Zijlstraat is where it’s at

Have you been in the Zijlstraat recently? There are so many new and exciting things to try there. From craft beer to cajun food, and even organic candy. There are a plethora of new things to try and here are just a few of them.

Zijlstraat, a street that I’m on almost every day has seen a dramatic change over the last year, especially the section between the Zijlbrug and the Gedepte Oude Gracht. I’m noticing something new now almost monthly as I bike back and forth between my apartment and the gym. It all started last winter when the craft beer bar Uiltje Bar opened (you can read my original writeup here). Since its opening, it has become my favorite place to go for drinks in Haarlem. They have 30 beers on tap and lots more in bottles and the beer is really good! You can try Uiltje beer or beer from craft breweries all over the world. And the best part, the menu changes all the time so there is always a lot of new things on tap to try. The guys running the place are quite knowledgeable so if you find so much selection a bit overwhelming, just let them know and they will be glad to help you out. They do a lot of cool things like bottle swap Wednesdays, have a barber come in monthly, and many other things, be sure to like them on Facebook to be kept up to date. When the weather got nicer, they added outdoor tables and that’s when I noticed the next new place in the Zijlstraat, The Louisiana.

The Louisiana was sill under construction when I noticed it but with a sign that advertised lobster and Blues, how could I not be interested? When they opened a couple months ago, I had to try it and I must say I was impressed. The menu: some nice Southern American style dishes, lots of cocktails, and craft beer. The owner came over to talk to us and told us all about the concept and was nice to hear how enthusiastic he was about the place. The Louisiana also turns into a place to go out after dinnertime, they regularly have events and sometime even live music. I highly recommend checking it out if you looking for something like you’ve never tried before.

 

 

Maybe you’re just in the mood for a snack, then head over to Friethuys at Zijlweg 31. They do not have a lot of different sauces to put on your fries like some of the other places in Haarlem do but for what they lack in variety, they more than make up for in quality. These fries are very good and hit the spot when you need a quick snack.

Next there is To Amuse which is located in the building where Douwe Egberts Café used to be. What a cool concept, here you do not order a starter, dinner, and desert, but instead you order moments. The have moments that you can order all day and then some other moments that are a bit larger (but still not large enough to be an entire meal) for dinner. You can mix an match as many moments as you like in order to create your own meal. It was a unique experience and the quality and presentation of the food was outstanding. There are not many restaurants in the Netherlands that I’ve been to that could compare in quality and attention to detail.

Some places that I have not tired yet but are on my list of places to check out are Fatto in casa at Zijlstraat 32. Here you can get Italian lasagne and decorated cakes to go. The store looks like you are walking right into someone’s kitchen. They even have a couple small tables in case you want to enjoy your meal there. Feeling like some candy, then head over to Gewoon Snoepgoed where they have organic, sugar-free, gluton free, and lactose free candy. From the outside the store looks like an old fashion candy store with large bins full of candy and big old scales to weigh it in.

I could end the article here, but wait, that’s not all. Just this weekend I spotted a sign for a new place that will be called “van veg” which looks like it will be a vegetarian place. And while I was walking around to take pictures for this article I also noticed a lot on construction going on in other buildings on the street so who knows what’s coming next, I for one am looking forward to finding out.