In den Doofpot
A refined Turfmarkt restaurant with creative French-Mediterranean cooking, an exceptional wine list and culinary cruises through Leiden.
At a glance
Prices
The June 2026 chef’s menu costs €78–€108 before drinks. With the regular wine pairing it is €125–€169, and with the luxury pairing €179–€229. The lunch menu lists €45 and €55. Group and cruise packages have separate conditions; check the current menu when booking.
Plan ahead
Opening hours
- Monday
- closed
- Tuesday – Wednesday
- 17:30–late
- Thursday – Saturday
- 12:30–late
- Sunday
- closed
Why visit?
In den Doofpot is a restaurant to reserve an entire evening for. Chef Patrick Brugman cooks in two historic canal houses on Turfmarkt, combining a French base with Mediterranean and Asian accents. The room is polished but less stiff than the name and price level might suggest. It is best suited to an anniversary, a food-focused date or an evening where dinner and wine are the main programme.
The June 2026 chef’s menu has four, five or six courses and costs €78, €88 or €108. With the regular wine pairing, the total becomes €125–€169; the luxury pairing takes it to €179–€229. A separate vegetarian menu is published. À la carte dishes are also available, but the set menu gives first-time visitors the clearest view of the kitchen.
Wine is central rather than secondary. The list contains around 350 selections, including serious European producers and rare bottles poured by the glass through Coravin. The kitchen can even build a menu around a wine chosen by the guest. That is a major advantage for wine lovers; guests who hardly drink should recognise that they are paying for a restaurant whose identity is heavily built around wine.
The external recognition is strong. In den Doofpot is listed in the Michelin Guide and received 15/20 from Gault&Millau in 2026. The public Google snapshot used for this check stood at 4.7/5 from 345 reviews. Food, personal service and wine expertise receive repeated praise. Criticism mainly concerns slow pacing, a high bill and flavour combinations that do not work equally well for everyone. Those are fair caveats when an evening with wine costs €125–€229 per person.
Cruising is the most distinctive extra. A roughly 30-minute aperitif cruise can be booked for €15 per person before dinner. The full culinary cruise costs €135 all-in and serves five courses with drinks aboard a heated covered boat. The restaurant itself also overlooks the water and has a terrace, but ask specifically for outdoor seating when it matters.
A vegetarian menu is available and dietary requests can be discussed in advance. For coeliac disease or a serious allergy, call before booking: the website does not confirm a separate gluten-free preparation area or fixed cross-contamination procedure. Full wheelchair accessibility is also not described clearly enough online to guarantee without checking.
What makes it special
- ✓Four- to six-course chef’s menu for €78–€108
- ✓15/20 from Gault&Millau 2026 and listed in the Michelin Guide
- ✓Current Google snapshot of 4.7/5 from 345 reviews
- ✓Around 350 wines and fine bottles by the glass through Coravin
- ✓Aperitif cruise or full five-course dinner on the water
Prepare your visit
- Book ahead, especially for Friday or Saturday.
- Allow at least 2.5 hours; five or six courses with wine easily fill the evening.
- Compare menu-only, regular wine pairing and luxury pairing before booking.
- Book the aperitif or culinary cruise at the same time as the restaurant.
- Mention vegetarian requests, allergies and coeliac disease when booking.
- For Sunday or Monday, confirm directly whether a group request is possible.
Who is it for?
- Couples planning an anniversary or special date
- Wine lovers who value a serious list
- Food-focused visitors willing to spend an entire evening
- Groups combining dinner with a canal cruise
- Vegetarians arranging a full menu in advance
Crowds & changes
The restaurant works well in rainy weather. Aperitif and dinner cruises use a heated covered boat, although severe-weather availability remains subject to confirmation.
Facilities
Confirmed facilities include online booking, waterside terrace and views, vegetarian menu, wine pairings, Coravin wines by the glass, group dining, private dining, catering and a heated covered boat. Full wheelchair access, an accessible toilet and a separate gluten-free preparation area are not confirmed online.
Our editorial assessment
How does In den Doofpot score?
In den Doofpot ranks among Leiden’s strongest culinary addresses. The cooking is refined without becoming stiff, and the wine list is exceptionally broad. It is most worthwhile for guests who want to build an entire evening around food and wine. The bill is substantial and the pace deliberately slow, so this is not the best choice for a quick spontaneous dinner.
Leiden
Score breakdown
Food & craft
9.2/10The current four- to six-course menu, Michelin listing and 15/20 from Gault&Millau point to a high and consistent level. Classical foundations are combined with modern and Asian accents. Some dishes lean strongly on acidity, which will not suit every diner equally.
Value for money
8.0/10€78–€108 before drinks is defensible at this level, but it is not an accessible price. With wine, the menu reaches €229 per person. Quality and wine expertise are strong; guests who drink little or prioritise large portions will find less value.
Service & guest experience
9.0/10The current public Google snapshot of 4.7/5 from 345 reviews is a strong consistency signal. Food, friendly service, explanations and wine knowledge receive repeated praise. Criticism mainly concerns pacing, high expectations at this price and occasional uneven or less personal experiences.
Atmosphere & occasion
9.0/10Two historic canal houses, waterside views and relaxed service make this a strong choice for an anniversary or special date. Guests wanting a lively casual drinks venue may find the setting too quiet and formal.
Wine list & pairings
9.8/10A list of around 350 selections, Coravin pours and both regular and luxury pairings are among the restaurant’s clearest strengths. For wine lovers, this is a destination in its own right.
Planning & dietary information
7.7/10Menus, prices, parking and reservations are published in useful detail. Fixed closing times and full wheelchair accessibility are less clear. A vegetarian menu exists, but no specific guarantee of coeliac-safe preparation without cross-contamination is published online.
＋Strengths
- One of Leiden’s strongest kitchens, rated 15/20 by Gault&Millau
- Exceptionally broad wine list with knowledgeable guidance
- Intimate waterside setting and a distinctive cruise combination
- Strong guest rating across a substantial Google review base
!Points to consider
- With wine, the menu costs €125–€229 per person
- Not suitable when time is limited; several courses easily fill the evening
- Sunday and Monday opening information is inconsistent across the official site
- No firm online confirmation of full wheelchair access or coeliac-safe preparation
✓ 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
How much does In den Doofpot cost?
In June 2026, the chef’s menu costs €78 for four, €88 for five and €108 for six courses. With the regular wine pairing the total is €125–€169; with luxury wines €179–€229. Lunch is listed at €45 or €55.
When is In den Doofpot open?
The restaurant opens at 17:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday and at 12:30 from Thursday to Saturday. Sunday and Monday are closed for regular visits. The footer mentions those days on request, mainly for pre-arranged groups.
What are In den Doofpot’s Google reviews like?
The current public snapshot checked on 24 July 2026 stood at 4.7 out of 5 from 345 reviews. Food, service and wine expertise receive frequent praise. Criticism mainly concerns slow pacing, the high price and occasional combinations that do not suit every taste.
Does In den Doofpot have a vegetarian menu?
Yes. In den Doofpot publishes a separate vegetarian chef’s menu. The composition changes seasonally. Mention the vegetarian menu when booking, especially for a group.
Is In den Doofpot suitable for coeliac disease?
Dietary requests can be discussed, but no separate gluten-free preparation area or fixed cross-contamination procedure is confirmed online. Call before booking and ask specifically what can be prepared safely. An adapted dish is not automatically coeliac-safe.
Can you have lunch at In den Doofpot?
Yes. The restaurant opens from 12:30 Thursday through Saturday, and the official lunch menu lists three courses at €45 and four at €55. Check availability for your date when booking.
How much is a cruise and dinner at In den Doofpot?
The aperitif cruise lasts about 30 minutes and costs €15 per person, excluding drinks. The culinary cruise lasts 2.5–3 hours and costs €135 per person all-in for a five-course dinner with drinks. Availability must be confirmed in advance.
Where can you park, and is In den Doofpot accessible?
The Morspoort and Lammermarkt car parks are both around a five-minute walk away. Leiden Central is roughly nine minutes on foot. The official website does not confirm full wheelchair access or an accessible toilet, so contact the restaurant before visiting.
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