Oker

Oker is and remains the place to be. This trendy hotspot is located on Denneweg in the neighborhood of 2000, the culinary heart of The Hague, and attracts guests from all walks of life. Couples, groups of friends, colleagues celebrating something, alongside tourists taking a day trip to the court city. The interior sparks the imagination, boasting a luxurious and international vibe with a long, sweeping bar where you can casually sip a cocktail. Glossy wood-lacquered tables are arranged across different levels, set with white linen napkins. The menu features numerous small dishes ranging from light to hearty, which you can order in any sequence and share as you please. Wines are available both by the glass and by the bottle. We nibble on crisp, fresh bread with a dukkah dip, pairing it with a lovely Esterelle rosé from the French Provence. Our first dish soon arrives, served by youthful staff who appear a bit rushed. It’s busy and there’s a lot of work to be done. The salmon sashimi comes accompanied by puffed rice, soy sauce, wasabi, pickled ginger, and lemon. Simple but excellent, and the fish is incredibly fresh. Next come tiger prawns in a crispy tempura coating with silky wasabi mayonnaise, lime, soy sauce, and spring onions. We carefully mop up the last remnants of sauce with our bread. Perfectly prepared is the truffle risotto, served with Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, and roasted hazelnuts. Oker knows how to delight guests with good food, and it’s no wonder it’s always packed here, both for lunch and dinner.

A long-standing fixture in this guide. Oker by Joost Maarschalkerweerd remains just as popular as ever. There are plenty of regulars, but also visitors taking a day trip to The Hague who stroll along the popular Denneweg – thanks to its many charming shops alongside an incredible array of restaurants and bars – seeking a casual, delicious meal in a cosmopolitan setting. Oker offers something for everyone, whether for lunch, drinks, or dinner. You can take a seat at the long bar to sample exciting cocktails, a fine glass of wine, and a wide selection of bites. Or pull up to a table to enjoy smaller dishes that make up a substantial part of the menu, with or without a matching glass or bottle of wine. The venue is busy, yet the spacious interior maintains a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. The starter of salmon sashimi with lemon, puffed rice, soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger arrives incredibly fresh and generously plated. We pair it with a Spanish Verdejo from Rueda, available by the glass. This is followed by beef tataki sliced into thick pieces with crispy cashews, apple, tangy ponzu sauce, and sesame seeds. It goes perfectly with another pour-from-the-bottle option, a slightly chilled Pinot Noir from France’s Languedoc region. We finish off with velvety tonka bean ice cream, served with candied peanuts and lukewarm caramel. A real celebration!

Located on one of the most charming streets in The Hague, Denneweg, where there’s always a lively buzz and the countless eateries, brasseries, and fine-dining establishments are constantly packed with cheerful guests of all ages. Oker is one of them, and in this spacious, cosmopolitan setting, you can enjoy lunch, a drink with tasty bites, or dinner. Happy hours are held regularly, and the selection of gin & tonics and cocktails is vast. The menu features smaller dishes with an international flair, and it’s a plus that the wine list offers plenty of options by the glass. Paired with a prosecco from Veneto, we indulge in Fine de Claire oysters served with a small bowl of sweet-and-sour dressing made from rice vinegar, shallots, and lemon. The lively, young staff clearly enjoy their work, bringing out for one guest a hamachi sashimi consisting of thick slices of incredibly fresh fish drizzled with yuzu juice, spicy soy sauce, and crumbled crispy nori, while for the other, there’s tempura of large tiger prawns accompanied by a fresh salad of cucumber, miso-infused seaweed, and sesame seeds. Both are superb in their simplicity. For the main course, we have beautifully cooked Dover sole fillet with a rich lobster sauce, perfectly tender asparagus, and mousseline, enhanced with fresh herbs. We pair it with a lush Les Bertholets Viognier. Don’t come here for culinary spectacles, but definitely come for delicious comfort food at a very reasonable price.

It is as lively as ever in this cosmopolitan atmosphere, packed to the rafters with guests of all ages, couples, groups, expats, and civil servants. Oker is located on Denneweg, the premier culinary street of the court city. Roy Breugelmans has taken over as chef from Roy van Geel, though the menu remains unchanged. Small dishes, often with an Eastern touch, to share or not. Alongside a glass of Pinot Grigio de Sacchetto, a warm ball of sourdough bread soon arrives, served with seaweed butter mixed with dukkah and olive oil. We see that reflected on the bill later. Tuna and salmon sashimi is accompanied by soy sauce, fresh wasabi, and pickled ginger. A salad of tempura prawns follows, featuring creamy miso mayonnaise, cucumber salad, seaweed, and toasted sesame seeds. We tuck into Rockefeller oysters with spinach and gratinated hollandaise, then continue our culinary journey with skin-on baked halibut glazed with carrot, mustard, and yuzu on pea cream. The small, beautifully pink-roasted tournedos with fries, green salad, and a fresh creamy béarnaise sauce also earns its share of applause. Comfort food is the order of the day. The young staff is cheerful and attentive, and the bill arrives promptly. And by Randstad standards, it is certainly quite reasonable.

The place has been refreshed, the floors polished, the ceilings whitewashed: Oker is back in top form. This contemporary, vibrant spot on Denneweg is once again as bustling, atmospheric, and affordable as ever, thanks in no small part to the excellent cuisine of the new chef, Roy Breugelmans. Oker strikes a perfect balance between big-city energy and intimate charm, featuring an open kitchen, quick youthful service, and a diverse clientele ranging from nightlife lovers and politicians to everyday Hague residents, expats, local artists, and romantic couples of all ages. Host and manager Adriaan van der Maas pours glasses of fruity white Rioja (Baron de Ley, 2019) made from Viura and Malvasia grapes, alongside warm sourdough bread served with aubergine dip (baba ganoush) and dukkah (a blend of nuts and spices). This is followed by a vegetarian aubergine salad featuring goat cheese, peppers, harissa (spicy Tunisian chili paste), and pomegranate seeds, alongside salmon tataki with crispy rice, kimchi (Korean fermented vegetables), and sweet-and-sour fennel. Delicious starters that pair perfectly with the Spanish wine. For the main course, you get three thin pancakes to assemble yourself using confit duck, cucumber matchsticks, spring onions, and hoisin sauce, all served in separate small bowls—a delicious and savory Chinese-inspired dish. On the other plate, slices of grilled bavette steak, tender with crispy edges, served with fries, salad, and béarnaise sauce. Equally delicious. To finish, a selection of cheeses served with sweet bread and apple syrup. Oker remains an affordable standout.

A trendy establishment and the 'family' of restaurant Dekxels, located just a bit further down on Denneweg in The Hague. The dining room has a cosmopolitan, industrial feel, featuring low and high tables, a long dining bar, an open kitchen, mirrors, mezzanine seating nooks, and large bouquets of flowers scattered throughout. In summer, there is a street-side terrace. The guests are young and urban, and cocktails fly off the counter like hotcakes. The restaurant team maneuvers nimbly between the tables and is quick and precise. On chef Adriaan Kühn’s menu, dishes are roughly starter-sized and internationally inspired. Eastern flavorings are frequently used, such as yuzu, soy, wasabi, and ponzu. The wine list offers plenty of choice, but you will need to explore it yourself, as the waitstaff’s wine knowledge is not particularly strong. Save a spot for dessert, as the tonka bean ice cream with almond crunch and warm caramel is delicious. A vibrant spot!

The atmosphere is cozy in this trendy spot, featuring high and low tables placed close together, an eating bar, mirrors, large (plastic) floral arrangements, and a sidewalk terrace for summer days. The brigade in the open kitchen, led by Adriaan Kuhn, prepares international dishes here that are the size of appetizers. They are all reasonably priced. We indulge in fresh oysters, which can be ordered individually, just like warm oysters Rockefeller with spinach and hollandaise sauce. Delicious. The thinly sliced, super-fresh hamachi has a spicy kick due to the slightly coarsely chopped peppers. Next comes tuna tartare with cucumber balls and fish roe, apple, wasabi soap, and avocado cream. The presentation is stunning, and the plate is completely cleared. The complimentary Italian organic Fasoli Soave Borgoletto pairs seamlessly with these dishes. The small pancakes with confit duck and crispy duck skin, cucumber and scallion strips, and hoisin are mediocre: unfortunately, the pancakes are bland and tasteless. This classic at Oker deserves more attention. The cheese board features five varieties, including a fragrant Brie de Meaux and picos, a Spanish blue cheese, a dollop of rinse syrup, and warm muesli bread toast. The wine knowledge could use some improvement, but the service is warm and efficient.

A beautiful contemporary restaurant on the famous Denneweg. Bustling and affordable, with excellent cuisine by Shwan Baban. There is a bar for quick bites, alongside long benches with small tables in front of them, as well as standard two-tops and four-tops beneath large industrial lamps. Further features include mirrors, a floor with varying levels, and a sidewalk terrace right outside. Oker strikes a balance between cosmopolitan and intimate, boasting an open kitchen, swift young service, and a diverse mix of partygoers, politicians, everyday Hague residents, expats, local artists, and romantic couples of all ages. We enjoy a generous glass of Nicolas Perrin’s 2016 Condrieu Les Alexandrins, served alongside bread with Egyptian dukkah and extra virgin olive oil. This is followed by a Caesar salad with Cajun chicken, crunchy croutons, Parmesan, and garlic dressing—a real treat for under ten euros. The other starter consists of three small pancakes, to be topped yourself with confit duck, matchstick-cut onion and cucumber, and drizzled with hoisin sauce. Absolutely delicious! An 'old-fashioned' Tournedos Rossini, cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor, arrives topped with a melting slice of duck liver terrine and a shallot tart. We would have appreciated a slightly larger portion of the accompanying Madeira jus. On the other plate sits a truffle risotto with mushrooms, Parmesan, and arugula—a lovely vegan dish. To finish, some cheese with nut bread. In terms of value for money, Oker remains a standout restaurant in The Hague.