This summer I have spent more time than usual in the south of The Netherlands. A city I did not know very well but was on my “to visit-list” for a long time was beautiful, exuberant Breda in the province Brabant. The city centre of Breda is elected The Best City Centre of The Netherlands” in 2017. The elections are held every three years (due to COVID the next election will be in 2023). If that does not sound promising!?
My partner Coen knows Breda, he experienced the party/drinking scene as a teenager and he showed me around. With the beautiful historic city centre with the many, many, many bars, pubs and restaurants you can feel the “Brabantse gezelligheid” (“Brabantse gezelligheid” means something like “friendly, good life, bon vivant”).
Tip: We stayed in the house of our family when they were on a holiday. It’s a great, cheap option to explore another city if you can stay at the house of your friends or family so ask them if you can stay at their place (you can always use the excuse that you will water their plants when they are gone). Another option is to do a house swap and explore each other’s city!
Tip: Click the layers on and off in this map with the (square) button on the left in the grey beam.
1. Borrelplank Breda x Biertuin Breda x de Huiskamer
Pick a spot at the huge terrace next to the river at De Biertuin (Beergarden) and/or Biercafe de Huiskamer next door. Order a beer with one of the delicious snack platters by Borrelplank Breda on the side. A great way to start your weekend!
Location: Haven 21, 4811 WL Breda, Website Facebook Instagram
2. Festival vibes bij BAAI
It feels like you are at a festival at the new hotspot BAAI. There are many nice corners to sit next to the water. Easily order your drinks and snacks with an app. BAAI organises a lot of events or special theme nights, so do check the website in advance to see what you can expect.
BAAI is also a great place if you have something to celebrate. BAAI has special group arrangements to celebrate your birthday, bachelor, baby shower, etc. The location next to the water makes it a perfect start and finish to explore the waters of Breda in your rented boat. You can either drive the boat yourself or rent a “party boat” with a captain so you can enjoy your drinks.
Location: Markkade 1AB, 4815 HJ Breda, Website
3. Turkish Restaurant Lades
If you like Turkish food, Turkish Restaurant Lades is the place to be. Super friendly staff and delicious Turkish kitchen! Because of the enormous wall painting of the Blue Mosque at the back of the restaurant it feels like you’re in Istanbul. During our visit to Lades it rained cats and dogs so we could not sit outside in the city garden which is extensively decorated with “the blue eye” or the “Nazar”.
Tip: Do make a dinner reservation if you’re visiting Breda during the weekend. We had a hard time getting a table for 2 on a Friday night (but fortunately ended up in some great restaurants, like Lades).
Location: Oude Vest 19, 4811 HS Breda, Website
4. In Kannen en Kruiken (IKEK)
Enjoy a great breakfast, lunch, appetisers and anything in between at this cool and cosy restaurant. You will definitely find something to your liking on the “all day” menu, for example the very extended shared breakfast (recommended!). Take a seat outside in the very spacious, green city garden at the back if the Dutch weather is in your favour. IKEK’s opening hours are from Sunday till Thursday until 6 PM and on Friday and Saturday until 8:30 PM.
Location: Veemarktstraat 45, 4811 ZD Breda, Website
5. Yoghurt Barn
Yoghurt Barn is also a nice spot for a delicious breakfast. The name gives it away: you can choose from a great selection of yoghurt specials. Add a healthy juice or fruit salad to your order for a healthy start of the day. Take your order to go if you are in a hurry or want to enjoy your breakfast in the beautiful city park Valkenberg.
Locatie: Veemarktstraat 44, 4811 ZG Breda
6. De Botanist
De Botanist is another great place for drinks. This restaurant with a green and botanical interior is located in a beautiful historic building with a sunny glass house. Day or night, this is a place to visit whenever you feel like it. The cocktail bar is especially busy on the weekend (but that does not have to stop you from ordering a cocktail for lunch on Tuesday). Bonus: there is a DJ playing music after dinner on the weekend.
Location: Tolbrugstraat 19, 4811 WN Breda, Website
7. Restaurant Hemels
For delicious, fair and seasonal dishes, Restaurant Hemels (Heavens) is the place to go. You can choose your dishes from the fine dining à la carte menu, but for only 42 euro the chef will prepare a 4-course menu for you. And for an extra 22,50 euro you can order the 4-course wine pairing to accompany the food. Having a hard time to decide what to order? Ask for the surprise menu. The staff can also suggest alcohol free options.
Hemels is also open for lunch. During the summer the sunny city garden is also open.
Location: Wilhelminastraat 23, 4818 SB Breda Website
Tip: Don’t skip the nice boutiques and more exclusive shops in the Wilhelminastraat.
8. TO DO: City walk Blind Walls
If you want to discover something else than the shops and restaurants in Breda you can opt to do a city walk. Blind Walls Gallery is, as they describe it themselves, the museum on the streets. You can find over 90 murals in the city, inspired by the stories of Breda. On the website you can find a couple of routes to walk or cycle by yourself. You can take a guided walking tour for 17,50 euro. There are also guided options for the cycling enthusiast.
Extra: We also had to grab a beer in ‘t Hart van Breda, because Coen used to start his weekends there. Nowadays it’s more like an eatery with an ordinary pub menu (think: burgers, chicken satay and nachos). But ‘t Hart van Breda still looks like a party pub and according to the website they also offer a lot of activities.
Are you looking for other great destinations in The Netherlands? Read my blogs about the best places for drinks in the modern city of Rotterdam or try the walking tour I have set out for you in the characteristic city of The Hague. More into cycling? Take a look at the blog cycling tour “Highlights of The Hague“. If you want to discover the countryside of Holland, check out the guest blog about Friesland, the state of lakes and ice skating.
Please leave a comment if you’re also interested in writing a guest blog for TeppieTravels and what your blog could be about.
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