Cafes in Haarlem

Possibly the smallest cafe in Haarlem and arguably the best. Owner Alex trained in Melbourne’s specialty coffee scene and brought that obsession back to a tiny space on the Kruisstraat, right on the walking route from Haarlem Station into the city centre. Stooker beans from Amsterdam, pastries sourced from the bakery next door, and a flat white that people cross the city for. Reviewers routinely call it the best cappuccino in the Netherlands: complex acidity, orchard fruit notes, milk frothed to an art form. The canal view from the terrace makes an already exceptional coffee experience something genuinely memorable.

The original Coffee Habits location on Smedestraat has built a devoted local following on the strength of consistently excellent coffee and genuinely passionate baristas. The specialty coffee programme is serious, and the vegan pastries and brownie selection are among the best in the city. A second location has since opened on Kleine Houtstraat to handle demand. The intimacy of the narrow space adds to the atmosphere: it feels like a place where the people behind the counter genuinely care about every cup.

Started by two sisters who absorbed coffee culture in Copenhagen, Berlin, and Amsterdam before bringing it back to Haarlem. Mica serves specialty coffee from Blommers Coffee Roasters and every item on the menu is vegan, including the pastries and the milk for your coffee. The atmosphere is chill without being precious: great for sitting with a laptop or catching up with a friend. Regulars praise the smooth, non-bitter flat white and the freshness of the snacks.

Over a decade on the Gasthuisstraat and still one of the most consistent specialty coffee stops in Haarlem. Mogador serves coffee from Common Greens, the Amsterdam-based specialty roaster, and pairs it with one of the best cake selections in the city: vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free options alongside the cinnamon buns that regulars specifically mention. The living-room vibe is genuine: spacious reading tables, a warm atmosphere, and a pace that does not rush you. Dog-friendly and book-friendly.

A rotating-roaster specialty cafe just outside the city centre that doubles as an art gallery. Owner Youssef keeps the roaster lineup rotating, with regulars including Amsterdam’s Friedhats, Single Estate Coffee Roasters from Den Haag, and Antwerp’s Normo. A vinyl record player sets the mood throughout the day. The result is a neighbourhood cafe that rewards the ten-minute walk from the Grote Markt with coffee almost impossible to find at this level outside a major city centre.

Slightly off the beaten path in a monumental historic building and worth every extra minute it takes to find. Kohi is run by certified barista Anne and serves organic coffee from Gosling Coffee alongside local milk from Haarlem’s meadows. The name references the Japanese word for coffee, a nod to the Dutch role in introducing coffee culture to Japan. Inspired by Japanese design principles, the space is calm and beautifully considered.

What started as a single cafe has become Haarlem’s biggest coffee success story, now with four locations across the city. The flagship on Spaarne 38 is the one to visit: a canal-side terrace with all-day sun, boats drifting past, and two resident cats who have become part of the cafe’s identity. The matcha latte and chai are consistently praised as genuinely exceptional. Note that laptops are welcome on weekdays but a no-laptop policy applies on weekends. Power outlets under wall tables and solid wifi make it one of Haarlem’s most practical work cafes during the week.

On the corner where the Gedempte Oude Gracht meets the Spaarne, in a building over a hundred years old. Power outlets are installed under every wall table, and free wifi is reliable throughout. The vintage interior works: high windows flood the space with natural light, rotating local art hangs on the walls, and the open kitchen means the smell of fresh-baked sourdough is a constant presence. The sourdough sandwiches are a genuine draw. Relaxed enough for a full working day. Also covered in the bars guide for evening service.

Tucked into the Breestraat in the Vijfhoek neighbourhood, Native has been a reliable specialty coffee spot since 2016, serving White Label Coffee from Amsterdam in a space decorated with greenery and vintage touches. The chai latte regularly tops local comparisons for quality. Work tables are available and the relaxed but lively atmosphere makes it well suited to a social work session. The Vijfhoek location makes it a natural stop for expats living in that part of the city.

A popular all-day destination on the Kleine Houtstraat covering specialty coffee, high tea, breakfast, and lunch in a bright, modern space with plenty of natural light. The health-forward menu: superfoods, supplement-boosted smoothies, organic ingredients, no refined sugars. Appeals strongly to the expat community that has made Haarlem’s cafe scene what it is. The terrace is a strong draw when the sun is out. Also well established for high tea bookings for groups.

A Scandinavian cafe in a former chocolate factory on the Spaarne riverbank. The combination of industrial heritage building, Nordic design, and a terrace where you watch boats drift by on the Spaarne creates something genuinely distinctive. Food leans fresh and seasonal. Particularly popular from spring through September when the Spaarne terrace comes fully into its own. Also covered in the restaurants guide for its lunch and dinner kitchen.

A brunch cafe in the city centre with a strong coffee programme built around beans from Five Ways Coffee Roasters in Amsterdam. La Maru bakes fresh sourdough in-house and the cafe’s pairing of genuinely good pour-over coffee with fresh bread and breakfast sandwiches makes it one of the better morning stops in the city. A large communal work table is available for laptop users. Friendly, unhurried service and central location make it a natural first coffee stop for newly arrived expats.