Top 5 Pubs in Groningen (2026)
Groningen is the liveliest student city in the north of the Netherlands, and all those students have turned drinking into an art. The old center is packed with cozy brown cafés, where the beer is cold and the welcome is warm. You will find a legendary Belgian beer café, a true neighborhood classic from 1923, a whisky temple with its own brewery, an authentic Irish music pub, and the narrowest café in town. In this guide, we share the top 5 pubs in Groningen for 2026, based on real reviews and local tips.
The best spots mix cozy gezelligheid (the Dutch word for warm togetherness) with great beer and friendly staff. Our five picks are De Pintelier, Café Wolthoorn & Co, Café De Toeter, O'Ceallaigh, and Café Der Witz. Skip the big chains, bring a little cash for the smaller cafés, and order with a friendly Dutch "alstublieft" (please). Most sit a short walk from the Grote Markt, so you can try a few in one night. Here are the spots you should not miss.
1. Belgisch Café De Pintelier
De Pintelier is the place every beer lover in Groningen will send you to first. Tucked away on the Kleine Kromme Elleboog, in one of the oldest parts of town, this Belgian café is a true legend. It pours around 30 beers on tap, keeps over 80 more in the bottle (every Trappist included), and adds about 67 whiskies and 22 local jenevers for good measure. Students, locals, and travelers all rub shoulders here.
The staff really know their stuff, and they love to help you choose. One visitor shared, "A real treasure for beer fans, with a huge list on tap and in the bottle. The bartenders know every beer and picked the perfect one for me. We sat in the little garden for hours. Do not skip the local jenever." It is the ideal first stop on any Groningen night.
2. Café Wolthoorn & Co
For old-world charm, head to Café Wolthoorn & Co on the Turftorenstraat. Open since 1923, this is the most traditional brown café in the city. The walls are covered in paintings and poetry, there is a classic billiards table in the back, and the moment you walk in, it feels like time has stood still. It was even named the best pub in the Netherlands back in 2008.
Locals adore the warm, timeless mood. A regular wrote, "The most traditional café in Groningen, where time seems to stop. Dark wood, old paintings, and a billiards table at the back. The staff are warm and the choice of beer and jenever is lovely. A real piece of the city's history." Come for a quiet drink and stay for the stories.
3. Café De Toeter
If you love whisky and special beer, De Toeter is heaven. Sitting on the Turfsingel by the old city moat, this café has been a household name for over 30 years. The numbers say it all: 19 taps, more than 200 bottled beers, and over 350 single malt whiskies. It even brews its own beer in the Rockin' Ludina Brewery, set up in a ship moored right across the water.
No wonder it was once voted the best single malt whisky bar in the country. A guest noted, "Heaven for whisky and beer fans. There are hundreds of single malts and the staff happily talk you through them. We tried a tasting flight by the water and learned so much. Come for the Wednesday quiz, it is great fun." Take your time and let the bar guide you.
4. O'Ceallaigh
For live music and a proper pint, O'Ceallaigh on the Gedempte Kattendiep is the spot. Open since 1993, it calls itself the most authentic Irish pub in the north, and few would argue. There is live traditional music most evenings, an open stage every Wednesday, and Guinness poured the way it should be, alongside whiskey and cocktails.
The friendly, lively crowd keeps people coming back. A regular said, "The best place in town for live music and a proper pint of Guinness. The trad sessions are magic and the crowd is so warm. We came for one drink and stayed all night singing along. Pure Irish craic." Grab a stool near the band and join in.
5. Café Der Witz
To finish, squeeze into Café Der Witz, the narrowest café in Groningen. Behind a bright red façade on the Grote Markt, this former bakery is tiny but full of soul, with walls covered in memorabilia and vintage posters. It pours around 10 beers on tap plus plenty more in the bottle, with simple snacks like sausage and cheese to go with them.
The cozy, central spot wins everyone over. A visitor shared, "A tiny gem right on the Grote Markt. It is narrow but full of charm, with old posters everywhere. We grabbed a seat on the terrace with a view of the Martini tower and stayed for hours. Lovely beer and friendly staff." In summer, the square-side terrace is the place to be.
From a legendary Belgian beer café to live Irish music by the old moat, Groningen's pubs have a story for every taste. For the best night, bring a little cash for the smaller cafés, take your time, and raise your glass with a warm "proost" (cheers). Most of these spots are a short walk from the Grote Markt, so you can easily try a few in one evening. Enjoy the city's cozy and lively beer scene.
