Not a formula. A family.
Lebkov began as a single coffee shop beside Leiden station. In 2003, our family took it over. Today there are seven Lebkov shops in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague and Leiden. We have never franchised: we prefer to look after every shop ourselves.
We want people to eat food that is delicious, healthy and nourishing: unprocessed, with as few additives as possible. And we want to give them a good moment, in a place where they would happily come three times a day, once a week, or stay all day to sit and work.
- ORGANIC AND LOCAL. More than half of what we use is organic or biodynamic, and more than 80% comes from local, fair suppliers.
- MADE FRESH IN EVERY SHOP. There is no central kitchen. In every shop we steam and peel our own organic eggs, and make our egg salad with just a little mayonnaise, so it is nourishing and tasty.
- 1% BETTER EVERY DAY. Our goal is food without pesticides. We are not there yet, and we will not pretend everything is perfect. But we get a little better every day.
Organic specialty coffee and homemade food, in seven shops by the station.
Not a formula. Not a franchise.
Lebkov is named after Mr. Lebkov, a fictional character who travelled from Eastern Europe to New York and got by selling sandwiches and coffee on every corner. Today he lives in the Netherlands. We grow at our own pace: quality over quantity, and every new shop has to meet all six of our principles.
His story →
Where we come from
- 2002Lebkov opens beside Leiden station, as a healthy alternative to fast food. Visit →
- 2003Our family takes over the shop.
- 2005Our second shop opens in The Hague, on the Turfmarkt. Visit →
- 2007Rotterdam follows, on the Stationsplein. Visit →
- 2014Our first Amsterdam shop opens at Bijlmer Arena. Visit →
- 2018Amsterdam Zuidas opens. Visit →
- 2019A new identity, from the menus to the tableware. Mr. Lebkov gets a bigger role. Read more →
- 2020Utrecht Centraal opens, three weeks before the pandemic. Visit →
- 2021Amsterdam Roeterseiland opens, next to the University of Amsterdam. Visit →
- TodaySeven shops, still run by the family. We try to do a little better every day.
The Lebkov Way
We are not a formula, and we have never been a franchise. These six principles guide what we do every day.
- Organic CoffeeWe serve organic specialty coffee, roasted every week, in every cup we pour and every bag you take home.Read the story →
- Real Food Real FastEverything is made fresh, and still ready before your train arrives.Read the story →
- Fresh From ScratchOur sandwiches, soups and cakes are homemade, with no preservatives and no additives. Our bread is 100% sourdough, made with flour, water and salt.Read the story →
- We Know Our FarmersWe work with local and organic suppliers, and we like to know where our ingredients come from.Read the story →
- 1% Better Every DayWe order from each supplier only once a week, and we buy based on data. That means fewer deliveries and less waste.Read the story →
- Your Third PlaceBeyond home and work, Lebkov is a place to meet, linger and feel welcome, like a neighborhood square.Read the story →
Sustainable, and good for you
Our most important goal is sustainability: food that is good for people and for the planet. For us, healthy means three things.
- Organic Where We CanMore than half of what we use is organic, including our coffee from Moto, our meat, our eggs (with three Beter Leven stars) and our milk from Kalverliefde, where calves stay with their mothers for longer.
- Local, With a StoryMore than 80% comes from local suppliers, and we have cut our transport by 85%. We work with sustainable brands such as FishTales and Livar, because we want to know where our food comes from.
- Homemade, In Every ShopThere is no central kitchen: every shop makes its own food. We steam and peel our organic eggs on site, and make our own egg salad, hummus and cookies. That way we know exactly what goes into everything, preferably without E-numbers or preservatives.
"A concrete space that is styled as a domestic kitchen and living room."
