The most romantic dinner in The Hague is at restaurant ñ
With refined plates that showcase the chef's artistry, restaurant ñ serves up excellent small plates in a cozy and charming setting devoid of any pretentiousness.
Dinner by the candlelight, crisp linens, and innovative small plates. It’s a Michelin Bib Gourmand, the decoration is spartan, the atmosphere is loud, and the tiny tables are close enough that you will bump into your neighbour at some point.
It may seem like dizzying juxtapositions, but this is dining at restaurant ñ – a cozy Spanish-inspired shared dining restaurant, and the most romantic dinner you will get in The Hague.
Nothing about restaurant ñ is normal
In a conservative city such as The Hague, particularly in the city centre, restaurant ñ stands out for its’ unorthodox approach to food, atmosphere, and wine.
Chef Thomas Vandenhecke executes an inspiring seasonal menu that keeps diners on their toes. An artist from KABK by training, Vandenhecke and team focus on experimental cooking featuring fermentation, vegetables, seafood, and wild game. The unusual combination of flavors will intrigue curious epicureans.
Like most restaurants of its’ calibre, the menu at ñ reads like a list of ingredients so the plate served is always a surprise. Throughout, each dish remains light and carries an air of refinement.
Case in point: on their menu recently, wild deer with dark chocolate, leek, and mussel jus. These ingredients can’t possibly come together in a cohesive dish, could they? For diners in The Hague, restaurant ñ keeps on surprising…and thankfully, delighting.
Here’s what to order
Skip the classic Spanish appetizers and head straight to the main dishes. These are where the team’s creativity really shine.
Start with the razor clams, the only dish that stays on the menu year-round. Fresh tender clams are paired with with chervil, caraway, Pernod, kumquat and a mignonette. It’s punchy, well-balanced, and sets the tone for a delightful experience ahead.
The small menu changes frequently, but do try a vegetable dish or two alongside the seafood and wild game proteins. The harmony of textures and tastes of the vegetables might just surprise you.
On drinks, the wine list is extensive and impressive with a good range of terroirs for white, red, and orange wines. Bottle prices are affordable, ranging from 30 to 150 per bottle, with most in the 40 to 60 range. With helpful staff for guidance, you will find something you like.
The vibes are high
Dine at ñ, and you’ll see a diverse group of diners, from young couples on first dates, seasoned couples, good friends hanging out, and the few tourists. From the preppy chic to elderly moneyed to arty younger crowd, restaurant ñ stands out in creating a welcoming place. This is refined dining for everyone.
The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, but don’t expect cushy chairs, polished extravagant decor, or a quiet atmosphere. You’ll sit on vintage dark wooden Parisian bistro chairs, with a table lined with starchy white linen, while the soft glow of a white candlestick melts away, dripping wax on to the table.
Notably, it’s loud. You’ll have to raise your voice slightly to be heard on your table. There’s house music that plays later on in the night. There’s a high probability you might bump into the neighboring table or exchange a few lines as the tables are placed in such close proximity of each other. And it sounds like a dizzying nightmare, but it makes for a chaotic, fun, and distinctly warm atmosphere.
Colloquially, the vibes are high in here.
The Hague Review: 8.8/10 Come for a cozy and intimate experience with people you love
Come with a date or people you know well. The atmosphere is cozy, chaotic, and alluring. The food is fresh, memorable, and daring. In a city full of boring and conservative dining experiences, ñ stands out for its’ artistry, creativity, innovation, and warmth.
There are many more elegant restaurants in The Hague, but restaurant ñ is the one I keep on coming back to.
Restaurant ñ
Nobelstraat 22
2513 BD Den Haag