Café Droste in Wijk 17 Hofkamp

As a true Almelo native, you are naturally genetically programmed to be critical. "Keep it down-to-earth" is the motto here, and we don't let ourselves be easily impressed by a hip concept or a beautiful facade. But I have to be honest: Baya Nooteboom has things pretty well sorted out here. You step inside and the atmosphere grabs you immediately. It is as if you have left Almelo for a moment and landed in a hip metropolis, but thankfully without that annoying Amsterdam arrogance. The service is sharp, alert, and understands how things work. No sluggish glances or half-cold orders; here, they simply pick up the pace as if a deadline is at stake. The food? Bulletproof. Whether you go for an extensive lunch, a sleek drink, or dinner: the flavors are spot on. No pretentious frills that you have to search for with a magnifying glass, but high-quality dishes that at least make you happy. Even the biggest critic will be silenced here for a moment (and that is an achievement in itself in this region). **A minor downside?** The risk that it gets so cozy that you forget you have a life outside of hospitality, and the staff are so short that you have to pick up glasses from the floor. In short: Baya Nooteboom is an absolute asset to the city. Tightly organized, excellent vibe, and food that simply works. Go check it out, even if you normally find fault with everything. This is rock solid.

Very cozy traditional pub with a wide selection of beers on tap.

I went there to play billiards and I was pleasantly surprised. There are several billiard tables and the service was excellent.

Letting minors in and smashing things up. Good job!