Want to know the toughest part of being an American overseas? Finding a place to watch the Super…read moreBowl!!!! When I studied abroad in the Netherlands sometimes I searched for that little piece of home that was comforting and said "hey, its all good." For me, that thing was the Duke of Oz on superbowl sunday in Leiden. I had been to this bar many times in my many months spend in Leiden, but it just so happened it was one of the only places airing the game. Not only did the drinks taste extra good that day. If I can recall - and this was tough because I may have indulged in one too many Heinekens - they were serving up free food and snacks. Beer... check! Food... check! Superbowl... check! Now if you can imagine anything wrong with this picture you have some serious issues. But on that faithful night there was only one thing that would have ruined my most sacred Sunday and can you guess what that is? The game was broadcasted on a British station THEREFORE you guessed it... NO AMERICAN COMMERCIALS. Now if that wasn't a buzz kill I don't know what is. I really can't complain though, can I? Living in a foreign country, drinking the Netherlands finest, and watching the big game? Doesn't get any better than that.

Unlike almost every other bar in Leiden, this place is HUGE! They also have an equally huge…read moreselection of beers. If you're there on a quiet night it can be a bit gloomy because of its size, but most nights that's not a huge problem.

Quite large pub with nice atmosphere…read more We ordered a sandwich, croquettes and a salat. Quality was OK, but nothing special. The salat came without dressing. Service friendly, but a bit slow, even so it was pretty empty. I had to follow the waiter to get the menu. There was a nice outdoor seating inside the building complex.

Loved both visits here. Had a fantastic server (Charlotte) & the beer & bitterballen were…read morefantastic! The view from the bridge was wonderful!

Really great solid place. Great view from the upstairs seating area. Staff is nice and food is…read moregood. So cozy and comfortable.

We stopped in on a recommendation from a nearby shop owner. So glad we did. The place is über cool…read moreinside, with good tap beers. I had a Weihenstephaner beer on tap -- a rarity in the U.S. The bartender was friendly and engaging, as were the clientele. I will now pass along the recommendation we received, and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

With an all-glass portico from it's entrance, Bonte Koe shines bright at night in the alleyway in…read morewhich it's located. If you're lured inside by this quirky view, which is enhanced by the ivy growing on the extension, you'll probably find a very crowded pub. You'll also notice a variety of patrons, from the old locals to young students sipping their brews. If you manage to find a spot, there's a variety of beers from which to choose. Most of them are uncommon, but you'll have to try hard to find that one true gem among them. Overall, Bonte Koe is a cute and cozy pub that's a good place for a night of beer and conversation, as long as you manage to find a spot. As this is not necessarily easy, you might want to bring a good pair of elbows. Drinks up!

AVOID ! Very rude staff , especially the so called security . The management of this bar is…read moreobviously too incompetent or indifferent to train and explain to their bouncer that his job is not to go around acting tough and assault customers without any valid reason . That's what happened to me - this idiot wannabe tough guy bouncer came out of nowhere and tackled me from the side unexpectedly as I was walking back towards the table where my daughter and her friend were sitting . They were in absolute shock as to what they just witnessed , as was I - was shoved out of the door without explanation. Pure cowardice and perhaps xenophobia? Reading some of the other reviews this doesn't seem to be an isolated incident . It's a shame that this was my first day visiting Netherlands - this bar gives the Dutch , who otherwise very friendly people, a terrible image as to how to treat visitors. No reason to waste your money here .

In de Oude Marenpoort is exactly the place you go with some of your buddies to drink some beers…read more The place serves decent beer, has okay seating and plays classic pop songs all night long. It's simply a chill and conventional place where you'll have a nice evening when your company is right, just probably not a night that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Cute little spot along the canal between two of the local windmills. There was a break in the rain…read moreso we were able to sit outside in the sunshine in their big open patio area. Food was delicious. I had the cas-kas croquettes. My friend got the Caesar salad which was huge and looked good. All of the food came out surprisingly quickly. The service was friendly and prompt when we waved him over to order and requests. Note that Europeans tend to leave you to enjoy your food experience so just politely wave them over if you need anything. He also spoke English very well and the menus came in English. He said they were out of kid menus in English but translated the menu immediately so we could get the kids food ordered first thing. Highly recommend this street cafe if you're in Leiden. Good views, good service and good food.

At first glance looks potentially touristy, however, excellent food & service, with friendly…read moreatmosphere. Ended up eating 3 dinners over a week, all very good: Salmon, smoked salmon salad, and Cesar salad with chicken & bacon.

Great beers, delicious burgers, super service! Our group of 10 had an awesome time! We tried…read morefantastic beers from all over Europe & even some from great USA breweries!

With 20 taps, Stadsbrouwhuis is one of the latest and greatest additions to the Leiden craft beer…read morescene. Their beer selection reliably features several conventional Brand beers, but venturing beer geeks will surely find a brew they've never seen in one of the quickly rotating taps. In addition to serving up a variety of local and international beers, Stadsbrouwhuis also brews their own tasteful ales. Though their (very affordable) vegetarian dishes won't fill you up for a night of drinking, their crunchy and thickly sliced French fries do a fine job. We've only seen (rather than tasted) their other food from a distance, but everything looks like a well-made and inspired fusion of styles. As for their snacks: they're on the pricey side but very generous. Finally, the friendly staff is always excited to help you in beer-mergency situations. And in the rare occasion that their descriptions don't trigger your taste buds, you're always welcome to have a free taste. All in all, Stadsbrouwhuis is ideal for adventurous tasting and memorable conversations. But if you just have time to drop by on your way to a social event, be sure to pick up a swing-top bottle that's filled with anything from tap.