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$$ | Centrum |
With a dizzying array of recently opened restaurants offering so-called New Dutch Cuisine, it's looking like Dutch food has finally been given the makeover it long deserved. This Centraal Station–adjacent establishment gives brasserie classics a Lowlands twist, using seasonal ingredients fresh from a local organic farm. Bring the kids; there are kids' menus and regular family lunches with a fun educational twist on Sundays.
Damrak 1-5, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 LG, Netherlands
Known For
- A melt-in-the-mouth pork cheek stew
- A Caesar salad featuring the almost emblematic Dutch vegetable, kale
- Cocktails with a local twist
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
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$$ | Amsterdam-Noord |
Befitting its location in the former shipyards of the newly hip NDSM area, this quirky restaurant is housed in a series of cavernous shipping containers—it attracts a young, lively crowd that appreciates the organic meat and vegetables and sustainably caught fish and seafood. In summer, the huge terrace and sandy man-made beach along the river turn into a party with DJs.
TT Neveritaweg 59, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1033WB, Netherlands
Known For
- Buzzy scene
- Health-conscious food
- Card payments only, no cash
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$$ | Amsterdam-Oost |
With a bright, modern dining space lined with white-clothed tables and an open kitchen, this popular French-Flemish eatery is one of the liveliest in town. The food is simply prepared but delicious, and reasonably priced; the three-course menus change frequently and always include daily specials. When it's offered (nearly always), don't miss their signature poussin, a perfectly roasted chicken with rosemary, served with a side of seasonal vegetables. Although the menu is in Dutch, the personable staff are happy to translate.
Marcusstraat 52, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1091 TK, Netherlands
Known For
- French-Flemish comfort food and good wine
- A devoted local fanbase (book early!)
- Genuinely friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun, Reservations essential
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$$ | Oosterdok |
You can't miss this over-the-top floating Chinese restaurant, moored on the Oosterdok near Centraal Station—the ornate atmosphere of red paper lanterns and red- and black-lacquered ceilings that wouldn't be out of place in Hong Kong or Vancouver could easily be a tourist trap. But it's not: the extensive Canton, Macau, and Peking duck menus and other dishes are consistently fresh and authentic.
Oosterdokskade 8, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1011AE, Netherlands
Known For
- Tasty dim sum (noon–4 pm)
- Water views
- Lovely authentic decor
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$$ | Amsterdam-Oost |
With the northern Dutch province of Friesland's wealth of local ingredients from fertile pastures and seafood-rich seas, this hidden bar-restaurant was a thúskomme (''homecoming'') of sorts for its young Frisian chef-owners. Stop off for a beer or indulge in New Dutch Cuisine with Frisian flair. Located in the lesser-known Indische Buurt, Thúskomme attracts creative locals with its easy vibe, living room-like looks and regular musical interludes.
Batjanstraat 1a, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1094 RC, Netherlands
Known For
- Wild Wadden oysters with Frisian vodka and pickle juice
- A wide selection of beers from Friesland and beyond
- Frisian charcuterie and cheese
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Jordaan |
This is the oldest Indian restaurant in Amsterdam (it opened in 1977), and it's a longtime favorite of curry connoisseurs. Although the decor is unremarkable, the restaurant is impeccably clean and the servers unfailingly friendly. All of the snacks, soups, and meals are delicious: you'll break out in a happy sweat if you order the spicy chicken Madras. The sweet cardamom tea is a good accompaniment to your meal.
Haarlemmerdijk 28, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1013JD, Netherlands
Known For
- Tasty Indian curries
- Friendly service
- Vegetarian options
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$$ | Oud-West |
This sustainable eatery is associated with the Conscious Hotel next door. Sit outside on the expansive terrace overlooking Westerpark and watch the sunset with a glass of organic wine, or head inside to dine, where up-cycled furniture and a hydroponic green wall tie into this restaurant’s eco-friendly concept.
Haarlemmerweg 8, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1014 BE, Netherlands
Known For
- Spacious terrace
- Eco-conscious
- Friendly service
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$$ | Red Light District |
The large menu of Thai standards—including some very good vegetarian options—doesn't hold many surprises, but everything's fresh and tasty; diners often rate Bird as the best Thai in town, and there are lines most nights. The space is filled with chunky teak furnishings and paintings imported from Thailand, while the takeaway snack bar across the street (Zeedijk 77) is more utilitarian. The best tables for savoring such dishes as coconut-chicken soup with lemongrass followed by fruity curry with mixed seafood are at the back of the restaurant overlooking the canal.
Zeedijk 72-74, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 AB, Netherlands
Known For
- Aromatic massaman chicken curry
- Fragrant fish cakes with a good bite
- Crispy Thai spring rolls
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Plantage |
A quirkily named Australian-owned all-day brunch and dinner café can be a surprisingly fun place to stop by for locally roasted specialty coffees, scrumptious cakes, decadent burgers, natural wines, and more.
Plantage Middenlaan 30A, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1018 DG, Netherlands
Known For
- Authentic Australian flat white coffee
- Stroopwafel espresso martinis
- Friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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$$ | Nieuwmarkt |
This dark, woody, and well-loved café—as cozily cluttered as a Jan Steen painting seen through a ’70s filter—has been serving the same simple cheese fondue for decades, along with a steak entrecôte that you cook at the table. Order a salad to start (there are five types to choose from) and then dunk bite-sized bread bits into the gooey melted cheese. The atmosphere is boisterous and friendly: you'll very likely be sharing a communal table with a group of locals out for a night on the town.
Nieuwmarkt 9, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1011 JR, Netherlands
Known For
- Hearty Swiss food and wine
- Popular locals' hangout: do make reservations
- Inexpensive eats
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, No credit cards, Reservations essential
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$$ | Museum District |
Local students, sophisticates, and families all love this bustling bistrolike Dutch institution, where the prime attraction is the beef fillet or a spicier "Bali" version for an extra €1 (extra-large versions cost a little bit more). All steaks are served rare—you can't get them any other way. If you're not in the mood, you can order the hamburger, the pork schnitzel, or, for the non–beef eater, several types of fish and vegetarian dishes. The best dessert on the menu is the sticky toffee cake. There are five more locations in Amsterdam (check the website for details).
Johannes Vermeerstraat 52, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 DT, Netherlands
Known For
- Pan-fried steak swimming in gravy
- Lively atmosphere
- Outdoor seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Centrum |
One of the city's best-known grand cafés, Luxembourg has a stately interior and a view of a bustling square, both of which are excellent for people-watching. Lunch, when the restaurant fills with locals and tourists, is the best time to come. The classic café menu includes terrific soups and salads and excellent Holtkamp kroketten (croquettes, here with a cheese, shrimp, or veal filling). Those with less interest in urban sociology can entertain themselves at the communal table, which is democratically packed with an assortment of Dutch and international newspapers and magazines.
Spui 24, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 XA, Netherlands
Known For
- People-watching on adjacent Spui Square
- Croquettes and their bite-sized cousins, "bitterballen"
- Generous portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Oud-West |
This airy spot west of the Jordaan is an industrial monument: for a century, it housed a plant that pumped water from coastal dunes. Now, under a sky-high ceiling, it's a popular destination for international cuisine, from rib-eye béarnaise and steak tartare to crowd-pleasing seafood platters piled high with oysters, clams, mussels, and optional crab or lobster. The restaurant usually bustles with families and larger groups. If it's too noisy for you, ask for a table on the peaceful terrace. The sticky toffee cake is an after-dinner winner.
Watertorenplein 6, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1051PA, Netherlands
Known For
- Scrumptious seafood platter
- Spacious, airy atmosphere
- Kid-friendly dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Plantage |
The stunning decor in this expansive space on Artisplein at the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo is reason enough to visit, but the Mediterranean-influenced food is good, too. Soaring ceilings supported by intricate metal beams, exposed brick walls, birdcagelike chandeliers, a huge central fiddle-leaf fig tree and enormous windows overlooking a volière (aviary) with meadow birds from Northern Holland are a lovely setting to enjoy dishes such as Basque fish soup, marinated lamb served with chickpeas and hummus, or red-beet-and-ricotta ravioli. A selection of tartines is available at lunch. The reasonably priced wine list, which helpfully categorizes wines as light, medium, or full, complements the food perfectly.
Plantage Kerklaan 36, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1018 CZ, Netherlands
Known For
- Gorgeous monumental building with a 19th-century wooden conservatory
- Leafy terrace with views of flamingos
- Nice wine list with ample wines by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Jordaan | Vegetarian
This mellow organic vegetarian restaurant, with local artists' works hung on the bright orange-and-green walls, serves tasty homemade soups and salads—the salad bar, a mix of cooked items like couscous along with seasonal salads from beans to beets, is especially popular—at lunch as well as its tempting selection of desserts. They increase sophistication (and the prices) at dinner, with noodle dishes and stir-fries. When the weather's nice, there is outdoor seating on the canal across the street.
Prinsengracht 60-62, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1015DX, Netherlands
Known For
- Organic vegetarian food
- Delicious desserts
- Cozy environs
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$$ | Red Light District |
Smack in the middle of the Red Light District, this Thai establishment juxtaposes the original wood beams and wall panels of the 17th-century warehouse with a rich color scheme, modern furniture, and traditional Thai wall decorations, which give the space a warm atmosphere. The menu balances spicy dishes like stir-fried beef with onion and chile peppers with milder options to please a variety of palates, though ordering a main is compulsory.
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 42, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 GE, Netherlands
Known For
- Decent green curries and pad thai
- Charming ambience
- Slow service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centrum |
Since its 2019 renovation, this Dutch brasserie has become a beacon on an otherwise uninspiring road; it's one of the few non–fast food restaurants around packed Dam Square. The fare is poshed-up Dutch food, like risotto of Alkmaar pearl barley with roast beetroot, preserved lemon and sour cream, or Dutch Bouillabaisse with fresh North Sea fish. It gets busy with passing tourists, but this restaurant is worth a stop if you're shopping at the nearby de Bijenkorf department store and need a pick-me-up.
Damrak 93-94, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 LP, Netherlands
Known For
- Classic Dutch food, modernized
- A covered patio perfect for all weather
- Unparalleled people-watching on the Netherlands' busiest sidewalk
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centrum |
In a 1520 monument groaning with pewter tankards, stained glass, rich gold leather paneling, original Delftware and other curiosa, this restaurant's "Old Holland" vibe and matching menu attract lots of tourists. Expect simple, hearty old-fashioned Dutch fare such as pea soup and a selection of stamppotten (potatoes mashed with veggies and often meat). On cold winter nights, opt for the hutspot, a stamppot of mashed potato and carrot supplemented with steamed beef, sausage, and bacon.
Spuistraat 273, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 VR, Netherlands
Known For
- Serving traditional Dutch stamppot to tourists
- A handsome historic landmark location
- Pieter de Hooch–worthy interiors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Nieuwmarkt |
This bright and stylish restaurant is on one of the city's broadest canals and has a long-standing reputation for high quality at a great price. Choose from a three- to five-course menu, or order à la carte for lunch. Options always include soups, salads, and fish and meat dishes with interesting vegetable combinations.
Oude Waal 11, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1011 BZ, Netherlands
Known For
- The namesake "Heavenly Mud" chocolate mousse
- Kind and helpful service
- Regularly changing seasonal menus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centrum |
Although you can order à la carte at this spacious and airy Indonesian restaurant, most diners opt for one of the four rijsttafels, each with at least 12 different dishes and flavors that range from sweet and coconutty to intensely spicy (the light local witbier is an excellent accompaniment); one version is vegetarian. There is a takeout counter around the corner (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 342), which serves inexpensive noodle and rice dishes.
Spuistraat 291-293, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 VS, Netherlands
Known For
- Indonesian rijsttafels
- Friendly, efficient service
- A "senang" (pleasant, comfortable) atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential