NL Bistro Loft at Pomonaplein in Den Haag is described within the LOFT concept, with a focus on plant-based food, coffee, chocolate, music, and exhibitions.
About Bistro Loft
History and Concept
Bistro Loft is located at Pomonaplein 49A in Den Haag. The location is situated in the Vruchtenbuurt, within the Segbroek district. The establishment is housed in the former Jeruzalemkerk on Pomonaplein. It was reported in January 2023 that Bistro Loft opened its doors in this building at the end of 2022.
The name aligns with the broader L.O.F.T. concept. L.O.F.T. stands for Land of Free Thought. Erik Peters and Defne Gunhan-Peters are publicly credited as the visionaries behind this project. Within this framework, Beans & Dreams, Café Loft, and M.Y. Journey are mentioned as partners.
Bistro Loft presents itself as a destination for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a strong emphasis on vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their own description highlights pure and colorful food, fresh juices, smoothies, tea, fairtrade coffee, organic wines, and Karma Drinks. They also offer fresh bread, gluten-free bread, and cakes with gluten- and lactose-free options.
Joshua is identified by Bistro Loft as the chef and co-owner. Born in A Coruña, in the Galicia region, he previously worked in restaurants across Spain. He moved to the Netherlands approximately eight years prior to the publication of this text, since when he has served as a chef in various restaurants.
Coffee and Brewing
For coffee enthusiasts, the connection with Beans & Dreams is particularly relevant. Within L.O.F.T., Beans & Dreams is described as the coffee roaster and chocolatier associated with the location. Stef van Harskamp is mentioned as the resident coffee roaster and chocolatier. According to this information, coffee and cocoa beans are selected and roasted within L.O.F.T.
Bistro Loft’s coffee menu features a variety of espresso-based drinks. These include cappuccino, caffè latte, espresso doppio, ristretto, espresso macchiato, latte macchiato, americano, flat white, and cortado. Additionally, French Press is listed. Other manual brewing methods are not publicly documented in the researched material.
The menu also features a Honey Bee cortado with honey and cinnamon. Furthermore, Beans & Dreams direct-trade bonbons are mentioned as an addition. This allows the coffee line to merge partially with the chocolate activities within the broader L.O.F.T. framework.
Origin and Sustainability
Bistro Loft highlights fairtrade coffee, organic wines, and Karma Drinks. The establishment also states that they do not use artificial colors, flavor enhancers, or microwave meals. These points place their offering within a broader focus on ingredients, origin, and processing.
Beans & Dreams was founded in 2018. The company states that they source coffee and cocoa from small, independent farmers in various countries. They emphasize direct contact with farmers, fair pricing, and collaboration with local organizations. According to the description, this collaboration relates to financing, training, and community projects.
According to Beans & Dreams, the processing is done using artisanal methods right in the shop in Den Haag. The company also states that incoming materials are reused or sold to minimize environmental impact. Additionally, it is mentioned that Stef van Harskamp visits plantations to get to know the farmers and to verify working conditions and agreements regarding a fair share.
Community, music, and activities
Within the L.O.F.T. concept, the former church serves more functions than just hospitality. Descriptions of the venue also mention a fairtrade gift shop, a coffee and chocolate atelier, and a yoga school. As a result, Bistro Loft is part of a broader use of the building.
Bistro Loft features live music on Thursday evenings from 18:30 to 20:30. This includes formats such as dinner with music and snacks with music. The location also hosts exhibitions, including those by Petra de Jong, from February 22 to May 12, 2024, and an exhibition by Marije van Rijswijk.
Through Beans & Dreams, workshops are mentioned regarding coffee roasting, cupping, chocolate art, and making bonbons. For other events, Bistro Loft indicates that information can be requested via email. The available material thus describes a location where hospitality, coffee, chocolate, music, and visual arts coexist.
Public mentions
Bistro Loft and Café Loft are linked in several public mentions to Pomonaplein 49A and the Jeruzalemkerk in the Vruchtenbuurt. De Vegetariërsbond mentions Bistro Café Loft in Den Haag and awards it the Lekker Vega Keurmerk in the Gold category. A real estate listing for Pomonaplein 49 states that Café Loft was founded by the owner in 2019 and that the space has been operated by Bistro Loft since October 2023.
For the specialty coffee sector, Bistro Loft is particularly interesting due to the link between a neighborhood bistro, a coffee roaster, and a chocolate atelier. The available information shows how coffee is not separate from the broader L.O.F.T. concept. It is a combination of hospitality, plant-based oriented food, in-house coffee processing, and cultural activities in a repurposed church building.