3 Best Restaurants in Museum District, Amsterdam

If you've forgotten to make a dining reservation somewhere (and even if you haven't), this walk-in only eetcafé (café serving food) is a solid bet. The regularly changing menu draws inspiration from international cuisine and while options are limited there is always something tasty for fans of fish, meat or vegetables.

A wide variety of locals love this bustling bistro-like Dutch institution, where the prime attraction is the beef fillet or a spicier "Bali" version for an extra €2 (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 veal liver, or, for the non–meat eater, several types of fish and vegetarian dishes—there's even a convincing plant-based "steak" created on a 3D printer (yes, really!). The best dessert on the menu is the sticky toffee cake. There are five more locations in Amsterdam (check the website for details).

This busy but relaxed neighborhood restaurant serves as a gentle introduction to Indonesian cuisine. Since 1969, Sama Sebo has gained nearly institution status by dishing out rijsttafel (Indonesian small plates) in an atmosphere enhanced by bamboo walls, miniature wood "spirit houses," and 19th-century-style lamps. At lunch the dishes are simpler: in addition to various chicken specialties, there's bami goreng (spicy fried noodles with vegetables or meat) and nasi goreng (the same, with rice instead of noodles). You can wait for your table in the friendly bar area.