November 18, 2019 · Team HG
VThis evening, the Café Top 100 awards ceremony took place in Nijkerk, featuring four Groningen-based establishments. The winner of the 2019 Café Top 100 is located in the heart of Rotterdam. Café Sijf on the Oude Binnenweg managed to convince mystery visitors, the expert jury, and the main jury alike. Old-fashioned coziness combined with modern business practices. ‘Sijf doesn’t move with the times; the times move with Sijf.’
De Oude Wacht is a lovely establishment on the Gedempte Zuiderdiep in Groningen. And as number 22, it can call itself the Provincial Winner for the first time.
And that is an impressive achievement. After all, being the best in a city with The Pintelier, The Horn, The Suitcase and Café Wolthoorn & Co, to name just a few, is something to be proud of. Four cafés in the northern provincial capital feature on the list in 2019, and De Oude Wacht is the highest ranked at 22nd place.
When we visit the establishment, three staff members are at work. It is busy, but they have everything perfectly under control. And that is impressive, because there are guests both inside and outside. But everyone receives attention; time is spent on every guest. Whether it is serving a drink or a snack, offering advice, or answering a question, everything runs smoothly at De Oude Wacht. A well-oiled machine.
If Groningen were a cake, De Pintelier would be the cherry on top. Eric Harder has been running his Belgian Beer Café here since 1997, supported by a fabulous team of staff.
We actually wanted to say enthusiasts, but that might sound a bit hobbyist-like, whereas we are dealing with professionals here. Only professionals with an incredible love for their craft. A visit to De Pintelier is an experience you would wish for everyone.
De Koffer Groningen is not located in the busy city center. It takes a bit of searching. Although, of course, that is a piece of cake these days with Google Maps.
De Koffer Groningen is a true beer café and a member of the ABT. No fewer than twelve taps adorn the bar. What comes out of those taps is clearly indicated, both inside and outside.
Everything tells us that we are dealing with a fine and beautiful hospitality establishment. We therefore begin this ode to whisk(e)y & craft beer café De Toeter Groningen with the concluding words of the jury in the expert jury report:
I wish this company was in my city.
Those words actually sum up everything we have to say about De Toeter Groningen.
Read also: Groningen appears four times in the Café Top 100.
