Trends we spotted | Week 40
5-10-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Gault&Millau’s Austrian hotel guide has introduced a ‘Longevity & Medical Wellness’ category for the first time.
- CÔNE Paris opened in March 2026 and is a coffee bar serving espresso-based drinks, including a −86 °C Dirty Coffee.
- In Leiden, during the 3 October celebrations, we spotted a focaccia from Giò Neapolitan Espresso topped with hutspot cream: a tradition in Leiden with a Neapolitan soul.
- EMMA Safety Footwear is introducing Connect Sport: a new O2 work shoe built for demanding days in hospitality.
- Marketer Sem van der Wilk built software while employed at the Inge de Bruijn Swimming Pool in Barendrecht, connecting the pool’s existing systems. Since January 2026 he has done so through his own company.
- Disaronno is introducing a new bottle design with the global campaign ‘The Dolce Side of Life’.
- On Wednesday 14 October, The Biggest Wine Club in Utrecht kicks off. Wine influencer Annemiek Hummelink and Tessel Andeweg of bar Vivid are organising the first edition.
Enjoy reading!
Owners of Amí Bistro Breda announce new delicatessen and lunchroom Amí daily
5-10-2026
With the opening of Amí daily, entrepreneurs Malou Hagenaars (32) and Jasper Verhagen (35) will add to Breda’s culinary landscape at the end of November 2026. Tucked away in the courtyard behind their successful Amí Bistro on Ginnekenstraat, an exclusive delicatessen, shop and lunchroom all in one is taking shape at number 88 B. Soon, guests will be able to visit not only for high-quality delicacies and luxury items for the table, but also for an excellent cup of coffee, pastries and a light lunch.
2 minutes read
Restaurant 273 expands with speakeasy Cocktailbar 273 | Culinary craftsmanship in a glass
2-10-2026
Five years after the opening of Restaurant 273, Tommy den Hartog and Gyöngyi Peijnenburg are opening Cocktailbar 273. This stylish speakeasy, hidden in the historic wharf cellar beneath the restaurant on the Oudegracht in Utrecht, opened its doors on 17 September 2026. Handcrafted cocktails, gastronomic bites, top-level hospitality and an atmospheric ambiance come together here.
2 minutes read
Mati brings traditional Brazilian yerba mate to the Netherlands
29-9-2026
Amsterdam-based startup Mati is introducing a different kind of energy drink to the Dutch market: organic yerba mate, inspired by the centuries-old South American tradition. No sugar, no sweeteners and no unnecessary additives, just natural energy rooted in Brazilian culture.
2 minutes read
Beagles & Beans during Animal Week | From dog walking clubs to the Purple Furfection Furryccino
29-9-2026
Bagels & Beans is celebrating Animal Week with walks for owners and their four-legged friends. From 4 to 11 October, Bagels & Beans will once again transform into Beagles & Beans, with free coffee for pet owners, a Purple Furfection Furryccino for dogs, and walking clubs at various locations across the Netherlands.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 39
28-9-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Spotted on Instagram: a ‘Bar à Oeufs’ at restaurant Ter in Paris.
- NYC BAKERY RUN is back with ten stops, including a treat at Eleven Madison Park! The free half marathon is organized by TIPSTER and takes place on October 25.
- KFC introduces Open House in McKinney, Texas: a location where the brand will test new dishes and ideas.
- BON (Beauty of Nature), the world’s first luxury theme park, has a soft opening on October 24 for guests of the VidantaWorld resort in Mexico.
- Accor reaches a new milestone with the introduction of ALL Concierge, the first end-to-end conversational travel assistant deployed at scale in the hospitality sector.
- Burger King recently introduced brand-new chicken nuggets with updated sauces in the US. And at the beginning of September, in the middle of fashion season, BK launched the season’s most unexpected accessory: Le Nugguette, a nugget-sized bag!
- Queer Beer celebrates all breasts with the new Nipple Tripel, and the Queer Market Store in Amsterdam gets a boob-themed window display from October 9 through October 31. For every can of beer sold, €0.10 goes to breast cancer research.
- Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam has been named Netherlands’ Best Hotel Spa 2026 at the World Spa Awards.
Enjoy reading!
FLATONS in Antwerp serves ‘Peace on a plate’
25-9-2026
At Theodoor Van Rijswijckplaats 4 in Antwerp, FLATONS is opening its doors. A place where food, design and social engagement meet. Behind the concept are chefs Sandip Patel (India) and Faeiq Al Mamoori (Iraq).
A new restaurant in Antwerp that serves mostly vegetarian and sometimes vegan dishes. This fine-dining restaurant operates under the “Peace On The Plate” philosophy.
2 minutes read
Chef built his own reservation system BoekEerlijk with AI
24-9-2026
Four months after launch, fifty restaurants have already joined BoekEerlijk (Book Honest is the proper translation), twenty of them paying customers, and the system has processed more than 7,800 reservations. Founder Jeremy Arrascaeta runs it alone, alongside his job as a chef, and is competing for the Horecava Innovation Award 2027.
3 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 38
22-9-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- The ’50 Best Pizzerias’ 2026 and the ’50 Best Hotels in the World’ 2026 have recently been announced.
- At the Wijnkeuring (wine tasting) of the Low Countries 2026, a record number of 103 gold medals were awarded. In total, 247 Dutch and Belgian wines were judged.
- We already wrote about Spin’s plans back in August, and since 12 September, Bar Spin has opened its doors in Amsterdam-West. Enjoy analogue music, cocktails, bites and games.
- Kewpie Corporation invited Londoners last weekend to discover how one simple squeeze can transform one of the world’s most iconic sandwiches. A fun pop-up.
- In November 2026, Brasserie De Hofsmid will open in Buren, the third restaurant by entrepreneur Edwin Muns, in collaboration with chef Cas Vieleers and host Yorick van Gelder.
- Omakase Amsterdam is celebrating its first anniversary and has made a short documentary to mark the occasion. Well worth a watch!
- Since 11 September, Bagels & Beans has become the first major national hospitality chain to serve Gkazas’ new Sparkling Olive Waters, available for a limited time in two flavours: Cucumber and Pickles. You can try them until 15 November at all their locations.
- This fall marks a new chapter for THE BUTCHER Social Club. THE ENTOURAGE GROUP’s concept is making its international debut in Gibraltar.
Enjoy reading!
From dots to flavour | Schilo van Coevorden honours Kusama at Restaurant Sandberg
18-9-2026
To mark the major retrospective exhibition of Yayoi Kusama at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Restaurant Sandberg and chef Schilo van Coevorden are presenting a five-course menu inspired by her work. Since September, during small-scale dinner evenings, Schilo has been translating Kusama’s visual language into flavour, texture and form. Not by literally imitating her art, but by exploring what her ideas about repetition, colour, material and infinity can mean in culinary terms.
Buurthotel celebrates Neighbour Day in Amsterdam and Rotterdam
18-9-2026
Following the success of Open Hotel Week, hotels in Amsterdam and Rotterdam are transforming into meeting places for their neighbourhoods. On Saturday 26 September, participating hotels will invite residents of Amsterdam and Rotterdam via Buurthotel to a pizza workshop for children, a kickboxing class or a wild-foraging walk. The aim: to connect residents and hotels. This takes place as part of Burendag (Neighbour Day), the nationwide initiative by Douwe Egberts and the Oranje Fonds. With this, Buurthotel is also introducing ‘co-tourism’ in Rotterdam: a model in which tourist facilities create local value for both visitors and residents.
Restaurant LUTE Kruid ’02 opened in Amstelveen
17-9-2026
On the spot where Peter and Marieke Lute opened their first restaurant almost 25 years ago, LUTE Kruid ’02 recently opened. The former Kruidfabriek at Oude Molen 5 in Amstelveen has been completely renovated and deliberately scaled back from 140 to 40 covers. In doing so, they are recreating the freedom to do what they have stood always for: cooking from their own vision and giving every guest the personal attention they see as the greatest luxury of our time.
How to score points with dog lovers | No surprises at check-in
21-8-2026
The holiday season is drawing to a close, and recently I was out walking with other dog lovers. Only one dog had stayed home, looked after by acquaintances, while the others had either been to a kennel or came along on holiday. My family and I, along with many other dog owners, choose to bring the dog along whenever possible. Finding a destination that works with a dog, however, is a challenge. We always rent a holiday home, and for hotels along the way we often use Booking.com; there, at least, you can indicate that you’re looking for a hotel or holiday home where dogs are welcome. What it actually costs per night, though, remains unclear there too. A blog by Marjolein van Spronsen on how to communicate transparently about welcoming dogs and how that can help you to score points with dog lovers.
2 minutes read
Vuurzee and Prinsenleven win gold at the World Beer Awards 2026
20-8-2026
De Goede & De Stoute, a small Burgundian brewhouse, took home no fewer than five gold awards at the World Beer Awards 2026. Vuurzee, the flagship beer, once again claimed Gold and Gold Country Winner. But the real surprise is Prinsenleven: launched this year and virtually unknown outside the brewery’s own circle of members, it immediately picked up Gold, Gold Country Winner, and World’s Best Pale Beer, Belgian Style Blonde 2026 — the highest honor worldwide in that style category.
2 minutes read
Pet-friendly hospitality | A list of great examples of how to treat your pet guests!
18-8-2026
Your four-legged friend is part of the family, and most families want to take their pets along on holiday. Luxury travel is ready for its new VIP guests, and there is a whole world of business built around taking your best friend on your trip. Airlines allowing pets of all sizes in the cabin are popping up around the world, and luxury pet-friendly hotels are creating all kinds of extras for travelling pet owners. We have written many articles on pet-friendly hospitality offered by hotels and restaurants, and we have even spotted some wonderful terms for it: hosPETality, Bark-cuterie, pup-flight, poochini or a puppicino and dogstronomy. In this article, we have compiled a list of great examples of how to treat your pet guests!
4 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 33
14-8-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Ipsos and IWSR published ‘The Consumer Trends Shaping Adult Beverages’, a new whitepaper commissioned by AB InBev. The study examines the choices and behavior of legal-drinking-age consumers.
- Hard Rock Cafe and Coca-Cola recently launched Hard Rock Rising. This music competition takes place in 34 countries and at 64 Hard Rock Cafes, offering emerging artists a stage.
- Fletcher Hotels continues its growth ambitions with the acquisition of Hotel Marktstad and Slot Hotel Schagen.
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Sinaia Cota 1400 brings alpine-inspired design to Romania’s Bucegi Mountains.
- Spotted on the Instagram account of ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France Charcuterie’ Arnaud Nicolas in Paris: a Croque Monsieur XXL made with pain de mie!
- Also spotted on Instagram: the Caviar Hotline at the Park Lane New York! A fun idea to dedicate a number on your in-room telephone to a specialty of your own.
- And also spotted online: the Pineau des Charentes Spritz.
- Miracle Cocktails Inc., the company behind two of the world’s leading Christmas cocktail pop-ups, Miracle and Sippin’ Santa, unveils The Haunting, its first-ever Halloween pop-up bar experience.
- Burger King Belgium advises all Belgians to leave the flame grilling to them. 😉
Enjoy reading!
the Domino™ will be introduced in the US | A new Detroit-style pizza made for one
13-8-2026
Domino’s Pizza Inc. is introducing the Domino™. Launching nationwide on Aug. 31, the new Detroit-style pizza made for one delivers the demands of today’s modern pizza occasion, providing customization without compromise. Now everyone can enjoy their own pizza, with the toppings they want. Sharing a meal no longer means having to share a pizza.
Will Domino’s Pizza also launch this individual-sized pizza in Europe?
2 minutes read
Research by Hawaiian and a new Hawaiian Summer Salad Mix
11-8-2026
As soon as the temperature rises above 25 degrees, it’s not just our daily schedule that changes, but also what ends up on our plate. Research conducted on behalf of Hawaiian shows that 58.1% of Dutch people swap a heavier meal for a light, fresh option such as a poké bowl or salad. Notably, it’s not just about eating lighter. Dutch consumers turn out to have a real need for freedom of choice: more than half (55.2%) opt for a bowl because it can be fully customized to personal taste. That’s why they’re introducing the Hawaiian Summer Salad Mix.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 32
10-8-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- DoorDash recently unveiled DoorDash Air, an in-house program that will develop a drone delivery system.
- ‘Twelve Nights of Wonder’ for the 2026 holiday season at Orlando World Center Marriott. Are you already working on your holiday season calendar?
- For one night only, on August 27, 2026, Waldorf Astoria New York’s legendary Grand Ballroom will transform into a full-size tennis court beneath the chandeliers.
- It already sounds delicious in French: “La Brioche Glacée & Toastée célèbre les saveurs Fetish de la Maison: Ispahan et Infiniment Vanille”.
- Avani Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests to celebrate International Dog Day, which takes place on 26 August, with a getaway designed for the whole family.
- Hamburg-based robotics company goodBytz and Leonardo Hotels Central Europe have entered into a strategic partnership.
- Vinyl Voyages: ‘Monkey Shoulder Selects’ spotlights Europe’s trendiest Hi-Fi bars and cocktail neighbourhoods.
- Radisson Hotel Group leverages its strong owner confidence to accelerate global growth.
Enjoy reading!
Vinyl-, Pool- and Cocktailbar Spin opens in September in Amsterdam
7-8-2026
Early September, Vinyl-, Pool- and Cocktailbar Spin opens its doors in Amsterdam-West: a new hospitality concept where the love of analog music, high-quality hospitality, and play come together. Not from any single one of these elements, but from the conviction that their combination creates a new way of going out. Behind the initiative stands a collective of entrepreneurs with extensive experience in Amsterdam’s hospitality, festival, and nightlife scene.
2 minutes read
Viki Geunes × Orlando Schuitema | A friendship served on the plate at COBRA HOUSE
6-8-2026
On Saturday, September 19, COBRA HOUSE welcomes a very special guest to its kitchen. For one exclusive evening, three-Michelin-star chef Viki Geunes (Zilte***) will leave his own restaurant behind to join chef Orlando Schuitema at COBRA HOUSE for a unique four-hands dinner: Viki Geunes × Orlando Schuitema. The wine pairing will be presented in collaboration with the iconic Spanish winery Marqués de Murrieta.
A three-Michelin-star chef cooking at COBRA HOUSE makes this a truly special four-hands dinner. One of the highlights of the evening will be a jointly created main course, symbolising the collaboration between both restaurants.
2 minutes read
The Canephora Flavour Wheel | Mocca d’Or contributes to globally recognized flavour wheel for Robusta coffee
4-8-2026
Mocca d’Or, based in Zwolle, in the eastern parts of the Netherlands, has played a notable role in the development of the Canephora Flavour Wheel, the first scientifically grounded flavour wheel for Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora), published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports. Of the only three Dutch cuppers invited to take part in the research, two, Judith Konsten and Niels te Vaanhold, are quality staff at Mocca d’Or. They were among 49 professional tasters who evaluated 67 high-quality Canephora coffees from 13 countries in Switzerland and Brazil. For the first time, the flavour wheel gives the coffee variety, long associated mainly with bulk and instant coffee, its own flavour language, featuring notes such as cocoa, spices, and tropical fruit.
2 minutes read
Snackification | Small bites, big impact
3-8-2026
Snackification is one of the most talked-about trends in the food industry right now, and it’s all about eating smaller portions more frequently. With increasingly busy schedules and the rise of weight loss medicines, more and more people are swapping three square meals for smaller, more intentional bites. This shift is fundamentally changing how brands, chefs and restaurants approach food.
On the consumer side, it’s about smaller, flexible and nutrient-dense snacks on the go — think individual packaging, added vitamins, gut health support and high protein. On the industry side, fine-dining chefs are increasingly embracing casual street food concepts, food trucks and upscale finger foods. This trend even found its way into my kitchen, last weekend I served a lunch with many small, delicious and healthy snack bites portions. ^Marjolein van Spronsen
Many examples in this article!
4 minutes read
Lay’s Potato Restaurant in Shanghai | Here, the potato takes centre stage
31-7-2026
Back in April 2026, PepsiCo’s potato chip brand Lay’s officially opened China’s first Lay’s Potato Restaurant in Shanghai’s Xintiandi district. This immersive, limited-time brand experience reimagines the potato and the Lay’s chip through menu innovation, design, and collaborations. The restaurant is the latest example of how PepsiCo is working to grow in the away-from-home channel and create new meal occasions associated with its brands.
2 minutes read
Verifying Longevity | LNGVTY makes the quality of longevity hotels measurable
31-7-2026
LNGVTY introduces the first data-driven certification that measures how effectively hotels support quality sleep, recovery, and healthy lifestyle habits. Hotels in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland can apply from August 1. Under the motto ‘Verifying Longevity’, LNGVTY evaluates hotels using a uniform, data-driven methodology, making their regenerative quality transparent and comparable for guests.
2 minutes read
Longegivity Hotel 2027 in Austria - Vivamayr medical health resort in Maria Wörth - credits Gault&Millau - Barbara Eidler-Ster
Disaronno is introducing a new bottle design with the global campaign 'The Dolce Side of Life'
On Wednesday 14 October - The Biggest Wine Club in Utrecht kicks off - Annemiek Hummelink and Tessel Andeweg 
