October 16, 2018 · Team HG
AAmsterdam ranks average in Europe when it comes to terrace prices. For a round (2 espressos, 2 soft drinks, 2 half-liter beers, and 2 rosés), you will spend €33.67 in our capital. This is significantly less than Oslo, which is the most expensive city for terraces in Europe this year with an average terrace price of €53.71. Budapest is the most affordable; compared to Oslo, you save more than three times as much at €15.94. This and more is revealed in the 2018 European Terrace Survey by Spronsen & Partners hospitality consultancyFor this study, various restaurants and cafes in the most famous terrace locations in European capitals were examined. From Place du Tetre in Paris and the Nyhavn Promenade in Copenhagen to the Stare Miasto in Warsaw and Old Town Square in Prague.
The European terrace tour is a response to Dutch terrace research, which is conducted annually by the hospitality consultancy firm from Leiden. After a wonderful summer and with the last beautiful terrace weekend ahead, this is a good time to see how the Netherlands scores in comparison with other European capitals. Amsterdam has been the top performer in the Netherlands for years when it comes to prices, but compared to other European cities it scores ‘only’ a place in the middle of the pack (11).
The capitals of three Scandinavian countries score a place in the top five. Copenhagen finishes in second place while Stockholm takes fourth place. Paris (3) and London (5) complete the top five. In terms of non-alcoholic drinks, cola and espresso, Copenhagen is the most expensive city. A glass of cola costs an average of € 5.13 there, while an espresso costs € 4.02. Alcohol is most expensive in Oslo, where you pay € 9.72 for a glass of rosé and € 9.51 for a half-liter of beer.
You can find cheaper destinations for sitting on a terrace in Eastern Europe. Budapest is the cheapest city at €15.94, followed by Warsaw, Bratislava, Ljubljana, and Prague. Budapest is the cheapest place to order a soft drink (€1.56) and a glass of wine (€2.34). For beer (€2.08) and a cheap cup of espresso (€1.39), Warsaw is a better destination.
Just like with the Dutch Terrace Survey, the number of rounds residents in the respective city can afford weekly was also examined—the so-called ‘terrace purchasing power’. This is calculated by comparing the average disposable income in the country against terrace prices. Zagreb is the city with the lowest ‘terrace purchasing power’, averaging 6 rounds per week. Bern has the highest ‘terrace purchasing power’, where one can order an average of 29 rounds per week. In the Netherlands, 17 rounds can be ordered per week. This places Amsterdam in fourth place, making it a relatively affordable city for terraces. Measured on average across all cities, the ‘terrace purchasing power’ is 13 rounds per week.
