Fancy a nice glass of red, a glass of fizz or a high wine with friends? We’re making a tour of the best wine bars in town. Cheers! By Roos Post VinVin Just over ten years ago, three friends opened Utrecht’s very first wine bar. It’s now a household name and VinVin was even voted the Netherlands’ best wine bar. Julian, who’s been running the place since 2016, didn’t train as a sommelier but acquired his vast knowledge along the way. Fun fact: Julian himself has also been awarded a prize, namely that of Most Enthusiastic Wine Bar Owner. His dream? To run his own vineyard in Italy or France. > Predikherenstraat 6 wijnbarvinvin.nl Rubens Proeflokaal This fabulous old building on Nieuwegracht hides a true hidden gem: Rubens Proeflokaal. It’s not only a place for a good glass of wine and a plate of snacks, but also for a tasting session. That’s their speciality (and why it’s called ‘Rubens tasting bar’ in Dutch)! You can book for groups of at least ten people, or you can join a group on your own or with a couple of friends. They don’t just specialise in wine, but also in port and whisky. > Nieuwegracht 197 rubensproeflokaal.nl Roemer Sommelier Wim and chef Glenn opened Roemer in October 2021 on Berlijnplein in the Leidsche Rijn neighbourhood. They serve over three hundred sorts of wine, as well as various types of grappa and sherry. Roemer has two areas: a wine bar where you can order a drink, snacks or a simple meal. And a restaurant where you can enjoy a proper lunch or dinner, involving three to seven courses. With fitting wines, obv! > Berlijnplein 2 roemer-utrecht.nl Lefebvre ‘Lefebvre’ means ‘artisan’ in French and it shows. Everyone here is devoted to their work. They can tell you anything you want to know about your chosen wine. Our tip: order fresh oysters with your fizz, or a cheese board with a good glass of red, and sit back to enjoy the view of the Neude buzz and the grandeur of the old post office, which now houses a library. > Neude 2 lefebvre.nl ZIES At ZIES, on the corner of Twijnstaat and Ledig Erf, they serve various wines from Morocco, Portugal, Lebanon, Israel, Greece and Cyprus. Something a little a bit different. If you can’t choose, try the ZIES Flight: three different half-glasses. As well as a wine bar, ZIES is also a bistro: they serve Mediterranean dishes, such as wild gambas, pig’s cheeks with chorizo or langoustine with burrata, all prepared in a mibrasa – a Spanish charcoal oven. > Twijnstraat 58 zies-utrecht.nl Bar Cava This place is all about seeing and being seen. The house drink is obviously cava, but they also serve champagne, sangria and wine. Much of it is Spanish, and the rest comes from Europe. Order some tapas or a plate of snacks to go with your drinks. Tip: every Wednesday, chef Rafaël makes paella. > Bar Cava barcava.nl Talud9 The concept at Talud9 is simple: nice coffee and good wine. Instead of a wine menu, they have a ‘wine guide’: a step-by-step plan to help you discover what you like. Order something to go with your wine, like cheese, charcuterie, prosciutto crudo or burrata with truffle oil. Or try a ‘high wine’: you taste several different wines, along with carefully chosen tasty morsels. Fun fact: the building was once a garden house for Pope Adrian, the only Dutch Pope. > Donkere Gaard 9 talud9.nl Terroir In the middle of the Museum quarter, there’s a smart wine restaurant called Terroir. Almost all of the wines served here are organic and biodynamic. The wine menu changes constantly and the choice is eye-watering. Luckily, the owner and sommelier Julian is happy to advise. French, German and Spanish wines are his speciality. And if you’re feeling peckish, the kitchen cooks seasonal dishes using local ingredients. A place at the bar is highly recommended. > Lange Nieuwstraat 62 caferestaurantterroir.nl