Looking for a vegan breakfast or brunch spot in Eindhoven? I recently spent a few days there as my partner ran the Eindhoven marathon and if there’s one vegan-friendly restaurant that is definitely worth a visit (or two, or three), it’s The Happiness Cafe!

About The Happiness Cafe

The Happiness Cafe is located on Nieuwe Emmasingel 9, not far from the central train station. It is open every day from 9am to 5pm.

The Happiness Cafe is all about serving food that uplifts your mood and satisfies your tastebuds. Whilst their motto is “Count memories, not calories”, the menu conveys their enthusiasm for a balanced and nourishing diet.

Is The Happiness Cafe fully vegan?

The menu is not fully vegan but many dishes are. It’s not one of those spots that only have 2 plant-based options on the whole menu.

You’ll be spoilt for choice, from pancakes to banana bread, flatbread or salad bowls.

Does The Happiness Cafe have gluten-free options?

Yes, there are numerous gluten-free options, alongside dishes that can be made gluten-free upon request.

The menu clearly labels each dish based on their ingredients so you can instantly see what is vegan, gluten-free, contains nuts etc

Honest review of The Happiness Cafe Eindhoven

The restaurant

The restaurant has a big outdoor seating area and a variety of seating options inside, with some cozy armchairs but also some bar tables with stools.

It’s mostly a place for small groups and individuals. If you’re a party of 8, you might struggle to sit together at peak time.

I much preferred seating outside, I found the indoor area quite dark with not much natural light coming through.

The service

The staff is very friendly and willing to help you understand the menu, as the details of each dish are in Dutch.

The service is rather quick, especially when it’s still quiet between 9 and 9:30. I went once around 10am on a weekend and the wait for a hot drink with a piece of cake (no kitchen prep required) was a little long.

If you’re in a rush, make sure to order the food at the same time as the drinks.

The food

The food was absolutely delicious and well presented, which is why I kept coming back! I visited this cafe every day whilst in Eindhoven, and I wish I had been able to try every single plant-based option.

My top recommendations are:

• The cinnamon crumble banana bread, especially as the slices are thick! It is served warm, which is even better and goes perfectly with an oat flat white. I also loved the banana bread breakfast, which was a slice of this cake served with coconut yoghurt, granola, tahini and fruit. The mix of textures was super satisfying and filling.

• The berry pancakes, 3 thick pancakes served with fresh fruit, granola and blueberry jam. They’re not your regular pancakes, I didn’t ask for the menu translation but they looked and tasted a little like fluffy oat cakes. Still delicious though!

• The peanut butter protein smoothie with vegan protein, perfect for a post-run refuel, topping up your protein intake. My partner ordered it, I thought it would taste a little sickly but it was actually extremely tasty and I wanted one too.

The coffee was great and if you wanted something fruity, I’d highly suggest the acai smoothie.

My only slight disappointment is that there was a 40cent surcharge for plant-based milk. I know it’s not the only place that does it, but I really wish it wasn’t a thing anywhere.

And if you were to ask my partner, he’s say that he loved the smoothies but was a little disappointed with the “Nutella pancakes”, the vegan Nutella didn’t quite hit the spot.

The price

Count 4.40€ for an oat flat white, 12.50€ for a stack of pancakes and 5.50€ to 6.50€ for a smoothie. The vegan cakes and baked goods are all 4€. I ended up paying about 13€ when I came alone and a little over 35€ when visiting with my partner, both getting pancakes and a drink.

It may seem on the expensive end, but the quality of the food and the service are definitely worth the price!

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