De Balie

Frommer's Review

In what was once a jail, this chic theater cafe-restaurant pulls in an arty, theater-going crowd and serves them an inexpensive lunch and some great snacks along with beers, wines, and coffee, in a stylish, high-ceilinged, but smoky ground-floor cafe. Simple but fine meals are served in a restaurant upstairs, which has an ever-changing menu that's short on choice but long enough on taste. A Dutch option might be a zippy variation on something traditional, like lamsfilet met mierikswortelsaus (lamb filet with a horseradish sauce). There's invariably a vegetarian plate, maybe something like the Mediterranean-style mozarellataartje met gedroogde tomaten, broccoli en olijvensaus (mozzarella pie with dried tomatoes, broccoli, and an olive sauce). De Balie is well placed for a dinner before or after a visit to its own theater, the nearby Stadsschouwburg, or one of the multiscreen movie theaters around Leidseplein.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.