Restaurant WOODS
Refined small dishes and chef’s menus in a historic timber shed on the Oude Rijn, with a waterside terrace, private jetty and free parking.
At a glance
Prices
Prices checked on 6 August 2026. The seasonal menu may change; check the official menu page before booking.
Plan ahead
Opening hours
- Monday – Sunday
- 12:00–14:30; 17:30–21:00
Why visit?
Restaurant WOODS at a glance
Restaurant WOODS occupies a former timber-drying shed on the Oude Rijn beside De Heesterboom sawmill. Historic beams, a spacious dining room, large waterside terrace, private jetty and free private parking create an unusually complete setting. WOODS serves lunch and dinner daily and is best suited to guests looking for a longer, polished dining experience.
Is WOODS worth visiting?
Yes, especially for a long lunch, romantic dinner, family celebration or business evening where setting matters as much as the food. Around twenty compact seasonal dishes can be ordered separately or combined as a chef’s menu. Expect a refined restaurant rather than a Michelin-starred one. Extra courses, wine and supplements can increase the final bill substantially.
Menu and concept
The menu consists of intermediate-sized dishes at the same base price, allowing diners to combine several flavours. The checked summer menu included sea bass crudo, halibut, Japanese pancake with cod and prawn, avocado, young leek, asparagus, Korean-style cauliflower, steak tartare, poussin and Jacks Creek bavette. Dishes change with the seasons.
Chef’s menu and prices
The four-course chef’s menu costs €56. Each additional course is €12: five courses cost €68, six €80 and seven €92. Individual dishes cost €19. Supplements include half a lobster for €19, sweetbread nuggets for €11, a larger cheese course for €8.50 and caviar on a dish for €65. Fries with truffle mayonnaise cost €8.50 and little gem salad €9.
Realistic total budget
The menu price is not the complete bill. With five to seven courses, an aperitif, wine, water, coffee and possible supplements, approximately €90–€150 per person is a more realistic non-guaranteed total budget. Value is adequate for the standard and location, but weaker for guests wanting large portions or a low-cost evening.
Vegetarian, vegan and allergies
Several vegetarian dishes and a fully vegetarian menu are available. Dietary needs and allergies can be submitted with the reservation or discussed at the table. A complete vegan menu is not firmly confirmed. Visitors with coeliac disease should call ahead because no guarantee of separate work areas, fryers or cross-contamination controls is published.
Wine and alcohol-free options
A matching wine arrangement can accompany the chef’s menu. The wine list covers Old and New World bottles and wines by the glass, with service or sommelier advice. WOODS also states that it offers a broad alcohol-free selection.
Opening hours
WOODS receives lunch guests daily between 12:00 and 14:30 and dinner guests between 17:30 and 21:00. These are arrival windows, not guaranteed closing times. Check the booking page around holidays, private events and temporary closures.
Terrace, boats and parking
When weather allows, WOODS automatically serves on the Oude Rijn terrace. Boats may use the private jetty subject to space. Cars park free on the large private site. Leiden Central is roughly a twenty-minute walk away; cycling or driving is generally more practical.
Accessibility and dogs
The official contact page confirms wide passages and a spacious adapted toilet. Discuss a suitable table or personal assistance in advance. Dogs are not permitted indoors; only small, quiet and calm dogs are accepted on the terrace.
Groups and arrangements
Groups larger than seven are offered a fixed menu. Other options include walking dinners, boat-and-dine packages, Bottle Bar & Bites, Big Green Egg events, weddings, business dinners and a Chef’s Table. Capacity, menu and pricing are arranged directly.
Professional guides and visitor reviews
WOODS is listed in the MICHELIN Guide and recommended by Gault&Millau, but it does not hold a Michelin star. The combined visitor rating is 4.4/5 from 816 public ratings. Google dominates the measurement with 799 reviews; the Facebook and RestaurantReviews sources are much smaller. Positive themes include the waterfront setting, friendly service, wine pairings and creative dishes. Criticism mainly concerns pace, compact portions, high total bills and dishes that are not always considered equally distinctive.
Our strict assessment
Our score is 8.3/10. The setting and atmosphere are close to exceptional, but they must not hide weaker value and variation in culinary execution. WOODS therefore scores below the previous 8.6. The separate visitor rating is 4.4/5 and the expected 50/50 Open Now and ranking score is 8.6/10.
What makes it special
- ✓Historic timber shed beside De Heesterboom mill
- ✓Large Oude Rijn terrace and private jetty
- ✓Four- to seven-course chef’s menu
- ✓Free parking on a large private site
- ✓Lunch and dinner daily
Prepare your visit
- Book well ahead for Fridays, Saturdays and sunny terrace days.
- Submit dietary requirements and allergies with the reservation.
- For coeliac disease, call specifically about work areas, fryers and cross-contact.
- Allow around two to three hours for a chef’s menu.
- Budget for drinks and supplements in addition to the menu price.
- Request a terrace or window table without expecting a guarantee.
- Contact the restaurant directly for a large party.
Who is it for?
- Couples wanting a romantic, extended dinner
- Fans of refined small dishes and wine
- Visitors looking for waterside lunch or dinner
- Guests who value free private parking
- Boat owners wanting to moor at a restaurant
- Groups, businesses, weddings and anniversaries
Crowds & changes
When weather permits, service automatically moves to the waterside terrace. Rain, cold and wind may alter terrace seating; the historic indoor dining room remains available.
Facilities
Confirmed facilities include free private parking, jetty, waterside terrace, online booking, wide passages, adapted toilet, vegetarian menu, group arrangements and alcohol-free drinks.
Our editorial assessment
How does Restaurant WOODS score?
WOODS is one of Leiden’s strongest restaurant settings, combining good cooking with very strong atmosphere and facilities. It remains at 8.3 because the culinary level is not exceptional enough for 9+, while compact portions and costly supplements weaken value.
Leiden
Score breakdown
Core quality
8.1/10The seasonal menu, compact intermediate courses, chef’s menu and wine pairings show a clearly higher level than an average restaurant. Its MICHELIN Guide listing and positive professional assessment support that view. It is not a starred restaurant, however, and visitors do not find every dish equally exciting or precise.
Distinctive for Leiden
8.9/10The former timber-drying shed beside De Heesterboom sawmill, the Oude Rijn terrace, private jetty and large private grounds form an unusually complete combination in Leiden. The score remains below 9.0 because the small-dish and chef’s-menu concept itself is not unique.
Atmosphere & overall experience
8.8/10Inside, the timber structure, spacious layout and classic table setting create character; outside, the waterside terrace is the main attraction. It is a strong setting for long lunches and special dinners, although the terrace experience depends on weather and availability.
Value for money
7.3/10€56 for four courses is defensible for the standard, service and location. Five to seven courses cost €68–€92 before wine, sides and supplements. As portions are compact and extras such as lobster and caviar quickly increase the bill, this component is deliberately limited to 7.3.
Reliability & ease of use
8.4/10Menu prices, daily arrival windows, booking, contact, free parking, jetty, group options and physical accessibility are clearly published. Limitations are that the times are arrival windows and no firm coeliac-safe cross-contamination procedure is published online.
＋Strengths
- Historic timber shed beside the mill
- Very strong Oude Rijn terrace
- Good seasonal menu and chef’s menu
- Free private parking and private jetty
- Vegetarian menu and broad group options
!Points to consider
- High total bill with wine and supplements
- Compact dishes do not suit every guest
- Not every dish is considered equally distinctive
- Terrace experience depends on weather
- No public guarantee of 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 is the chef’s menu at Restaurant WOODS?
Four courses cost €56. Each additional course costs €12, making five, six and seven courses €68, €80 and €92.
Can you order à la carte?
Yes. Compact à-la-carte dishes cost €19 each on the checked menu. Supplements and sides cost extra.
When is Restaurant WOODS open?
Daily lunch arrival between 12:00–14:30 and dinner arrival between 17:30–21:00. These are arrival windows, not fixed closing times.
Does WOODS have free parking?
Yes. The restaurant has a large free private car park directly beside the venue.
Can you moor a boat at WOODS?
Yes. A private jetty is available on the Oude Rijn. Space is not guaranteed, so contact the restaurant in advance when necessary.
Is a vegetarian menu available?
Yes. Vegetarian dishes are listed and WOODS confirms that a fully vegetarian menu is available.
Is WOODS suitable for coeliac visitors?
This cannot be guaranteed in advance. Allergies can be discussed, but no fixed public procedure for separate preparation or cross-contamination is published. Call ahead.
Is Restaurant WOODS wheelchair accessible?
The official website lists wide passages and a spacious adapted toilet. Discuss a suitable table and any personal assistance in advance.
Are dogs allowed?
Not indoors. Only a small, quiet and calm dog may be accepted on the outdoor terrace.
Is WOODS suitable for large groups?
Yes. Groups larger than seven are normally offered a fixed menu. Business dinners, weddings, walking dinners and other arrangements are available on request.
Does WOODS have a Michelin star?
No. WOODS is listed in the MICHELIN Guide but does not hold a Michelin star.
What is a realistic budget per person?
For five to seven courses with drinks and possibly a supplement, approximately €90–€150 per person is a useful non-guaranteed estimate.
How are our score and the visitor rating calculated?
Our 8.3/10 score uses the fixed five-part methodology. The separate 4.4/5 visitor rating is weighted from 816 ratings across three platforms.
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