Amsterdam What To Eat
What to Eat
Restaurants
Prices
Bars and Cafés
What to Eat
Amsterdam has a range of eating-out options befitting a city three times its size.
Ethnic restaurants are often a good bet, and the Indonesian rijstaffel is an experience not to be missed. The city also has many Chinese, Japanese and other oriental establishments.
This small selection from our Amserdam Insight City Guide includes a few cafés, where there is less choice on the menu than most restaurants and where prices tend to be lower. In Amsterdam a 'café' is basically a bar; grand cafés generally serve full meals; 'brown' cafés are more like pubs and serve bar food', whereas eetcafés are small, neighbourhood places favoured by locals, serving a daily special for a few euros.
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Restaurants
Central Amsterdam
D'Vijff Vlieghen
294-302 Spuistraat. Tel: 530 4060.
Open: D, Daily. €€€
The 'Five Flies' rambles through five old gabled houses, and seven dining rooms, each with a different slant on old Dutch style, complete with beams, tiles, candles and original Rembrandt etchings. The emphasis is on “New Dutch” cuisine.
The Supper Club
21 Jonge Roelensteeg. Tel: 344 6400.
Open: D, Mon-Sat, L Sun. €€€.
This unique world cuisine establishment was set up to combine performance art and good food. Instead of dining at tables, you recline on extravagant mattresses. Reserve weeks in advance for weekends.
Canal Circle North and the Jordaan
Albatros Seafoodhouse
264 Westerstraat. Tel: 627 9932.
Open: D Thurs-Tues. €€€.
You can almost smell the sea air at this Jordaan seafood specialist. The fish is lightly cooked to let its flavour shine through, but you can smother it in sauces if you prefer.
De Belhamel
60 Brouwersgraacht. Tel: 622 1095.
Open: D, Daily. €€- €€€.
Dine on continental cuisine at this romantic and congenial canalside eatery. It looks a little like a brown café from the outside, but the Art Nouvea interior is far more elegant than most such places.
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Nieuwmarkt and the Red Light District
De Jaren
20-22 Nieuwe Doelenstraat. Tel: 625 5771.
Open: Br, L, D, Daily. €-€€.
Spacious grand café in a former bank, serving Continental snacks and meals, and with a good salad bar. There is a wonderful view over the River Amstel from two waterside terraces that are much in demand in good weather. There is a mixed clientele of students and prosperous locals.
In de Waag
4 Nieuwmarkt. Tel: 422 7772.
Open: Br, L, D, Daily. €€.
In the atmospheric candlelit setting of the old Weigh House, diners tuck into well-prepared Continental food. The café is very popular in summer, when its outdoor terrace on the square offers a civilised introduction to Nieuwmarkt.
Canalcircle East and Jodenbuurt/Plantage
Brasserie Schiller
NH Hotel Schiller, Rembrandtplein 26-36. Tel: 554 0723.
Open: B, Br, L and D, Daily. €€- €€€.
Since being restored to its art deco glory, this hotel restaurant has become something of an insider's tip, serving French seafood dishes along with a variety of Dutch and international offerings.
Golden Temple
126 Utrechtsestraat. Tel: 626 8560
Open: D, Daily. €-€€.
Main courses at this small, alcohol-free, non-smoking vegetarian restaurant, featuring creative ethnic dishes based on Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisine. There's a great salad buffet too.
Museum District and Vondelpark
Sama Sebo
27 Pieter Comelisz Hoofstraat. Tel: 662 8146.
Open: L & D, Mon-Sat. €€
For classic, if not overly ambitious Indonesian food in pleasant surroundings, visit this veteran and invariably busy establishment close to the Rijksmuseum. Their rijstaffel is among the best in town, and they also serve up a range of excellent individual dishes.
Prices
€ = under €20
€€ = €20-€40
€€€ = €40-€60
€€€€ = €60 +
These prices are based on the cost of an average 3-course dinner per person including half a bottle of house wine, or the cheapest wine available, and any cover or service charge. In those cafés where a full menu is not available, the price is given for a light meal with wine or beer.
B Breakfast
Br Brunch
L Lunch
D Dinner
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Bars and Cafés
Brown Cafés
Among the best of these atmospheric traditional (or old-looking) bars are:
Hoppe (18-20 Spui, tel: 420 4420),
De Engelbewaarder (59 Klovneiersburgwai; tel: 625 3772),
Café Chris (42 Bloemstraat; tel: 624 5942),
Café 't Smalle (12 Egelantiersgracht; tel: 623 9617)
Papeneiland (2 Prinsengracht; tel: 624 1989)
Het Molenpad (653 Prinsengracht; tel: 625 9680)
De Sluyswacht (1 Jodenbreestraat; tel: 625 7611).
Grand Cafés
Many fancy modern cafés have adopted this designation, and not all of them are truly grand. The truly grand ones are:
Café Luxembourg (22-24 Spuistraat; tel: 620 6264),
Café Américain (Crowne-Plaza Amsterdam-American Hotel, 97 Leidsekade; tel: 556 3232)
Royal Café De Kroon (17 Rembrandtplein; tel: 625 2011).
Trendy Cafés
In these cases, “trendy” does not necessarily signify a fickle, “here today, gone tomorrow” style: try De Jaren (20-22 Nieuwe Doelenstraat; tel: 625 5771), Café Schiller (Rembrandtplein 26; tel: 624 9846) and Kanis en Meiland (127 Levantkade; tel: 418 2439).
Breweries
Both of these small-scale breweries have great traditional bars attached: Brouwhuis Maximilaan (6-8 Kloveniersburgwai; tel: 626 6280) and Bierbrouwerij 't IJ (7 Funenkade; tel: 622 8325).
Updated May 2005