Groningen, capital of the eponymous province in the northern part of Holland, is a lively city that has much to offer in terms of culture and events, beautiful historic monuments, great shopping districts for a wonderful shopping spree, and excellent restaurants. Its central Grote Markt square is home to the centuries-old Martinitoren clock tower. The adjoining Martinikerk is a large Gothic church with frescoes and a baroque organ. Set on a canal, the futuristic Groninger Museum showcases modern and contemporary art, plus ceramics. The Northern Maritime Museum traces the history of shipbuilding and shipping in the region. Groningen also offers an emerging beer seen with three breweries (March 2022) and some great beer bars, that's why Groningen should definitely be on your to-do list!
Brouwerij Martinus, Kostersgang 32-34
A great little brewery and tap room located n the city centre. The brewery is on the ground floor, on the 1st floor ia a restaurant with bar, but the proeflokaal (tasting room) is on the 2nd floor, it's a cosy bar with comfortable seats and couches, like some ones living room with different kind of armchairs, sofas, stools and chairs. They have 9 taps of their own beers and also some in bottle's. If you sit on the rooftop terrace, you get a nice view of the Martini Kerk, and the rooftops. Great friendly, funny and passionate staff. A great atmosphere especially when they have live Jazz on. 🤪 A must do when in the city.
Bax Bier, Friesestraatweg 201/2A
Located little away from city centre on the side of a canal. They have 12 taps mostly their own beers with a few guest brews. They do flights and guided tours of the brewery, were they take time to explain to you their passion for brewing. Inside the proeflokaal there is a large bar on one side with a pool table at the far end. Lots of wooded bars stools and table that divide the room into cosy little sections. There is a cool canal side terrace for outside imbibing on a sunny day. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable about beer and the brewery aspect behind the beers. They change the food menu all the time, which is cool, but the main reason to come here is definitely the beers. Otto says; Great vibes and great beer's give it a try.😃 Their motto is: Seriously Playful.
De Prael Groningen, Boterdiep 75
ation next to Muziekpodium Simplon and Simplon Hostel, on the edge of the city centre, within walking distance of the Grote Markt and the Martini Tower. A pretty spacious brewpub with a cool atmosphere. Inside it's a mix of industrial, warehouse and artistic elements. There is also a cool courtyard. Friendly service, (they employ people on an integration step to full employment, so therefore do not expect perfection!) The food menu quite small, but with delicious honest food. Otto says; Super cosy bar with delicious home-brewed beers. 🙃 Note: The aim of the brewery is first of all to get delicious beer flowing from the tap, but in doing so also to create workplaces for people who are always left out of the job market. De Prael believes that everyone deserves a chance, and are part of the WerkPro Foundation. Please support them you know it makes sense. 👌🏽
Bierlokaal Café de Koffer, Nieuwe Blekerstraat 1
An authentic little back street brown café, dark and cosy even down to the garish seventies wallpaper, including the obligatory ‘beer paraphernalia’ old tin billboards etc decorating the place. Also large boards listing all of the beers that they have (300+). Inside it's a smallish simply furnished place, the bar is on the left side as you enter. It's situated in a nice little area about a 5 minute walk from the city centre, that jostles for attention with other Cafés with pavement patios. A mix of loyal regulars, (international) students, local residents, hipsters and beer lovers, who come to chat, read books form their library play one of the many board games and of coarse to quaff great beers. As the experienced beer freak knows these are the best places to be! They put their energy in their beers. Not their looks. Great very friendly staff that know their beers and make you feel at home. They have 10 changing taps were some rare and different beers can be found, with anything from hyper-locals to Dutch craft to lambic to Scandinavian beers and some US stuff, very impressive. Otto says; A ticker’s paradise, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.😜
Proeflokaal MOUT, Gedempte Zuiderdiep 43
Located right next to De Koffer (^above^). Inside it's quite spacious with a large table in the centre, this place almost breathes a kind of French style ‘grand café’ atmosphere, with a clean yet pleasant interior that also incorporates a little shop. They serve only Dutch beers from 7 taps but still manages to keep an ever changing list of 100+ bottles. It's the place to be if you want to discover Dutch beers in Groningen. Great friendly staff that know what's on the menu. So you can give them adjectives describing the taste experience you're after, and they suggest a beer for you, very cool. Otto says; Great Dutch beers in a cosy atmosphere, cool staff and they even have board games.🧐
De Toeter, Turfsingel 6
Located just north of the "island" that holds Groningen proper. This large typical Dutch brown café, is a bit ramshackle, with lots of dark wood, dim lighting, with a cosy and authentic feel to it. Inside the bar is on you right side as you enter with some tables to the front and running all down the opposite side. Also they have a patio across the road by the waterside and the large boat called Ludina giving rise to the brewery name were all the test brews are done here, then apparently they get brewed by Mommeriete? They have 20 taps with a few of their own Rockin Ludina beers on and an extensive bottle list. Plus a huge amount of whiskies over 300 (not my bag) as well. Not very beer geeky, it seems like mostly students and hipsters come here. Nice friendly staff and a relaxed ambience. Food menu is delicious. Well worth a stop when you're in town. Otto says; easily one of the best bars in town.🍻
De Pintelier, Kleine Kromme Elleboog 9
Located in a small alley, next to Van Erp Dranken, you can see De Pintelier at the end and then a branch off to the right leads to a sort of cul-de-sac or more accurately a square at which this and another establishment utilise the space with outside tables. De Pintelier looks quite an historic building from the outside as it sits on a corner. They are allied with the ABT, which means they have a decent selection of Belgian ales, including all the Trappist ales. Inside it's an old fashioned bar in a long oblong room with a huge long bar, with bar stools to sit around 30 people, (like a Traditional British pub) with wooden panels, dark and rustic, with a good local feel with 80s music playing in the background. Good service, the staff know about their beers, and enjoys talking about them. The beers are mostly Belgian with some big Dutch brewers. Otto says; overall a great place to talk rubbish and drink beers. 🧐
Café Ugly Duck, Zwanestraat 28
Don't get put off by its name, if you're looking for a friendly place to eat and drink then this is it. This bar is situated on Zwannestraat which is a nice little shopping street featuring predominantly independent retailers. Inside it has "Art Deco" features with nice light fittings that look cool. It's like a cafe grand, they do a really tasty food menu, that caters for gluten free and vegan and have 7 taps and a bottle list of around 40 beers with a few "ticks" hidden away. The staff are very friendly and efficient and speak multiple languages. Otto says; Go have a nice lunch in the sun on the patio.😎
Het Concerthuis, Poelestraat 30
A very hipster bar in the centre of town. It looks very modern from the outside, but is filled with vintage furniture on the inside. A very cosy place. Upon entry you see the bar and a few tables, if you pass on the left there's a whole other large area with tables and seats, also with some couches. A cool very laid back atmosphere, with great friendly service. There is a rotating tap list and two bottle list's? One is listed as the secret stash (which is No secret). This is the one you want to pick a beer from. This is also a food place. They do breakfast, lunch and dinner, but you can order everything the whole day. Otto says; well worth a look if you are passing. 🤨
De Drie Gezusters, Grote Markt 36/39
This is an immense Grand Café. This place looks very old and grand inside upon entering you are draw to the huge stained glass ceiling and lighting, there is a narrow low level island which has seating all around, it looks great, separate wooden cubicles further. The second part beyond the bar the seating looked ultra comfy and is in a railway carriage style with luggage racks above, it looked great. Loads of old wood everywhere. This place is like a rabbit warren it goes on and on, further exploration led's to more and more rooms and bar. Otto says; Go here for the Café itself and enjoy it with a well chosen beer.👍🏻
The Dog’s Bollocks, Oude Boteringestraat 17
A large pub which seem to be popular with students, and maybe a few drunk assholes! They do have around 10 taps and some craft bottles and cans, but nothing that interesting. Inside its quite dark with lots of seating areas, secluded corners, sports on TV and loud music. Also a small terrace. These days this is not a must stop for a beer lover by any means. 🙄
Eetwinkel Buurman & Buurman Groningen Rodeweg, Rodeweg 6
A cool place with delicious pizza! The pizzas are a little unusual, in a good way. Friendly and helpful staff. The atmosphere is great, lively and cosy. Great local beers and spirits. A fun thing kid's can express their creativity on the floors with crayons! The staff are knowledgeable and can recommend beers or pizza depending on your tastes.
Café Singelier, Coendersweg 44
A great selection of drinks, especially as they have a certitified beer taster the barman who is friendly and helpful. Definitely a great place to have a nice evening with friends away from the big crowds in a cosy small café with a small terrace that’s very atmospheric.
De Garage, Boterdiep 46
A very modern cafe bar quite a cosy atmosphere and good food! They have a lovely terrace upstairs. Good beer selection and food. The Garage was literally a garage and storage space for the Platform theatre in the past.
Café Hooghoudt, Grote Markt 42
Very cozy pub and friendly waiters. 😊 Their menu is in different languages, which is very good for folk like me who struggle? Quite a good selection of beers. A great place for lunch, dinner or just drinks.
Café De Klikspaan, Rabenhauptstraat 78
A nice place with a good vibe, in chill neighbourhood location. Inside is a bit smoky and sticky so it's much nicer to sit on their terrace for a drink. Greasy food for bar snacks, but sometimes that's what hits the spot! A nice variety of beers. The clientele is quite varied with locals, students and internationals.
Tapasco, Haddingedwarsstraat 3
A great place! A hidden gem in Groningen. The food is very nice and you have an all you can eat tapas system. A cosy atmosphere, especially the roof terrace, that's a nice place to sit when the weather permits. Friendly staff. The beer selection is not that great or that good, but overall the place and food is very nice 😊
Just in Beer, Folkingestraat 18
A medium sized beer shop in the town center. Plenty of space to move around and choose a beer or ten. They are knowledgeable and friendly. They have around 500 bottles, both imported and Dutch. Some interesting US and UK beers, but also lambics. The prices are OK, some better than others. I'd recommend a visit if you're in town.👍🏻
Slijterij Groningen Vismarkt, Vismarkt 36
A huge shop with whisky, wine, spirits and beer. The beer corner is around 40% of the shop.
The shop is rectangular in shape with the counter close to the front brick arched facade. The beers are mostly located in the rear half of the shop and concentrate heavily on Dutch with some rare and limited edition beers and Belgian with a smaller but well-chosen selection of other European and US beers. The owner is a great guy and multi lingual, he knows his stuff beer wise. This is a cool bottled beer shop.😎
Van Erp Dranken, Grote Kromme Elleboog 16
A nice classic shop with lots of shelves. Mostly wine/whisky/other drinks but also an isle dedicated to beer. With quite a collection of local brews with lots of ticks available!
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