brewing history, and the range on tap is broad enough to spend a full evening working through. The food menu covers lunch, dinner, and borrel, all designed to pair with the beers. Brewery tours with tastings are available and worth booking in advance. Also covered in the restaurants guide for the upstairs dining room.

Uiltje Brewing Company is internationally recognised in the craft beer world, and this city-centre bar is where you drink their beers in the best possible context: 30-plus taps, a rotating guest selection from respected Dutch and international breweries, and tasting events throughout the year. Homemade pizzas with memorably absurd names and over 30 varieties of cheese from a local specialist make beer and cheese pairing a genuine event. The bar sits directly across the Zijlstraat from The Louisiana, which makes this stretch of street one of the most rewarding in Haarlem’s nightlife.

One of the most genuine brown cafes in Haarlem, with over a decade of consistent quality and the kind of social atmosphere that modern bar design rarely manages to replicate. Proeflokaal In den Uiver focuses on specialty beer and jenever, with knowledgeable staff who take both seriously and are always willing to guide you through the selection. Vinyl spins throughout the evening and occasional jenever tastings bring the regulars together. Reviewers frequently describe it as the most human bar in Haarlem: no pretension, real contact with the people behind the bar.

Right in the heart of the Vijfhoek neighbourhood, Haarlem’s most characterful residential quarter, Cafe de Vijfhoek is the kind of bar that makes people want to live in the area. The brown cafe has been updated into a cleaner, more modern look while keeping the neighbourhood soul intact, and the large open terrace in the square fills up quickly on warm evenings. A good selection of specialty and domestic beers, friendly relaxed staff, and homemade tapas worth ordering with whatever is on tap. The Vijfhoek is often called Haarlem’s answer to the Jordaan, and this cafe does nothing to undermine that comparison.

A city beach bar built inside a converted industrial complex on the water, with a large outdoor terrace, BBQ food, canal views, and a covered gazebo. De Oerkap is the warm-weather bar that Haarlem’s expat community migrates to when the sun cooperates. Fire pits keep the terrace usable well into autumn. The vibe is casual and social, the drinks are reasonably priced, and the setting is unlike anything else in the city. Particularly popular on long summer evenings when the light on the water makes it genuinely hard to leave.

Bar Wolkers earns its place in the cafes guide during the day and the bars guide in the evening. The Spaarne terrace fills up on Thursday and Friday evenings, and the bar shifts from a work-friendly lunch spot into one of the more relaxed evening options in the centre. The wine selection is solid, beers cover a decent range, and the vintage interior with high windows and canal views creates an atmosphere that works as well at 21:00 as it does at 09:00.

A Haarlem institution on the Grote Markt with one of the best terraces in the city centre: a wide, sun-catching space that looks directly onto the Grote Kerk and the square. Cafe Du Theatre covers drinks, lunch, dinner, and late-evening bar service in a grand-cafe format that has been working well for decades. The drinks menu is broad rather than specialist, making it a practical all-rounder for groups with mixed preferences. The terrace is an excellent place to watch Haarlem life pass by on a Saturday afternoon.

Haarlem’s most established international bar, with a large expat following and a programme of sports screenings, live music, and themed nights. The kitchen produces solid Irish and international pub food, and the beer selection covers international and Dutch options on tap. A natural first stop for newly arrived expats who want a familiar entry point into Haarlem’s social scene, and a reliable constant for anyone who needs to watch an international sports event with a crowd.

A smaller and quieter alternative to The Wolfhound with a loyal following among Haarlem’s English-speaking expat community. The outdoor seating has heating for the colder months, which in the Netherlands means it gets used nine months of the year. Staff are genuinely friendly and the food is hearty without being overpriced. A good option for a midweek drink with colleagues or a low-key weekend evening. Well regarded by residents who have moved to Haarlem from the UK, Ireland, and the US.