136 Best Restaurants in Netherlands

The Flemish (Dutch-speaking Belgians) have a reputation for making the best fries in this part of Europe, and one of the best places to try the Lowlands' famous Flemish fries is Vleminckx de Sausmeester, where everything's freshly made and delicious. Go native and order a patatje oorlog (war-style fries), topped with mayonnaise, satay sauce, and raw onion.

Magnificently dating to 1423 but rebuilt in 1660, the oldest restaurant in The Hague has a well-preserved interior redolent of the Dutch Golden Age, complete with wood-beamed ceilings. The furniture is more contemporary, but it's nonetheless an impressive setting for a light lunch, a platter of bitterballen to wash down a cold beer, or a hearty surf-and-turfy dinner, or beef stew.

The long-standing family-run hotel a couple of doors from the towering City Hall often blows its trumpet about its restaurant, which serves fine renditions of Zeeland-style seafood, and asparagus in season, replete with the usual nouvelle trimmings. There is also a wide choice of substantially cheaper lunchtime options.

This Grand Café is a storied place to wait for your train. Architect Pierre Cuypers' original 1889 Fin-de-Siècle interior, no longer restricted to first-class passengers, is the perfect backdrop against which to linger over coffee, a snack, or a full-blown meal accompanied by fine wine. There's a pub with the same name and the same atmosphere next door.

While you're in Amsterdam, do try Surinamese food, a unique fusion of Amerindian, Caribbean, Chinese, Jewish, Dutch, and Indonesian cuisines that arose from this South American country's history as a Dutch colony. Albina is a local fave that serves up one of the best rotis (the Surinamese take on Indian flatbread) in the city. It comes with a choice of fillings and is real-deal comfort food. Nieuw Albina, at No. 49, has the same owner and the same kitchen, if you find the original too crowded.

When in Amsterdam, do as the Amsterdammers do: enjoy some cured herring, the ultimate Dutch snack. Despite popular belief, the herring is not actually raw; it's partially gutted when caught (leaving in the pancreas to develop its flavor) and then salted and frozen for at least two days to prevent parasites. At this landmark shop (est. 1938), you can snack in local fashion; make your purchases inside and then just take the fish by the tail, tilt your head backward, and let the slippery, salty sea creature find its way down. Don't ask for chopped onions here because, according to third-generation owner Gerrie Palmer, you would lose out on the taste. In fact, some herring sellers use pickles and onions as a way to disguise less-than-fresh fish—you've been warned!

Reputed by locals to be the city's best Cantonese restaurant, Asian Glories serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch in a tasteful modern interior or outdoors on its terrace. It's hard to choose what is most delicious: their fresh oysters, mussels in black bean sauce, and Peking duck consistently get raves from fussy eaters, but make sure you also leave room for an exotic dessert such as ice cream with rice and red bean sauce.

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 (all serving breakfast and lunch only).

This is the oldest Indian restaurant in Amsterdam (it opened in 1977), and it's a longtime favorite of curry connoisseurs. Although the decor is unremarkable, the restaurant is impeccably clean and the servers unfailingly friendly. All of the snacks, soups, and meals are delicious: you'll break out in a happy sweat if you order the spicy chicken Madras. The sweet cardamom tea is a good accompaniment to your meal.

This casual neighborhood bistro draws a relaxed local crowd with its seasonal preparations of seafood and meat, served in tapas-style portions designed for sharing (you'll need around three each for a full meal). At least one meat and one fish option reflects what has arrived fresh that day. If you can't decide, opt for the Chef's Choice multicourse prix-fixe menu.

The large menu of Thai standards—including some very good vegetarian options—doesn't hold many surprises, but everything's fresh and tasty; diners often rate Bird as the best Thai in town, and there are lines most nights. The space is filled with chunky teak furnishings and paintings imported from Thailand, while the takeaway snack bar across the street (at #77 Zeedijk) is more utilitarian. The best tables for savoring such dishes as coconut-chicken soup with lemongrass followed by fruity curry with mixed seafood are at the back of the restaurant overlooking the canal.

In the shadow of the golden lyre that tops the Concertgebouw (Concert Building), this culinary institution has been serving musicians and concertgoers for over a century. The classical, dimly lighted Old Dutch interior has dark wood paneling and Oriental rugs. The menu leans toward tradition, with classic escargot and bisque, and asparagus flamande, when in season. Regulars appreciate the friendly and efficient service.

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.

When you enter this classy restaurant inside the Hotel Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, you'll pass a Karel Appel wall mural, before getting distracted by the peaceful hidden garden (where you can dine, if you'd like) and the pretty plant-covered bar of adjacent Oriole Garden Bistro. If you love French food, Bridges is the perfect destination for a wonderful meal. The creative kitchen produces an array of nicely presented dishes that are "classically French with some international influences and a local twist"; each menu item has a suggested pairing from their thoughtful wine list. For the best sampling of their seasonal cuisine, try one of their three-, four-, or five-course chef's menus for lunch or up to seven courses for dinner (there's also a vegetarian option).

The "burger masters" first opened their doors near the Albert Cuyp market in 2007 serving fresh, homemade burgers made from sustainable ingredients. Aside from the traditional beef patty option, Burgermeester’s tasty range includes falafel and spinach burgers for plant-based eaters, along with monthly rotations including lamb, salmon, and more. There are a number of side dishes like fries, corn on the cob, and salad. Other locations include De Pijp and Plantage.

Bustling and student-filled, this cozy restaurant near the university serves large portions of traditional Dutch home cooking—chicken satay or slabs of steak with rich sauces, french fries, and piles of mixed salad—along with highly rated burgers. You can sit at the wood bar, at the tables downstairs, or higher up in the rafters at the back; in summer you can watch the passing boats from the enchanting canalside terrace.

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.

This dark, woody, and well-loved café—as cozily cluttered as a Jan Steen painting seen through a ’70s filter—has been serving the same simple cheese fondue for decades, along with a steak entrecôte that you cook at the table. Order a salad to start (there are five types to choose from) and then dunk bite-size bread bits into the gooey melted cheese. The atmosphere is boisterous and friendly: you'll very likely be sharing a communal table with a group of locals out for a night on the town.

Lofty ceilings, a cavernous warehouse interior, long reading tables stacked with international magazines and papers, and a mezzanine at the back looking out over the Rotte River—it's little wonder this place attracts an artsy crowd. It is perfect for a lazy afternoon treat of delicious homemade pastries, but you can come here for breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner, or even a snack after midnight, and they also offer a small selection for vegetarians.

Adjacent to the Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theater), this popular spot—a favorite with local and international regulars alike—doesn't look too inviting from the outside, but the interior is modern, light, and airy; the staff are friendly; and there's a beautiful garden at the back, complete with birdsong. Better still, the kitchen produces excellent food using fresh seasonal produce.

This café, with an excellent menu ranging from breakfast to a sirloin steak dinner, has the widest terrace and so catches the most sun (when there is any) of the cafés along Winkenburgstraat and Neude—large trees soften the view across the square. Inside, floor-to-ceiling framed magazine covers reflect the general news theme, and the long communal table inside is stocked with newspapers, including a few English-language titles.

Local students, sophisticates, and families all love this bustling bistrolike Dutch institution, where the prime attraction is the beef fillet or a spicier "Bali" version for an extra €1 (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 pork schnitzel, or, for the non–beef eater, several types of fish and vegetarian dishes. The best dessert on the menu is the sticky toffee cake. There are five more locations in Amsterdam (check the website for details).

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 soups, salads, "Luxemburgers" and excellent croquettes (oblong-shape meatballs), here with a cheese, shrimp, lobster, 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.