Hilversum

De BarBier

Tucked away in a small building between shops, De BarBier is a bar for true beer lovers. More than 100 beers are available, many of them obscure. Ask the staff for recommendations.

Sun-Wed 15:00-01:00, Thu 15:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 15:00-03:00·Outdoor seating

De Baron

A rock bar with billiards and darts. Important football matches are displayed on the big screen. Bar food is served. If you're visiting on Saturdays, there is plenty of seating available.

Sun-Wed 14:00-01:00, Thu 14:00-02:00, Fri Sat 14:00-03:00·Limited wheelchair access

Dudok

The interior of this café is in a similar style as the famous architect W.M. Dudok. Lunch and dinner are served, and are not expensive. At daytime, the music is a combination of classic, like Chopin and Vivaldi, and jazz. At nighttime, the music is more diverse, with a combination of salsa and rock. Sunday afternoons have tango as the style of choice. One of the main attractions of this café are the bi-weekly live jazz sessions. Led by guitar player Kai Von Rosenberg, the session attracts musicians from all over the country. Jazz greats like Benjamin Herman, Jos Machtel and Ilja Reijngoud all have played sets here.

Mon-Fri 10:00-01:00, Sat 12:00-02:00, Sun 12:00-21:00·Wi-Fi

Karroesel

A hard rock and metal bar that caters to alternative audiences. A great place to have a casual chat and meet interesting people. Popular among foreigners that permanently live in Hilversum. On warm days, people tend to stand outside. There is a pool table, but it is not used on Fridays and Saturdays as the bar can be crowded on those days. The back of the bar has been designated a smoking area.

Mon-Thu 12:00-01:00, Fri Sat 12:00-03:00, Sun 15:00-01:00·Limited wheelchair access

Felix II

Typical bruin café, mostly popular among older audiences. The music is rock and blues, and sometimes live bands play. Food is served in a separate building in the back.

Sun-Thu 15:00-01:00, Fri Sat 15:00-03:00

G-Spot

A popular night club with a central location, late hours and it's open every night. There are often queues in front of it, especially around 03:00 on Saturday night. There are couches to sit and a small dance floor in the back. The DJ plays different styles of music with an emphasis on dance, house and R&B music. The audience is in the age range of 21-35.

Sun-Thu 00:00-04:00, Fri Sat 00:00-05:00·Free entry, cloakroom €1

De Dokter

It's possible to have lunch here. At night, the bar has a similar young audience and music style to De Doelen. Pool can be played when it's not too crowded.

Mon-Wed 09:00-01:00, Thu 09:00-02:00, Fri Sat 09:00-03:00, Sun 16:00-01:00

Café Burger

A stylish pub that serves good burgers. There is a vegetarian burger available. Plenty of beers on tap, including special ones like Vedett or Gulden Draak. Outdoor seating available, even in winter as there is outside heating.

Sun-Thu 15:00-01:00, Fri 15:00-03:00, Sat 11:00-03:00

Le Journal

Based in a former printing press building, Le Journal is now a trendy bar and restaurant. Known for its relatively modest prices, a three-course meal costs EUR 19.50. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, it costs even less with EUR 14.50. The meals are varied with fish, burgers, pasta or satay. On summer evenings, make use of the outdoor seating. It is also a good spot for drinks.

Sun Mon 12:00-00, Tue Wed 10:00-00:00, Thu-Sat 10:00-01:00·€20-28

't Tolhuis

Opened since 1901, this café has a long history. The building dates from 1792 and in 1834 it started as a toll booth to finance road construction costs. As toll did not exist anymore since 1898, it turned into a shop for milk trade. Due to its strategic location, at the main road from Utrecht and Baarn to Hilversum, it became a road café for thirsty horse riders. It has been a road café ever since and is still a nice place to order a coffee or beer. It used to be the only café in town closed on weekends, but nowadays opens seven days a week.

Mon-Sat 11:00-01:00, Sun 11:00-22:00·Outdoor seating

Cartouche

This is a typical Dutch bruin café, an excellent pub with a relaxing atmosphere for young and old. Several kinds of Dutch and Belgian beers op tap. Dinner is served, like meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, particularly the satay is good. The music style can be characterised as Dutch "folk" music.

Sun-Thu 15:00-01:00, Fri Sat 15:00-03:00

De Kei

A bruin café known for its simple and tasty menus. It's especially recommended to visit their wine tasting sessions. Late in the evening you can have a beer as the place turns into a bar. It is named after de Kei, the 10,435 kg boulder on the square in front of the bar. De Kei was found on the heath between Laren and Hilversum, and was carried here from Scandinavia during the Pleistocene. In 1921, a festive parade was organised when it was moved to its current location.

Sun Mon 12:00-01:00, Tue-Thu 11:00-01:00, Fri Sat 11:00-03:00·€17-30

Doppio Espresso

A stylish and modern coffee house with a wide variety of coffee and sandwiches. The cappuccino is worth it, as are the latte macchiato or iced coffee. They also serve breakfast. Free Wi-Fi is available, so it is a good place to get some work done or surf the net. Most seats have electrical outlets, so you can charge your mobile phone or laptop.

Mon-Sat 08:00-18:00, Sun 09:00-18:00

The Guardian

The only English pub in Hilversum. It has a beautiful interior and Guinness is on tap. You can order lunch or diner all day, the kitchen closes at 21:30. Thursday nights have live music and special beers available. Sky Sports is on, so go here if you don't want to miss any Premier League matches. Avoid on Saturday nights if you don't like crowds or very loud music.

Mon 12:00-01:00, Tue-Thu 11:00-01:00, Fri Sat 11:00-03:00, Sun 11:30-01:00

Crystal Club

This night bar often has theme parties, like 80s and 90s music every first Saturday of the month and house music every third Saturday of the month.

Thu 23:00-04:00, Fri-Sat 23:00-05:00·€10

Brasserie MANS

194 Gijsbrecht van Amstelstraat

Open now · closes 11 pm·Limited wheelchair access · Outdoor seating

SHOTS Hilversum

Groest 58A

Closed · opens 11 pm Friday

De Maarschalk

Spoorstraat 67

Wheelchair accessible

Gooische Bierbrouwerij

3 Marktplein

Kweek Foodbar

98 Kerkstraat

Nannes

27 Groest

Vue Grandige

67 Groest

Groest 44

44 Groest

Wijnbar Vintage

Spoorstraat 65

De Kroeg

Leeuwenstraat 49

Limited wheelchair access

Rainbow Bar

72 Noorderweg

Café Geer van Amstel

145 Gijsbrecht van Amstelstraat

Cappuccino

Groest 86

Het Clubhuis

59 Groest

30ml Hilversum

's-Gravelandseweg 14