Stadscafé Blij in Wijk 10 Binnenstad

The staff is busy with everything and anything except the guests. Setting up the parasols seems to take ages. The food is terrible... please fire the cook... This location should be a 'Top-notch' establishment, not a 'nearly-but-not-quite' one.

Every time I come to Zwolle, I go to this restaurant to eat, and the food there was always good. But unfortunately, that was not the case today. Yes, there were a lot of people on the terrace, but that is no reason for such bad service. We ordered tomato soup and a Caesar salad with chicken. Regarding the salad: the chicken was tasty, but the salad itself was simply terrible. There were large chunks of onion in it, but that is bad enough. The tomatoes and cucumbers still had their stems on. Additionally, we found a hair in the salad. When we told the waitress about this, she said she was going inside to ask the manager what she should do. The waitress came back and said that we had to go inside, because they were waiting for us there. Inside, there was only a woman behind the bar. We said we wanted to pay and told her again about the situation with the salad. She didn't respond to anything, acted as if it didn't interest her at all, and just said: “Yes.” We would have liked to hear at least a simple “sorry.” After all, it concerns food, and it was truly a very unpleasant experience. I would prefer not to return here in the future.

Had a drink outside on the terrace. Prompt and friendly service. Serving the food took a bit long.

We waited for a soup for 40 minutes. Thats unacceptable.

Had a delicious lunch with the four of us, carpaccio toasties and the happy chicken.

You have to pay extra for this if you order with a QR code You have to pay to pay, ridiculous

My partner had asked if it was wild salmon. The answer was, "Yes, fresh every day!" It arrived on my plate and turned out to be just farmed salmon! Very disappointing. I've been coming here for 18 years but you won't see me back again. I explained to the waiter the difference between wild and farmed salmon! Luckily, the salmon was deducted from the price after I insisted! After all, they charge the price for wild salmon...! while farmed salmon is half the price, that rubbish. But I am really disappointed. I've been 18 for 18 years but you won't see me back... I just feel ripped off.

The terrace was full, unlike the surrounding restaurants... a good sign in general, you would think... Man, what an incredibly bad place!! Wine and beer from the bottle warm😡. According to the waiter, the cooler is broken!🤔. Messy service! Food served was slightly different from what was ordered, and already lukewarm because the servers just couldn't figure out who ordered what... all in all, just downright bad!!

It takes a long time before you can order, and it also takes a long time for your order to arrive. Otherwise, it's a pretty decent little place.

Nice place to have a drink! The terrace is wonderfully central, the atmosphere is good, and the staff always helps you with a smile.

The cola was not cold and had no fizz, but the deluxe nachos were very tasty.

Great place to eat, nice and busy

The staff is friendly. The food is really tasty. However, the staff is difficult to reach. We had to wait a long time before we could ask someone if we could pay. We didn't get any eye contact.

Always a nice place to visit , good food and drinks , great also as nice place to sit outside and enjoy the city of Zwolle. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Highly recommended. The service was super friendly, attentive, and fast. The food was incredibly delicious! I had the marigold with salmon and have rarely eaten better pasta 😍.

Tasty apple pie. But cold coffee and tea twice. The owner does not bother to offer his apologies personally. The staff is also not impressed by the complaint.

The best goat cheese sandwich in the Netherlands! We often come all the way from Alkmaar during our holidays to come here for this sandwich. Beautifully situated and a real treat in the center of Zwolle.

The terraces on the square look inviting, so we take a seat for lunch. I order and pay for the sandwiches and drinks via the QR code. The table is filthy beyond words and the menu is completely sticky. Well over half an hour later, and after asking three times, the sandwiches finally arrive. The toasted sandwich is lukewarm and the drinks haven't arrived yet. Time to ask again. I am snapped at in a totally unfriendly manner that it is simply busy at the bar. When the drinks finally arrive after 45 minutes, they are no longer warm. They are unresponsive to my complaint. Once is enough, never again.

We enjoyed drinks and delicious snacks here today with five people. The snacks did not arrive at the same time. We were missing two snacks. Without us having to ask, this was checked with us and passed on immediately. A little later, we received them after all. That shows good service. The patio heating was also pleasant. The only downside was people smoking on the terrace. I don't know if that is allowed. This was just a minor detail.

Nice and busy on the terrace, the staff some friendlier than others. You order something to drink and some fast food: chicken nuggets, meatballs with two sauces, and butterfly shrimp. The meatballs were served incorrectly—which can happen—and I received bitterballen with mustard in a small pot. I pointed this out politely, but the friendliness quickly diminished. 15 minutes later I received the correct portion: the meatballs were lukewarm, and one pot of sauce was already cold and had a layer on top. I just left this alone; I suspect it had simply been left standing there and those bitterballen belonged to a different order. For the sake of peace, I left it like that to avoid further unfriendliness. When settling the bill with a genuinely friendly waiter, we heard that everything was being charged, including the misordered bitterballen. This was quickly rectified, though, so good try. Happy ???? We were not happy about it.

We were there today, July 20th. The service was good, even though it was packed around lunchtime. They had bitterballen, fries, tarte flambée, and mustard soup. Everything was hot and very, very tasty. We'll definitely be back.

Reserved for lunch. Upon arrival, we were walked past three times without even saying 'hello'. We were served drinks quickly; unfortunately, Bradley's tea was very tasteless and lukewarm. Lunch proved difficult due to allergies (nuts and peanuts). The first waitress said that everything would contain nuts and peanuts. The second waitress was able to qualify that statement, and it turned out that they couldn't completely eliminate traces, which is understandable. The food was disappointing: one thin slice of bread with a little ham, lettuce, and sauce. My husband had a different dish, but the ham had been replaced with chicken. It wasn't expensive, but the portions were very small. Feedback went unanswered, not even a 'what a shame that it was disappointing'. Nothing to be happy about. We certainly won't be coming back.

Nice terrace, but otherwise mediocre.

Beautifully situated, with good seating options both indoors and outdoors. Well-coordinated and friendly service. All in all, very good.

Thank you for your part in a more than successful surprise party! Special thanks to Jesse, who also did a fantastic job with the children present 👌🏻

Friendly staff, but the food wasn't really great.

Ball pit, paid a deposit for a pitcher but absolutely couldn't get it back.

What a disaster last night. We are never coming back here! Bad food and bad service. Tucked away in a room, we finally received our lukewarm wine, cola, and iced tea after 25 minutes. Then we had to wait another 20 minutes to order our food. The starters were still tasty, but the main courses were downright bad. Personally, I had the mixed grill, with a pork tenderloin that was cooked to a greyish hue, a steak that was still almost raw in some places but already grey in others from the heat lamp, and a piece of chicken that was half so black you couldn't eat it. Only the spareribs were good. When the wait staff finally comes to ask how the food was after 30 minutes, after you've signaled multiple times for them to come, they make a fuss about the fact that you actually ate some of it! Eventually, you are offered a laughable 20% discount that they ultimately don't apply at the cash register, meaning you have to go back again. Furthermore, the baked potato was just like a hard-boiled potato with some sauce. Other main courses weren't great either. Then came the rudeness from the restroom attendant about having to pay €1 to pee during a music festival on the square, and her refusal to believe you were a customer, insisting you tell her exactly which table you were on. We always enjoyed eating here, but we will never, ever come back. A music festival on the square shouldn't be an excuse, but the manager clearly thought it was. People: save your money and go eat somewhere else in Zwolle!

Nice terrace, friendly staff, but unfortunately not enough vanilla in the Pornstar Martini.

Too bad, we don't speak Dutch. We ordered, the drinks arrived fairly quickly, but somehow we got one beer too many. Unfortunately, the porters didn't inform the order takers. When it came time to pay, and since there were no receipts, everything was read to us very (very) quickly. And the Dutch speak incredibly fast, anyway, we paid for three drinks and only got two. Fifty-fifty mistake. Tip: pay attention. The Spritz was also too weak, but the house beer was good.

Went out for dinner with a group of 18 people and had to wait half an hour for drinks every time. The food was cold, and we didn't receive any salads with the main course. We didn't get dessert at all; we were done with it so quickly. Not recommended for large groups!

The food was fine, but the service was appallingly bad. We had to wait longer than half an hour for drinks on several occasions, despite repeatedly asking the staff about the status. Also, after everyone had finished eating, they brought out large bowls of salad. No one had an appetite for it anymore. Not recommended.

Slow service and incomplete orders. Not recommended!

I found the food mediocre. The mustard soup was very salty and I left it. The mixed grill was lukewarm. The location, atmosphere, and service were top-notch and made up for the evening!

You are waiting a very long time for your bill, last time.

Very poor service. We had to wave our hands around for about 40 minutes before a waiter finally came to let us pay.

What a sad Caesar salad. An egg, a bowl of lettuce, and mostly nothing but pickles. Not recommended.

It doesn't make you happy. What a disaster. Even a portion of bitterballen is a struggle.

We 'ate' here on Thursday evening, June 4th.... For starters, carpaccio... very bad!! Sliced ​​way too thick... loaded with truffle mayonnaise, not a pine nut to be found... I left my plate untouched except for 3 bites... then the waiter comes to ask if he can clear the plates. We say that of course that is allowed... he asks if we enjoyed it. ...uh, can't you see the plates are still full... I explain my complaint... then the man says... shall I pack it up for you... I reply... don't you understand what I'm saying... oh right, he says and walks away... no reaction or anything... later I speak to a waiter about the incident... she seems to understand and said she would just check in... then the waiter in question comes over asking what he can do for us.... I politely tell him what happened and that I find it remarkable that nothing is being done about it... then he says again... yes, and what do you want me to do for you now.... sorry, but I really don't understand this..... you take 1 full and 1 half-full plate off the table... with a complaint.... and then you go ask us what we want ?????. I find this way of handling complaints really veeeery peculiar..... eventually they 1. took the Carpaccio off the bill because none of it had been eaten.... we left our main course untouched. We paid the bill and got a snack elsewhere. In short... do something with it... never again for us.

The carpaccio was brown and the bread hard, stale, and dry. The frozen cappuccino and the smoothie are practically never in stock. Unfriendly staff.

Sten.. he made our lives better, really good service, beyond perfect! Hope i can get this kind of service every time 🤜🏼🤛🏼

I'd like to order something else, but no one came to take my order. Spoke to the waitress, she'll be right there. Fifteen minutes later, no one. Glass turned upside down, finally, would you like another one? Cleaning a dirty table, never heard of it.

Not recommended. Terrace cushions filthy with bird droppings. Menus (all of them) dirty. Tables all dirty. Someone wipes it down, notices something a bit more stubborn but it isn't fixed. Downright, everything was basically filthy. But it was busy, so we'll give it a chance from here. 15 minutes later, and the second time we asked for service, we were helped. Ice tea green and sparkling didn't see a fridge today, lukewarm to warm. Nothing else was mentioned about this. Staff are very poor communicators, lack transparency or honesty, and are not welcoming. The waitress feels no (positive) social pressure and looks quite lazy. No action, no welcoming, you see hands raised everywhere, and this lady is standing there quietly chatting with colleagues. Downright unsuitable for the hospitality industry. The owner is very lucky with the location. 1 star for the hardworking young man who ran the drinks today. Great job, keep it up!

We attempted to grab a bite and a drink on the terrace this afternoon. Downright bad. The young waitress is absolutely not well-trained and doesn't seem to know what she's doing. We asked to order, to which she replied that we had to wait a moment. After that, she still didn't come, so we asked again if we could order something; she had forgotten. That can happen, of course. The drinks arrived quickly but were almost warm from the outside temperature and I don't think they had been in the fridge for a moment. You obviously can't serve it like that. The Udon noodles and chili nuggets were very tasty though! The benches were covered in bird droppings and every table we wanted to sit at was dirty with sticky menus. In short, train your staff and make sure the tables are wiped down regularly. It's a nice location to sit, but that's about it.

Waited well over 2.5 hours for food. At one point, a waitress walks by and says "enjoy your meal" from a distance, but no one asks if it is to your liking. Waiting for the fries that never came... no, not coming back here.

Beautiful building, a nice labyrinthine passage. Had a delicious lunch. Attentive service.

We arrived well in advance before the rush, having a nice chat with my girlfriend, and saw tables around us who arrived later getting their food earlier than us, even groups of 6 people before us. In the end, we just had to wait more than an hour for the food... the atmosphere is okay, but the waiting time could be shorter.

We had a great lunch here. Everything went smoothly and was tasty. The tea could be a bit warmer.

Had ordered a cocktail but didn't get it, don't go!!!!

A ‘HAPPY’ compliment! We were warmly welcomed and were seated at a reserved table with our party of 6. The service was prompt, attentive, and ensured that we wanted for nothing. Both lunch and dinner were wonderfully prepared — so good, in fact, that we were happy to return later in the evening to dine as well. A cozy atmosphere, hospitable staff, and delicious food: highly recommended!

I had reserved a table for 2 people online for King's Day, for 8:30 PM. The reservation was confirmed by email. When we arrived at 8:30 PM, we saw that people were already sitting at the table we had reserved. When we asked the waitress about this, she said that a reservation doesn't mean you actually get that specific table...😳?! Why make a reservation then??? This isn't mentioned anywhere. She kept repeating this. She did have another table available... She walked with us to a small room with a few high tables. I cannot sit there due to my pelvic instability (which is why I reserve a table). And I am not going to sit in some weird little room while I have a reservation. We left... We didn't eat or drink anything. We had been looking forward to this. So, making a reservation means nothing here...

Deeply, deeply insulted by this company. We were scammed by a local con artist with whom we thought we were having a nice day; in the end, we had to pay for all his food and drinks, and we were treated very disrespectfully by Cafe Blij.

We ate at Blij tonight. My boyfriend had a mixed grill, but the meat was really cold. The staff took his food away and he did get warm meat in return. Anyway, it's about principles; furthermore, we had to pay the full amount, as it wasn't resolved with a discount or a drink on the house. We also had to wait a really long time for everything. This was a one-time thing and never again! The food is definitely not worth the money either!

Great atmosphere and a lovely view of the main square. The deluxe nachos are beautiful to look at, delicious to eat, and generous in size. Stan is great: smiling, friendly, and always professional.

Great place, great food,wonderful people

Grand! Delicious salads, friendly and helpful staff. A very good experience.

Had lunch today at city cafe Blij in Zwolle. Blij egg with carpaccio served with a slice of rustic brown bread. The food was tasty but not very special. The atmosphere, right in the middle of Zwolle, was very cozy. The only thing that bothered me was that the staff addresses you informally and asks "how did it taste?". Of course, that could be the concept or the generation, but I still prefer a slightly more polite form. Otherwise, I enjoyed the lovely weather.

It's a great place to sit when the weather is nice. Having a nice beer here is highly recommended on a warm summer day.

Had a training session all day. Super well organized. Friendly staff. Enjoyed some drinks on the terrace afterwards. Well-prepared snacks.

We went for dinner here a while ago with a group of 15 people. The atmosphere was very pleasant, and later in the evening the music got a bit louder, which made it even more fun. Overall, we had a delicious dinner. However, there were a few downsides. Unfortunately, for a few people, the food was cold or a bit dry, especially the dishes meant to be shared. This was possibly due to the crowds. The service regarding drinks also left something to be desired. We regularly had to wait a long time, and orders sometimes arrived incomplete or later than expected. On the positive side, however, this was resolved properly when settling the bill. All in all, we had a pleasant evening, but there is still room for improvement.

Cozy place in a beautiful location; I recently painted this watercolor there.

Had lunch and ate well; the staff was busy but we received full attention.

Had a delicious crispy chicken sandwich. Tasty and fresh, friendly service in a lovely ambiance. Unfortunately, the outdoor terrace was full, but you can also sit comfortably inside. Highly recommended.

We were here on Monday, March 23, 2026, and ordered two toasted sandwiches. If the quality of the sandwiches is representative of the rest of the menu, then I would never eat here. The sandwiches were lukewarm, the bread was only toasted on one side while the other was still white, the cheese was not melted, etc. How difficult is it to make a toasted sandwich? Moreover, it took a long time for the sandwiches to arrive. We were on the verge of leaving. If only we had…

A huge disappointment, although I would like to add that I actually never write reviews. The food was fine, nothing to complain about. However, the staff, terrible! Not once did they ask if everything was to our liking. I had to ask for a drink or food order myself time and time again. They couldn't manage a smile, and I actually wanted to mention this when paying. However, that wasn't possible because they didn't ask if everything was to our liking. They could only read out the amount. Never coming here again. I am so disappointed.

They call it Stadscafé Blij themselves..... I haven't been able to figure out where that name comes from.... It is Market Day in Zwolle today. In between shopping, it is time for a drink. I walked past an inviting terrace. Tables equipped with candles, ashtrays, and the menu displayed invitingly. And to top it all off, the patio heaters are already on. I sit down and enjoy the warmth. I see that there is a sticker on the table to order online. That saves taking orders and, therefore, theoretically, staff costs. Okay... not my preference, but I get it. What I don't understand is that I subsequently have to pay an extra €0.35 for the fact that I take my own order and settle it online in advance. Big mistake. But what is truly appalling is that an extremely grumpy person then walks out and says nothing but: "I see you ordered via Wero? We don't open until 11:00 AM.... nothing gets made until then!" When I then say that they should indicate that before I order and pay, this woman just walks away.... Eventually, at exactly 11:00, we get chilled fresh mint tea and a lukewarm cappuccino. If you don't enjoy working in the hospitality industry.... then quit! But don't take it out on your customers who pay your salary through pricey drinks.... When asked if we also want to order something to eat, I don't have to think long...... Never again for us.

Had a delicious lunch, super friendly staff. Definitely worth repeating.

We weren't thrilled; it all seemed a bit nonchalant. The service was okay, and the food arrived quickly. The curry was watery and undercooked. The chicken satay was tasteless. The fries and nachos were the best.

If you're lucky, you might get a spot. The food took a long time, and dietary requirements weren't met several times.

We had a nice, cozy atmosphere and the prices were reasonable. One glass of wine and a Bacardi and Coke were 15 euros.

The ham sandwich and tuna sandwich were fantastic again! When we visit Zwolle, we usually have lunch here; it's a lovely central location in the city. The terrace is also nicely situated in the middle of everything, and there's plenty of shade when it's hot.

A cozy place to relax and unwind. Very friendly service and a great atmosphere!

They don't accept carnival coins, even though that's stated online.

The food is always good here, tasty and served quickly. It's also nice that not everything is so expensive, so you can have lunch for a reasonable price!

Horrible staff! We had to wait almost an hour for lunch (eggs)—not recommended. We asked several times where our food was, but there was no response.

A lovely city cafe with a great menu offering something for everyone. A friendly atmosphere.

Went out to dinner at this restaurant tonight with a few people. What a disappointment. For example: burnt chicken under a thick layer of tasteless satay sauce. Thick, soggy fries. Nasty fries sauce, no mayonnaise. Everything was lukewarm. The cola was poured into a hot glass that had just come out of the dishwasher. Now, the crème brûlée. For €12.50, a soggy cookie with a sticky substance on it that had absolutely nothing to do with crème brûlée. I could go on and on; my dinner companions had similar experiences with their dishes. The service was friendly. Never again will I go to Stadscafé Blij!!

Great food, it gets very crowded, you sit at the same table with others

We were helped by Niek, fantastic service, he is great with people, and we really enjoyed it!

Good atmosphere, quiet yet accommodating many guests. The conservatory was especially appealing. Someone could perhaps have come a little quicker to take our drinks, but otherwise, the staff were incredibly hospitable and approachable.

The food was very tasty and delicious. The "I Love Holland" show was also a great way to spend some time.

The old town has a lot to offer. Nice stores, quaint buildings and more. Blij (Happy) is located dead center and is the place to be, if you want to take a break and have a drink and/or a bite. Good service, revolving draft beers and a simple, yet nice menu. They also offer nice snacks, in case you wanna grab a bite, instead of a dinner. Don't skip Blij when visiting the town of Zwolle.

Cozy, trendy place with an extensive menu. Delicious food and large portions. But I also like to pop in for a cup of coffee when I'm in town. We had a nice drink after a movie at the cinema this week. 🍷

Fantastic food, friendly staff, and super attentive service!! Highly recommended, first-class.

Delicious food! Very friendly service. A very pleasant place to eat. Very cozy atmosphere.

A city café as a city café should be. A fantastically varied menu, something for everyone. A beautiful and warm interior that immediately gives you a homely feeling. The staff is also incredibly friendly. It's often busy! Absolutely packed! I watch the team in amazement. In short, I recommend Stadscafé Blij to anyone who wants a pleasant meal out without expecting too much luxury.

I always come here with friends and family; the atmosphere is great, the service attentive, and the food delicious. The cocktails are good, and there's a more than enough whiskey selection.

I had a terrible experience. I was served spoiled food and was lucky I didn't have to pay for it. All in all, a very bad experience. The so-called Manager, Luuk, handled it completely unprofessionally.

At first they forgot my order, then I got the wrong one, and then I got a rushed dish that wasn't complete

Delicious food and good service.

The food was fine. Not fantastic, but not bad either. The fries weren't good.

Always delicious food, a cozy atmosphere, and excellent cocktails. Highly recommended!

Had lunch with friends, and the carpaccio wasn't great. The fries were thick, which is something you have to like. The service was okay. Prices were reasonable, but I didn't think it was entirely worth it.

Enjoyed coffee and cake and returned later for a cocktail. Good service.

The music is a bit loud, and the prices are a bit high; a half-liter Grolsch white beer now costs €10.00.

Had a delicious meal and lunch, definitely recommended

Great cocktails!! Fast service and friendly staff. Good food.

Delicious food, great service and a nice atmosphere

Very nice little place. It has a cozy atmosphere!

The coffee and tea are lukewarm. The apple pie is frozen, so don't order it! It's way too soggy and has huge chunks of apple.