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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 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!
Henk Jongejans' organic rustic-industrial “Baking House” boasts a 15,432-pound wood-fired stone oven, which pumps out beautifully burnished sourdough bread with great flavor and an amazing texture. Stop by the shop to pick up a cup of locally roasted coffee with a cinnamon bun to munch on, or linger longer over sandwiches, pizzettes, smoothies, or salads at the bakery-café.
Located a short walk from Noorderkerk, Duende is the oldest tapas bar in Amsterdam, dishing out tasty plates of garlic prawns, bacon-wrapped dates, and plenty more for 30 years. The cozy yet lively setting transports visitors to Spain, an experience made complete with occasional live flamenco performances at the mini theater hidden in the back.
This large indoor market is home to diverse food vendors offering everything from Vietnamese and Indian street food to Mexican, Japanese, and Spanish cuisine, plus local beers and the Gin&Tonic bar to quench your thirst. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the food hall's hours run late for Holland: until midnight on weekdays and until 1 am on weekends.
Secreted away in a courtyard garden behind the H'ART Museum is a spectacular spot for all-day brunches that goes way beyond eggs Benedict (though they have those, too, of course.) There's plenty to choose from, with classic brunch options as well as modern, healthy options with fresh ingredients harvested from their own kitchen garden. And, best of all, 100% of the profits go to a good cause.
This snug breakfast, lunch, and high-tea favorite is strewn with flea-market finds (such as a gorgeous Portuguese chandelier and charmingly mismatched tableware), but there are only 10 tables, so be sure to make a reservation (even for breakfast). It's worth planning in advance for comforting French toast or pancakes, lovely lunchtime soups, salads, and toast spreads with veggies picked fresh from the owners' kitchen garden, or for homemade cakes, tarts, and quiches.
Fix your morning woes with some of the city’s richest croissants, butteriest brioche, and most perfect pain au chocolat at this artisan French bakery on Nieuwendijk. Or indulge in a high tea you won't easily forget.
Famous for their full English breakfast, cocktails with a twist, and homemade 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 decadent hot chocolate flavors. Dine inside or snag a seat on their sun-drenched terrace for a canal view. Still hungry? Their original location is still located at Single 103.
The folks at this restaurant, tucked away on a side street, have perfected the art of wood-fired pizza. Made from fresh ingredients imported from Italy, their thin-crust Neapolitan-style pies draw lively crowds of locals and tourists who don't complain about standing in line for the classic Margherita, quattro formaggi (four cheeses), or spicy puttanesca. Note that there are no slices, just whole pies. A roomier La Perla outpost is just across the street at No. 53, where the menu also includes sandwiches, pasta, and salads.
A perfect pairing like croissants and coffee is hard to top, but this plant-based patisserie has found a way to consistently impress with freshly baked pastries and a pleasing range of tea and coffee. Perched on a corner overlooking Lindengracht, fans line up early and wait patiently outside for their chance to choose from flaky, buttery, and surprisingly vegan delicacies. Popular items include twice-baked almond croissants, fruity rustic galettes, rosemary and sea salt twists, or their signature cruffins filled with pistachio paste. Innovative offerings change seasonally and often feature collaborations with other local brands.
Named after the Dutch word for lettuce, this organic salad bar popular chain bringing healthy eating on the go to Amsterdam (and beyond). Tasty salads, soups, bowls, and juices are made fresh daily with sustainably sourced ingredients. Menu options rotate seasonally and are easily customized to fit dietary preferences, including vegan.
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.
Hidden under a cylindrical parking lot, this Surinamese hangout has an expansive canal view with a wraparound terrace and outdoor bar. Their picnic tables fill up quickly, especially on sunny days, while the cozy living room interior offers shelter from the infamous Dutch rain. Serving meals from breakfast to borreltijd, the menu has a tropical twist with plenty of vegetarian options and a wide range of drinks to wash it all down. After sunset, this waterfront bar turns into a club with DJs pumping beats on Friday and Saturday night (11 pm to 3 am). This tropical oasis champions diversity and is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. During Amsterdam Pride week, visitors can see the world's largest Progress Flag on display.
This popular café offers a rotating menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but the crowds show up for their famous appeltaart. Locals, students, and tourists in the know gather here for slices of the thick, cakelike Dutch specialty that's studded with fresh apples and cinnamon. Do it the Dutch way and order a slice with homemade whipped cream accompanied by fresh mint tea or coffee. The best place to eat is on Winkel's large patio—but Monday and Saturday can get crazy before 5 pm, when crowds spill over from the adjacent Noordermarkt.
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!
One of five Anne&Max outposts in Amsterdam, this self-described "urban living room" is a great place to rest your tired feet after a long walk in nearby Vondelpark. There's decent coffee, cake, and plenty of healthy organic and vegetarian options for breakfast and lunch.
For a taste of the neighborhood's regentrified café culture, check out this new corner bar-bistro that fills up most nights with parched Pijpers. Daytime means breakfast bowls, hamburgers, soups, and a daily lunch special, including a sandwich, salad, and fries for €16.95. Come for a meal, or just stop by for a coffee and apple pie or beer and bitterballen (a popular local snack, which is essentially a bite-size croquette).
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).
Crafting wild-fermented sourdough bagels began as the founder's at-home hobby before it grew to a brick-and-mortar microbakery offering NYC-style bagels and loaves for true carb-lovers. Known to sell out quickly, their daily rotation of flavors ranges from classic everything seasoning to spicy jalapeño and cheddar. Delicious on their own or topped with cream cheese, many fans opt for the sandwich version, such as a BLT, smoked salmon with capers, pastrami, and other seasonal specials.
This Amsterdam-based brewery churns out everything from craft beers to spirits and sodas at multiple locations throughout the city, and each has its own brewpub. 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.
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 Centrum.
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.
Join the ladies who lunch at this chic little café on Amsterdam's poshest shopping street, PC 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.
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.
Try to nab a spot on the terrace of THT—the theater café of the Tolhuistuin music venue—as its spectacular setting by the Amsterdam-Noord waterfront is a great place to chill out with a snack or a light meal. The rolls and pasta choices on the menu will satisfy traditionalists, while those wanting to venture "off piste" will also find much to like, especially in the form of the many plant-based offerings, such as vegan noodles or dahl (split peas cooked with spices) with naan bread.
Even in a city that's becoming known for the quality of its coffee (remember, in Amsterdam a so-called coffeeshop is a licensed cannabis café not a purveyor of latte art), this minimalist-chic espresso bar and roastery of organic, Fairtrade beans stands out for its well-pulled coffee.
If you need a rejuvenating break from art viewing, head to this café across from the Rijksmuseum for coffee and cake, or for lunch on one of the terraces, if the weather is accommodating. An adjacent playground makes this café a good choice for families. Menu highlights include homemade apple pie, traditional pea soup, sandwiches, and Dutch beef croquettes (oblong-shape meatballs) with hand-cut fries. Or try the Dutch poffertjes: small buckwheat pancakes served with powdered sugar and butter. And make sure to check out the bizarre bathrooms in the basement.
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, veggie wraps, and sandwiches and, as the name implies, an in-house roastery and full range of direct trade espresso-based drinks, cold brews and pour-over coffees.
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