Drinks looking out at the Yellow Bridge, a cat café/shop in the friendliest street in the city, an urban beach with crackling bonfires and a cupboard packed with boardgames, a Japanese karaoke bar and a take-away with authentic Argentine empanadas: these are the places to be in the winter months. Kat & Bakkie Late last year, Laura and Melissa opened Kat & Bakkie: a shop selling designer products for (and with) cats, where you can also grab a coffee and stroke the six cats that live there. The cat family consists of mother cat Gaia and her three kittens Midas, Helios and Athena, and two more adult females, Hera and Hestia. All of the sustainable products in the shop were made and designed by Laura and Melissa. Think wooden cat trays, a Dom Tower scratch pole, cat toys and T-shirts, bags, posters and cards with cat prints. > Twijnstraat 54 instagram.com/katenbakkie Buiten bij de Sluis Originally from Brabant, Willem and Melanie lived in the Leidsche Rijn neighbourhood for thirteen years and shared a dream of running their own bar. Not in the city centre, but on ‘their’ side of the canal, at the foot of the yellow bridge. So they renovated the old 1930s lock-keeper’s house and converted it into a bar-restaurant called Buiten bij de Sluis. Set up your laptop, come for lunch or drinks, or book a table for shared dining. > Oude Vleutenseweg 2 buitenbijdesluis.nl SOIA An urban beach in the middle of winter? Oh yes! In the darkest, coldest months of the year, SOIA (or Strand Oog in Al) will have crackling bonfires, cosy corners, a huge cupboard packed with boardgames and a menu offering hearty, warming dishes. So no sand between your toes, but you can still chill in the festive spirit. > Kanaalweg 199 soia.nl Hola Empanadas The authentic Argentine empanadas and churros from this small take-away on Korte Jansstraat make you think you’re in Buenos Aires. The empanadas are filled with all sorts of things, such as blue cheese, goat’s cheese, rocket and caramelised peanuts, or Argentine chorizo, Manchego and mozzarella. They also have plant-based options, such as mango, vegan cheese, Mexican chilli peppers and lime. > Korte Jansstraat 16 holaempanadas.nl Duke of Tokyo At last: sing along to your favourite tunes in Utrecht without inflicting it on the entire bar. At Duke of Tokyo, you can hire a private karaoke booth for yourself and your BFFs, while enjoying Japanese cocktails, sake or some other delicious drink. The owners of this karaoke and cocktail bar were inspired by the lively alleyways in the coolest parts of Tokyo. In short: a Japanese evening out, minus the jetlag. > Ganzenmarkt 3 dukeoftokyo.com