Gault Millau best restaurants in Groningen 2025

Feb 10, 2025 • 6 minutes reading time

Food

Restaurant

Where in Groningen is the best place to enjoy a culinary surprise?

The jury members of the Gault & Millau restaurant guide have investigated this again in 2025. Their conclusion: you are in the right place at 12 restaurants in the city. A newcomer has been added in 2025. Very good. All of them are included in the new Gault & Millau guide, which was presented on Monday, February 10, 2025. Also Sikkom wrote a short article about the latest news from Gault Milau in Groningen. In our article you can read which restaurants you should not miss according to Gault Millau if you visit the city of Groningen and if you go a little further into the province of Groningen!

Participating restaurants in Groningen Gault & Millau

The Gault & Millau restaurant guide can be compared to the Michelin guide.
The participating restaurants are awarded chef's hats by Gault & Millau, rather than stars as in the Michelin guide.

Personally, I sometimes wonder how chefs feel about being assessed this way every year. Does it create pressure or motivation to constantly surpass yourself?

The Bigger Picture

Michelin and Gault & Millau are often mentioned together. You might almost think they are the same, but no, they are really different. Just like Michelin, Gault & Millau publishes an annual guide with the best restaurants, but it does so with points instead of stars. Starting at 10, and going up to 20. Restaurants with fewer than 10 points are not included in the guide.
It's not just about the culinary experience, but also about the atmosphere and hospitality.

A Culinary Vacation in the City of Groningen

What if you're visiting Groningen and want to turn it into a true culinary trip?
Keep in mind that you’ll want to stay in the city for at least two weeks, because Groningen has a total of 13 restaurants that perform at the highest level and have earned an honorable mention in the Gault Millau. Below is the list! Which restaurants are considered the top ones in the center of Groningen according to Gault Millau?

Nassau 15.0 (up 1 point compared to 2024)
Vive La Vie 14.5 (unchanged from 2024)
De Haan 14.5 (unchanged from 2024)
Bisque 13.5 (unchanged from 2024)
Blumé 13.5 (unchanged from 2024)
De Grote Frederik Bistro 13.0 (down half a point in 2025)
De Oude Tijden 13.0 (newcomer in 2025)
Bellami's - Bar a Manger & Bistro 12.5 (newcomer in 2025)
De Betere Tijden 13.0 (unchanged from 2024)
De Oude Tijden 13.0 (newcomer in 2025)
Niemeijer 13.0 (unchanged from 2024)
Voila en Feu 13.0 (unchanged from 2024)
CICCIs 12.0 (unchanged from 2024)

Gault Millau in the Province of Groningen

Just outside the city of Groningen, in Hoogkerk, you still find the top spot with the restaurant Noor, awarded 16.5 points in 2025. This is still the same score as the Vlindertuin in Zuidlaren (but that's in Drenthe).

However, if we travel a bit further into the province, you can also enjoy some great dining according to Gault Millau. That's great news! Quickly book your table at Savour (13.0 points) in Haren. Did you know you can also enjoy a delicious meal at De Oude Sluis in Zoutkamp (13.5 points), with a wide selection for vegetarians and vegans? The kitchen works a lot with products from Groningen, Friesland, and the fish auction in Lauwersoog (of course). At Herberg onder de Linden (16.0!! points) in Aduard and the nearby Bij Hammingh (12.0) in Garnwerd, you’ll also have a wonderful time, as we know from experience. Gault Millau confirms this again in 2025.

Looking for a place where you can also have a unique overnight stay? We recommend a visit to the Piloersemaborg, where Dick Soek cooks wonderfully in this historic manor from 1633 (14.0 points).

Our Personal Experience

As we write this, we realize that we still have many addresses to visit.

Personally, we’ve visited 5 of the 13 restaurants on the list, or actually 14 with Noor included.

We've had many great experiences in the center of Groningen at the restaurant Vive La Vie, where we've been many times. Jeroen and Lara are an amazing team and extremely ambitious (and incredibly kind and lovely!).

I've also eaten at the Brasserie of the Prinsenhof, but never at Restaurant Nassau.

We've had the pleasure of dining at Blumé with good friends, and we really enjoyed it. Voila, we've definitely been there several times, and it's excellent! We also had a very romantic dinner at the Piloersemaborg, what an atmosphere and pleasure!