5X BEST BRUNCH SPOTS IN UTRECHT

Food, Netherlands, Tasty Hotspots by Wander-lust 2 Comments

Brunch is hot right now. And we are not complaining! As of recently, Utrecht has seen various brunch-specialised spots popping up around town, and we selflessly volunteered to review them for you. Here are five of the best brunch spots in Utrecht.

Frenchie Cafe

Frenchie is here to cater for a very specific crowd with its rainbow/unicorn and highly instagramable menu, and does a magical job delivering on its promise. It is decadent and it looks magical, unmistakably giving us a treat-yourself feeling. By all means, this brunch spot in Utrecht has the basics covered; egg benedicts, pancakes, avo on toast, smoothie bowls. But when it comes to plating, they turn the volume way up. We couldn’t pay Frenchie a visit without trying out their signature ‘Unicorn Pancakes’ – a rainbow-coloured stack, with pink-dyed white chocolate sauce and some fruits for a touch of healthy.

We also got tempted by the açai-bowl, for a lighter but just as delicious ride. And finally, because the place really whispers you to treat yourself, we gave in to a side of truffle-parmesan fries, which friends strongly recommended to us. Overall review? It is on the pricey side, but if you want to step up your brunch game for, say, a girls brunch date or just because sometimes all we need is rainbow cupcakes, then Frenchie is definitely the wow-factor on this list.

Anna Pancakes

Anna Pancakes is a more relaxed and slightly less bedazzled brunch option, yet the menu and price point is pretty equivalent to above-mentioned Frenchie. Tucked on a side street by Vredenburg square, you will find a little plant-rich oasis contrasting with the surrounding busy shopping streets; Anna Pancakes. Definitely one of the best brunch spots to go to in Utrecht.

As you might guess, the menu revolves around pancakes with various toppings, from sweet to savoury, with the option to customise it as you please. But as any brunch spot calls for (in my biased opinion), the menu extends to egg dishes (Benedict, poached on toast and so on), diverse smoothie bowls or even the magic words that caught my eye; avocado and halloumi on sourdough bread.

Similarly to many brunch spots in town, the price isn’t what I would qualify as very budget-friendly, but that halloumi was priceless in my cheese-loving eyes. The pancakes were equally to die for, and the owner made the whole experience a pleasure. Again, maybe more of an occasional destination, but definitely a must-try for the brunch-fanatics in town. www.annapancakes.nl

BUNK Brunch Utrecht

This rather large restaurant is part of BUNK Hotel which was created from a converted Church. By all means, perfect for a cheeky little brunch or just to chill out for coffee or getting a bit of work done. From travellers to locals, Bunk is always open and offers pretty affordable prices compared to other brunch and lunch spots in Utrecht. They also have an outside terrace which is great for sunny days. Again, they’ve got your brunch basics. Recognisable dishes, most local and with an eye on sustainability. Alternatively, you can opt-in for the breakfast plank with croissants, eggs and the likes, or yogurt, granola and fruits, even overnight oats. Want the best brunch in Utrecht for a good price? Give it a go!

Karibu

Honestly, don’t even get me started on this venue. Karibu’s dream jungle themed interior is a clear winner on the venue front. They’ve recently opened for dinner too, which is a big plus. And don’t you worry, the food follows up on that dream trend. The menu has got what it takes to please brunch traditionalists and adventurers alike.

To demonstrate for brunch in Utrecht, they’ve got the basic breakfast plates, eggs, toast, pancakes, granola (all amazing choices by the way). But moreover, they also serve some more unusual dishes; shakshuka, huevos rancheros, Vietnamese banh mi. And one menu item that particularly tickled my halloumi-loving taste buds: shouf shouf habibi (just order it, you’ll love it). You might have to wait a tad for a table on weekends’ busiest hours, but nothing unreasonable, and trust us when we say it’s worth the hype. When the decor and food is on point, the word spreads fast. www.karibucafe.nl

Loaded – Best brunch Utrecht

Loaded with flavor, loaded with friendly vibes, loaded in value for money; in short Loaded is my brunch winner, and as a result I just can’t stop going back. Situated in the beginning of Amsterdamsestraatweg (i.e. center-side), this unassuming little spot ticks all the boxes, and usually won’t have you wait to get munching. This place offers the best brunch in Utrecht, in all it’s best forms with:

eggs benny
avo on toast
smoothie bowls
pancakes…
bacon

All absolutely delicious and without breaking the bank. And brunch is only the start of what Loaded’s got coming out of the hat; after 3pm, get the borrel bites coming with their loaded fries, kichmi fries (you read that right), loaded nachos, and other salivating snacks.

Source: @loadedutrecht

What’s new? Your own beer-tap table, where you get to help yourself to some beer, while munching on aforementioned sharing plates. Disclaimer, we haven’t tried this new addition yet, but we’re dying to. Overall, yes it is mouth-watering foods, from brunch to dinner, and at a decent price. But what really does it for me is the people. Loaded’s staff is the friendliest bunch, always there for a little banter or to help you pick one of the many hot sauces in their collection. But don’t just take my word for it, go get yourself a load of brunch in Utrecht and let us know if you agree.

In conclusion, Utrecht has a lot of amazing brunch spots (have you tried our favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam yet?) We have yet to try them all, but let’s start with these five, shall we?

Hungrily yours,

Mathilde