111 Best Restaurants in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The name says it all: fresh steamed mussels paired with gin and tonics, with a handful of other seafood snacks (shrimp bitterballen, grilled octopus) for variety. This hip spot in Westerpark is at its best on a sunny (or at least mild) day, when you can sit outside at the picnic tables while enjoying one of their signature cocktails, some of which are infused with fruit and flower flavors. The mussels, served in flat pans, come in several tasty preparations, all accompanied by fries and salad to make a filling meal.

There's almost always a line out the door at this modern-looking Chinese eatery, where the only concession to tradition is the roast ducks hanging in the window. The food is fast, fresh, and inexpensive, and the menu doesn't offer many surprises, but the crowds of locals and tourists keep coming back for sweet-and-sour chicken, noodle soup with shrimp dumplings and beef balls, and spareribs in black bean sauce.

Drawing culinary inspiration from the diverse flavors of the Caribbean, this restaurant has served island comfort food with a twist since 2015. Popular dishes include jerk chicken, spare ribs, hearty stews, plantains, empanadas, and more. Enjoy a spot on their outdoor terrace and sip a rum punch in the sun for a taste of the tropics. Their menu offers options for vegetarians and vegans, too. 

Delicious renditions of North African dishes like couscous salad, chicken tagine, and wood-oven roasted lamb are the focus of the menu at this tiny Algerian restaurant that has just a few tables—you can also opt to order food to go and eat on a canalside bench. There is another, much larger location in the Westergasfabriek complex (Polonceaukade 40), in Westerpark, decorated with handwoven carpets and with lots of cushions for sitting on, as well as a market with food to go (Westerstraat 10).

A meal at this former offshore TV tower transported from the North Sea—and perched (thankfully not precariously) out on the IJ River—is one of the most unique dining experiences you can have in Amsterdam. The food on offer changes regularly and is served as a prix-fixe five- or six-course menu, with a vegetarian option also available.

This small restaurant in a white-and-red brick corner building near the Tropenmuseum is easy to spot, and inside, the intimate, multilevel setting, and knowledgeable waitstaff come together to make every visit feel like a special occasion. Choose from reasonably priced five-, six-, or seven-course set menus that draw inspiration from the Mediterranean, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. In summer, dining alfresco is a pleasure.

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. Breakfast is served starting at 9 am, and lunch items include salads, flatbreads, and sandwiches. The all-day dining menu will likely include appetizers such as zucchini cannelloni and steak tartare, while you can't go wrong with entrées like côte de boeuf with béarnaise sauce, fondant potatoes, and fava beans. A spacious terrace is open when the weather permits.

Well-known Dutch chef Ron Blaauw lends star power to this casual, stripped-down space, where each small plate costs a modest sum (dry-aged steaks are the sole exceptions). The creative, globally inspired, locally sourced preparations are beautifully presented and full of interesting flavors, such as celeriac dim sum with mushroom XO sauce and pandan leaf dressing, and crispy sweetbreads with Indian butter chicken-style lentils. Two to three dishes make a lovely meal, especially when accompanied with a glass of wine or two from their thoughtfully chosen list.

This self-proclaimed ''guilty pleasures bar'' serves from-scratch renditions of crowdpleasers such as succulent spit-roasted chicken, cheesy fries, some of the city's best double patty burgers, hot wings, and decadent rum and Oreo milk shakes.

This busy but relaxed neighborhood restaurant serves as a gentle introduction to Indonesian cuisine. Since 1969, Sama Sebo has gained nearly institution status by dishing out rijsttafel (Indonesian small plates) in an atmosphere enhanced by bamboo walls, miniature wood "spirit houses," and 19th-century-style lamps. At lunch the dishes are simpler: in addition to various chicken specialties, there's bami goreng (spicy fried noodles with vegetables or meat) and nasi goreng (the same, with rice instead of noodles). You can wait for your table in the friendly bar area.

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. 

This Korean (food) bar, which opened in 2022, has become part of the heart and, ahem, Seoul of the De Pijp party scene. You’ll find various Korean crowd-pleasers like garlic soy--fried chicken, kimbap (rice rolls), mandu (deep-fried dumplings), bimimpap (rice bowls), and bingsu (shaved ice cream) here. There are also many types of soju (a rice-based spirit) and funky cocktails on the menu (one even sports a Rocket ice pop). Do indulge in the ultimate Korean party trick: a soju shot, balanced betwixt two chopsticks over a glass of beer, which drops when the table is slammed.

"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.

Inspired by a memorable trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, the owners of this family-run restaurant have created an authentic and welcoming atmosphere complete with imported colorful tiles, hand-painted ceramics, and an outdoor terrace for warmer days. All the usual favorites are here, such as crispy tortilla chips with fresh guacamole and homemade salsa, hefty burritos, and flavorful bowls filled with veggies, rice and your choice of protein (halal and vegan options, too). And, of course, there's a range of tacos to choose from, including chicken, fish, shrimp, steak, and weekly specials. Located close to Leidseplein, expect the energy to get lively and last late into the evenings, especially since they offer dozens of mezcal and tequilas. Next door, their sister location De Margarita Bar has DJs on Friday and Saturday night.

A perennial favorite, this Florentine trattoria boasts an open kitchen, skylight ceilings, wooden floors, and attentive service that creates a welcoming, country-kitchen atmosphere. Cooks pride themselves on preparing any regional dish, and their rotating menu often offers something new along with classics like risotto, seafood, or roasted eggplant. Their space also features an Italian deli selling fresh pasta and sauces, homemade dishes, olive oils, wines, Italian sweets and more. 

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 is another Amsterdam location, but this one is the most central.

There's plenty of outdoor seating at this spacious restaurant located within 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 the spring and summer months.

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.

Traditional Japanese haute cuisine is sublimely presented at this elegant restaurant where a Zen-like 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 and omakase dinner menus are a fabulous special occasion splurge.