The Cathedral City is packed with sustainable toppers! We from thegreenlist.nl Are big fans of Utrecht. There are so many great sustainable restaurants. And we want you to fall in love with Utrecht as much as we do. So in this article, we list the best sustainable restaurants in Utrecht. That way, you don't have to search around and can enjoy your cake, lunch, dinner and much more right away! And don't forget to take a moment to admire the Dom, of course. You can do this from a distance, you don't have to go up. You can, of course!
Sustainable eating out in Utrecht
In Utrecht, it is really quite easy to take a greener route. You'll find plenty of great second-hand and vintage shops, more sustainable hotels such as Stayokay Centre on the Neude and Bunk, and when it comes to food, you are also in the right place. There are so many sustainable restaurants where you can go for a conscious breakfast, a cosy lunch or a sumptuous dinner. And the good thing is: you don't have to search for long. We will help you on your way!
Le Jardin restaurant
You've probably seen this restaurant pass by many times at thegreenlist.nl. And for good reason: this place is fantastic! At Le Jardin vegetables play the starring role and it is like being in France for a while. In the middle of the restaurant is a greenhouse where they grow vegetables and herbs, which are of course also used for the delicious dishes. The menu changes seasonally. A good excuse to come back here regularly. Le Jardin is a very popular restaurant. So if you want to be sure of a place, don't forget to make a reservation. Tip: are you looking more for a sandwich? Then head to Pain du Jardin! All the delights of Le Jardin, but on a sandwich. Ideal.
Mariaplaats 42, Utrecht
Stadsjochies
Fancy an evening of really green dining in Utrecht? Then head to Stadsjochies are: a ‘greenhouse restaurant’ in Utrecht-East where you literally dine among the herbs, flowers and vegetable plants. There is no set menu, you just eat whatever the greenhouse has to offer that day - it doesn't get fresher than this. Choose a four- or six-course surprise menu starring vegetables and optionally a bit of sustainable meat or fish. At 6pm, you can even join a tour of the greenhouse and garden, drink in hand. Extra special: Stadsjochies is located next to the Dutch Waterlines (UNESCO World Heritage Site!). Make a reservation though, as this place is popular!
Rijndijk 12, Utrecht
Warmoes
Warmoes is in one of the most special places in Utrecht: the Hof van Cartesius, a circular breeding place in the Werkspoor quarter. Between creative studios and green gardens, you can come here all day long for a vega(n) brunch, lunch or dinner. Everything is homemade with local and organic ingredients in the leading role. Think dishes like celeriac ice satay or mushroom rendang - delicious! Extra fun: the interior is a work of art in itself. Warmoes is a place where you not only eat sustainably, but also get new inspiration.
Vlampijpstraat 94, Utrecht
Warmoes is a circular hotbed with a lovely terrace and a sustainable menu. Photos: John Akerman Ozguc Aquinox Media (left), Foodtage Agency (centre), Julia Obscura (right).
Bunk
In an old church right next to Utrecht Central Station, enjoy at Bunk of a sustainable lunch, drinks or dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. Long tables, good music, a creative menu with lots of vegetables and veg dishes, and meat only as a side dish. Added bonus: Bunk does a lot for the city, from collaborations with local artists to offering work to people distanced from the labour market. Also nice: you can sleep here affordably, but even if you just stop by for the food, Bunk is already worth a visit.
Catharijnekade 9, Utrecht
KLUTS
If you have a sweet tooth, top! Then we know exactly where you should go, namely KLUTS! This cosy coffee bar and vegan bakery is right behind the Dom Church. When the weather is nice, you can sit on the terrace in front of the door. On a colder or wetter day, you can find a nice spot inside. In the bakery at the back of the shop, new cakes, cinnamon rolls and biscuits are baked all day long. That's why it smells delicious all the time! If you can walk in here without wanting to order anything, we are at a loss. The menu changes daily, so take a good look at the display case before making your choice. And don't forget to order a delicious chai latte, which is extra spicy here. Yummy!
Achter de Dom 6, Utrecht
BROWN
BROEI once started as a coffee shop with cinnamon rolls and a daily snack, but has since become a hip restaurant (with a location in Amersfoort too!). The menu features surprising plant-based dishes, drinks and snacks. And you can enjoy sitting on the terrace along the quay or pick a spot at one of the cosy tables inside. BROWN is open every day, from early morning until late at night, so you have no excuse not to stop here for a drink or snack. Every eight weeks, the menu changes and the chef conjures up new seasonal dishes. But luckily, the cinnamon rolls are always there. Remains a favourite!
Oosterkade 24, Utrecht
Gys
You will find Gys not once, but even twice in Utrecht! And for good reason: at this organic restaurant, you will find delicious vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. At Gys breakfast, brunch, lunch, drinks, dinner - and did we already tip the delicious high tea? There is a special menu for (young) children. With chickpea bites or orzo with vegetables! That's a bit better than the standard fries with ketchup, right? We at thegreenlist.nl Find Gys a very nice place and would love to visit again soon to feast on the fried oyster mushrooms, blueberry pancakes or well, what not?
Amsterdamsestraatweg 113 & Voorstraat 77, Utrecht.
The Green House
Are you near Utrecht Centraal station? Top, then you're near The Green House! A unique circular restaurant where the dishes are made with ingredients from the Utrecht region and from their own Urban Farm. Which you can also visit by the way, very cool! This is the ideal place to meet up for a cosy dinner with friends, but also for a lunch appointment for work, for example. Many dishes on the menu are vegetarian or vegan and there are also several gluten-free options. The zero waste soup is top of course, but the other options are also definitely worth a try! Can't choose? Then just go for The Green Lunch or The Green Dinner Experience. Are you always right.
Croeselaan 16, Utrecht
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is not only the name of the plant with which you can make delicious compote, but also the name of a cosy café in Utrecht! Open every day of the week and from Wednesday to Sunday you can also go there for dinner, drinks and late-night snacks. Why should you really go to Rhubarb should go there? Well, for instance because of the delicious rice pudding, the roasted rhubarb on homemade brioche (love it) or the roasted yellow beetroot. All dishes are vegetarian, many also vegan. Don't forget to take a look at all the cakes too! Making a choice is hard, we know. Rhubarb uses organic and local ingredients as much as possible. In short: don't forget to visit this place!
Zadelstraat 20, Utrecht
Za'atar Bakery & Restaurant
Another great name for a restaurant: Za'atar! And this Middle Eastern spice blend is certainly put to good use, as the whole menu is full of mezze. Everything is vegetarian and prepared on the spot. Would you like to eat vegan? No point, can be arranged in no time! Stop by for a sweet or savoury breakfast, for example börek, a durum pancake or yoghurt with fruit. Will you finish your lunch with a tahini chocolate brownie? Or do you prefer baklava? The mezze are all delicious too: from cauliflower florets and falafel to dolma and fattouch. Flour for the pitas comes from Korenmolen de Windotter, near Utrecht! All dishes can also be taken away, but if you have the time, we recommend eating at the restaurant. Enjoy your meal!
Twijnstraat 20 & Amsterdamsestraatweg 374, Utrecht
Kasvio
Of course, we cannot write an article about Utrecht without Kasvio tip. This is really a restaurant for a special occasion, though, not for a quick lunch. In fact, Kasvio is a completely vegan fine dining restaurant. Everything is made from organic ingredients, with vegetables from the neighbourhood and, of course, according to the seasons. Matching drinks are served with all dishes, from speciality beers and organic wines to homemade kombuchas. Kasvio is open on Thursday to Sunday only. On Saturdays and Sundays also for lunch. Don't forget to make a reservation, but above all, don't forget to enjoy a unique experience!
Wittevrouwenstraat 22, Utrecht
Garden Cafe North Garden
You have to cycle for a while, but then you have something: Garden Cafe North Garden really is a true green paradise! This spot in Utrecht Overvecht belongs to garden centre Steck. Tip to take a look there after your meal. But back to the food: the entire menu is vegetarian and organic, and there are also quite a few vegan dishes on it. Many fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown in the food garden. Other ingredients come from local suppliers and entrepreneurs. Is that sustainable, or not? You can sit outside in the sun here, and for children there is a fun nature playground. Is it raining? No problem, you can also find a nice spot inside.
Gageldijk 3, Utrecht
The Field Kitchen
If you do not cycle to Utrecht Overvecht, but instead go to Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen, you will come to The Field Kitchen justified. Officially just outside Utrecht, but really easy to do by bike. At De Veldkeuken, they serve a Harvest Table dinner in the summer months with produce from the vegetable garden. Every fortnight the menu is different, super fun! But De Veldkeuken is also a favourite outside the summer months. You can pick a nice spot inside, enjoy a book, play a game and of course eat a delicious cake in the meantime. Or just a vegan brekkie, scone or the polder gadogado. Want to take the taste of the estate home with you? You can! In the estate shop you will find local products and delicious bread. Tip: afterwards, take a walk through Amelisweerd, really beautiful there!
Koningslaan 11, Bunnik
At De Veldkeuken, you eat with the seasons. It takes some pedalling, as this gem is located in Amelisweerd.
The Kitchen Garden
Just outside the hustle and bustle of the city you will find The Kitchen Garden: an organic garden, lunch café and social enterprise all in one. You eat here among greenery, with fresh ingredients from the land itself. Think soups, salads, juices and sandwiches with a twist, all organic and seasonal. Extra good: the Kitchen Garden offers workplaces to people distanced from the labour market. Need to stretch your legs in between? Walk around the garden, browse in the shop or plop down on the sunny terrace. A lovely place for a relaxed, sustainable lunch in Utrecht-East.
Laan van Maarschalkerweerd 2, Utrecht
At The Moestuin, you imagine yourself in the countryside for a moment, yet you are in the buzz of Utrecht. Photos: Lisanne Koopmans / Look to See Photography.
Looking for more sustainable restaurants in Utrecht?
We get it! It was also particularly difficult to make a selection for this article. So be sure to visit Vegitalian for the tastiest pizzas, pastas and desserts. Copper Branch for a tasty burger, bowl, salad, wrap or sandwich. Or the cosy coffeehouse and dinner bar Thyme for great food with views of Utrecht's canal. And there is also a 100% vegetarian restaurant in a wharf cellar: The Yard Circle with waterside terrace. Do you have another restaurant tip in Utrecht that really belongs on this list? Then let us know via the contact buttons at the bottom of this page!
Photo credits: main image: The Field Kitchen (left), Julia Obscura (right). Other: John Akerman Ozguc Aquinox Media (exterior Warmoes), Foodtage Agency (dish Warmoes), Julia Obscura (interior Warmoes), The Field Kitchen, Lisanne Koopmans / Look to See Photography (The Kitchen Garden).
