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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!
Modeled after Madrid's indoor San Miguel market, this always-packed food hall in a former tram-maintenance building is unfailingly popular with locals and tourists alike. Food stands run the international gamut, from Vietnamese and Indian street food to Mexican and Italian dishes, with favorites like gourmet hot dogs and hamburgers thrown in for good measure. Head to the gin bar to partake in the city's G&T craze. The food hall's hours run late for Holland: until 11:30 pm most nights and until 1 am Thursday–Sunday. It can be difficult to find seating on weekends.
Bellamyplein 51, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1053AT, Netherlands
In a high-ceilinged former garage—still housing a number of classic cars—this large, modern, and convivial restaurant is worth the trek across the IJ River. The "Golden Pheasant" offers good value for a three-course menu of Dutch fare with a French twist: expect favorites like oysters, roast chicken, and Angus beef, along with a variety of specials.
Aambeeldstraat 10H, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1021KB, Netherlands
Fans of fabulous nose-to-tail dining have faithfully been placing themselves in the experienced hands of chef Giel Kaagman and sommelier and host Bram Kortekaas since 2015. Their namesake eatery, which has been a leading light in the local bistronomy movement, sits along a medieval alley in the heart of tourist hell, where multiple levels arranged around a slightly sunken kitchen allow some diners to feel like they’re part of the action. Regularly changing four-, five- or six-course chef’s menus keep things fresh, but there’s usually homemade charcuterie, plenty of traditional techniques and a few offal surprises - picky eaters, you’ve been warned!
Sint Nicolaasstraat 43, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 NJ, Netherlands
By day, this sleek Swedish-owned establishment serves cinnamon or cardamom buns and seriously good specialty coffee from La Cabra in Copenhagen. By night, take your pick of the premium (mostly natural, mostly French) wines displayed in a ceiling-high wine chamber before indulging in a six-course set menu by chef Túbo Logier (formerly from innovative eateries such as London's The Clove Club and P Franco and Belgium's Chambre Separeé). The new chef's Asia-inflected style and love of ferments nicely contrast 48/50's Scandi-schtick. A selection from the evening menu is also available to order à la carte at lunchtime.
Camperstraat 48-50, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1091 AH, Netherlands
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
Craving coffee with tiny travelers in tow? Head to this colorful café on trendy Javastraat, where there's a play area for the little ones, plus a children's concept store and in-house hairdresser. A small menu offers sandwiches, cakes, juices, and healthy kids' snacks. Blitskikker is also a great place to stock up on original gifts for the (grand)kids back home.
Javastraat 117h, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1094 HD, Netherlands
This Amsterdam-based brewery churns out everything from craft beers to spirits and sodas at multiple locations throughout the city, and each has their own brew pub. Visitors to this location next to Westerpark can enjoy a beer or two with burgers and other tasty pub foods outside on the large terrace or in their expansive indoor dining area.
Pazzanistraat 27, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1014 DB, 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 elegant two–Michelin star dining room nods to modernity with gleaming metallic design touches, but the French-international food at the "Blue Sky" leans more to the classically extravagant. Any of the three tasting menus (with a choice of two wine pairings) are highly recommended for a celebratory meal. Enjoy beautifully presented dishes—like the signature king crab with Baeri caviar, beurre blanc ice cream, and preserved lemon, or the delicate pink "Dutch shrimp'' perched in a pool of green bean bouillon with a roast cumin crisp and Oscietra caviar and an elevated take on Dutch apple pie for dessert—while taking in the amazing panorama from the 23rd floor of the Hotel Okura Amsterdam.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1072 LH, Netherlands
This small restaurant in a white-and-red corner building near the Tropenmuseum is easy to spot, and inside, the dark-wood paneling, pressed linen tablecloths, and knowledgeable waitstaff come together to make every visit feel like a special occasion. The food is decent, too. Choose from reasonably priced three- and four-course set menus featuring—dishes like roasted quail with a Jerusalem-artichoke cream sauce, sweet-potato gnocchi with bok choy, or deep-fried ice cream with chocolate and Baileys liqueur. In summer, dining alfresco is a pleasure.
Alexanderplein 6, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1018 CG, Netherlands
The lofty wood-beam interior of the 15th-century Waag (weigh house), converted into a café and restaurant, is lighted by hundreds of candles that nicely help maintain the building's medieval majesty. The seasonal, international menu uses mainly Dutch (and mainly organic) products, and a spacious terrace is open when the weather permits. Appetizers will likely include North Sea shrimp and steak tartare, while you can't go wrong with entrées like rib-eye of Dutch beef. Breakfast is served starting at 9 am, and lunch items include salads and sandwiches.
Nieuwmarkt 4, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 CR, Netherlands
"Soup Etc" bucks Amsterdam's slow-service trend by being particularly speedy as well as health-conscious. At least eight soups are available daily, of which more than half are vegetarian. The steaming bowls come with chunky slices of whole-grain bread. The menu also offers tempting salads. There are other locations at Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 54 and Van Baerlestraat 81.
Jodenbreestraat 94, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1011 NS, Netherlands
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