Visiting Keukenhof and thinking where to eat? There are several restaurants and cafes, as well as numerous food trucks, inside the park. And here we’ve also picked our three favourite restaurants for lunch if you go biking around Keukenhof.
All these lunch places are easily accessible by car or by bike. But as they are located off the beaten track, they are not accessible by public transport. We recommend to rent a bike and enjoy the beautiful flower fields and nice food after your visit Keukenhof!
Palingrokerij Eveleens
Address: Leimuiderdijk 228a, 2154 MN Burgerveen
You definitely have heard about the Dutch herring. And what about the famous Dutch smoked eel? Normally you cannot get it at a usual fish shop (or you will get it cold from the fridge). But if you want to taste freshly smoked eel, you have to visit a smokehouse where they prepare fish on the spot.
Palingrokerij Eveleens is a smokehouse with a small cafe located on by the side of Westeinderplassen lake, very popular among the locals. There are a few tables outside near the lake. You can buy sandwiches (broodjes) with smoked eel, salmon, mackerel, have a typical Dutch lunch and enjoy the view.
Restaurant MAMA
Address: Duinschooten 12, 2211 ZC Noordwijkerhout
Update 2024: restaurant MAMA is closed.
Pop-up restaurant MAMA in Noordwijkerhout is in fact an Italian restaurant. So you might wonder why do I recommed to visit it during your trip to the Netherlands. The answer is simple: they have the best food I’ve tasted in the Netherlands in years! The prices are suprisingly reasonable.
And location is just perfect for lunch on a sunny day!
The restaurant has a beatiful terrace facing lake “Como” (Oosterduinermeer). During the flower season it turns into a blooming flower garden. We visited MAMA restaurant late in October and it was still very nice and cosy.
Restaurant de Vogelensangh
Address: Vogelenzangseweg 182, 2114 BD Vogelenzang
This family restaurant serves typical Dutch lunch food (sandwiches, pancakes), which is very decent and enjoyable. And the place itself is cosy, welcoming and relaxed.
We visit this restaurant often when we are in the area, because it’s very spacious, so there is always a place to sit (or at least we are always lucky).
By the way, people in the Netherlands usually have lunch between 12:30 and 14:00. So if you want to get a table without reservation, the trick is to arrive a bit earlier or later.
During our latest visit to De Vogelensangh we’ve also discovered that they have a perfect kids corner. It’s full with high quality toys, safe and clean. The kids were happy and busy for a few hours.
The restaurant is located half-way from Keukenhof to Haarlem, to it can be a good idea to visit all three places in one day. And yes, they also have a few hotel rooms about the restaurant, in case you want to spend a night.
Cafes and restaurants in Keukenhof
There are also restautants, cafes and snack bars where you can buy food and beverages in Keukenhof. You can visit the Jacoba’s Kitchen restaurant in the Oranje Nassau Pavilion for breakfast, lunch or warm meal at any time of the day.
Please note that restaurants and shops at Keukenhof do not accept cash, you can pay only by debit or credit card. It’s also not possible to make reservation at the restaurants inside Keukenhof.
Is it allowed to bring own food to Keukenhof?
Yes, that is no problem, you can bring your own food and drinks when you visit Keukenhof. There is a picnic area and several benches in the park where you can have your own food.
However it is not allowed to bring your own food to the restaurants in Keukenhof.
Enjoy your visit to the Netherlands!
P.S. And if you have discovered other nice restaurants in the area, please share in comments!
I want to point out a perfect spot for Dutch comfort food on or from your way to Keukenhof. Restaurant De Konijnenberg in Heemstede. A typical Dutch experience with the best pancakes and more comfort food in the area. In the interior you will find a typical Rijks museum interior with paintings from Remvrandt and Vermeer.
Thank you Mandy!