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Welcome to South African restaurant PAARL!

Where tradition and adventure meet on your plate!
At PAARL, it's all about South African dining traditions: sitting down together at the table, sharing large platters of delicious dishes, and enjoying a warm, relaxed atmosphere. At PAARL, you experience the warmth and hospitality of South Africa. Whether you come for shared dining, the cozy Klink & Drink cocktail evenings on Thursdays, or a private party with friends—this is your chance to get away from it all. Eating together, sharing together, enjoying together. That's PAARL.

About us

We are Mark and Charlotte, the founders of PAARL. During a family trip through South Africa, we discovered the power of eating and sharing together.

The warm hospitality, deep flavors and special traditions of boerekos inspired us to bring this concept to the Netherlands. 

History

History

Paarl is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, founded in 1690. It was an important place in the history of the African language and is deeply rooted in traditions that bring people together.

Boerekos

Boerekos dishes, mostly based on potatoes, meat and vegetables, are primarily meant to be shared together. Think bobotie, braai meat, milk tart and other dishes rich in flavor and history.

Our wines
The beautiful wine region around Paarl in South Africa is famous worldwide for its full-bodied reds and crisp whites. The French Huguenots brought their winemaking traditions to the Cape in the 17th century.

Our concept

PAARL is a unique restaurant where every evening feels special. We’re open on Fridays and Saturdays and offer an experience centered around shared conviviality: shared dining. During an evening at PAARL, we’ll pamper you for about 3 hours with a traditional “feast at the table”; you’ll be treated to the most delicious and surprisingly approachable dishes, inspired by South African farm cuisine.

Also discover our extensive wine list, full of pairings of South African wines and the classics like Brandy and Amarula.

GET MARRIED AT PAARL

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE FESTIVAL WEDDING

At PAARL, we turn your wedding day into a total festival experience full of love: flowers, wood, lights, great food and music. From ceremony to dinner and party - everything is possible in one place. And if you want, just stay overnight, because PAARL is located on the grounds of Van der Valk Hotel Sassenheim - Leiden. Here you celebrate your day exactly as it was intended: relaxed, atmospheric and unforgettable. With an interpretation tailored to suit you. We like to think along with you!

shared dining

Friday and Saturday

Enjoy an extensive 3-course Shared Dining menu where you don’thave tochoose from amenu. We invite you and your party to come and enjoy the very best that South African cuisine has to offer; “where tradition and adventure meet on your plate.”

Fri/Sat: €47.50 per person

PAARL exclusive rentals

A party, get-together or special moment deserves a special location. At PAARL, we turn every event into a unique experience - stylish, atmospheric and taken care of down to the last detail. Whether you choose one of our outdoor locations or want to rent the entire venue: we offer space, tranquility and character. View the possibilities for exclusive rental and discover how your event at PAARL will be unforgettable.

google reviews

Excellent
Restaurant PAARL
4.6
Based on 137 reviews
It's fantastic here! The restaurant is beautifully decorated, the food and drinks are great, and the service is excellent.
I really loved the South African concept! It was my first time, and I was actually hooked right away. It’s something different for a change, and that’s exactly what made it so much fun. The atmosphere and the whole experience really appealed to me, and I truly enjoyed it. I would definitely go back there again!
Response from the owner:Dear Dennis, We’re so glad to hear that our South African concept has made you so enthusiastic! We’re delighted that you enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, and the entire experience. We hope to welcome you back to PAARL soon! Best regards, The PAARL Team
Dining at Paarl is a wonderful culinary experience, with generous portions and a wide variety of dishes.
We sat on a lovely, clean patio, and the two hosts made sure we had everything we needed.
Response from the owner:Dear Hans, Thank you for your review, and we're so glad to hear that you were so pleased with the hospitality and the food. We look forward to seeing you again next time!
A cozy restaurant with a nice atmosphere. We enjoyed the food and the professional and friendly service.
Response from the owner:Dear Peter, Thank you for your review, and we're glad to hear that you enjoyed the food and the friendly service. We look forward to seeing you again!
A hidden gem… Such a lovely evening outdoors. The dishes took us back to Africa.
The portions were quite large, and the dessert was overwhelmingly generous—it was a shame we couldn’t finish it all.
Response from the owner:Dear Rennie, It’s so nice to read that you had such a wonderful evening and that our dishes took you back to Africa for a moment! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We’ll definitely take your comment about the large portions and the dessert into consideration. We hope to welcome you back soon for another enjoyable evening outdoors!
Response from the owner:Dear Tamara, Thank you for your review, and we're glad to hear that everything was to your liking! We look forward to seeing you again.
What a wonderful place! It’s simply beautiful to look at—every little detail has been carefully considered, and everything is executed to perfection. The food is delicious, with many little bursts of flavor and combinations not typically found in traditional Dutch cuisine.

Combined with the very friendly staff and delicious South African wines, it makes for a wonderfully relaxing evening.

We’ve been there twice now and have experienced a change in the menu both times. That didn’t disappoint either.

I’ve already recommended it to everyone I know who loves an evening of great food in a beautiful setting.
Response from the owner:Dear Anne, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the atmosphere, our dishes, the South African wines, and the hospitality of our team. It’s great to hear that you’ve visited PAARL several times now—we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The PAARL Team
The place is great, the service is great, and it's a great spot for parties
Response from the owner:Dear Gerard, Thank you for the wonderful review. We’re glad to hear that you appreciated our venue, service, and event options so much. We hope to welcome you back to PAARL soon! Best regards, The PAARL Team
Response from the owner:Dear Eelco, Thank you for the wonderful review! We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, Team PAARL
We’ve booked Paarl exclusively for the second time for a large international group. The food, service, and atmosphere are fantastic. We’ll definitely be back!
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Facilities

Outdoor cinema

Enjoy the best movies (for groups of up to 8 people) in our outdoor big-screen cinema.

Waterfront lounge beds

Enjoy pure waterfront relaxation with a lounge bed in our Zen Water Corner.

fire pit and terrace

Our sun-drenched outdoor courtyard is partially covered and heated.

Good to know

TROETLEDIERE
Although we are big pet lovers, we respect the comfort of all our guests. Therefore, unfortunately, pets are not allowed at PAARL. We thank you for your understanding.

Unfortunately, due to the gravel surface on our property, our location has limited wheelchair access. Please call us in advance to discuss options.

At PAARL, everything is about experience. Our music is deliberately set a little louder to create a lively, energetic atmosphere befitting the dynamics of South Africa.

At PAARL, we offer a full evening culinary experience, introducing our guests to a variety of dishes. As a result, an average dinner lasts about 3 hours, allowing you to fully enjoy the flavors and experience.

At Restaurant PAARL we do not have a children's menu and you need to take into account a full evening program. We recommend bringing children who can appreciate the longer sitting time and the content of the menu. If you have any questions about this you can always contact us.

If you have specific allergies or dietary requirements, it is essential to let us know at least 24 hours before your reservation, otherwise we cannot guarantee we can accommodate. For more information, check out the allergen chart for our menu.

Reservations can be made from 2 months prior to the desired date via our reservation module. To confirm your reservation we require a deposit of € 15 p.p. as guarantee. Cancellations can be made free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.

The water in the pool of our Zen water corner is not swimming water. Due to its high chlorine and acid content, it is not suitable for swimming. It serves exclusively as a cooling foot bath.

PAARL is located on the rear grounds of Van der Valk Sassenheim-Leiden. To facilitate your way to PAARL, clear directional signs have been placed along the parking lot that will direct you to our location.
Address; Warmonderweg 8 - 2171 AH, Sassenheim

At PAARL, it's all about taste, atmosphere and doing what we love together. Whether you're in the kitchen, working in service or receiving guests with your biggest smile - you are an important part of that experience. We are therefore looking for people with energy, a love of hospitality and preferably also with a heart for South Africa.

Does this sound like something for you? Check out our job openings and join the team!