With gorgeous weather (or just no rain), it’s the perfect time to go out for a pint (or two) of beer. These are the best cafes in the Hague for a great craft beer. Of course, you’ll find places happy to serve you a Heineken that is 60% foam, but as a beer lover, I prefer to spend my money at places that are happy to give me a good beer that is something without pretense or insane prices. Please let me know if I’ve left your favorite off this list!
de paas
I love de Paas. Have I already professed my love for this specialty beer cafe? (I have already done so within this other post about the best cafes with terraces.) This cozy bar with friendly bar has no pretenses, a good beer selection, and a rare quietness that most bars don’t have anymore. Ask to see their impressive beer book and you’ll understand why real beer lovers in the Hague love this cafe! It’s a great place for a quiet night catching up with friends.
rootz
Rootz is one of my favorites although it’s often quite busy. I find it harder to get a seat here and for non-alcohol drinks, the selection isn’t as good. I otherwise love coming here as their homemade beer is actually quite delicious (and affordable). Avoid Fridays after work as it’s often busy with Dutch borrels. Later on is much better.
the fiddler
The Fiddler is a favorite of my expat friends in the Hague. Why? It’s a very British bar in terms of their beer selection. Although they certainly serve beers, I always like their in-house beer selection. The atmosphere is great and I always enjoy the pub trivia in English here!
brody’s
For an upscale beer in a quiet setting, Brody’s is a great bar. This Dutch-run American bar (confusing, no?) serves imported American beers along with Dutch beers. It’s a great place to relax while enjoying the immaculate service. I can’t say that many bartenders have memorized my previous beer orders and recommended similar beers to me. I recommend the beer flight if you can’t choose what you want. I also recommend the snacks as well as their evenings (e.g. for American Thanksgiving).
cafe de la gare
I think that I’ve outed myself as a hater of crowds, but I always love spending the evening at Cafe De La Gare. It has it all: A quiet location, outdoor seating in the summers, a great beer selection, and reasonable prices for craft beer. It’s a bit hidden, but you’ll treasure it once you find it!
de prael
The newcomer to the block has to be Brouwerij De Prael, which has recently-ish opened in a hidden away location. This is a great place to relax along the water away from the insanity of Center on a nice evening (or day; no judgment here).
gekke geit
The Gekke Geit (The Crazy Goat) reminds me of some of the dive bars that I used to visit when I was in graduate school. The beer selection is here and although it might not be for everyone, it might be worth dropping by if you enjoy chatting, live music, and getting away from the crowds in Grote Markt.
the old jazz
When I was living in Scheveningen, we ended up coming to the Old Jazz quite a bit for a cozy beer. This old brown bar is very pretty inside and it’s just cozy. It has a decent Dutch and Belgian beer, but the atmosphere is why I typically come here!
Café Momfer De Mol
For an old-school Dutch bar with a great selection, I recommend De Mol. What is unique here is that they stock beer from the Haagsche Broeder cloister microbrewery, which is brewed down the street at their monastery. You’ll have to order the whole bottle, but you can’t go wrong with a Prior!
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