Restaurant Waag Leiden
Large café-restaurant inside Leiden’s monumental weigh house, with a waterside terrace, lunch, dinner, cocktails, high tea and group packages.
At a glance
Prices
The March 2026 menu is broad and reasonably priced for this landmark setting. Lunch sandwiches cost €11.50–€16.50, starters €9.50–€15 and mains €19.50–€27.50. High tea is €26.50 and high cocktail €37.50 per person. Group pricing applies from fifteen guests and varies with the selected package.
Plan ahead
Opening hours
- Monday – Wednesday
- 09:00–22:00
- Thursday
- 09:00–00:00
- Friday – Saturday
- 09:00–01:00
- Sunday
- 09:00–22:00
Why visit?
Restaurant Waag occupies one of the buildings people come to Leiden to see. The monumental weigh house was designed around 1657 by Pieter Post and completed in 1659. Goods were weighed here for centuries; today guests eat beneath the high vaults of the Boterhal or on the waterside terrace. The setting is unquestionably the main reason to visit.
The menu is broad and approachable. Daytime sandwiches cost €11.50–€16.50, the lunch special is €15, salads are €19 and burgers reach €21.50. From 17:00, starters cost €9.50–€15 and mains €19.50–€27.50. Do not expect a strongly local or gastronomic menu: familiar brasserie dishes are mixed with Asian flavours, burgers, satay, fish and vegetarian choices.
The public Google snapshot at this check was 4.3/5 from 5,530 reviews. That is a strong result for a large venue serving many tourists and groups. The monumental interior, location, terrace and friendly team receive frequent praise. Criticism is equally recognisable: service can lose focus when busy and dishes are not always equally successful. Waag therefore scores highly as a complete experience, not as a culinary destination restaurant.
The venue is versatile for drinks and afternoon packages. High tea costs €26.50, high tea deluxe €31 and high cocktail €37.50 per person. Terrace tables cannot be reserved. Arrive early in good weather because the waterside seats fill quickly.
Vegetarian and plant-based dishes are marked and a separate online allergen guide is available. Coeliac guests should still discuss preparation in advance: allergen data does not confirm separate work surfaces, fryers or protection from cross-contamination. Much of the ground floor and several tables are wheelchair accessible and an adapted toilet has been reported, but the historic building includes a threshold, ramp and internal level changes. Reserve a suitable table.
Waag is also useful for groups. Lunch, dinner and drinks packages start at fifteen guests; walking dinners require at least forty. A separate first-floor room is available for meetings and celebrations, although guests with limited mobility should confirm access to that room.
What makes it special
- ✓Dining inside Leiden’s monumental 1659 weigh house
- ✓Large waterside terrace
- ✓Open daily from 09:00
- ✓High tea €26.50 and high cocktail €37.50
- ✓Google snapshot 4.3/5 from 5,530 reviews
Prepare your visit
- Book dinner on Friday, Saturday and during major Leiden events.
- Terrace tables cannot be reserved; arrive early in sunny weather.
- Lunch is served until 16:00 and dinner starts at 17:00.
- For coeliac dining, ask directly about fryers, work surfaces and cross-contamination.
- Wheelchair users should reserve an easily accessible ground-floor table.
- Group packages start from fifteen guests.
Who is it for?
- First-time visitors wanting to eat inside a Leiden landmark
- Couples and friends for lunch, drinks or dinner by the water
- Families looking for a broad, familiar menu
- Groups, company events and celebrations
- Guests who value setting and atmosphere above fine dining
Crowds & changes
In sunshine, the waterside terrace is one of the Aalmarkt’s most attractive spots. In rain, the monumental interior remains a strong draw, although the large room can become noisy at peak times.
Facilities
Confirmed facilities include a waterside terrace, large restaurant, bar, online reservations, plant-based dishes, allergen information, group packages and a private room. A 2021 accessibility review noted a ramp, accessible tables and adapted toilet, alongside internal level changes; verify current details before visiting.
Our editorial assessment
How does Restaurant Waag Leiden score?
Waag works best as a complete Leiden experience: monumental interior, waterside terrace, broad opening hours and a menu suitable for almost every group. Its 4.3/5 from 5,530 Google reviews confirms that the formula usually works well. The cooking is broad and solid rather than distinctive, and speed and execution can vary at peak times. Visit for the building, atmosphere and terrace rather than fine dining.
Leiden
Score breakdown
Location & atmosphere
9.7/10The 1659 listed monument, high Boterhal, historic scales and waterside terrace create one of Leiden’s strongest restaurant settings. The scale of the building can feel noisy at peak times.
Food & drinks
7.9/10The broad menu combines brasserie classics with Asian flavours and plant-based options. It suits a wide audience but lacks a clear culinary signature and is not reviewed as equally consistent every time.
Value for money
8.0/10Mains at €19.50–€27.50 are reasonable for a landmark location. Lunch and packages are priced clearly. Drinks and several courses raise the bill quickly, while the cooking does not always rise above brasserie level.
Service & guest experience
8.3/10The Google snapshot of 4.3/5 from 5,530 reviews is strong and broadly based. Atmosphere, setting and friendly staff receive frequent praise. Recurring criticism concerns waits, attention and uneven dishes when busy.
Choice & dietary options
8.1/10Lunch, dinner, snacks, high tea, cocktails and groups are all covered. Plant-based dishes and a separate allergen guide help with choices. Firm guarantees on cross-contamination and separate preparation for coeliac guests are missing.
Planning & accessibility
8.4/10Opening hours, prices, reservations and group information are clear. Accessible ground-floor seating and an adapted toilet have been documented, but the historic building has a threshold, ramp and level changes. Accessibility details date from 2021 and should be checked in advance.
＋Strengths
- One of Leiden’s most distinctive restaurant buildings
- Large waterside terrace in the city centre
- Open daily for lunch, dinner, drinks and groups
- Strong Google rating based on more than five thousand reviews
!Points to consider
- The cooking is solid but less distinctive than the setting
- Service and execution can vary when busy
- The large interior can be noisy
- No firm guarantee of coeliac-safe preparation without cross-contamination
✓ 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 food cost at Restaurant Waag Leiden?
Lunch sandwiches cost €11.50–€16.50, starters €9.50–€15 and mains €19.50–€27.50. Desserts cost €7.50–€9.
What are Waag’s opening hours?
Waag opens daily at 09:00. It closes at 22:00 Sunday to Wednesday, 00:00 on Thursday and 01:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Can I reserve a terrace table?
No. Reservations apply indoors only. In good weather the team will try to find a terrace table, but it cannot be guaranteed.
When are lunch and dinner served?
The lunch menu is served until 16:00. Dinner starts at 17:00. A separate daily kitchen closing time is not published online.
How much are high tea and high cocktail at Waag?
High tea costs €26.50 per person, or €31 deluxe with prosecco. High cocktail is €37.50 per person and includes two cocktails with several bites.
Is Waag suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. The menu includes several vegetarian and plant-based dishes, such as loaded hummus, Thai gyoza, falafel salad, risotto and a plant-based burger.
Is Restaurant Waag safe for coeliac guests?
This cannot be guaranteed online. A detailed allergen guide is available, but ask in advance about separate preparation, fryers, work surfaces and cross-contamination.
Is Waag wheelchair accessible?
Largely on the ground floor. An accessibility review reports a fixed ramp, several accessible tables and a spacious adapted toilet. Internal level changes make some seating inaccessible, so reserve a suitable table and confirm the current situation.
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