Amsterdam Restaurants
 

We have an overnight in Amsterdam next Thursday on the way to Istanbul. We want to eat in the city and wonder what recommendations you would make.
We are due to land (on KLM) at 7pm and will have hand baggage only. We are staying at the Ibis at the airport and will go there first but only to check in and come straight back out. I think we may then need to take the hotel shuttle back to the airport to get public transport into the city.
I have looked at a number of restaurants recommended in Rough Guide and the one I most fancy is Proever ij 274.I have had Rijstafel several times(and enjoyed it very much) but I don't think we will have the time to do it justice and also we were in Bali in November.
I think with a fair wind we could be in a restaurant by about 9. Is that realistic? I don't know the geography of Amsterdam and so I'm none too sure how far we will have to walk from where we get off the airport transport.
Finally if it was better we would get a taxi from the Ibis into the city (and back).
Thanking you in anticipation

We LOVED The Bird...great Thai restaurant. Went there 3 times.

Airport transportation will drop you at the Central Station, which is at the top of the big horseshoe that makes up the old city. You can see that on any map. I can't help you with particular restaurants, except to say that 9 might be a bit late. Perhaps norms have changed since I was last there, but I do remember that the custom seemed to be that diners "owned" their table for the entire night--there was no push to get you out to make room for new diners. But as I said, I'm sure this would be a problem.

You might try amsterdam-centric website for local knowledge. Just avoid the really touristy areas where the restaurants all have shills outside beckoning you in.

You might also ask over on Cruise Critic, Northern Europe and Baltics board, where there is a local poster, Ine, who probably would have suggestions.

Sorry, I meant to say that I'm NOT sure the late hour would be a problem. Is there no way to edit posts on this forum?

<i>the airport transport</i>??
Do you mean the train? It goes to Amsterdam Centraal. For the time you have and being newbees that is not a good option.

<i>if it was better we would get a taxi from the Ibis into the city</i>
Yes. I recommend you take a taxi directly to the restaurant Luden on Spuistraat. Good food, service, ambience, and prices. You could be there within an hour from touchdown having no bags to claim. Have a borrel at the Cafe Hoppe at the Spui after dinner. The Hoppe is a centuries old "brown bar" and it is very brown.

<i>Is there no way to edit posts on this forum?</i>
Yes. Use the preview button and then edit in the "Edit Your Reply" box.

BTW, Rough Guides are very rough. I suggest Michelin Green Guides but you won't be there long enough to benefit.

Thank you all for your responses. I would like to eat something local and I'm not sure that this is what Luden offers? I may be handicapped here because I don't speak Dutch and so I'm not able to understand the description of the restaurant, but from the menu which is translated it appears to be a wide menu and I can't see any/many particularly Dutch aspects? Am I wrong?

If it's not way too pricey, you might want to check out d'Vijff Vlieghen, also on Spuistraadt

http://www.thefiveflies.com/nl/index.asp?

I would contact them ahead of time to ask about the late dining hour. The restaurant opens at 6pm. My experience of Amsterdam is that people eat early.

You might also look on line to see if Time Out can give you some late-night recommendations for Amsterdam.

Zeppole-you have taken me back years! I remember going to Amsterdam-newly wed and having heard about d'Vijff Vlieghen. We walked there and read the menu but sadly it was way out of our league!Maybe on Thursday......
Thank you

I recently stayed in the hotel next door and would have liked to have eaten there, but the only night I could do it was the night I arrived, and when I walked in without a reservation around 9 as a solo diner, it was obvious it wasn't quite the right fit. So that's why I suggest you call to ask about a 9pm seating.

I wanted to go more for the Rembrandt I've heard they have hanging inside than the food!

<i>Thank you all for your responses. I would like to eat something local and I'm not sure that this is what Luden offers? I may be handicapped here because I don't speak Dutch and so I'm not able to understand the description of the restaurant, but from the menu which is translated it appears to be a wide menu and I can't see any/many particularly Dutch aspects? Am I wrong?</i>

Yes.

What do you consider as <i>particularly Dutch aspects</i>?

Luden has a terrible website - it is impossible to access the menus correctly as far as I can see. I tried in both Firefox and IE8 but couldn't access the menus correctly.

If you want simple Dutch food at a reasonable price, and in a fascinating building, then Haesje Claes may appeal. The kitchen there is open until 10. Which means you won't get a fancy three or four course meal, but you should manage a couple of courses there. www.haesjeclaes.nl . You can reserve online.


Given where the Ibis is you might be better off looking at Amstelveen for a restaurant, rather than going into the city. It is closer by taxi, so you can get there to eat at a better time.

Alternatively find a hotel in the city and go in and out by train.

What time is your flight the following day?

The restaurant at the Ibis isn't gourmet, nor especially Dutch, but it isn't awful, so if all else fails you can eat there. It is a very lively hotel as I recall, with lots of people around the reception area all the time, but the rooms are quiet and comfortable. We have used it for sleep, park fly a couple of times.

By the way Proeverij274 is only open until 10 pm so I think that is out for you. It also isn't very Dutch, apart from using Dutch lamb and a French breed of cattle farmed in Holland.

We love seafood and enjoyed our dinners at Lucius
( www.lucius.nl)It is a small restaurant with tiled walls and seemed to be full of locals. We returned there twice.

Hetismij- I like the look of Haesjeclaes. Anything beats the Douglas in the High St on Sat night!
Pesda rocks!
Our flight the next day is at 9.20- hence the airport hotel. Diolch!
I like the look of Lucius too-and I see it is open later which could be useful if our flight is delayed.
Spaarne-I'm sorry I have offended you but thank you for your help.

I'm not sure that you wouldn't be better off spending the night in Amsterdam, given how much running around in taxis you intend to do to get a dinner in Amsterdam. The ride to the airport in the morning from Amsterdam is not all that long, and for a flight to Istanbul - when do you need to be there?

I found the NH City Centre on the Spuistraadt comfortable, and it offers discounts on meals at d'Vijff Vlieghen. If you went directly from the airport to there by taxi, you'd find yourself much more easily able to get served dinner anywhere on Spuistraadt, or in the neighborhood.

http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotel...amsterdam.html

The ride to the airport in the morning by taxi is the same ride you'd be taking the night before if you stay at the Ibis.

There seems to be a bus stop by the hotel and line 192 takes you to Amsterdam Sloterdijk. From there you have a number of trams and buses to the center. Given the limited time and the fact that you have to take multiple buses and trams, I do agree with spaarne that you might need to go for a taxi. Be aware that a taxi will be at least € 35 one way.

For food, I would recommend something off the beaten path. De Witte Uyl is a small restaurant, with very friendly personnel and a great Dutch / Mediterranean / Asian fusion menu: http://witteuyl.com/

--dutchgrub
www.dutchgrub.com

Hi; A very nice French restaurant located by a canal on the 'inner ring'. Very close to Dam Square and many sights. Richard www.theeboom.com

I'm happy to "hijack" this thread -- just to get more recent recommendations for dining in Amsterdam. We'll be there at the end of May (2010) and my search of the forum indicates that this is the most recent discussion of restaurants in Amsterdam so I figure this way we can keep it going for other 2010 travelers, while the OP has been and gone by now!

CHEAP & GOOD EATS AT LA PLACE RESTAURANT

Anyone looking for really typical Dutch food (and multi-ethnic cusines as well) can head to La Place Restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam's pedestrian shopping street - near the Muntplein - cafeteria-style of lots of good eats and always thronged with locals when i pop in


Cheap Eats Amsterdam V&D La Place Self Service Restaurant Holland - Rokin, Kalverstraat.
http://www.amsterdamtips.com/cheap-e...restaurant.php -

DINING IN AMSTERDAM WITH A VIEW
Amsterdam's new public library, hovering over the harbor front, has on its 7th floor a La Place Restaurant with an appetizing view over Amsterdam - the library is open to all - i recently trekked thru this amazing multi-story library, which even on Jan 2 this year was packed - free Internet access but a great place to cop some good food at a good price and a priceless view as well.

OBA Amsterdam Library Bibliotheek V&D La Place Restaurant View ...
OBA Amsterdam Library houses V&D La Place restaurant on the 7th floor with a great panorama view terrace.
http://www.amsterdamtips.com/oba-vd-...t-panorama.php -

You don't know how PERFECT an idea that Library cafe is for us. Looks like a good lunch.