Café Modern

8.6 /10

Set-menu cooking in a former bank, with private dining in the vault.

Since 2012 the old Twentsche Bank building off the Meidoornplein has been quietly serving some of the most confident food in Noord. There's no à la carte theatre here: you sit down to a rotating five, six or seven-course menu (€67.50–€80) built entirely on seasonal produce from small local suppliers, and you let the kitchen drive. The room does moody bank-hall glamour, red chairs, low light, sun striping across white tablecloths, and upstairs there's a three-room boutique hotel if the wine list wins. The actual bank vault in the basement seats fourteen for private dinners, which is the best flex in the neighbourhood. Going to a film or concert nearby? Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday they run a three-course theatre menu at €39.50, an outright steal from this kitchen. Closed Tuesdays; weekends they open at noon for lunch on the terrace.

Solo? Take the bar: oysters and a glass first, then let them run the full menu anyway.

What to order

Verrassingsmenu (5-7 courses)€67.50–€80
The whole point: chef's daily surprise from small local suppliers, smoked mussels, koji beurre blanc territory.
3-course theatre menu€39.50
The insider shortcut on Sun/Mon/Wed/Thu, same kitchen, early-evening pace, half the price.
À la carte at the bar
No booking? The bar serves starters and mains from the same kitchen.