136 Best Restaurants in Netherlands

Across the water from NEMO Science Museum, the "Ship's Camel" has casually minimalist decor that keeps the focus on the food. The wine list goes for exclusively (and mostly crisp) German offerings that complement refined but unfussy modern Dutch creations such as the raw seafood platter. 

"Soup Etc" bucks Amsterdam's slow-service trend by being particularly speedy as well as health-conscious. At least four soups are available daily, of which most are vegetarian or vegan. 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, Haarlemmerstraat 87, and Van Baerlestraat 81.

This stylish, expansive Florentine trattoria is a perennial favorite; the open kitchen, skylight ceiling, wooden floors and tables, and attentive service all work to create an extremely welcoming, country-kitchen sort of atmosphere. The cooks pride themselves on their ability to whip up any regional dish, but you'll probably find your favorite already listed on the extensive menu—or, of course, find yourself inspired by something new. The risottos are excellent, the fish dishes sublime, the desserts delicious, and the wine list inspired. Buonissimo!

This international chain of modern Japanese noodle shops got its start more than 20 years ago in London. Pop in for a fresh, fast, and fairly inexpensive meal, hearty bowls of noodles and broth, supplemented with your choice of meats, fish, and/or vegetables. Further sustenance comes in the form of fruit and vegetable shakes. There are other Amsterdam locations near Rembrantplein, in Central Station, and in the World Trade Center.

The Indonesian-inspired Surinamese food at this often-cramped local favorite includes many simple but well-prepared variations of chicken, fish, lamb, or beef with vegetables and nasi (rice), bami (noodles), or roti. You can also try Javanese rames, a mini-rijsttafel-style smattering of everything on a plate. The restaurant is very casual, but the staff are friendly, the food is tasty, and the price is right—no wonder it's always busy. There are two other Amsterdam locations, but this one is the most central.

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.

You might normally be wary of any large establishment on a main tourist crossroads, with a menu in six languages, but what redeems this place, besides its to-die-for view between the Stadhuis and the Nieuwe Kerk, is the wide selection of good-value Dutch and international dishes. Fill up at lunchtime with all the usual Dutch café standards, including omelets, rolls, and salads, or enjoy a juicy steak from the more sophisticated dinner menu.

The appeltaart (Dutch apple pie) served here is said to be the best in Amsterdam, and the lines out front on busy market days attest to Winkel's popularity. If you don't want to wait, though, the Papeneiland around the corner at Prinsengracht 2, also serves an excellent version in a traditional brown café run by the same family for 400 years.

Tasty sandwiches, salads, and pastas are available at this popular café, but the crowds come for the appeltaart. Locals, students, and tourists in the know gather here for slices of the thick, cakelike Dutch specialty, studded with fresh apples and cinnamon. Order it with homemade whipped cream, if you'd like, accompanied by mint tea or coffee. The best place to eat is on Winkel's large patio—but Saturday can get crazy before 5 pm, when crowds spill over from the adjacent busy outdoor organic market, Noordermarkt.

This sprawling Neoclassical "palace" started out in the 18th century as Holland's first department store and is fronted with columns and cast-iron statues of women that conjure images of Grecian abundance. You can dine either on the terrace overlooking the canal or in the high-ceilinged Grote Zaal, and select from an international menu of pasta, steaks, salads, and more that is designed to satisfy all tastes.

A very funky restaurant-bar, XO has chunky silver graphics, purple-and-gray walls, and fun touches like "king" chairs, complete with claw feet and red cushions—an alluring setting for lunch and evening edibles. The menu contains a wide array of mouthwatering and exquisitely presented burgers and sandwiches, joined by a few more substantial mains available evenings only.

Traditional Japanese haute cuisine is sublimely presented at this elegant restaurant where a Zenlike sushi bar, kimonoed waitstaff, and views over a pretty Japanese garden (complete with koi pond) all add up to a sublime dining experience. The seasonal kaiseki menu is a fabulous splurge, but you can also choose from à la carte menu offerings like sushi, sashimi, tempura, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu prepared table-side, as well as grilled whole fish and steaks. At lunchtime, large and more economical bento boxes are available. The wine and sake lists are encyclopedic.

On an elegant riverfront terrace, the charming "Sea Salt" mirrors the freshness of its oceanic menu, with crisp linens and a spotless open kitchen where the bustle of the staff whets your appetite. A large fish mosaic on the wall looks out across the river to the floodlighted Erasmus Bridge; a window awning adds to the romance of the view.

This simple café has a nautical theme reflecting the city's past, with ships' figureheads, lanterns, and miniature yachts all in evidence. The outdoor terrace is prime real estate, however: a 1649 city gate and a beautiful white wooden bridge provide a slice of quintessential Old Holland, alongside a wide selection of rolls, pancakes, salads, and tapas.