These are the best and tastiest restaurants in Texel
Our stylish colleagues at ModMod always know exactly how to add a little extra sparkle to your life. So they went looking on Texel for the best places to enjoy everything the island has to offer in culinary style. And of course, those tips are right up our alley.
The best and most surprising restaurants on Texel
Admittedly, a weekend in Texel doesn’t sound like the most sophisticated city break. The image of ‘over-50s cycling electrically through a meadow’ is largely accurate. But don’t let that stop you from exploring the northernmost part of North Holland, because a visit to Texel can be an absolute delight. Because of the nature, of course, but also because you can eat very well there.
Texel is the largest Wadden Island in the Netherlands. With a total area of 162 km2, it’s easy to explore the island from top to bottom. The beaches, forests, meadows and nature reserves (De Slufter!) are perfect for escaping the big city for a while. Texel’s fresh sea breeze, generous dose of sunshine and perhaps refreshing rain shower do every city dweller good. After a day of ‘taking in nature’, however, you’ll start craving a proper bite to eat.
Restaurants in Texel
Texel is home to seven villages, from the ‘capital’ Den Burg to the tiny village of De Waal, and you’ll find good restaurants all over Texel. The island is even well represented in the Michelin Guide and the Gault&Millau Guide. That’s because the people of Texel are proud of their island and love working with fresh ingredients from their own land, the Wadden Sea or the sea. Oh, and tourism naturally means there’s a wide range of restaurants and cafés, all keeping each other on their toes. Whether you’re looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant or a good beach bar for drinks, these are our favourite places for breakfast, lunch, drinks and dinner in Texel.
Gastropaviljoen XV
At beach marker 15 on Texel, there are two beach pavilions: Strandpaviljoen Vijftien and Gastropaviljoen XV. At the latter, the interior is immaculate and, as the name suggests, Gastropaviljoen offers just that little bit more on the culinary front than the average beach pavilion. So go all out with an extensive menu, a good bottle of wine and, honestly, island life is wonderful.
Gastropaviljoen XV, Westerslag 4-5, Den Burg
Strandpaal 21
For the flammkuchen, a Texel white beer, the relaxed and friendly team, and the unique location on top of the Texel dunes. Enjoy the sun sparkling during the day and slowly disappearing into the sea in the evening.
Standpaal 21, Strandslag 21, De Koog
De Eilandkeuken
This restaurant in Texel has had a Bib Gourmand for several years, and the kitchen uses the finest ingredients from the island and the Wadden Sea. That means plenty of fish and shellfish on the menu, but also lots of room for (lamb) meat, cheese and fresh vegetables. It’s an inventive kitchen with high standards and ambitions to earn a Michelin star. It’s also a delightful place to look at. Most restaurants in Texel still have somewhat classic restaurant interiors, while De Eilandkeuken is furnished in a modern (or even hip) style. The eye wants something too!
Restaurant De Eilandkeuken, Gravenstraat 7, Den Burg
Lokaal 16
For breakfast or lunch in Texel, Lokaal 16 is the place to go. A charming little spot serving homemade cakes, the tastiest sandwiches, substantial salads and hearty soups. Another nice touch: the coffee served here is roasted specially for Lokaal 16. And if you want to go all out in the cutest way, you can opt for a ‘high lunch’. Ideal for a sociable lunch.
Lokaal 16, Gravenstraat 16, Den Burg
Texels Brouwerij Proeflokaal
A visit to Texel isn’t complete without visiting the island’s popular homegrown brewery: Texels. You’re probably already familiar with Texels Skuumkoppe; this refreshing wheat beer is available throughout almost the entire Netherlands. But did you know the brewery makes many more fantastic beers? You can choose to take a tour of the brewery and see the brewing process with your own eyes, or take a seat in the brewery’s tasting room and order a tasting. That way, you’ll get to know all the beers the brand has to offer.
Please note that, due to the renovation of the tasting room at the brewery in Oudeschild, the Texels tasting has been moved to the pop-up location in the heart of Den Burg.
Texels brewery, Zwaanstraat 6a, Den Burg
Paal 17
Very few beach bars in Texel remain open all year round. Logically, the inclement weather doesn’t exactly make sitting on a beach terrace feel inviting. Fortunately, Paal 17 goes against the grain and does stay open in winter. So you can visit all year round, indoors (with a fireplace) or outdoors (with or without sun protection). The somewhat more upscale restaurant is located on the first floor, where you have a beautiful view of the beach and sea and can enjoy a good four-, five- or six-course menu at a reasonable price.
Paal 17, Ruyslaan 96, De Koog
Bij Jef
A Michelin-starred restaurant in Texel? Absolutely: Bij Jef. If you really want to go all out, you can stay at the neighbouring Bij Jef hotel. Anyone who enters the welcoming world of Jef and Nadine Schuurs is struck by a sense of calm and space. The restaurant’s design was specifically created to let guests fully enjoy the creative gastronomy, which is at the heart of Bij Jef.
Restaurant Bij Jef, Herenstraat 34-36, Den Hoorn
Casa Molero Bar de Tapas
Okay, a tapas bar probably isn’t the most obvious restaurant choice in Texel. After all, they don’t serve typically Texel dishes here. Still, Casa Molero is a great spot. The restaurant’s Spanish male owner knows how to prepare the tapas authentically. It feels as though you’ve ended up back in that one tapas bar in Barcelona/Seville/etc., with Ibérico ham, tortilla, manchego and olives flying at you once again. One useful tip: reserve a table. The place isn’t large (which does make it cosy) and has only a limited number of tables.
Casa Molero Bar de Tapas, Kantoorstraat 5, Den Burg
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