Budget
Apolonia
A cheap Argentinian/Egyptian restaurant. Don't expect luxury cuisine here, but good meat for a good price. It's especially a nice place for small dishes, like steaks, shawarma and döner kebab. The tables can be sticky though. At Fridays and Saturdays, the official closing time is 3AM, but it often stays open till 4AM or later. That makes it a great place for eating shawarma with pita bread after the bars close.
Catalonia
Don't expect a full meal here, just a quick snack in a greasy place. Their focus is on Italian pizzas and shawarma, but try the the Lahmacun with döner often called 'Turkish pizza' in the Netherlands. It's quite expensive still, but worth it. A good place to eat at night time.
Victor Consael
Nice budget restaurant if you want to try authentic Dutch pancakes. Ask Chris the owner to order for you if you want a true Dutch experience. Their also typical Dutch poffertjes are a special treat paired with cappuccino.
Toko Take-a-Wok
No seating, but they do have take out and delivery services of several Asian dishes, like wok menus, soup and dimsum-snacks. You can even order 5 mini egg rolls for â¬1, but don't expect a smile if you're coming for just that.
Midrange
Warung Adinda
Well-known and appreciated Indonesian restaurant that has more than 35 years of experience. Very friendly service. It has dinner a la carte or in a traditional buffet form.
De Jonghe Graef van Buuren
Old-style restaurant with an interesting history. Good place to have an easy dinner with fries and mayonnaise.
De Kei
A typical "brown cafe" mostly known for its simple and tasty menus. It's especially recommended to visit their wine tasting sessions. At the late evening, you can have a beverage as the place turns into a bar.
Kimono
Entertaining Japanese restaurant, as the chefs really do their best to put up a good show. That makes it a good place to bring children. They have unlimited sushi for â¬10 from Monday till Thursday. Nice staff, good food, not expensive.
De Lamme Goedtsack
Proper French/Mediterranean restaurant with a friendly staff. Try the carpaccio.
Tokyo
The best Japanese restaurant in town with impressive paintings on the walls. The staff are friendly and dressed in Japanese style. Try the Californian handroll or the teppan yaki meals.
Lust
This restaurant with international menus is based in a historic building from 1902. Go upstairs to lounge or downstairs for an interior like a small village in France. Try the "Lusterijen", a plate filled with a couple of smaller dishes, served with a suitable wine.
Zilt & Zo
Excellent restaurant with a mixed international cuisine. The focus is on French and Mediterranean seafood, but plenty of meat menus are available as well. The interior is stunning, which resembles a harbor, even with sand on the floor. The staff serve the dishes with care and seem to love their job. Finish it with a choice from their worldwide wine list.
Puur Smaeck
At lunchtime, handicapped people will be waitressing in this French/Mediterranean restaurant. You will be surprised by their service and kindness. It's the best time to visit, as the bread they serve is very tasty. At dinnertime the regular staff takes over.
Robert
Interesting French restaurant in the middle of the Spanderswoud forest, only accessible by car or bike. The food is not original, but has a good quality and taste. Sit outside when the weather allows it.
Surya
Indian and Nepalese restaurant with an absolute stunning interior. Everyone is sitting on benches with pillows, which makes for a very warm atmosphere, and the walls are decorated with Buddha images. The staff is friendly, lots of menus to choose from and the food is served in large quantities. Try the Gulab Jamin, it's good.
Da Familia
A mix of international cuisines, this place is standing out from the rest with its hip and trendy interior. Some of the ordered food can be in rather small amounts though.
Las Tapas
Very popular Spanish tapas restaurant. The menu is in Dutch, so hard to read for foreigners, but the staff will gladly help you with ordering. The garlic bread, artichoke and feta salad, garlic prawns, sautéed mushrooms, bruschetta with feta and pine nuts are tasty. The bill is cheap for the amount of food served. They only accept cash.
Chiang Mai
Proper Thai restaurant in the area, which is specialized in the cuisine of Northern Thailand. The place has the usual Thai dishes, but also some interesting ones with rabbit and turkey. Good service and relatively cheap prices, but expect a bad interior with fluorescent lamps.
Mangerie
One of the best Chinese restaurants in town, and not a typical one. It's definitely high-class with the French wine list as one of its features. The staff is professional and the food is delicious. Try the Peking Duck.
De Jonghe Graef van Buuren
William V was a young prince and the last stadtholder of the Dutch Republic in the late 18th century. As believed, he was riding his horse on his way to Amsterdam to deliver an important message. Due to lightning and heavy rain, he was forced to spend the night in Hilversum, in what is now restaurant De Jonghe Graef van Buuren. As usual, Prince Willem V was travelling incognito, using the name "Van Buuren". The owner of the inn quickly found out that the man had a royal background. He was honored and asked if it was allowed to name the inn after him. Since then, it bare the name 'De Jonghe Graef van Buuren' The Young Prince van Buuren. The bed Willem V spent the night in is still on the exact same location.
Docks
Good restaurant with a trendy and upscale interior. The choice is food is rather limited, but that's fine, as it tastes good and the service is excellent. Especially ask for the winelist, the Australian wines are a specialty.
Top end
No. 33
High-class restaurant specialized in French and Mediterranean cuisine. They know what style is, as seen in the trendy interior, which gives a warm atmosphere.
De Jonge Haan
This is the most upscale "brasserie" of Hilversum and the best place to run into Dutch celebrities. It is listed 57th in the Top 100 Best Dutch Cafes of the magazine Horeca Misset. At any time of the day you can walk in for coffee or tea, accompanied with a muffin or pie. The interior looks professional and the Dutch word gezellig nice and cosy definitely applies here. Sitting outside is nice during summertime, as a breezy green neighborhood is outside. Eating dinner is possible, but waiting queues take ages and the food quality is poor.
Lakes Restaurant
Based in one of Dudok's designs, French restaurant Lakes is probably the most expensive and luxury of Hilversum. The black and silver colours give the interior a stunning hip-chique atmosphere. Its location at the water enhances the experience, as well as the excellent service and winelist. Be ready to pay.
Royal Mandarin
This Chinese restaurant is interestingly based in a historic Dutch farm and is widely considered one of the best Chinese Restaurants in the country. The staff is really friendly and very knowledgeable. The restaurant might seem expensive but price-quality ratio is in perfect balance. A good suggestion is the surprise menu, with good value you will taste what the chef is capable of. You will be impressed.