While traditional Dutch food might have a stodgy reputation, the chefs dominating Amsterdam's food scene today are showing off the more sophisticated side of the country's cuisine. They have a new reverence for local ingredients like Gouda cheese, farm fresh vegetables, and the omnipresent herring, and are incorporating them into intricately composed dishes with international influences. This world-class city has long been receptive to global cuisines, so it's no surprise that Amsterdam offers everything from Michelin-starred kaiseki from Japan, to rijstaffel from Indonesia. Here are our picks for best restaurants in Amsterdam.
Ron GastrobarArrow
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In 2013, Amsterdam star chef Ron Blaauw closed his two-Michelin-starred restaurant and reopened this more easygoing spot in its stead. Since then, the Gastrobar has been setting the tone for Amsterdam's unpretentious, next-gen dining scene. There's a mix of expertly executed small plates, like dim sum-style shrimp dumplings in shiitake and chorizo broth. But the restaurant is really known for its dry-aged steaks and gin and tonics.
The White RoomArrow
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The White Room is considered the oldest operating restaurant in Amsterdam, having opened in 1885 inside the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky on Dam Square. Today, renowned chef Jacob Jan Boerma makes surprising use of fruit flavors and aromatic spices in the beautifully-presented dishes that comprise the five-, seven-, and nine-course menus. Think North Sea Crab with beetroot, watermelon, and buttermilk or venison with pumpkin, Delcorf apple, and chicory.
Pannenkoekenhuis UpstairsArrow
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Everything about this tiny, four-table café is quintessential Amsterdam: It's set in a 16th-century house on the edge of the Red Light District, you can only access the dining room via a narrow staircase, there are quirky teapots hanging from the ceiling, and the menu consists of pancakes, only pancakes. That is, the Dutch variety served with savory, and sometimes sweet, toppings. For a traditional order, try the sweet-and-savory combination of bacon, cheese, and apple. Dessert might be the Indonesian-influenced "Bali" pancake topped with bananas, coconut, cream, and Pisang Ambon Dutch liqueur.
YamazatoArrow
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You came to Amsterdam, not Tokyo, so you probably didn't plan on eating Japanese food, but you might want to rethink that. Yamazato, which excels in kaiseki cuisine, was the first traditional Japanese restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star in 2002. The decor is decidedly Japanese and the dining room even overlooks a garden. Kaiseki menus are the main event. Expect a flurry of delicate creations, like shrimp sushi wrapped in bamboo leaf, or sashimi of tuna, yellowtail, seared seabream, squid, and sea urchin.
SpectrumArrow
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Spectrum is like a posh cocoon—gray walls, plush chairs, white table clothes—hidden away inside the Waldorf Astoria and overlooking a garden. Executive chef Sidney Schutte, a De Librije alum, holds his own, mixing Dutch ingredients with global influences to create innovative dishes like local lobster flavored with lemon geranium and lychee. Spectrum is the kind of place where you, without question, splurge on the tasting menu.
FoodhallenArrow
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The Foodhallen stands out among other food halls thanks to its top-notch offerings, serving everything from reimagined Dutch classics to Vietnamese and Mexican treats. Housed inside a former tram depot, the venue is buzzing at all hours of the day. Aggressively guard your table if you manage to get one at all. Gin & Tonic Bar makes what you’d think it would with a range of different ingredients (try the one with jenever for something a bit different). Beerbar, meanwhile, pours more than 60 different local and international beers, including two brewed specifically for Foodhallen. It’s an ideal refueling stop at any time of day, particularly in winter when you need to thaw out after a long day of sightseeing.
WaterkantArrow
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It's easy to miss this spot, wedged between a monstrous concrete parking garage and the Singel canal, unless you notice the strings of colorful outdoor lights hanging on the patio. A young crowd refuels here before going out, especially in the summertime, when everyone's hanging out at picnic tables and taking in the waterfront setting. Waterkant bills itself as a Surinamese restaurant. Indeed, dishes from the former Dutch colony in South America are on the menu, like Surinamese buns filled with salted codfish, snake beans, pickles, and sambal. But you can also expect global favorites, like Chicken Tikka.
VermeerArrow
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Nestled within the heart of Amsterdam, the Vermeer restaurant finds its elegant abode in the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace Hotel, a structure that stands as a testament to historical charm just a stone's throw from Centraal Station. A conscientious blend of past and present, the hotel's facade welcomes guests with timeless Dutch architecture, while its recent renovation breathes new life into Vermeer's dining room. Plush bucket chairs now invite diners to linger over their meals, replacing the once traditional high-backed seats, and modern hanging bulb light fixtures cast a warm glow in place of the erstwhile chandeliers. Every meal eaten at Vermeer is an adventure for the palate, with options of four-, five-, and six-course menus full of inventive delights. With a menu that evolves daily, every visit promises a unique gastronomic experience. The impeccable artistry of British-born chef Christopher Naylor shines through in each seasonal dish. Much of the produce used to craft these culinary masterpieces is sourced from a place not many might expect—a verdant rooftop vegetable garden that overlooks the bustling streets below. For those travelers captivated by the allure of a stay in this historic yet contemporary hotel, and who perhaps also aspire to dine under the innovative guidance of Chef Naylor, securing a reservation and accommodation nearby can be done with ease. To find the best hotel deals in Netherlands at hotels-in-netherlands.com, where a selection of options will present themselves, tailored to the preferences and requirements of any visitor, be they there for the culinary journey, the culture, or the sheer joy of discovery in Amsterdam.
Balthazar's KeukenArrow
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While open kitchens are commonplace these days, this one has very little separation from the dining room. It truly feels as if you're dining in someone's home, which is the goal of chefs Karin Gaasterland and Alain Parry. The three-course menus tend towards the rustic and seasonal, with dishes like Red mullet with saffron and candied lemon risotto and guinea fowl with roasted potato, onion, and Brussels sprouts.
DaalderArrow
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The Asian influences evident in chef Dennis Huwaë's tasting menus are a bit startling given the European café vibe of the restaurant (take note of the affordable selection of continental wines). But we can get down with contemporary flavor mash-ups like codfish with carrot, curry, and rose or langoustine with broccoli and green nori. Go with your significant other for a weeknight indulgence, or on the weekend with a group of friends and catch up in a convivial atmosphere.
RijselArrow
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The clean and bright dining room at Rijsel (the Dutch name for the Flemish city Lille, which is also a perfect day trip from Paris) masterfully mixes traditionalism with today's industrial-inspired design trends. It's remained perennially packed with locals since opening in 2012 (book in advance). Opt for a three-course meal to taste as many of the constantly changing Modern Flemish dishes as possible. Expect expertly-prepared classics like Russian salad, fish soup, juicy roast chicken, or côte de boeuf. Rijsel is casual enough for a weekday meal but also special enough to warrant the trip outside of the Canal Ring.
BardakArrow
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The food of a Tel Aviv street café is transported to the Netherlands at this perpetually packed spot. Find all the required hummus variations with beef, chickpeas, and mushrooms. Also, find different shwarmas (including vegetarian and vegan iterations), fried cauliflower, and crispy potatoes served with a zhoug mayonnaise. Here, you will feel as comfortable grabbing a drink and snack at the bar as sitting down to a full dinner with old pals.
RijksArrow
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No first-time visitor should come to Amsterdam without visiting the Rijksmuseum, home to several masterpieces by the Dutch Masters. Now, thanks to Michelin-starred Rijks, the food at the museum is as good as the art. The dishes by chef Joris Bijdendijk are playful yet precise and usually include a few international ingredients (think fermented celeriac embellished with coconut and sambal). The wine list features bottles from around the world but also includes a few surprising choices from the Netherlands. In keeping with the Dutch theme, they also offer several Dutch beers, as well as jenever.
Le RestaurantArrow
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This De Pijp restaurant by chef and restaurateur Jan de Wit somehow manages to feel fancy yet cozy at the same time. Diners can watch as the energetic staff prepares the multi-course, French-inspired menus (with a few global influences) from within the open kitchen. Prepare to be wowed by dishes like mackerel with dashi, asparagus, and scallops St. Jacques or spring vegetable bisque with mussels.
De KasArrow
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This vegetable-forward menu here matches the setting inside a pair of greenhouses that date back to 1926. Plant-based ingredients for the five and six-course dinner menus depend on recent harvests from the nursery, while fish and organic meat are sourced from local suppliers. Look for thick white asparagus topped with hollandaise, thinly sliced vegetables and edible flowers in spring; delicately prepared and composed salads and other vegetables year-round; and architecturally stacked roasted whole fish when it's fresh. The wine list offers 40 sustainable options, almost all of which are affordably priced.
Café SchillerArrow
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Café Schiller has been anchoring Rembrandtplein for over a hundred years. The dimly-lit interior shows off original period pieces, including Art Deco lighting, wallpaper, and furniture. You'll find French wines by the glass and a nice selection of Belgian beers: Stop in for a drink and some snacks to take refuge from the tourist crowds just beyond the door. The menu is full of French classics, like fish soup and steak tartare.
MoonArrow
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Located on the 19th floor of the A'DAM Tower, right across the water from Centraal Station, this sleek rotating restaurant offers one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city. Expect the unexpected when you order Chef Hans Geertsema's two-course lunch menu or three-course dinner menu. They could include langoustine with wasabi, ginger, and papaya, or sweetbreads and artichoke with orange and clove. Whatever is on the menu, this is a restaurant you can rely on.
Bar AltArrow
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Restaurateur Adriaan Verkerk, chef Thomas Kooijman, and local brewery Two Chefs Brewing all work together to pair beer with four-, six-, and seven-course menus. The decor is sparse and leans industrial (black granite bar, subway tiles, Edison bulbs), but the seating is plush. Courses might include fettuccine with black truffle & Comté aged for 48 months or North Sea crab with grapefruit. The menu leans French, with Mediterranean influences in the summer and Dutch and Nordic touches during the winter.
YerbaArrow
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Chef Walter Marskamp's plant-forward menu offers something for both vegans and omnivores alike. The a la carte or five-course tasting menu is focused on produce. Find seasonal items such as spiced zucchini beignets with zhoug and dill yogurt or winter mushroom pie with beluga lentils. There's a wine list with a large selection of natural wines. It's perfect for a quiet night out to catch up with a friend, especially if one is vegan or vegetarian.
Mediamatic ETENArrow
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Adapting to the pandemic, this vegan restaurant serves multi-course meals to diners enclosed in individual greenhouses with waterfront views. Dishes could include mushroom soup or pumpkin risotto. This is an ideal place for a date night with your partner or an outing with your family, or a quarantine pod. The greenhouses seat four but are most comfortable with two.