Stadscafé Van der Werff

Van der Werff at a glance

Stadscafé Van der Werff is on Steenstraat, almost directly on the walking route from Leiden Central to Beestenmarkt and the historic centre. This location is its greatest strength: it is easy to meet for coffee, stop for lunch before exploring or finish the day with dinner and drinks.

From breakfast to late drinks

Van der Werff is broader than a conventional restaurant. The daytime menu covers breakfast dishes, eggs, sandwiches, salads and substantial mains. In the evening, the focus shifts to starters, burgers, vegetarian options, fish and steak. According to the official website, the kitchen is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00; breakfast dishes are listed as available between 09:00 and 12:00.

How much does it cost?

Prices sit in the middle range, with several distinctly more expensive main courses. At the time of checking, espresso was €3.20, breakfast started at €8 and lunch dishes at roughly €12.50. Main courses started around €17.50, while steak and fries was €26.50. This is not a budget café, although the central location and all-day flexibility add practical value for mixed groups.

Vegetarian food and allergens

The official menus clearly mark vegetarian and vegan possibilities, and a separate digital allergen guide is available. That is useful, but it is not a guarantee of gluten-free or cross-contamination-free preparation. Visitors with coeliac disease or a serious allergy should discuss the order in advance and ask the kitchen to confirm the current preparation method.

Terrace, atmosphere and crowds

The sunny terrace and lively setting make this a strong first or last stop of the day. They also mean the café can be busy on sunny afternoons, Friday evenings and around train arrival and departure peaks. The agenda occasionally lists promotions and live music, but at the time of checking it also contained an expired football event and a seasonal offer without a clear date. Verify any event before planning around it.

Groups and celebrations

Three separate spaces are promoted for groups: the conservatory, the café and the garden room. Groups under 20 are asked to email directly; groups of 20 or more can request an online quote. The groups page lists capacities of up to 50 or 125 people depending on room and layout. Confirm the usable capacity and whether a room is private before sending invitations.

Opening hours: note the conflict

The homepage lists Sunday to Tuesday from 10:00 to midnight, Wednesday and Thursday from 09:00 to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 09:00 to 01:00. The official groups page instead lists closing one hour later from Wednesday to Saturday. This is unlikely to matter for breakfast, lunch or dinner, but calling ahead is sensible for late-night drinks.

Getting there

Van der Werff is about a four-minute walk from Leiden Central. This makes it one of the most convenient places for food and drinks on the city-centre side of the station. Drivers should choose a car park around the station district or Lammermarkt rather than looking for on-street parking in the historic centre.

Our honest verdict

Van der Werff works best as a versatile meeting place in an almost ideal location. It is logical for rail travellers, students, groups and parties with different preferences. Our assessment covers the practical proposition and documented offer, not food quality or service from a first-hand visit. The weakest point is information consistency: opening hours and the agenda are not equally current across the official website.