Bikini Bikini Leiden
All-day café-restaurant at Leiden harbour, formerly Lot & de Walvis, with a sunny terrace, Mediterranean sharing plates, breakfast and regular events.
At a glance
Prices
For shared dining, the venue recommends roughly three to four dishes per person. With individual plates at €6–€12.50, food alone often totals around €30–€45 per person. The €32.50 tasting menu gives better control over the final bill. The current daytime menu was updated on 23 June 2026; event and promotional prices can change.
Plan ahead
Opening hours
- Monday – Wednesday
- 10:00–00:00
- Thursday
- 10:00–01:00
- Friday
- 10:00–02:00
- Saturday
- 09:00–02:00
- Sunday
- 09:00–00:00
Why visit?
Anyone searching for Lot & de Walvis will now find Bikini Bikini. The former restaurant closed on 3 February 2025 and a new café-restaurant opened at the same address after refurbishment in March. The interior and Mediterranean concept changed, while the strongest asset remained: a waterside position by the harbour, close to the Zijlpoort and just beyond the busiest shopping streets.
Bikini Bikini covers several moments of the day. It opens at 10:00 on weekdays and 09:00 at weekends for coffee and cake, breakfast, lunch, drinks or an evening of small sharing plates. The sunny waterside terrace is the main reason to visit in good weather. Indoors, the warm nautical design keeps the venue appealing outside terrace season.
The daytime menu is clear and broad. Breakfast and egg dishes cost €8.50–€14, sandwiches €12–€14.50 and à-la-carte dishes €13.50–€23.50. At €23.50, steak frites is the most expensive regular main on this menu. Every Sunday from 09:00 to 11:30 there is a €21.50 breakfast buffet with unlimited coffee and tea plus a fresh juice. Children up to four eat free; ages five to twelve pay €12.50.
Evenings focus on sharing. Mediterranean plates cost €6–€12.50 and the venue recommends three to four per person. Individual prices look modest, but the total bill is less light than it first appears. The three-course tasting menu at €32.50 per person is the clearest option for predictable spending. Pizzette cost €9–€11 and Tuesday tajine is €17.50 per person.
The public Google snapshot at this check was 4.3/5 from 160 reviews. The terrace, atmosphere and friendly staff receive frequent praise. Less enthusiastic experiences mainly concern price against portion size, uneven pace at busy times and food that is good without always being memorable. That is where the editorial score loses points: the setting is stronger than some individual dishes.
Vegetarians have useful choice, including burrata, Greek salad, halloumi, ravioli and pizzette. Vegan options include pan con tomate, artichoke, cauliflower and hummus. A separate allergen guide is available, but it does not prove coeliac-safe preparation. Call ahead and ask specifically about clean equipment, separate workspace and safe frying oil.
Groups can book breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks for up to 300 people. Public listings describe wheelchair access but no adapted toilet; the official website gives no further detail. Visitors who depend on step-free access or an accessible toilet should contact the venue before travelling.
What makes it special
- ✓Successor to Lot & de Walvis at the same address
- ✓Large sunny terrace directly beside Leiden harbour
- ✓Three-course tasting menu for €32.50 per person
- ✓Breakfast, lunch, sharing plates, drinks and events
- ✓Google snapshot of 4.3/5 from 160 reviews
Prepare your visit
- Book ahead in good weather and at weekends; the terrace is popular.
- Choose the €32.50 tasting menu if you want a predictable final bill.
- The venue recommends three to four sharing plates per person.
- Check the calendar for Sunday breakfast, Tajine Tuesday and one-off events.
- Report coeliac disease or serious allergies in advance and ask about cross-contamination.
- Call first if you require an adapted toilet or specific wheelchair access.
Who is it for?
- Visitors wanting breakfast, lunch or drinks by the water
- Groups of friends sharing several dishes
- Couples who value atmosphere more than fine dining
- Vegetarians and mixed groups
- Groups and parties of up to 300 people
Crowds & changes
In sunshine, the terrace is the main attraction. The interior remains atmospheric in rain, though some of the reason to walk to this edge-of-centre location disappears.
Facilities
Confirmed features include a large waterside terrace, indoor restaurant, online reservations, group bookings to 300 people, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, vegetarian and vegan choices and a separate allergen guide. Public sources list wheelchair access without an adapted toilet; the official website does not confirm this in detail.
Our editorial assessment
How does Bikini Bikini Leiden score?
Bikini Bikini works best as a complete venue: breakfast, lunch, sharing plates and drinks by the water from morning until late. Its terrace and warm nautical interior give it more character than an average all-day restaurant. The food is appealing and varied, although not every dish feels distinctive enough for the price. For the best value, choose the tasting menu or a fixed promotion rather than ordering three or four individual plates per person without watching the total.
Leiden
Score breakdown
Location & atmosphere
9.3/10The harbour, nearby Zijlpoort and large terrace make this one of the stronger all-day locations beyond the busiest shopping streets. The warm nautical interior also works well in winter.
Food & drinks
8.0/10The menu has a clear Mediterranean direction, spanning breakfast, lunch, pizzette and sharing plates. Burrata, steak frites, prawns, cauliflower and ravioli give mixed groups useful freedom. Execution is generally reviewed positively, although not every dish matches the setting.
Value for money
7.8/10The €32.50 tasting menu and €17.50 Tajine Tuesday offer good value. Ordering sharing plates individually adds up faster: drinks come on top of the recommended three to four plates per person. The setting explains part of the premium, though not all of it.
Service & guest experience
8.4/10The current Google snapshot of 4.3/5 from 160 reviews is strong for a young, busy venue. Friendly attentive service, the terrace and atmosphere recur as strengths. Less positive experiences mainly concern pace, table placement and dishes that do not fully justify their price.
Choice & dietary options
8.3/10There are several vegetarian dishes and a few substantial vegan choices. A separate daytime and evening allergen guide is useful. Coeliac guests still need direct confirmation because an allergen list does not guarantee protection from cross-contamination.
Planning & accessibility
7.7/10Menus, allergen guide, reservations, group information and events are easy to find. The official site remains vague with ‘until late’ and gives no detailed accessibility information. Public listings mention wheelchair access but no adapted toilet, so calling ahead is sensible.
＋Strengths
- Strong harbour setting with a large sunny terrace
- Breakfast, coffee, dinner, drinks and events in one venue
- Clear Mediterranean menu with plenty of vegetarian choice
- Good €32.50 tasting menu and attractive weekly promotions
!Points to consider
- Ordering sharing plates individually can raise the bill quickly
- Not every dish is equally distinctive for its price
- Service can be less consistent during sunny peak periods
- No officially confirmed adapted toilet or coeliac-safe preparation area
✓ How we assessed it
The score is weighted using factors relevant to this type of place. It is our editorial assessment, not an average of visitor ratings.
Assessment based on checked sources; an on-site visit is only stated when one actually took place.Sources checked
View the score calculation
Frequently asked questions
Does Lot & de Walvis in Leiden still exist?
No. Lot & de Walvis closed on 3 February 2025. Bikini Bikini opened at the same address on 20 March 2025 with a new concept and interior.
How much does food cost at Bikini Bikini?
Breakfast and egg dishes cost €8.50–€14, sandwiches €12–€14.50 and regular à-la-carte dishes €13.50–€23.50. Sharing plates cost €6–€12.50. The three-course tasting menu is €32.50 per person.
When is the Sunday breakfast buffet?
The Bikini Breakfast Club runs every Sunday from 09:00 to 11:30 and costs €21.50 per person. Children up to four eat free; children aged five to twelve pay €12.50.
Does Bikini Bikini offer vegetarian and vegan dishes?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are marked on the menu. There are several vegetarian choices and a few substantial vegan options, including pan con tomate, artichoke, cauliflower and hummus.
Is Bikini Bikini safe for coeliac guests?
This is not guaranteed. A separate allergen guide is available, but there is no online confirmation of a gluten-free preparation area without cross-contamination. Call ahead to discuss preparation, equipment and frying oil.
Is Bikini Bikini wheelchair accessible?
Public restaurant information lists wheelchair access but no adapted toilet. The official website gives no further details. Contact the venue in advance if accessibility is essential.
Can Bikini Bikini host large groups?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks can be arranged for groups of up to 300 people. Quotes can be requested through the groups page, with a stated response time of one working day.
Where can you park near Bikini Bikini?
Parking around the harbour is paid and some spaces are permit-only. A car park is more practical; Haarlemmerstraat car park is roughly a seven-minute walk away. From Leiden Central, walking or cycling is usually easier.
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