3 x drinking in Breda

Breda’s historic city centre is packed with pubs and terraces. But where do you go for the finest wines, tastiest beers and best gin and tonics? The editors of FavorFlav have selected three hotspots. Is your favourite bar among them?

Wine Bar Petit Bardot

It seems as though nothing else has ever occupied this corner building on Van Coothplein. And yet wine bar Petit Bardot, the small and equally charming sister of the neighbouring Brasserie Bardot, only opened its doors last year. With its robust zinc bar and typically French terrace chairs, this establishment evokes 1950s Paris.

The more than thirty wines (available by the glass) and exquisite snacks also do their part. Which wine you choose is up to you, but be sure to order the canapés and a few gratinated oysters as well. Then move on to the neighbours for a poussin from the rotisserie. Van Coothplein 10, Breda

Bliss Gin & Tonic Hotel Bar

Breda is not exactly blessed with hip hotel bars. One exception is the Gin & Tonic Bar at Boutique Hotel Bliss. As a ginoholic, you can come here every Friday and Saturday for your favourite cocktail. With more than 65 gins and 10 different tonics, this small bar has an enormous selection. Finding it hard to choose? Go for the Gin & Tonic Tasting: you’ll get four mini G&Ts with different flavour profiles. Or order the Monkey 47, Robert Kranenborg’s favourite gin. Torenstraat 9, Breda

De Boterhal

For beer, head to De Boterhal. Unlike most pubs, this speciality beer café is not affiliated with a brewery. That means they are free to decide which beers to include in their selection. With 25 taps and more than 100 bottled beers, that is certainly a good thing. Go for a delicious Rochefort Trappist or choose one of the IPAs with names such as Raging Bitch, Dead Pony Club or the somewhat more cheerful Life’s a Beach. Exciting news: Brouwerij St. Joris is opening next month in De Boterhal’s medieval cellar. That means house beer, straight from the beer tank into your glass. Grote Markt 19, Breda

Text: Renée Conradi
Image: John Tony’s Gin