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Not so long ago, Dutch cuisine consisted mostly of fried food—french fries, bitterballen, and frikandel (deep-fried sausages)—along with thick pea soup and hearty meat and potato dishes. These days, however, Amsterdam restaurants serve much higher-quality and more varied food than ever before. Many forward-thinking Amsterdam res
Not so long ago, Dutch cuisine consisted mostly of fried food—french fries, bitterballen, and frikandel (deep-fried sausages)—along with thick pea soup and hearty meat and potato dishes. These days, however, Amsterdam restaurants serve much higher-quality and more varie
Not so long ago, Dutch cuisine consisted mostly of fried food—french fries, bitterballen, and frikandel (deep-fried saus
Not so long ago, Dutch cuisine consisted mostly of fried food—french fries, bitterballen, and frikandel (deep-fried sausages)—along with thick pea soup and hearty meat and potato dishes. These days, however, Amsterdam restaurants serve much higher-quality and more varied food than ever before.
Many forward-thinking Amsterdam restaurants have embraced a "New Dutch cuisine," using organic and locally sourced meat, fish, and seafood, and expertly cooked vegetables served with interesting sauces and side dishes. Some chefs are taking it a step further and growing produce and herbs on land or rooftops attached to their restaurants—garden to table cooking, if you will. Multicourse tasting menus or small plates that you can mix and match are popular at upscale eateries, making use of what's freshest at the moment, perhaps farm-fresh asparagus or North Sea mussels. The classic standbys are still widely available, too—it's hard to resist those delicious bitterballen—but they're often prepared in updated, modern interpretations.
Amsterdam has a wealth of international cuisines. The city has long been known for its Moroccan, Turkish, and Indonesian food, and there are excellent Vietnamese eateries, where you can finally get a decent bánh mì, as well as pretty much every type of cuisine you might be craving. Another thing that's big on the Amsterdam food scene these days is brunch. Traditionally, the Dutch opt for relatively simple breakfasts of buttered toast with chocolate sprinkles (called hagelslag), but places for more American-style brunch—eggs Benedict or oatmeal with fresh fruit—have popped up throughout the city, attracting the city's trend-followers. Although steak restaurants have existed for years (and continue to open on a regular basis), hamburgers are also trendy, with tiny spots elbowing their way in to become the most popular in town.
Pockets of interesting dining are emerging away from the city center, too, but Amsterdam is a small city, so don't be daunted by distance. Everything's still easy to reach by cab, tram, or bus—or make like a local and burn off some calories by renting a bike.
Despite all these changes, one thing's stayed relatively the same: the pace of service. Expect a wait to get menus, to order, and then to receive your food. You just have to go with it: it's the Dutch way!
Famous for their full English breakfast, Bloody Marys, and Irish soda bread, Greenwoods Keizersgracht dishes out hearty brunch specials daily with plenty of vegetarian options, too. Their fun, seasonal menu includes American-style pancakes, stacked sandwiches, and cocktails with a twist. Dine inside or snag a seat on their sun-drenched terrace for a view of the canal. Still hungry? Their original location is still located at Single 103.
Keizersgracht 465, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1017 DK, Netherlands
This unpretentious bakery and tearoom evokes an English country kitchen—one that lovingly prepares and serves breakfasts, high tea, hearty sandwiches, soups, and divine slices of quiche. The closely clustered wooden tables don't give much privacy, but the lively atmosphere is welcoming and warm. There are two other locations: one complete with a garden patio inside Westerpark and the original location in Oud-Zuid, plus a takeout-only counter at Warmoesstraat 133 (all serving breakfast and lunch only).
Warmoesstraat 69, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 HX, Netherlands
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
If it's Sunday and you want to brunch on the holiest of trinities—blini, smoked salmon, and Champagne—look no further than this elegant brasserie. During the week, the sleek, modern furnishings and professional yet personal service attract a lunchtime business crowd, who enjoy the set three-course Bib Gourmand menu, as well as late-night diners, who come here after attending a performance at the nearby Concertgebouw. The French-influenced menu includes oysters, quiche, steak frites, and crème brûlée. There's outdoor dining on the street terrace or garden patio when the weather cooperates.
Van Baerlestraat 158, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 BG, Netherlands
Although thousands of buildings in Amsterdam are designated historic monuments, few have interiors as stunning as the facade. This cafe is an Art Deco extravaganza with stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and stylish leaded-glass lamps with a warm glow. While the brasserie-style food can't match the exalted surroundings, it earns good marks for a scenic high tea or afternoon bite. Tasty menu items include avocado toast, eggs Benedict for brunch, and a wide variety of classic dishes like salade Niçoise and burgers for lunch and dinner.
Leidsekade 97, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1017PN, Netherlands
Join the ladies who lunch at this chic little café on Amsterdam's poshest shopping street, P.C. Hooftstraat, where white marble tables act as a canvas for picture-perfect plates of avocado toast and the bored blondes who pretend to nibble at them.
Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat 87A, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 BP, Netherlands
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
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
This lively spot with soaring ceilings and three levels of seating attracts a young crowd for the eclectic but generally healthy menu of all-day brunch, including especially delicious coconut pancakes. There's also an extensive juice menu, including fresh coconut served with a straw, plus a selection of salads and deli items like burgers, burritos, and sandwiches and, as the name implies, an in-house roastery and full range of single-origin espresso-based drinks and pour-over coffees. Although the casual atmosphere is more haphazardly funky than tropical chic (be prepared to sit on rather uncomfortable beanbags if the regular tables are full), you'll have ample opportunity to watch the international millennial clientele as you wait.
Ceintuurbaan 282-284, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1072 GK, Netherlands
One of Amsterdam's brunch pioneers, this intimate Australian-run eatery has a laid-back vibe and friendly servers. Although you'll inevitably have to wait for a table on weekends (or make brunch reservations), the eclectic menu, which includes sweet and savory options, is worth it. Pass the time with one of the tasty brunch cocktails: there are four types of Bloody Marys. Dinner is small plates with influences from near and far. In early 2019, a second outpost, offering brunch by day and pizza by night, opened in West (Bilderdijkstraat 140).
1e Sweelinckstraat 19-F, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1073 CL, Netherlands
The Westergasterrace is part of the Westergasfabriek, a former gas factory turned arts complex. There's plenty of outdoor seating at this spacious restaurant next to Westerpark, and the indoor portion is separated by retractable glass walls, making this the perfect destination to enjoy the weather and a good meal on a lazy afternoon or evening. The lunch and dinner menu is mostly café-style classics including soups, sandwiches, salads, burgers (veggie, too), steak, and fish. On weekends, they often fire up the grill and host live music and outdoor parties during spring and summer months.
Klönneplein 4-6, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1014DD, Netherlands
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