De Hems Dutch Bar

I wasn't sure what to expect with this pub. It's dangerously close to Leicester Square, which while easy to get to never fills me with joy. Usually, this means busy tourist trap. De Hems very nearly falls into that description.

But instead, it sidesteps into the 'nice little boozer in Central' category. It's busy, without you having trouble to get to the bar. The Dutch beers are tasty and extensive and STRONG. I tried not to get drunk and realised I'd upgraded from 5.2% to 6.5% very quickly. At the time, I didn't seem to mind one little bit. My head wasn't best pleased the next morning.

There's outside standing space so if it's sunny or you're a smoker, you're pretty much set. And you're right by Chinatown for drunken munchies afterwards. Late opening too (which meant I very nearly missed my last train). They do Leifmanns' which is a cherry beer that actually tastes of cherries (rather than sugar) and still tastes of beer. Impressive.

Why only four stars? Well it's not cheap. Once you're in Dutch beer territory, don't expect much change from a fiver for your drink. I like it, but it's a payday pub rather than a regular haunt. Worth it for a bottle of that beer though. But Qype are not responsible for your hangover.

This is a gem of a pub in an area not exactly renowned for classy establishments. The beer is excellent and it's rare I get the chance to say that. Normal West End prices! but that's to be expected. Try one of the fruity beers or two!

Love this amazing pub, great fruit beers can't wait to go back again.

Decent bar with few tourists and good selection of Dutch beers. Reasonable prices.
Fairly friendly staff, good atmosphere.

Pretty decent Dutch bar serving a variety of lagers and bottled beers. They show the football upstairs and downstairs and will even turn the bizarre music off if you ask nicely. There's no bitter, and the food is a bit ropey, but this is the best place you'll find this close to the hellhole that is Leicester Square.

A marvellous and welcoming Dutch pub with China Town - and all it's myriad of amazing places to eat - on the door step. They serve fruity beers, including Fruli which is always a bonus, the barstaff are lovely (some very pretty ladies work here chaps!) and the music's actually not half-bad.

During the day it can be really chilled and there's a nice area upstairs with lazy sofas. Evenings can be busy but during summer you can spill onto the street in true continental style.

The only detractor are the truly horrendous-smelling (gents) toilets but really if you have to drink in Central London, this is a pretty safe bet.

This is about as close as I like to get the Leicester Square without wanting to go crazy due the endless masses of tourists! So if forced to meet friends in this area, this is where we come, the best Dutch bar in London! Despite the recent loss of Orangjeboom from the bar there are still a great selection of room spinning beers to sample, from traditional to fruit to mass produced. I tend to find upstairs and better atmosphere than down especially when they thump out the Dutch tunes and half the bar start singing along, to the non Dutch speaking total bemusement.

Nice crowd mixed up with city workers, friends out for drinks, regulars (yes regulars!) and tourists (well you cant have everything).

Food is traditional Dutch fair although im pretty sure no one in the kitchen is Dutch but i could be wrong..Speed of service is the only element that needs to be better, have come close to walking out on occasion... Get more bar support in on busy nights and there going to continue to be a great bar to visit...

This is my favorite bar in Central London, mainly because this is the first place I tried Strawberry beer, the service is generally good and the food has been good too. When I plan nights out in the centre this bar is always on my list

It's pretty difficult to find a decent pub on leicester Square, but De Hems avoids the tourist trap erm... trap by being a half-decent boozer.

As you can tell by the name it's got a Dutch theme so you get a good range of beer both on tap and out of the fridge. Plus there's plenty of space thanks to the upstairs room (which you can reserve for private parties if you want).

I think I've eaten some of the bar snacks here, but I'd be lying if I said I could remember what they were or what they tasted like, so you might have to find that bit out for yourself.

My favourite drinking hole in the Leicester Square area. Granted there isn't much competition, but this is genuinely a good pub. Lively enough to not be boring, without being so lively its annoying. Much quieter during the day, when it is very chilled. Good selection of Dutch and continental European lagers. Can be a struggle to find a table in the evening, but there is additional seating upstairs, and there is normally enough space to prop up the bar if you can't. Have never sampled the food, but I gather it is mostly snack style, rather than a full dinner.

Brilliant.

Cheap Oranjeboom on tap, cosy outside space overlooking Chinatown, totally fit barmaid.

And unlike other pubs that purport to be of certain national flavour, it actually pulls it off and feels a bit dutch.

Tons better than most of the drossy watering holes that litter Soho and Shaftesbury.

Went here the other day with a group of friends. The pub had a great atmosphere, and a wide selection of beers to choose from. Also there is a godd selection of dutch food to tempt you!

Really good pub, my favourite in the area. I particularly like the upstairs bar. The drinks selection is great. I haven’t tried the food yet as I’m not a big fan of Dutch food, but given the other reviews here I’ll make sure I try something next time I’m there.

WoW! What a selection of Quality beers. I must be honest and say I have always avoided this place, as I got the impression it was a bit up it’s own bottom and full of “media luvies”. Wwell, 1 out of 2 isn’t bad. If you don’t mind rubbing shoulders with the movers and shakers from Soho, then this place is well worth checking out. The fruit beers are great, but a bit sickly if you’re on a session.
The snacks on offer also changed my conception of the low countries serving up bland food.

This place Rocks!!! Friday and Saturday nights with the DJ are amazing and now there even open at 10am for breakfast, Dutch and English. The Beers are wide ranging and high quality. Dutch nights are a great laugh and the staff are wicked. GO, you must just to see how cool it is.

A great dutch bar just of the main China Town street. A large inside space wit bar on two floors. The upstair bar is quiter and can be hired for functions. This pub serves a good selection of international beers including the strawberry wheat beer Fruli. The pub also serves very good food. Although there is not a beer garden as such, drinking is allowed outside the front of the pub and this area can get busy at after-work drink time.

This seems to be loved by the Dutch and by Londoners who love all things Dutch. I came here during the day and it was a friendly welcoming place, the Dutch snacks were wonderful and so was the fruit beer.

Hang out at this pub on a Friday night and you are bound to meet someone from the film production community that is based in Soho. De Hems has an impressive selection of beers, including Frulli, which is strawberry beer, on tap. The upstairs bar is of a good size, with one wall decorated entirely out of oyster shells. De Hems is best visited in the summer where punters spill out on the street and there is a great cosmopolitan feel to it. It can still be enjoyed in the winter though, with a few heaters outside. The only thing that puts me off is the prices of the drinks, it's not cheap, but it's a great place to meet up with friends to start a night out due to its central location inbetween Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Soho.

If there's one thing the Dutch do best, it's beer, and De Hems is the best place in London to enjoy it.
Just off Shaftsbury Avenue, next to Chinatown, it's popular (you'll find a lot of Dutch people here!) but never too busy to get a drink. And if you want a place for daytime pints, De Hems is perfect as it's usually quite quiet.
The beer options are wonderful - you have an entire menu to select from - including fruit beer, Orangjeboom, and three types of Leffe! Another bonus is that the bar snacks (including a lot of traditional Dutch food) are delicious.
Every time I come here I end up chatting to people from all over the world, all of whom seem to agree that the beer at De Hems is some of the best in London.