Flower market: Janskerkhof (city centre) is transformed into a sea of plants and flowers every Saturday. If you're looking for a Buddleja or Oleander, you've come to the right place!
Fabric market: The fabric market in Breedstraat is almost as famous as the flower market. Fabric, rolls of material, zips and buttons, it’s all available between 07:00 and 13:00.
Markets: General markets are held at Vredenburg on Wednesdays and Saturdays. An organic market is held here too on Fridays.
The attractive old city centre is retail heaven: the shops at Oudegracht and in Museumkwartier, great boutiques at Voorstraat and designer shops at Schoutenstraat. Zadelstraat and Lijnmarkt are the best places to find home accessories, while trendy and affordable fashion can be found in the shops of well-known fashion chains at Steenweg. Shops in Utrecht are open seven days a week because all inner city shops open on Sundays. And even if the weather is poor, you can still enjoy some retail therapy. Utrecht central railway station morphs into the totally revamped Hoog Catharijne, the largest indoor shopping centre in the Netherlands. Plenty of reason to go shopping in Utrecht!
There are various places to eat at only 100 metres from the apartment. Here are some of our favourites.
Restaurant Europa: This has been the most popular Greek restaurant in Wittevrouwen for more than 25 years now; extensive menu, good atmosphere and very affordable - website
Restaurant Aand8 voor eten: Traditional Italian kitchen, pleasant atmosphere, a modest but good menu, delicious wines, slightly more expensive, recommended if you want to spend the entire evening wining and dining - for the menu among other things - website .
Restaurant Concours: If you really have enough time, want a special evening and find it difficult to make choices, be surprised, not a menu but the Chef's Menu - website
Restaurant Bastacosi: Traditional wood oven pizzeria, delicious pizzas prepared fast - website
Restaurant Nieuw China: The best Chinese restaurant in Utrecht for many years now. Also try their Indonesian dishes. Everything you could expect from a Chinese restaurant - website
Pasta-bar Spaghetteria: It’s all in the name, this place is all about spaghetti. Sit down at one of the robust tables or take a seat along one of the pleasant windowsills. If you're looking for a fast and affordable meal - website
Restaurant De keuken van gastmaal: French bistro atmosphere, a modest yet excellent menu, delicious wines, more expense segment - website
Restaurant C’est Ça: Slightly hidden from view, 3, 4 or 5-course surprise menus served in a French setting, more expensive segment but certainly worth it, we recommend making a booking, also check out the ‘luxurious wine list’ - website
There are various city-centre restaurants where you can wine and dine. Here are a couple of the better and (considerably!) more expensive ones:
Restaurant Karel 5: Not a restaurant to have a quick bite to eat but ‘a place for a romantic dinner of high culinary quality’, as they put it on their website.
Simple: A small but very attractive restaurant, with ‘the right balance between classic and modern’ cooking - website
If you don’t feel like going out for a meal or preparing your own, then why not go for a takeaway or have it delivered (leaflets can be found in the apartment)?
Snackbar Soen Wah: Everything you may expect from a good luncheon bar. You can have your chips on the premises but because the luncheon bar is only 100 metres down the road, you can also take them to the apartment, of course.
Grillroom Nefertiti: The name doesn’t quite cover it all because they also prepare delicious, thin pizzas. Call in advance to place your order. Either collect or have it delivered.
Indonesia Ashli: A highly popular restaurant for more than 30 years now, they serve traditional Indonesian dishes, hot or cold takeaways, or in the adjacent restaurant, anything is possible. You pay only € 7.00 for a delicious nasi rames (our favourite).