Top 5 Coffee Shops in Elburg (2026)
Elburg is one of the best-kept old fortress towns in the Netherlands. Straight streets, a star-shaped moat, and the famous Vischpoort gate make it feel like a living open-air museum. After a walk along the harbour and the old city walls, a good cup of coffee with a slice of cake is the perfect reward.
TL;DR: The best coffee shops in Elburg for 2026 are Bij Ellen, De Plantage, Aan de Gracht, Grandcafé De Vischmarkt, and De Bakkersmolen van Schuld. These cosy spots serve great coffee, fresh cake, and a warm welcome inside the historic walls.
Note: In the Netherlands, a "coffeeshop" usually sells cannabis, while a "café", "lunchroom", or "koffiebar" serves traditional coffee. This guide focuses strictly on places that serve real coffee.
1. Bij Ellen
You'll find this cosy lunchroom right in the historic heart of Elburg, on the Beekstraat. It's been a local favourite for over ten years, and it's known for one thing above all: coffee. Locals say Bij Ellen has the widest coffee choice in town.
The owners care about where things come from. The fruit and veg are from the local greengrocer, the cake and bread are from Bakkerij Grootkarzijn in 't Harde, and the house blend is roasted by Ten Have in Deventer. A regular shared: "Lovely fresh sandwiches and the best coffee in Elburg. The service is friendly and nothing is too much trouble. We come back every time we visit."
2. De Plantage
Tucked away at Bloemstraat 20, just one street off the busy main lane, De Plantage is a real hidden gem. It's part coffee-and-tea shop, part tasting spot. You can buy coffee beans, loose tea, oils, vinegars, and chocolate, then sit down for a cup right there.
The friendly owner puts a few tables and chairs out front and serves coffee, tea, and little Italian treats for a fair price. People love the calm and the expert advice. One visitor called it "the best-kept secret of Elburg — a magic quiet spot just off the main street, with a huge choice of coffee and a host who really knows his stuff."
3. Aan de Gracht
Step just outside the Vischpoort, towards the harbour, and you reach Aan de Gracht at Havenstraat 5. It's a brasserie, an art atelier, and the town brewery all in one. From the terrace you look out over the canal water and the old walls — a lovely place to slow down.
There's coffee and cake, a full lunch menu, and the brewery's own Vos beers for later in the day. It's also a social workplace, where people with and without disabilities work side by side. A guest wrote: "Such a warm, atmospheric spot by the canal. The coffee and cake were lovely and the staff could not have been kinder. We stayed far longer than we planned."
4. Grandcafé De Vischmarkt
Right on the old fish market square in the centre, De Vischmarkt is the classic grand café stop. Its cosy terrace sits in the middle of the action, so there's always plenty to watch while you sip. Inside, it's warm and welcoming on cooler days.
It's a great spot for a coffee with something sweet, a long lunch, or a drink in the late afternoon. Guests praise the cheerful, professional staff. A traveller noted: "A lovely cosy café in the historic heart. The service was friendly and quick, the coffee was great, and the people-watching from the terrace was the best in town."
5. De Bakkersmolen van Schuld
For something truly different, head to the edge of Elburg in Oostendorp. Here, in a beautifully restored 1854 windmill, you'll find De Bakkersmolen. It's a bakery, a chocolaterie, a small ice cream factory, and a charming brasserie with a sunny veranda and terrace.
Order a coffee with fresh pastry, or pair it with a homemade bonbon or a scoop of farm-milk ice cream. The smell of fresh bread is everywhere. A visitor shared: "What a special place — a real working mill with cosy seating inside and out. The bread and baguettes are superb, and a coffee here feels like a proper treat."
Elburg is small, but its cafés have real character. Take your time and enjoy a coffee inside the old walls instead of rushing through. From the rich house blend at Bij Ellen to a coffee by the windmill at De Bakkersmolen, each spot tells its own story. Book ahead on busy summer weekends in 2026, and you'll taste the difference in every cup.
