Bikini Bikini Leiden

Bikini Bikini at a glance

Bikini Bikini is at Haven 1 in the monumental building formerly occupied by Lot & de Walvis. Since March 2025 it has operated as a new café-restaurant with a nautical interior, a large waterside terrace and an all-day concept from breakfast and coffee to dinner, cocktails and late drinks.

Is Bikini Bikini worth visiting?

Yes, particularly in good weather or when a group wants one flexible venue for different occasions. The harbour location and terrace are stronger than those of an average city restaurant. The food is accessible and varied, but the setting and atmosphere remain the main reasons to visit.

Food and drinks

The daytime menu covers breakfast and egg dishes, sandwiches, salads, cakes and warm lunch dishes. Dinner focuses on Mediterranean sharing plates, alongside pizzette, fish, meat and vegetarian or vegan options. The official website publishes separate day, dinner, snack, drinks and wine menus plus a dedicated allergen guide.

Prices and best-value choice

At the latest full menu check, breakfast and egg dishes were around €8.50–€14, sandwiches €12–€14.50 and regular dishes €13.50–€23.50. Small sharing plates were about €6–€12.50 and the three-course tasting menu €32.50 per person. Because the venue recommends three or four plates per person, ordering individually with drinks can quickly move above the mid-range. The tasting menu or a fixed promotion makes the bill easier to predict.

Breakfast and events

The official events calendar lists recurring concepts such as Tajine Tuesday for €17.50 and the Sunday Bikini Breakfast Club from 09:00–11:30 for €21.50 per person. One-off events such as music bingo are also organised. Check the calendar for current dates, availability and ticket prices.

Opening hours

The official website states Monday to Friday from 10:00 until late and Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 until late. For the live opening indicator we use the latest concrete public hours: until 00:00 Monday to Wednesday, 01:00 Thursday, 02:00 Friday and Saturday, and 00:00 Sunday. Public holidays and events may differ.

Visitor reviews

The combined public visitor rating is 4.3/5 from 796 ratings across Google, Tripadvisor and Facebook. An important caveat applies: Tripadvisor and Facebook may still include older Lot & de Walvis reviews because the new business continued at the same address and partly on existing profile pages. The current Google snapshot under the Bikini Bikini name is 4.3/5 from 160 ratings. Common positives are the terrace, atmosphere and friendly staff; concerns include value relative to portion size and variable pace when busy.

Vegetarian, vegan and coeliac visitors

Several vegetarian and some substantial vegan choices are available. A separate allergen guide exists, but it does not prove gluten-free preparation without cross-contamination. Visitors with coeliac disease or a serious allergy should call ahead and ask specifically about a clean workspace, clean equipment and safe frying oil.

Groups and accessibility

The venue welcomes groups for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and events. Public information mentions capacity for roughly 300 guests. External restaurant listings mention wheelchair access but no adapted toilet; the official site gives no detailed confirmation. Ask in advance when accessibility is essential.

Getting there and local tip

Bikini Bikini is on the eastern edge of the centre near the Zijlpoort. Parking directly around the harbour is limited; Haarlemmerstraat or Meelfabriek car parks are more practical. Combine an early lunch with the Zijlpoort and a walk along the historic harbour. On sunny weekends, arriving before noon is smarter.

Our assessment

Our independent Tourist Guide score is 8.3/10 under the new five-part methodology. Bikini Bikini performs particularly well for atmosphere, harbour setting and overall experience. Core quality and choice are good, although sharing plates can make the bill rise quickly and practical information is not complete in every area. The separate visitor rating is 4.3/5; the expected 50/50 ranking and Open Now score is 8.5/10.