12 student bars that are definitely worth a visit

Most first-year students have probably already been introduced to the nightclubs at Janskerkhof and Nobelstraat. But, sometimes, all you need is a place to have a drink with your friends without blasting speakers, strobe lights, and people dancing all around. If that's what you're in the mood for, then head to the old city centre, where you will find 88 pubs and cafés, many of them aimed at students. With such a wide offer, you're sure to find something to suit your taste, but where to begin? DUB selected twelve spots you should definitely stop by. 

Hofman, Janskerkhof 17A. 
Beer: €4.30

Hofman Café. Photo: DUB

Located in a building that used to belong to the Utrecht University of the Arts (HKU), Hofman allows you to have a drink inside or outside. They have quite a spacious terrace. Students from the faculties of Law and Humanities are regulars here due to the café's proximity to their lecture halls. It is also conveniently close to several entertainment venues, so you'll always find students hanging out there. However, bear in mind that Hofman is not a student bar: it's a place that targets a much wider audience. For example, it hosts comedy nights and live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 pm. One must be older than 23 years old to enter these nights, so they are not necessarily aimed at the student population. 

Café Flater, Oudegracht 140.
Beer: €3.50

Café Flater. Photo: DUB

De Flater, also known as The Flaat, is Utrecht’s self-proclaimed "favourite living room", where people are welcome every day of the week from noon to have a drink at the door and watch people on the canal. This place targets a more fashionable crowd, so it is particularly popular among the students affiliated with the boardsports association Spin. The pub has a cosy vibe in the afternoon but loud music and disco lights come on in the evening. So, if you don't feel like calling it a day after a few drinks, you don't have to go anywhere else to party.

’t Oude Pothuys, Oudegracht 279. 
Beer: €3.50

't Oude Pothuys. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

If you want to have a drink in a typical wharf cellar, ‘T Oude Pothuys is the place to be. With a beautiful terrace by the canal and a large wharf cellar with live music almost every day, this is definitely a place worth visiting. Several study associations used to go to Pothuys regularly, but this seems to have lessened since Covid. However, plenty of students have remained loyal to this place, so it has no trouble filling up every evening – usually with a more artistic crowd who enjoys live jazz music.

De Stichtse Taveerne, Twijnstraat 43. 

Beer: €2.80

...Or simply Stichtse. This rather dusty billiard café on Twijnstraat seems pretty small seen from the street, but it actually extends all the way to Oudegracht. You will have to share the place with other city dwellers, but students are more than welcome to come and play pool, billiards, darts, board games, and card games. Another thing students appreciate about Stichtse is its cheap beer: you can get a glass for just 2.80 euros. FUF, the study association of the Philosophy Programme, organises its "philosophical cafés" here, so you might leave your drinking session smarter than you went in.

Badabing/ Grand Café Lebowski/ Bar Restaurant Walden. Domplein 20/17/16 
Beer: €3.65/3.65/3.80

Grand Café Lebowski. Photo: DUB

Feel like breaking the record for the most compact pub crawl in the world? Dom Square is the place to be! There are three bars right next to each other on this square. Badabing and Lebowski have been popular among students for years, especially those who prefer to have a drink without that musty brown pub atmosphere. At Badabing, music is a little louder and people are encouraged to dance, while drinks temple Lebowski offers an extensive menu including an iconic White Russian. Walden is a bit quieter and less student-like, but it also has its fans as it offers a reasonably priced dinner menu and live music.

Teatro030, Gietijzerstraat 3 (but it's going to move to Oudegracht at the end of September). 
Beer price to be announced.

Inaugurated in 2022, Teatro030 is still considered the new kid on the block, but it will soon move to a new block. At the end of the month, it will reopen in the Kabul à GoGo building, a location as unique as the bar itself. With its bright red lights, bingo evenings and drag queen shows, Teatro was a bit out of place in Oudegracht's commercial and rather characterless shopping area. Even so, it quickly became very popular, securing its status as Utrecht's coolest alternative bar. DUB couldn't verify the beer price because they are currently closed, but Teatro is worth a visit for the character alone.

Florin Utrecht, Nobelstraat 2. 
Beer (per pitcher): €21.75

Florin. Photo: The Florin Utrecht Pub, Facebook

Florin doesn’t really count as a student pub, but it is worth mentioning. This British pub on Nobelstraat does its best to come across as authentic and it's a favourite among students due to its affordable €8.50 meal every Monday and Tuesday from 17:00. These evenings are very popular, so the pub usually fills up early. You can wash down your meal with one of the many British or Irish beers they have on tap, including Guinness, which they serve according to the Irish rulebook, in 119.5 seconds.

Café De Zaak, Korte Minrebroederstraat 9. 
Beer: €3.60

Cafe De Zaak. Photo: DUB

As a student, being broke from time to time is the most common thing in the world. If you're running out of funds but would still like to have a drink and a snack with your friends, head to De Zaak, which has a "bring-your-own-food" policy. This way, you can spend the money that you would otherwise spend on food on one of their many craft beers. De Zaak is often the final destination of a night out or a stepping stone to the nearby Nobelstraat, which means it is often packed with students. 

Science Café HideOut, Heidelberglaan 15. 
Beer: €1.75

Who says you need to head to the city centre to find cool bars? One of the options at Utrecht Science Park is HideOut, a bar and café run by volunteers from the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU). It is a café by and for students, which is reflected in its wide offer of affordable beers. You can also have lunch there in between classes. The only catch is that you need to start your happy hour a bit earlier, as it closes at 9:00 pm.

Studentencafé Cambridgebar, Cambridgelaan 901. 
Beer: €1.70

Cambridgebar Utrecht. Photo: DUB

If HideOut’s closing time is too early for you, the SSH residential complex on Cambridgelaan is home to the aptly named Cambridgebar, which opens five days a week at 9:00 pm. This bar is also run by volunteers, namely the residents of the Cambridgelaan complex. However, all students are welcome. At Cambridgebar, you can order a pitcher of anything, not just beer. The bar's survival has been threatened a few times due to a lack of volunteers, but the bar is alive and kicking again and is definitely worth a visit.

As we said at the beginning of the article, this is not an exhaustive list. Is your favourite pub missing from the article? Then make sure to share your recommendation in the comments below! Don't forget to include the bar's name, address, and how much they charge for a glass of beer.