2 Best Restaurants in Red Light District, Amsterdam

Opened in 2022, inside the regal Hotel de l'Europe, this "conscious fine dining" restaurant is elegant without being stuffy. Of course, the ingredients are local, seasonal and top-notch, but what really sets the Michelin-starred sustainability-led cooking apart are the inventive preparations. To avoid breaking the bank, opt for one of their lunch tasting menus. For a view to match the meal, ask for a table overlooking the Amstel River—there are only 11 tables so make sure to book in advance.

Culinary surprises are the name of the game at this stately restaurant; instead of a menu, diners are presented with a list of seasonal ingredients (e.g., pear, cauliflower, and squid) from which chef Chris Naylor whips up creative and masterful four-, five-, or six-course menus. Some of the vegetables and herbs come from the roof garden of the adjoining NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace hotel. The gray-tone walls enlivened with paintings of flowers lend a contemporary yet formal air, and an army of waitstaff are on hand to ensure that the service is always impeccable. Each summer the restaurant closes for one month while the staff go on vacation (dates change year to year).