The Governor in Oude Stad

We had a wonderful meal at The Governor Restaurant last night. The food was truly excellent: flavorful, well-prepared, and beautifully presented. The service was remarkably polite and attentive. We made a small mistake choosing our table/location, but the staff resolved it very professionally and kindly by immediately offering us another table. That kind of service makes all the difference. We will definitely be back!

Had a drink here with colleagues. Ryan was fantastic! He's a great guy with a great sense of humor. However, his colleague was a sourpuss and incredibly rude to us. I confronted him about it.

It was truly a pleasant experience, with very attentive and helpful waiters… the bartender's service was spectacular and friendly! I must return soon. I'll definitely stay at the same hotel and return to The Governor. 👍

Terrible experience. Half of our orders were incorrect. My friend ordered salmon, which was very raw. Had to be sent back to be cooked. Waiter even admitted it was very undercooked. I ordered a entrecôte steak and got what was very clearly a pork chop. White meat, tough texture and flavor of a pork chop. I asked the server if I had been sent a pork chop instead, and he told me no, it was steak. He kept insisting. So i asked to speak to a manager. Manager finally appeared and again said it was steak. No apologies that I didn’t like it, no offer to replace it with a different item. Just basically tough luck that’s what you get. Then I was charge 27.50 for the meal that was definitely not what I ordered. I am including a picture of my “steak” with one of many pictures I found on the internet when I googled entrecôte. You can see the difference. We also were angry enough that we brought the leftover meat back to our hotel and ask the lady at the desk what she thought. She told us she worked as a chef previously at various restaurants and that it was definitely not steak. She also said that she would never recommend the governor because she has heard shady things about them. Lots of fantastic restaurants in Haarlem. This is not one of them. 0/10 do not recommend!!

Delicious steak and fries, the burger has a delicious sauce and is very juicy. The buttered bun was a surprise; it seemed to have a hint of caramel in it! Delicious. Friendly service, nice spot on the patio.

Very friendly service and the food was delicious.

The space was very small, with no skylight, and covered with many umbrellas. Before ordering, I politely asked for the salmon to be well done and dry on the inside. However, the dish I received was undercooked. I asked again for it to be well done, and this is what they served me. You can decide for yourself if this meal is worth 28 euros

I ordered carpaccio as a starter for €15, but it was not worth it at all. Later, when I asked for a well-done dish, they served me a burnt, blackened meal that cost €28.

The restaurant, with its lovely outdoor terrace and large bar area, is located in the pedestrian zone directly across from the church. It offers a fantastic selection of appetizers, best shared to allow for a main course afterward. There's also a wide selection for breakfast.

We dined here during our three-day stay in Haarlem. Our favorites were the BBQ Iberico Rib Fingers as a starter and the Salmon Teriyaki with fried rice and honey chili sesame soy sauce afterward. Friendly service and a lovely spot under a heated parasol on a bench with soft cushions. Breakfast at the Ambassador Hotel, also provided by The Gouvernor, was extensive and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal on this terrace.

BABY SHOWER!! We organized a baby shower here for my sister-in-law! Joriene was absolutely fantastic! She guided us perfectly! And the two men who helped us all day were super sweet and helpful! They were very accommodating to people with allergies! It was so much fun to have a high tea here! Highly recommended! Thank you all 🤍🫶🏼

It was very tasty, cosy, and the service was polite. The prices were reasonable. For chicken nuggets, nachos, a cappuccino, and tea we paid 33 euros. Everything was delicious. Despite the restaurant being full, we only had to wait about 10 minutes for our food

Delicious food and generous portions for the price

The food is very fine. The service, while friendly, wasn't particularly attentive. It's a shame, but the quality of the food outweighs it.

Nice place, decent drinks until the bartender tried to rip us off for €80 (we had three drinks for €39, and he'd secretly added an €80 tip). It was the young man next to us who pointed this out to us. He said they tried this often and that you had to be careful. The atmosphere immediately went down, and after finishing our drinks, we left immediately. Such a shame, as the people were nice and the DJ was great.

Cozy terrace with a magnificent view of the cathedral. Sandwiches, sharing dishes like fries, and meat dishes are available. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Very nice cocktails but expensive food and quite slow service.

Veg shoarma, fried sushi, Goat cheese sandwich and dumplings are very delicious nice veggie options, friendly staff. However very busy in the weekends, need to wait long for the food to arrive, but wait is worth. recommended.

Great restaurant and fitting to the name! The Governor is a great place to eat! I had the burger and it was done perfectly and the fries/chips were perfectly done. Nice outdoor seating and great views of the cathedral. Definitely will be back when I’m in town!

Great place Friendly service Very crowded, but that also means good service and quality 👍👍👍

I stayed at the ambassador hotel; it can include a buffet style breakfast. Normally I don’t accept breakfast combos from hotels because the food is not usually good. However this time the breakfast was full of flavor, the servers were attentive and best of all the location is picturesque, next to the main church/ square of Haarlem. This place is ideal for drinks, which I also had in the evening. I would sum up everything as “pleasantly surprised”. I intend to go back when in Haarlem.

Liked the atmosphere, stylish and modern. We were well served and cared. Recommend.

We had the worst service ever. 4 adults, 2 kids. The starters and kids meal came ok but then at the adult table 2 got their food and finished the food before the third got hers and the fourth waited more than an hour even after we complained several times and same with the children’s dessert. When you serve at a restaurant same table should get their food same time and not with 1h15min difference. And after we complained first time they neglected us totally. They made some compensation but to little and too late to even be considered as service. Would not recommend- there are many better just next doors.

Great food, quick service and everything is suitable for babies.

Ate here today, got a table in front of the open kitchen, were full during the tour, while there were plenty of places available, we were also not happy with the male service, rude and certainly not customer friendly, arrogant, food was a bit on the pricey side

Muito estiloso, localizado dentro do hotel ambassador City Center Centre, em haarlam. Uma ótima opção para quem não quer pagar os preços mais caros de Amsterdam. O restaurante é muito bom serve pratos desde os mais chiques até os da culinária mais usual. Minha filha comeu um torteloni e eu comi um x-burguer.

Had a wonderful evening with a 4-course surprise menu with matching wines. Delicious combinations. Started with a good amperetif and a delicious sandwich. Staff are friendly and helpful. They understand how catering works.

Definitely worth dining here! 5 course dinner with wine arrangement was great!

I had Christmas dinner with my father on December 25, 2024. It was very tasty and luxurious menu. And the service offered to us with extra oysters. My father liked it well and was so happy with it. Sorry to give reviews via here because via other website does not work. Service also so friendly. And helpful. Thank you governor teams. Until next time. I will recommend friends to have breakfast, lunch or dinner with you

Great food, good atmosphere and friendly service. I'll be back soon

If you have allergies, absolutely do not go here, as the service is deadly. I went here with our family. It started with a long wait before anyone even came to take our order. When someone finally came to take our order and my father ordered a dish and tried to explain that he is fatally allergic to nuts, so there was no need for any garnish or sauce with the dish, only the toernedos and the fries, he was talked through and told that he could eat on his own responsibility, but it was not guaranteed that the food would not contain nuts. We then decided to ask for the bill, finish our drinks and go somewhere else. I understand that when it is busy you have to take an order quickly, but the way we were treated here has never happened to me before. No attention is paid to allergies and the servers are very rude. If the staff cannot handle crowds, you may need to put fewer tables on the terrace so that they can provide better service.

Dodelijk slechte service. Ik ging hierheen met ons gezin. Het begon al met een lange wachttijd voor er uberhaubt iemand kwam om onze bestelling op te nemen. Toen er eindelijk iemand kwam voor onze bestelling en mijn vader een gerecht bestelde en erbij probeerde te vertellen dat hij dodelijk allergisch is voor noten dus er geen garnering of saus bij het gerecht hoefde alleen de toernedos en de friet werd er door hem heen gesproken en verteld dat hij op eigen verantwoording mocht gaan eten maar er niet gegarandeerd werd dat er geen noten bij het eten zouden zitten. Vervolgens hebben wij besloten om de rekening te vragen, onze drankjes op te drinken en ergens anders heen te gaan. Ik snap dat als het druk is je snel een bestelling moet opnemen maar zo als wij hier behandeld waren is mij nog nooit overkomen. Er word niet gelet op allergieën en de serveerders zijn erg bot. Als het personeel niet met drukte om kan gaan moet je misschien minder tafels op het terras zetten zodat zij een betere service kunnen bieden.

Rude treatment by 1 boy on the terrace. We were allowed to sit at a table, but only if we took into account the people next to us. He wanted us to take another table. Then my nephew had to leave the terrace because he still had a few churros. No chance. That waiter better do something else. Customer unfriendly. His colleagues later apologized but we left.

This remains a nice place to eat. We regularly come here for a drink and/or a snack. Despite the hustle and bustle of the Christmas market, everything was done to arrange a table for us!

The Christmas market in Haarlem was so nice and I was also pampered in Governor or something like that. Extra Kudos to Jan, what a professional, he took great care of my child.

Got a table despite the Christmas market crowds. Service was very busy but we received pleasant help. Carpaccio was excellent. It was our first visit but we will definitely come back!

Decided to eat here after looking at the menu outside. We took a seat, but it took a very long time before we were spoken to. However, when we eventually received the menu, it turned out that this was misleading compared to the menu outside and there were no vegetarian dishes available other than soup. Very unfortunate. The waiter who then came to collect the menus from us was also very unfriendly and uninterested. Finished our drink and left. Gave 3 stars for atmosphere, but only for what the restaurant looks like on the inside, not for the actual atmosphere. When paying, the waiter indicated that they normally have vegetarian dishes and that they are known for that, it's a pity that these were not on the menu. And that only soup was available.

We had a disappointing experience at The Governor. 🥞 Food: The quality was underwhelming. I ordered the burrata toast, which was freezing, very spicy and served on bread that wasn’t even toasted. My friends tried the BBQ chicken toast, which was supposed to be warm but was served freezing cold—they didn’t enjoy it either. 👏 Service: Unfortunately, the staff didn’t make the experience any better. When we requested water, they refused. We also asked if they could close the door due to the cold, and instead of accommodating us, they made us move tables and carry our own plates across the restaurant. Their attitude felt dismissive. 👎 Overall: Not a great experience. The food and service both fell short, and I’m sure there are better options to explore in Haarlem.

Bij de Grote kerk gelegen eetgelegenheid met een toffe lunchkaart. Vlotte bediening en lekkere tapbiertjes. De oesterzwam shoarma smaakte prima.

Super friendly staff. Cozy atmosphere

A restaurant located near the Grote Kerk with a great lunch menu. Smooth service and tasty tap beers. The oyster mushroom shawarma tasted great.

Had a great dinner and party night at The Governor. The staff was very hospitable, the atmosphere warm and cozy, the food good and everything very well taken care of. Highly recommended.

Love the terrace here, very cosy and gezellig! Would recommend mostly going here for the amazing cocktails, although it can be hit or miss depending on who's making them, we both had the best pina coladas we've ever had here and the worst. Also dog friendly on the terrace, they'll even get your pup some water if you need.

Vorige week zaterdag hebben we met zijn 2e hier gegeten. we kwamen hier terecht via de restaurant week. Het leek een leuk aanbod €47,50 pp voor een 4 gangen menu. Helaas is het menu ons erg tegen gevallen.  We vonden de prijskwaliteit niet in verhouding staan. Ik verwacht voor deze prijs geen kipfilet als hoofdgerecht en geen gnocchi als voorgerecht.  Tijdens het eten werd ons gevraagd of het eten smaakt. De gnocchi vonden wij beide ook echt niet lekker en dit hebben we ook niet opgegeten. Helaas ging het personeel hier niet op in "het hoofdgerecht zou wel lekker moeten zijn". Naar mijn mening ook een vreemde opmerking.  Daarnaast stond de muziek erg hard en konden we elkaar bijna niet verstaan. Erg jammer en teleurstellend, want we waren een weekendje weg in Haarlem en keken erg naar het eten uit.

Wij zijn helaas niet zo enthousiast. Het eten was smaakloos en echt niet de prijs waard. Wij hadden er een wijnarrangement bij besteld maar moesten tot 2x toe om de wijn vragen. We kregen vervolgens als 2e glas wijn dezelfde wijn als het 1e glas ingeschonken. Was overigens een droge en wrange rosé Bij het afrekenen aangegeven dat we niet tevreden waren (doe ik eigenlijk nooit, dus dat zegt wel iets!) maar daar kwam weinig tot geen reactie op. Toen wij de jas al aanhadden, werd ons nog wel een kop koffie aangeboden. Dit aanbod was goed bedoeld, maar wat laat. Echt zonde dat het zo onder de maat was, want het restaurant ziet er prachtig uit. Ongevraagd advies: zorg voor smaakvollere gerechten en scherp de bediening aan. Als je dan al gebruik maakt van ‘Diningcity’ zorg er dan ook voor dat je klanten terug willen komen.

Very nice to chill here after a choir festival. Top service but also a very beautiful and large store. So quite nice!

Nice hotel and good international breakfast. Hotel room fine. Bathroom was a bit disappointing. Nice staff and helpful. Nice location in the center of Haarlem with a market on Saturdays. Nice dining restaurant together with adjacent restaurants with fire pits and cozy lights. Not everyone can just go up with the elevator because you have to use your door pass for the elevator.

Delicious food, on a nice terrace on a beautiful square.

Nooit meer. Gisteren bij The Governor gegeten, maar dit doen we nooit meer. De prijzen zijn belachelijk hoog. 20 euro voor een smakeloos stokje saté dat in een bad van atjarsap ligt, stukje groente en 4xm papadum en er was nauwelijks satesaus bij. Dat verwacht je toch op zn minst bij sate. We kregen een klein bakje krulfriet voor 7 euro, net aan genoeg voor 1 persoon met een mini likje mayonaise. Dit is absoluut geen waarde voor je geld. Nu begrijpen we waarom de andere terrassen wachtenden hadden en hier genoeg plek was. Daarnaast probeerden ze ons 5,50 euro te laten betalen voor een glas wijn dat we niet besteld hadden. De omgang met klachten was ook vreemd en het personeel leek een laag niveau van service te bieden. Kortom, dit was een teleurstellende ervaring en we komen hier nooit meer terug.

Have a lovely drink by the fire, nice staff, nice place

More than a great place to have a snack and a drink!

A wonderful place to dine, eat a sandwich or have a drink. The terrace is pleasant and fairly quiet and the atmosphere inside is very pleasant. The service is also good.

Beautiful surroundings, wonderful atmosphere of the facility. Rooms clean and cozy. Fantastic service.

Had a work dinner, the decor is stylish. The staff was very variable and did not focus on its guests. A well-done hamburger due to pregnancy was not successful twice and, according to the waiter, it was not necessary, it could be eaten as normal and was not harmful... The bachelor party of a group of loudly arguing German men at the bar didn't help the atmosphere either...

Wat is dit een geweldig restaurant. De keuken is formidabel en onze gastheer van die avond, Jan, was zeer vriendelijk. Wij hadden het chef‘s menu. Een zonder restricties en de ander vegetarisch. De chef kwam met twee gelijke vegetarische onderdelen van het menu en ik als fervent vlees en vis eter moest eraan geloven. Echt een aanrader want ik vond het heerlijk, zelfs meer dan dat. Neem ook het bijpassende wijn Arrangement. Geweldige en verrassende combinaties en ik heb op veel verschillende locaties in de hele wereld gegeten. Mijn dochter die er ook deelgenoot van mocht zijn, vegetarisch, heeft dit restaurant in haar top twee gezet. Echt een ster (Michelin) waardig Daar is natuurlijk meer voor nodig maar wat een voortreffelijke keuken.

Excellent service, very good food. Really enjoyed our meal there.

I have been here several times, but at my last visit, our server was extremely rude and incompetent. She assumed we didn't speak Dutch and was saying rude things about us to her colleagues right in front of us, which we understood clearly because we do speak Dutch, though we were hosting family who did not that night, so we were speaking English. She was annoyed that we asked for carafes of water when we sat down, despite the fact that we also ordered other drinks and a lot of food. In fact, our bill was well over €200. We were very respectful guests, as it's important to us to be kind to others, even when they are not kind to us. She then took about 30 minutes to deliver our drinks and had an attitude with us. Throughout the visit, she spent a lot of time chatting with her colleagues and ignoring or complaining about her guests. My 12 yo daughter was very shaken by the server's behavior and felt so uncomfortable she began to cry and asked to leave. Really, her behavior was disrespectful. I hope management sees this and takes action.

The male staff was very enthusiastic about the food they are serving Good quality ingredients in a very nice setting A restaurant within a hotel

Excellent food, very friendly environment, professional waiters….. clean, elegant and classy

Heerlijk eten, vriendelijke bediening en gezellige sfeer/aankleding. We zochten een restaurant met een goede beoordeling, dit restaurant was de sterren meer dan waard! Aanrader!

Friendly staff Delicious food in a nice atmosphere. Clear explanation of what we got to eat👌 TOP

Het eten was erg lekker, bediening erg vriendelijk! Echter als je weken van te voren telefonisch reserveert voor een van groep v 8 ivm slagen van je dochter. Telefonisch nog aangeeft graag een gezellige tafel ....en dan zit je in een nis zo wat letterlijk in de keuken. De nis heeft rechts en links schuifkasten waar spullen in staan voor de keuken. Geheel weg bij het restaurant waar je ook helemaal niks vd ambiance ziet of meekrijgt. Dan bestellen wij het toetje..niet te geloven maar vd 5 desserts op de kaart 3 niet meer te bestellen...kaasplankje blijft over....dan maar geen toetje.. Al met lekker gegeten maar met een enorme bijsmaak, erg jammer!

The food was generally very good, the atmosphere very cozy. But the service was deplorable and ruined everything! Requests not taken into account (we asked for a sandwich without mayo, it arrived with it; another was requested with white bread, it came with brown bread, etc.), dishes completely forgotten (a pulled pork sandwich that I I had to ask again and I did well because the waiter had no memory of my order even though he had repeated it correctly), not to mention the slowness of the service and the fact that he didn't speak to us. only in English while he spoke French very well with a table next to us… we were clearly not welcome and we were made to feel it.

Sat on the terrace on the busiest day of the year, King's Day. Despite the extreme crowds, all employees were incredibly friendly, attentive, fast and observant. We only had a drink and a snack, but we will definitely come back here. Recommended!

Top restaurant, we ordered the chef's surprise menu (and what a wonderful surprise), excellent quality food and impeccable service of exquisite kindness. Thanks for the wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

A top hotel in the center of Haarlem. Delicious breakfast and nice people

The restaurant is very nicely designed. The good service tops it all off. Delicious dinner for a great price.

Delicious meal, 3 course surprise menu, highly recommended. Cozy atmosphere and service good and friendly. We will come back later ☺️

Nice hustle and bustle. Great service. Delicious surprise dinner. Highly recommended.

You sit outside for 20 minutes, you can see the cellar, you just walk past you, then after 25 minutes of being asked, someone came and brought the cards. After that, no one ever came out to take the order again, even though there were several waitresses inside. Unfortunately no recommendation.

Great place with excellent service and simple but very well made dishes.

Having lived in Haarlem for over 15 years, I can honestly say this best restaurant in the city and surrounding areas. I really should have written this review ages ago - but always hesitated, only because I want to make sure I can reserve a table whenever I want. The restaurant is slightly set back from the road, and is attached to the Ambassador hotel, which means it is a secret gem that you need to spot - even though it centrally located and has amazing views of the medieval St Bavo cathedral. What makes The Governor so special, apart from the setting and lovely decor both inside and out? Quite honestly the staff - this is evident in the excellent service and excellent food and wine. Everyone is passionate about making sure the guest has the best experience ever, and this is truly what makes the difference. My personal favourite is the Flat Iron Steak and curly fries, with an amazing house Chardonnay - but absolutely everything I have eaten there is sublime! A big thank you to the staff for many memorable times in your lovely restaurant!

Highly recommended! What a wonderful restaurant with an amazing atmosphere, fantastic staff and lovely food. I want to go back tomorrow!

Delicious tuna salad and Vegan soup

Nice place, excellent service and good food.

Had dinner at The Governor yesterday. Truly sublime! We opted for the chef's 4-course surprise menu and highly recommended. Even though I am pregnant and therefore have some dietary requirements, the chef had no problem at all and I received surprising dishes. Big portions too! And super friendly service, you don't see that like that everywhere anymore! We will be back soon. Definitely deserved 5 stars, thank you all!

I was in the mood for something healthy. Any meat with boiled or steamed veggies. Salad was also possible. The waitress explained no plate could come with veggies because they had NO fresh veggies. ?!?! So, all the dishes had to be served with the usual fries or pickes. Asked for the kip sate, didnt eat 15%. Very bad. On the other side, the people were nice.

Nice restaurant with good food and great service. Until next time!

Wat een leuke tent! Vakbekwame barman en zeer vriendelijk. Een aanrader dus. Heerlijke cocktails en prima borrels. Wij komen terug

Nice opportunity to end the evening. Delicious cocktails and very friendly service

Excellent store! Excellent food, service and atmosphere. The icing on the cake is serving Rick. I have never been helped by someone as helpful and charming as this lovely guy. I would definitely recommend this tent!

Heerlijk eten, super gezellige/ leuke bediening en een hele gezellige sfeer...verassing menu is een aanrader..echt leuke gerechten, niet iets waar ze zich makkelijk van af maken.

Héérlijk 4-gangen diner in een zeer sfeervol restaurant met alerte en gezellig en vlot personeel. Kortom. Een aanrader!

Goed eten, volle tent, gezellige sfeer, leuke bediening. Genoten van flat iron steak en tonijnsteak; bijzondere vermelding voor de heerlijke bramenmousse als dessert!

Wirklich tolle Bar. Essensangebot gibts auch, jedoch haben wir es nicht wahrgenommen. Stattdessen kamen wir in den Genuss von tollen Cocktails! Wirklich tolle ausgefallene Sachen dabei. Der Service ist wirklich zuvorkommend; manchmal etwas unaufmerksam. Tolles Ambiente.

Prima locatie voor een gezellige borrel

Personeel is zeer plezierig. En ik heb nog nooit zulke lekkere Chardonney gedronken! Aanrader van de sommelier/spullenbaas 😃

Very nice restaurant, had the sharing plank which was very tasty with some interesting options.

Als ik meer sterren kon geven had ik het gedaan. Het eten was verrukkelijk en de service was echt top! Jongeman die ons de goede service verleende; onwijs bedankt! Ik ga hier uiteraard vaker terug komen. En niet om alleen om het formaat cocktail glazen, haha.

Great service! One of the few places in Haarlem that provides proper cocktails by the pitcher for a decent price.

Super lecker Essen. Guter und netter Service. Tolles Ambiente. Kann man nur empfehlen !

Kost wat, maar is wel de smaak wel waard. Het dessert had wat groter gemogen.

Verrast door de leuke stad Haarlem. Heerlijk visje gegeten hier, heel gezellig tot laat, goede bediening.

Een woord top goede wijn lekker eten en vriendelijk gast rij personeel

Really nice food and great service.

Food and service were great. Good value for money!

Lekker croquetten op brood. Heel vriendelijke bediening.

Prima tussenstop voor de lunch. Aanrader. Heerlijke flamkuchen gegeten.

Wat een fantastische restaurant en wat hebben wij genoten! Zowel voorgerecht als het hoofdgerecht de Chateau Briant waren in 1 woord subliem! Mochten wij terug komen naar Haarlem komen wij hier zeker terug!!

Sehr schöne Location in Haarlem mit ausgezeichnetem Essen. Darüber hinaus war es hier auch sehr sauber und das Personal sehr freundlich. Wir waren 2x hier und leider wurden beide Male die Gerichte nur unvollständig an den Tisch gebracht, teils auch mit falschen Beilagen und zum Schluss sogar komplett vergessen. Hier sollte das Personal definitiv aufmerksamer werden. Dann hätte ich auch sehr gerne 5 Sterne vergeben.