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A culinary journey around the world in Groningen

With the summer holidays just around the corner, many people are busy planning their next beach holiday, city break or backpacking adventure. Discovering new places and cultures is, of course, great fun, but you don’t have to leave the city to do so. You don’t need a passport for these culinary journeys.

“ Europe ”

Cicci’s Cucina & Bar

Hoger der A 3 – Cicci (pronounced ‘chee-chee’) is an Italian term of endearment meaning ‘sweetheart’ or ‘darling’. Highly appropriate, as the menu here is a declaration of love for modern Italian cuisine with a Venetian twist. With a combination of authentic Italian ingredients and local produce, you can enjoy the most delicious ‘cicchetti’, ‘antipasti’, ‘primi’, ‘secondi’ and desserts, paired with Italian wines. You’re guaranteed to come back here again. Ciao Cicci!

Croissanterie Pigalle

Stoeldraaierstraat 17 – Croissanterie Pigalle has been one of the busiest spots in the city for breakfast, lunch and coffee for over 35 years. The aroma of freshly baked bread and croissants greets you halfway down the street. When you sit out on the bistro terrace in the sunshine, you’ll feel as though you’re in France for a moment. Here, you can enjoy generously filled sandwiches and homemade pastries every day of the week.

De Olijfboom

Steentilstraat 28 – At this traiteur’s, you can enjoy the most delicious authentic Greek snacks. As soon as you walk in, your mouth will start to water at the sight of the display cases full of tasty treats. In the open kitchen, they make everything from scratch using fresh and natural ingredients. From salads to pastries: there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer meat, fish or vegetarian options. As well as the traiterie, you can also sample all these delicacies in the ouzerie. Let yourself be surprised and choose one of the tasting menus. It’s a great way to get inspiration for your own authentic Greek drinks evening in Groningen.

“ Azie ”

Javanese Eatery

Gedempte Kattendiep 33 – The Javanese eatery is a household name in Groningen. The Indonesian restaurant has recently moved from Schuitendiep to a spot just a little further along on Gedempte Kattendiep. But despite the move, you can still enjoy delicious Javanese food here. From Nasi Rames to Rendang and Soto; all the classics are on the menu here. And if you can’t decide, just go for one of the rice platters. Your whole table will then be laden with all sorts of delicacies to tuck into. Selamat makan!

Nabi Café

Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 25 – For Instagram-worthy drinks and a tasty lunch, head to Nabi Café. The absolute favourite drink here is their matcha, which comes in a range of varieties. But the Sandos – Japanese-Korean-style filled milk bread – are definitely worth a try too. You can order the Sandos with meat, fish or vegetarian fillings. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, go for the Japanese soufflé pancakes. These are the fluffiest pancakes you’ll ever taste. The pancakes are available with fruit, chocolate or even in a matcha version.

Mr Dam

Astraat 6 & Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 22 – De Bahn Mi is a remnant of French colonialism in Vietnam. The Vietnamese adopted the French baguette but created their own version by filling it with local produce. The result? A crisp, fresh white baguette filled with Vietnamese vegetables, herbs and meat or fish. In Vietnam, you’ll find a Bahn Mi stall on every corner, but you can also try one right here in Groningen. Mr Dam makes the tastiest versions, including those with chicken, prawns or tofu. As well as the sandwiches, the menu also features salad rolls and noodles.

“ America ”

Yankees Streetfood

Zwanestraat 31 – You don’t have to go far from home for iconic dishes from the land of the brave and the home of the free. Classics such as mac & cheese, hot dogs and froyo are now available right here on Zwanestraat. Soul food, just as only Americans could conceive of it. As well as serving food from the States, the interior is decorated entirely in the style of a proper American diner.

11 Once

Oosterstraat 11 – At Once, you can enjoy a truly authentic Mexican dining experience. And that’s just a little different from the Mexican food we’re used to here. Order all sorts of delicious ‘entradas’ to share and discover the rich flavours of Mexico. Of course, the selection of mescals and tequilas is not to be missed either. And let’s not forget the warm and lively atmosphere for which Mexico is famous.

Pachamama

Nieuwe Markt 7 – Combine the freshness of Peruvian cuisine with the purity of Japanese cuisine and you get Pachamama. Admittedly, this restaurant’s roots do not lie entirely in America. But that certainly shouldn’t detract from the culinary experience. At Pachamama, for example, they serve dips such as salsa or mole alongside seaweed crackers and tortillas – all designed to be shared. It’s not just the Nikkei-style dishes, but also the atmosphere and service that make this a delightful outing for food lovers.

“ Africa ”

Fankaasoo

Graaf Adolfstraat 48 – Completely vegan, African and right next to the Noorderplantsoen: Fankaasoo. This restaurant uses many Gambian family recipes and draws inspiration from West African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. At Fankaasoo, you’ll truly embark on a culinary world tour, with dishes such as Baobab Juice and Jollof Rice on the menu. Here, you’ll enjoy African mezze – small dishes designed to be shared. That just means there’s even more to sample!

El Maïda

Folkingestraat 19 – The name El Maïda can be translated from Arabic as ‘the table’. And specifically, a table shared with family, friends and the people you love. And what’s on that table? Delicious North African lunch dishes. At El Maïda, you can enjoy all sorts of dishes from North Africa and the Middle East: from tasty sandwiches with baba ganoush and hummus to full tajines and platters. And another nice touch: you can also order an Arabic high tea and breakfast.

Hdmona Habesha

Nieuwe Ebbingestraat 68 – At Hdmona Habesha, you’ll be served some truly spectacular dishes, so be prepared to treat your taste buds to something special. In this Ethiopian-Eritrean restaurant, you’ll taste things you’ve probably never eaten before. A tip is to order one of the mixed dishes. This is served in a colourful basket containing a mix of well-spiced vegetables and/or meat, accompanied by injera – a sort of pancake-like bread. The restaurant also serves Ethiopian and Eritrean drinks such as home-brewed beer, honey wine and distinctive Ethiopian coffee.

“ Oceanie ”

Pacific. Buzz. Beer & BBQ

Oosterstraat 65 – Instead of a flight of over 21 hours and the jet lag that comes with it, you can also head to Pacific to get into an Australian mood. Fancy a bit of pre-trip excitement or feeling a bit homesick for your backpacking trip? Here, they do almost everything the typical Aussie way, which means: on the BBQ. And whilst the real carnivores amongst us will be in their element here (read: kangaroo steak), there are also vegetarian options. You can also pop in for some speciality beers from ‘down under’.