Home to the Dutch parliament, The Hague is famous as the seat of power in the Netherlands. It is also a cosmopolitan, cultural city that fuses many nationalities and tastes thanks to its history as the center of the former Dutch colony of the East Indies. The tastes of The Hague, which consisting of a myriad of cultures and exciting flavor combinations, can be experienced at these ten restaurants.
As part of the Carlton Beach Hotel, The Beach Brasserie offers unparalleled panoramas of the Scheveningen seafront. With emphasis on a light and refreshing lunch menu featuring fresh fish, seafood and a variety of wines, the chefs rotate highly colorful and aromatic dishes to complement the atmosphere. With a relaxed ambiance, The Beach Brasserie’s picture windows and simple furnishings provide a spot from which to enjoy the beautiful views of the Hague.
With stunning panoramic views across the Scheveningen harbour, the brasserie-style Het Gouden Kalf offers top quality cuisine in a professional and relaxed waterside venue.The restaurant features typical Italian and French cuisine crafted from the best of fresh, local produce – including an impressive array of seafood. It serves oysters with wedges of lemon, followed by a sea bass ceviche with Japanese crackers and spicy horseradish. The extensive menu, coupled with a comprehensive wine-list, makes Het Gouden Kalf an obvious choice for a quiet evening, which can be enjoyed on the simple wide terrace. The food takes center-stage quite literally: the central open kitchen allows guests to enjoy the sight of their dishes being prepared in front of them.
Winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013, The Penthouse, situated on the top floor of The Hague Tower, is Holland’s highest restaurant. As if the view was not breathtaking enough, The Penthouse Restaurant and sky bar boast a variety of menus to suit varying occasions, from a la carte to small bites, high tea to champagne-fuelled dinners. One can enjoy succulent lamb with the fresh, light flavors of asparagus and pea puree, or smoked eel accompanied by poached plaice, atop a mousse of creamed potato and roasted garlic.
Established by a Dutch colonialist in 1949 following his return from the East Indies, Garoeda offers a multi-cultural dining experience featuring traditional Indonesian cuisine merged with traditional dishes from the Netherlands. The menu is extensive, with delicious tofu dishes accompanied by golden saffron rice, rich satay meat with white wine rice and Dutch steak with mushrooms and vegetables. The traditional decor of the interior is brightened by picture windows on the first floor, creating panoramic views across this scenic area of The Hague.
From the Dutch word for basic, Basaal serves ‘no-nonsense’, delicious dishes showcasing the best of the fresh, simple ingredients that the region has to offer. With a stunning terrace and a luxuriously decorated interior, one can enjoy a variety of cuts from Simmental beef, red sorrel with smoked yellow Chioggia, or, the signature dish of crayfish croquettes served with saffron mayonnaise, all matched perfectly with a large selection of wines. Whilst the main dishes change according to the ingredients that are in season, the Basaal cheese plate is a consistent favourite.
Adopting the name of the heart-shaped flower, Restaurant Calla’s is a small restaurant with an intimate setting, and is the ideal spot in which to enjoy a glass of one of their full-bodied Bordeaux reds. At the heart of the action is the chef’s table, offering guests a view of the kitchen as they wait for their meal of choice. The menu utilizes the finest ingredients, with everything from fresh langoustine and Oosterschelde lobster, to vegetarian dishes such as goat’s cheese with a pistachio crust and young fresh herbs.
Restaurant Alexander comes with an impressive history; it was winner of Gault Millau Best Restaurant in the Netherlands, voted part of Iens Toppers 2014 as part of the 1000 best restaurants in the Netherlands and winner of the TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence. The cuisine is second to none; whether choosing from hand-made, signature tortellini stuffed with forest mushrooms and black truffles, or Oestra caviar with a tall glass of champagne, the food is temptingly displayed and offered in conjunction with a formidable array of wines and champagnes. Finish with one of the establishment’s beautiful crepe suzettes for dessert.
The Michelin-starred HanTing Restaurant has cultivated a unique fusion of oriental cuisine with French culinary classics. The menu has a surprise twist: rather than selecting individual dishes, one is recommended to choose between a blind three, four or five course menu, each element of which will arrive with the promise of offering entirely new ‘taste sensations’. If this does not appeal to you, the Chinese Herbal menu offers cuisine tailored to a cycle of five elements that are representative of Chef Han’s prioritization of taste, presentation, texture, flavor and the nutritional benefit to the human body. The menu comprises of staples such as sea bass, as well as more unusual dishes such as jellyfish with Chinese cabbage, dogbane leaf and passion fruit.
The light and airy Eten bij Werelds has an intimate, cozy feel and is committed to using organic, fresh and Fairtrade produce where possible. There is an extensive choice of dining options available, including a Dutch tasting menu with matching wines, simple classics such as roast beef accented with truffle mayonnaise and dried pomodori, or tabouleh with bursts of zesty pomegranate salsa.
