TILBURG - In Your Pocket

The Dutch share a love of espresso and cappuccino with
the Italians. Cafés in Tilburg quite often offer much more
than just a cup of coffee with pastry or a cup of tea. Most
of them have soups, salads and sandwiches on their
menus, so the border between restaurants, pubs and cafés
is very thin. But have a look over our carefully selected
cafés and pick the one that is just right for your mood or
occasion, Eet smakelijk!
Bakeries
Sissy Boy C-2, Pieter Vreedeplein 43 & 50, tel. (+31)
135 82 14 18, www.sissy-boy.nl. The Sissy Boy chain is
both a clothing and an interior design shop, but you can drink
all sorts of coffees and teas in a coffee house with a somewhat
industrial, but stylish interior in the adjacent building. QOpen
09:30 - 18:00, Mon 12:00 - 18:00, Thu 09:30 - 21:00, Sat
09:30 - 17:30. Closed Sun. PJGB
Soups & Shakes B-2, Tuinstraat 114, tel. (+31) 135
45 16 97. Soups & Shakes is essentially a sandwich shop
where you can create your own lunch with a variety of toppings
for a fair price. The small, flowery room exudes a friendly
atmosphere, you can make your own coffee if you like and
the owner is always up for a chat. The place is popular with
local shoppers in need of an energy boost, but students
also seem to congregate here. QOpen 11:30 - 19:00, Thu
11:30 - 20:00. Closed Sun. (€3 - 8). JGBS
Classic cafés
NEW
Berlijn Cafe Korvelseweg 169, tel. (+31) 135 35 65 94,
www.berlijncafe.nl. In a small town like Tilburg every new
establishment is scrutinised closely in order to determine if it
adds anything to the existing scene. Berlijn Cafe has no worries
in this regard. This trendy place is slightly off the beaten
track, but we still can’t comprehend the association with
the German capital. In fact, apart from a well-hidden bust of
East Germany’s former leader, Erich Honecker, we discovered
very little that could be classified as ‘typically Berlin.’ We did,
however, discover a well-balanced wine list and a modest
menu of well-prepared dishes. QOpen 10:30 - 01:00, Fri,
Sat, Sun 10:30 - 02:00. TAULGBKX
Breexz B-1, Spoorlaan 47, tel. (+31) 135 42 52 55,
info@breexz.nl, www.breexz.nl. One of the of Breexz’s
best features is the incredible view. You’re basically floating
above the busy Spoorlaan, where traffic rushes by beneath.
You won’t find lukewarm sausages or weak coffee here, rather
caffiato, mojitos and Atlantic sole rolls that will make you
want to miss your next train. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat
10:00 - 21:00, Sun 11:00 - 21:00. (€8 - 13). PTJAGK
tilburg.inyourpocket.com
CAFÉS
De Burgerij B-2, Noordstraat 87 - 89, tel. (+31) 138 22
09 89, www.deburgerij.nl. A visit to De Burgerij feels like
a trip back in time and the French countryside of the past is
your final destination. The cheese, olive oils and meats on
display are simply mouth-watering and placing an order here
couldn’t be easier. Just choose either A, B or C. Sandwiches
of differing prices and fillings are available from abundant and
overflowing to basic. The romantic setting, friendly service
and homemade food places this newcomer among our favourites.
Give it a try. QOpen 10.00 - 20.00, Sun 12.00 - 17.00.
Closed Mon. (€3 - 5). PTJ6BSW
Kras2 C-3, Willem II straat 27, tel. (+31) 135 44 40
42, www.kras2.nl. You can’t walk past this sandwich
shop without noticing it. The enormous ILLY coffee cup
and the memorable delivery bicycles that stand outside
the door will definitely grab your attention. The room smells
of super simple, yet delicious sandwiches, whose fillings
are often of Italian origin. Your order will be prepared right
in front of you in the open kitchen, but you could always
try a fresh piece of pie or buy something to prepare at
home. QOpen 08:00 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00. Closed
Sun. (€2 - 7). JGS
Mugs & Muffins Willem II straat 57, tel. (+31) 135 90
45 85, info@mugsandmuffins.nl, www.mugsandmuffins.
nl. ‘A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand’ is its motto and
Mugs & Muffins lives by it. Shoppers come here by the bucket
load to enjoy hot drinks and home made pastries. Starbucks
pales by comparison with this Tilburg favourite. Take a seat
near the front window for people watching or in the back for
a view of a well-maintained city garden. If you’re in luck, you
might find a seat in one of the two wonderful arm-chairs. Every
season three new drinks appear on the menu, which are perfectly
in tune with the winter chill or a summer breeze. QOpen
08:00 - 19:00, Mon 13:00 - 19:00, Thu 08:00 - 22:00, Sat
09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun. (€2 - 7). JG
Museumcafe Eten & Drinken B-1, Spoorlaan 434,
tel. (+31) 135 35 39 35, www.natuurmuseumbrabant.
nl. If all of the exhibits in the three-storey Museum of Nature
have exhausted you or if you just want to take a moment to
compose yourself after seeing the imposing elephant genitalia
conserved in formaldehyde you can take a break at the
museum’s spacious and modern café. If you prefer simplicity
you can prepare your own slices of bread or have a plate of
poffertjes (tiny pancakes), but we opted for the large salmon
sandwich. The luxurious red couches and the large number
of magazines and books will convince you to linger a little
longer than planned and when the weather cooperates you
also can sit outside. You don’t have to be a museum visitor
to take advantage of the café. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00, Sat,
Sun 12:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon. (€3 - 6). TJULBKW
Autumn 2012/Winter 2013
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