top of page

COLLABORATION: THE HEART & SOUL OF THE DESSERT ROOM

Every evening is shaped by the creative dialogue between restaurants, chefs, drink makers, and artisans—each bringing their own voice, craft, and perspective into the room. Rather than a single signature, The Dessert Room exists as a living collaboration: a rotating constellation of culinary talent, thoughtful pairings, and handmade details, all united by a shared belief in generosity, curiosity, and the pleasure of making something beautiful together.

RESTAURANTS

CAFÉ PALOMA

VENUE PARTNER (EDITIONS 1-3)

Nestled on Anna Paulownaplein in the vibrant heart of Den Haag, Café Paloma opened its doors in September 2024 with a clear vision: to bring Latin-inspired dining, bold cocktail culture, and a convivial social atmosphere to one of the city’s most celebrated restaurant squares.The concept was brought to life by Domenique van Nielen and Magnus Magnusson, longtime friends and collaborators who met at Hotelschool The Hague and developed their shared passion for hospitality and bold flavour profiles over years of professional work together. Their journey includes earlier ventures such as Medi in Den Haag, and Paloma began as their next ambitious step — a

Paloma EXT_edited.jpg
Paloma INT1_edited.png
Paloma INT2.jpg

destination that reflects both LatinAmerican culinary inspiration and thoughtful, lively hospitality in the heart of the city. Domenique leads the business side of Paloma, shaping the guest experience and overall concept, while Magnus brings his culinary vision to life through the kitchen (including influences from Chile, Mexico, Peru, and beyond). Together, they’ve crafted a menu and atmosphere that make Paloma a destination for lunch, dinner, drinks, and long evenings on the terrace overlooking the square. The venue blends South American-inspired cuisine, inventive cocktails, and a welcoming, social spirit with design cues that reference classic Havana and Latin culture, all while remaining rooted in the local energy of Den Haag. With both indoor and outdoor spaces — including private event rooms and a sunlit terrace — Café Paloma offers versatility for casual gatherings, celebrations, and The Dessert Room’s memorable dessert-centric experiences. www.cafepaloma.nl

VILLA LA RUCHE
(1ST EDITION)

Villa la Ruche is located in Voorburg and is part of Jeunes Restaurateurs (JRE), an international association of young chefs committed to craftsmanship, creativity, and the ongoing development of culinary talent.

Within the JRE network, chefs are connected by a strong sense of professional solidarity and an active exchange of knowledge and technique.     This shared ethos informs the work at Villa la Ruche, where collaboration, discipline, and curiosity shape the kitchen’s approach.

  The cuisine is rooted in European gastronomic traditions while allowing room for innovation and contemporary interpretation. Local products and their

Villa La Ruche Ext..jpg
Villa La Ruche INT.jpg
Villa La Ruche EXT2.jpg

regional influences play an important role, ensuring that modern techniques remain grounded in place and season. Attention is given not only to what is served on the plate, but also to how food is experienced—through setting, atmosphere, and service.

    Villa la Ruche’s approach reflects the core values of the JRE philosophy: respect for tradition, openness to innovation, and a commitment to craft. These same values make it a natural participant in The Dessert Room, where desserts are treated as a considered and integral part of the overall culinary experience. www.villalaruche.nl

ELEA
(1ST EDITION)

Nestled along the elegant Noordeinde in the heart of The Hague, Restaurant ELEA is one of the city's most celebrated fine dining destinations, earning a near-perfect reputation through a relentless commitment to craft and hospitality. Named after the ancient Greek city of philosophical inquiry, ELEA brings that same spirit of thoughtful exploration to the table — reimagining the bold, sun-soaked flavors of Greece through a contemporary, minimalist lens. The kitchen draws on the richness of the Greek culinary tradition — filo, feta, honey, fresh seafood, and aged meats — transforming familiar ingredients into dishes of striking originality and visual beauty. The open kitchen invites guests into the creative process, while the serene, airy dining room offers a rare sense of calm in the city's bustling center. With service that attends to every detail, from the housemade bread and butter to the perfectly folded napkin, ELEA has established itself as the destination of choice for those seeking something genuinely memorable — a place where Greece is not simply recreated, but reborn.

Restaurant-Elea-scaled.jpg.webp
Elea-Den-Haag-glas-en-lood.webp
Elea 2.avif

SEQUENZA
(1ST EDITION)

Tucked quietly at the far end of the Spui, just a breath away from The Hague's city centre, Restaurant Sequenza has been a fixture in the culinary life of the city since before the turn of the millennium. After living and cooking across multiple countries, chef and host Thales Wolters settled in The Hague and took over Restaurant Sequenza, bringing with him a wealth of global influences grounded in a deep classical French foundation. Together with his team, Wolters weaves classic cooking techniques with international flavors, delivering a surprise multi-course menu that changes with the seasons and the market. The restaurant's intimate scale — just a handful of tables — is entirely by design: at Sequenza, the chefs are also the hosts, moving between kitchen and dining room with an ease that makes the experience feel personal rather than performative. The kitchen's excellence has been recognized with the Gouden Pollepel, as well as listings in both the Michelin Guide and Gault&Millau, cementing Sequenza's place among The Hague's most serious and beloved restaurants. Yet for all its accolades, the spirit of the place remains refreshingly unassuming — a hidden gem that rewards the curious with some of the most precise, inspired cooking in the city.

sequenza 3.jpeg
sequenza 1.avif
Restobar Harvey Rijswijk _ De Buik Den Haag-6 (1).jpg
Harvey 1.jpg
harvey3.jpg

RESTOBAR HARVEY
2ND EDITION

On the morning of 2 April 2025, after a long renovation, Restobar Harvey opened its doors on the Herenstraat in the heart of Oud-Rijswijk — and for the four people behind it, the moment was a long time coming. Founders Eline and Bas van Zuiden and twin brothers Sam and Morris Grimbergen are all born and raised in Rijswijk, and their shared story in hospitality runs deep. The Van Zuidens grew up in the renowned Restaurant Savarin, and the Grimbergen brothers got their first taste of the industry there too — a bond forged young that eventually became the foundation of something of their own. Between them, the four founders bring experience from some of the region's most respected kitchens and dining rooms, including Aan de Zweth, Fred, and Hotel New York. What they chose to build with all that expertise, however, is deliberately unpretentious. Harvey is not a fine-dining destination but a modern, accessible bistro and bar with a relaxed atmosphere, where the day moves naturally from morning coffee and pastry through to a long, unhurried dinner. The kitchen, led by chef Morris Grimbergen, turns out familiar classics with a creative twist — think coquille crudo, flat iron steak with red wine jus, and thoughtful vegetarian options alongside an exceptional wine list. Stylish but never stiff, anchored by a central bar and dressed in soft lighting, green velvet, and walnut wood, Harvey feels like a place built by people who genuinely love hospitality — a warm, lively addition to a neighbourhood that quietly needed exactly this.

 

Also worth noting — it's a nice bit of local continuity that Harvey occupies the former home of Restaurant Elea before Elea moved to its current location on Noordeinde. Might be a fun detail to include if this bio is being used in a context where that connection is relevant.

CHEFS

BARNEY VAN ELSWIJK

Villa la Ruche - 1st Edition

Barney van Elswijk is a Dutch chef with a background in refined, modern cuisine. He has worked in several respected kitchens in the Netherlands, including roles as Chef de Partie at Restaurant Niven and as sous-chef at Villa la Ruche, where precision, technique, and attention to detail are central to the kitchen’s philosophy. Barney’s cooking reflects a strong foundation in classic methods, paired with a contemporary sensibility and a thoughtful approach to flavor and balance. @barneyvanelswijk

Barney (1).jpeg
Villa Dessert alt.jpg
Villa La Ruche Dessert 2.jpg

MITCHEL GRUPPE

Sequenza - 1st Edition

Mitchel Gruppe is the chef at Restaurant Sequenza in Den Haag, where his cooking is guided by instinct, depth, and a love of bold, unapologetic flavor. His work is defined not by restraint, but by confidence—dishes built around contrast, intensity, and sauces that linger long after the last bite.

His culinary path has taken him through some of the region’s most respected kitchens, including Villa La Ruche, Aan de Zweth, Hanting, and Perceel—places where technique meets discipline, and precision meets pleasure. @mitchel270696

WhatsApp Image 2026-01-16 at 20.14.03.jpeg
Sequenza 1.jpeg
Sequenza 2.jpg

TAKIS PANAGAKIS

Elea - 1st Edition

In the heart of The Hague, Takis Panagakis is redefining Greek cuisine. As the culinary force behind Restaurant Elea on the upscale high street Noordeinde, he bridges two worlds: the warmth and tradition of his Greek heritage and the precision of contemporary European fine dining.​

​

Panagakis's culinary education came through immersion in some of Europe's most demanding kitchens, from the sun-drenched island of Corfu to the Netherlands' most celebrated Michelin-starred establishments. Each experience refined his technique, but it was his Greek roots that would ultimately define his cooking philosophy.​

image00006_edited.jpg
Image 4.jpeg
Image 3.jpeg

The name of his restaurant reveals hisapproach. In ancient Greece, "Elea" meant olive, but philosophers also used the word to represent renewal and bold thinking. Rather than presenting Greek cuisine as a museum piece, he treats it as a living tradition. Familiar Mediterranean ingredients appear in unexpected contexts. Time-honored flavor combinations are reimagined through modern techniques.

​

Working in partnership with Bibi Kuyp, who manages the dining room and curates an exceptional selection of Greek wines, Panagakis has created a space where the conviviality of Greek dining culture meets the refinement of haute cuisine. Recognition from prestigious culinary guides has followed, but he remains focused on the work itself—continually evolving his craft and proving that tradition and innovation aren't opposing forces, they're dance partners!

MORRIS GRIMBERGEN

Restobar Harvey - 2nd Edition

Morris Grimbergen is a Dutch chef and co-founder of the acclaimed Restobar Harvey who learned his craft in some of the region's most respected kitchens before bringing his philosophy of classic foundations with a creative twist to Restobar Harvey, which was nominated for an Entree Award in 2025 in the category of Best New Dine & Drink Midcity. @restobar.harvey

a6af2a9c70e7f4fb8759b224f7df73463110c3300de24fa1921556c19d88a827_edited.jpg

THE

DESSERT

ROOM

 

Pop-Up at Café Paloma

Anna Paulownaplein, 1

2518 BK

Den Haag

​

info@dessertroom.nl

Desserts at The Dessert Room may contain nuts and other allergens. We are currently unable to accommodate dietary restrictions.

​

All our desserts are suitable for vegetarians.

​

​Accessibility note: While Café Paloma is an accessible venue, The Dessert Room is located on the second floor and is accessible only by stairs. We want all guests to be able to make an informed booking and are happy to answer any questions in advance.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

 

The Dessert Room © 2026 by Aquitania Ventures 

 

bottom of page