Off the beaten track - Utrecht

(2h - half-day trip)

Utrecht is one of the most beautiful canal cities of Europe. The city offers an inspiring atmosphere of history, dating back to the 13th century, combined with a hipster culture. It is one of the best kept secrets of the Netherlands, and preferably it stays that way (I say that as an Utrechter). It's a city full of charm, without the flocks of tourists and therefore provides the ideal getaway for a day.

There are many fun things to do in Utrecht. It's perfect for shopping (especially with the new shopping center Hoog Catharijne), there are sights for architecture lovers (Rietveld-Schröderhuis), history addicts (Dom-tower, Duitse huis), and culture fanatics (Nijntje/Miffy museum). However, even this hidden city provides some hidden beauties, of which one is the Theehuis Rhijnauwen.

As you might have noticed, there are not many restaurants offering typical Dutch food. Even though there are many types of typical Dutch dishes, we prefer to cook them at home. Eating out is for enjoying the delicious flavours of Southern Europe, Asia, Central/South America, or maybe one, typical Dutch dish: Pancakes.

Theehuis Rhijnauwen (Teahouse Rhijnauwen), is definitely the best place in the surrounding of Utrecht to enjoy this dish. Going there means cycling through Utrecht's hidden forest while seeing the bright red house at the end of the road and smelling the scent of baked apple, bacon and cheese coming at you through the trees. It's a hidden gem for locals and therefore can be pretty crowded on spring and summer days when the sun is out. You will feel like one of the Dutch if you go here on your bycicle on a sunny day.

Getting to the pancake house is easy, you simply need to find a bike. If you're staying with a local, you can ask them to rent an OV-bike for you (you need a personal public transportation card), which only costs 3,85 a day. Otherwise you can rent one at Laag Catharijne Rental and Repair (7,50+ a day), Bike Rental Utrecht - Black Bikes (6,50+ for 3 hours), and the best one: Willemstraatbike (7 euros per day). Then you navigate to Rhijnauwenselaan 16, 3981 HH Bunnik, which takes about 30 minutes from Utrecht Central Station area. Don't worry, it's an easy ride, no hills no frills since you're in the Netherlands, and as a bonus you will pas the Rietveld-Schröderhuis on your way!

When you arrive, I strongly recommend you to take a walk in the surrounding area. It's beautiful and full of history. You can find constructions and a fort built in the 19th century, as well as an organic dairy farm where you can buy raw milk and just several nice hiking paths. This hiking will only prepare you more for the delicious and huge pancake you'll have afterwards. The list is long, and I'm sure you'll be overwhelmed with choices, so here are some suggestions for Dutch pancakes:

- Naturel (natural pancake on which you can put the sirop that is on the table)
- Appel (apple)
- Ham
- Kaas (cheese)
- Spek (bacon)
- Appel en kaneel (apple and cinnamon)
- Spek en appel (bacon and apple)
- Spek en kaas (bacon and cheese)
- And many more combinations............

But, if you're really hungry, try out some of the special pancakes as well, they are unique and delicious! And make sure to pet the donkeys!

Related content or attachment:

Top 8 vegan restaurants in Utrecht

Utrecht is one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. It’s Amsterdam, but smaller and less crowded, what more do you want? Well…. FOOD of course. While there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, and they generally all have some vegan dishes, there are some great spots where you can find especially great vegan food.

Vegan restaurants:

1. The Vegan Gorilla

The vegan gorilla is a sort-of new restaurant in Utrecht. All their dishes are completely vegan and delicious. They offer both small Asian-style streetfood dishes to share, as well as larger meals from spaghetti to tacos if you prefer to eat everything by yourself. And next to their great dishes they have a cool drinks menu with drinks like apple-nettle icetea. It’s a bit out of the way if you’re in the city center, but worth a visit anyway.http://www.thevegangorilla.nl/

2. Oproer

Oproer is another restaurant you won’t find while shopping around the city canals. The restaurant/bar can be found near Utrecht Zuilen station at an industrial terrain, where they sell vegan food as well as their own home-brewed beers. They use organic, seasonal ingredients and because of that also have a new menu every month! http://www.oproerbrouwerij.nl/

3. SNCKBR

SNCKBR Utrecht is the only 100% vegan restaurant of all the SNCKBR restaurants. They offer many kinds of dishes, from tempeh to pizza. They also have a specific lunch menu with the typical dutch dish called “Kapsalon” meaning hair salon (WHY?!?! I don’t know..). This is usually a meat-lovers dish, but here a vegan version can be found with sweet potatoes, barbecued pulled jackfruit, Caesar dressing and cheese. According to their website they also work with sustainable ingredients, and, good to know, they can be found in the city centre! https://snckbr.com/SNCKBRUTRECHT/?lang=nl

Restaurants with vegan options:

1. Gys

Gys could almost be with the vegan options since their menu is ALMOST entirely vegan friendly. Gys was one of the first restaurants in Utrecht to create a partly vegan menu, however nowadays it’s almost 100% vegan. The offer a range of organic vegan/vegetarian options such as Fish & chips (vegan), sate, pokebowl, gnocchi. The food is really good and the atmosphere is great. There are two locations in Utrecht and both have their own menu, so have a look at that if you don’t know where to go. https://gysutrecht.nl/

2. Restaurant Ân Ân Vietnamese food

Restaurant Ân Ân is a Vietnamese restaurant selling Vietnamese streetfood. It has a very laid back and simple atmosphere, which makes it feel a little bit like you’re actually eating in the streets of Vietnam. It’s a very popular restaurants with many different dishes. While they serve meat and fish, they also have an extensive list of delicious vegan options and even the ones that don’t seem vegan can sometimes be made vegan when leaving the egg out. The idea of the restaurant is that it’s kind of Taiwanese tapas, so you order many different dishes to share, which makes it an even more fun dinner experience. https://restaurantanan.nl/

3. Wagamama

Wagamama has been in Amsterdam for many years now, but recently finally moved to Utrecht. It’s a Japanese restaurant (although they serve a limited amount of other Asian dishes as well) with amazingly delicious dishes and drinks. They’ve recently released an entirely vegan menu that finally has a vegan version of my boyfriend’s favourite dish (Japanese curry) and some other amazing dishes. The food is freshly made, so dishes are not served at the same time, but that also means you get really fresh food. https://www.wagamama.nl/restaurants/utrecht

4. Sunshine

Sunshine is an amazing Ethiopian restaurant in Utrecht. It is small, cozy, quite simple and the people are really nice. The food they serve is traditional Ethiopian food, served in a traditional way. While they serve quite some non-vegan/vegetarian dishes, they also have some AMAZING vegan options. I would definitely urge you to go if you want to try vegan Ethiopian food, to make sure which dishes are vegan, make sure you ask them. https://www.ethiopisch-restaurant-sunshine-utrecht.nl/

5. Soy

Soy is a restaurant/take-away a little bit outside of Utrecht city centre. They offer amazing Chinese dishes, but all vegetarian/vegan! :D So if you’re into Chinese-ish take-out, make sure to get it here! Eating in is alright too, but it’s simple and small so not very special for eating out. http://www.soy-utrecht.nl/menukaart/

So if you're in Utrecht, make sure to try out one of these amazing restaurants and let me know in the comments what you think :).