Best of Utrecht

Kars Alfrink: Families descend on this place in the weekends in droves so try to come some other moment for old school Dutch pancakes in a charming setting. I tend to go for half and half as pictured.

Kars Alfrink: My favourite place to start the day, preferably with a slow "clever" coffee on the lazy couch with the barista's dog snoring away next to me.

Kars Alfrink: Ask the bartender for some samples. They'll be happy to oblige.

Kars Alfrink: One of my favourite watering holes in town. Lots of playwrights and thespians around, low lighting and soft music so great for conversation and people watching.

Kars Alfrink: Incredibly affordable and very cosy lunch spot. Order a soup from the rotating menu and maybe add a sandwich.

Kars Alfrink: My favorite place to while away a Sunday afternoon. Usually quite busy, so good for people watching. Meals are good value. If you grow bored you can even grab an indie film in one of its cosy rooms.

Kars Alfrink: This is tasty, affordable Indonesian cuisine. Sit down for a set lunch or take some dishes home. I always go for the nasi rames spesial.

Kars Alfrink: Great selection of continental comics on ground level and an equally good choice of British, American, Japanese and other foreign titles in the cellar.

Kars Alfrink: Game shop that is set apart by its excellent selection of boardgames, RPGs, wargames and LARP apparel. The proprietor knows his stuff and can always recommend interesting new games.

Kars Alfrink: One of the Netherlands' oldest special beer cafés. No music and a laid-back atmosphere make it great for conversation.

Kars Alfrink: Their Italian sandwiches - small ciabatta with your choice of fresh ingredients - are hard to beat. I usually go for one with a double spread of mortadella.

Kars Alfrink: The lemon meringue pie is just... I can't begin to describe how... Sigh. Just go.

Kars Alfrink: Super tasty sandwiches made with great artisanal bread and local ingredients. Lovely staff, too.

Kars Alfrink: These folks source their own wine so there's always something special on offer. Great for a quick glass if you have something to celebrate.

Kars Alfrink: Hands down the best place for a drink al fresco. Very local, most of the out-of-towners go to the terraces on the Neude square. Bonus: you can bring your own food.

Kars Alfrink: On Wednesdays and Saturdays, go to the market on Vredenburg. On all other days, go to this classic fishmonger for a 'haring' or 'kibbeling'. It doesn't get much more Dutch than this.

Kars Alfrink: Lombok is the best area to sample roti. This place offers the tastiest, freshest one I've ever had.

Kars Alfrink: Scandinavian style sandwiches that are insanely tasty. I am impressed. Lots of great pescetarian or vegetarian options.

Kars Alfrink: Hands down the best place in town to have a proper meal for lunch (a rarity in NL) made with care using delicious ingredients.

Kars Alfrink: Great spot for a quick meal. Surprisingly good Surinam vegetarian nasi, bami and roti and remarkably cheerful service.

Kars Alfrink: Very convivial spot with a lovely selection of beers brewed in the region. Pet the cat and take in the increasingly rare local atmosphere.

Kars Alfrink: Affordable and delicious vegetarian food. Weekly rotating fixed 3 course dinner menu. Good drinks menu with plenty of local beers. Cheerful staff and relaxed ambience complete a great experience.

Kars Alfrink: Unassuming sushi bar offering good value. Flavors are closest to actual Japanese thing you'll find in Utrecht.

Kars Alfrink: Probably my new favorite burger spot in Utrecht. Soft buns, thin patties and no bullshit. It's a shame their beer selection sucks.

Kars Alfrink: An institution. Best authentic Chinese restaurant in town. Including authentic rude service. The fact that this is usually packed says it all. Just go.

Kars Alfrink: Anyone who knows anything about Utrecht will tell you this is the best place for ice cream.

Kars Alfrink: Certainly the best pizza in Oost, maybe even the best of town.

Kars Alfrink: Probably the nicest park the city has to offer. Good for hanging out.

Kars Alfrink: Tasty, affordable, authentic vietnamese cuisine.

Kars Alfrink: You'll have to try the eponymous sandwich at least once. It's the most famous fast food in the city. Italian salami, Dutch cheese and pickles on a massive ciabatta bun. So wrong yet somehow so right.

Kars Alfrink: This is elevated Dutch Indonesian, so for something closer to the real stuff go to Toko Mitra, but for a nice evening pigging out on a rijsttafel, this is a solid bet.

Kars Alfrink: Iconic bit of architecture in what is otherwise a residential neighbourhood with not a whole lot going on. Probably a must see if you're visiting town from abroad.

Kars Alfrink: Probably my favourite restaurant in town at the moment. Awesome inventive but unfussy food prepared from local ingredients paired with often surprising wines. A delight.

Kars Alfrink: Friendly proprietors and decent coffees make this the go-to spot for a cup in this part of town.

Kars Alfrink: This has become my preferred place for meeting people because of its convenient location, ample space and passable specialty coffee.

Kars Alfrink: An unexpected green refuge in one of the city's most attractive neighbourhoods.

Kars Alfrink: Very cool watering hole serving inventive beers brewed on site.

Kars Alfrink: A climb to the top of our fair city's iconic landmark should be on everyone's list so I'm putting it on mine as well.

Kars Alfrink: Any place that serves an actual plate of cooked food for lunch in this godforsaken sandwich-obsessed country is a A-OK in my book.

Kars Alfrink: Correct and tasty Japanese rice bowls (donburi). An absolute godsend in a town that remains somewhat of a culinary backwater. Go. And make sure you order a pickle plate.