Where to Eat in Amsterdam

The Travel Pages recommends where to eat in Amsterdam, whether you want local food, Indonesian, Thai, cheap food or gourmet restaurants.

PRICE RATING

€       Inexpensive
€€     Moderate
€€€   Expensive

 

CENTRAL AMSTERDAM

Kantjil and de Tijger
€
There are countless cheap and cheerful Indonesian places in Amsterdam, but choose the Antelope and the Tiger if you want to be guaranteed some of the best ethnic food in the city. It’s always busy so you may have to wait, and some of the cheaper dives have a much livelier atmosphere, but try this and your taste buds will thank you.
Spuistraat 291-293
020 620 0994

Nam Kee Chinatown
€
Indonesian isn’t the only ethnic option, there are very good Chinese places in Amsterdam too, and Nam Kee is one of the best. Don’t be put off by the ordinary look to the place, and its location in the Red Light District, as here it’s the food that’s important, which is why it’s always busy with Dutch and Chinese locals and tourists alike. They have another restaurant at Geldersekade 117 called Nam Kee Nieuwmarkt.
Zeedijk 111-113
020 624 3470
namkee.nl

Krua Thai
€€
Amsterdammers love spicy food, perhaps because their own traditional dishes can be quite bland, and this is one of the city centre’s best Thai restaurants. Beautifully spiced dishes, especially the fish, and a friendly atmosphere.
Staalstraat 22
020 622 9533
kruathai.nl

Supper Club
€€€
Part-restaurant, part-club, and a totally unique dining experience, the Supper Club has live or taped music, images projected on the white walls, changing themes and mattresses to lounge on while you eat. It’s a set meal served to you by sexy young waiters and waitresses, and it lasts about four hours. The food’s good rather than brilliant, and it’s not cheap, but it’s an experience like no other.
Jonge Roelensteeg 21
020 638 0513
supper.nl

d’Vijff Vlieghen
€€€
The Five Flies is named for the five 17th-century canal houses that its nine dining rooms sprawl through. It serves traditional Dutch food with a modern twist, which is good as it lightens what can sometimes be heavy dishes. Quite formal but the old-fashioned atmosphere is very romantic too, so save it for an intimate treat.
Spuistraat 294-302
020 624 8369
vijffvlieghen.nl

EASTERN CANAL RING AND PLANTAGE

Kilimanjaro
€-€€
This African restaurant, whose dishes stretch from Morocco to Ethiopia to Tanzania (and beyond) seems to have been here forever, a testimony to its popularity – and reasonable prices. Very friendly welcome and unusual dishes including antelope and crocodile… but vegetarians have plenty of choice too.
Rapenburgerplein 6
020 622 3485
restaurantkilimanjaro.info

De Kas
€€€
Some of the finest food in the city, served either in the spacious dining room (formerly a greenhouse) or outdoors next to the herb gardens. Big on organic food with a creative menu that changes daily. Go for the 5-course special if you’re feeling ambitious.
Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3
020 462 4562
restaurantdekas.com

Amstel Restaurant
€€€
One of the best in the city? Well, it’s certainly up there with the best, serving dishes like halibut with Dutch shrimps, tarragon, and beurre blanc. Reservations are compulsory and the restaurant is located in the 5-star Amstel Hotel.
Amstel Hotel, Professor Tulpplein 1
020 520 3264
amstelhotel.com

MUSEUM QUARTER

Eetcafé Loetje
€-€€
Very close to the Museumplein is this ace steakhouse/bar, well worth finding if you’re having lunch or supper in the area. It’s one of a small chain of restaurants and cafes across the Netherlands. It’s often packed, always buzzing with daily specials and a conservatory restaurant.
Johannes Vermeerstraat 52
020 662 8173
loetje.nl

Brasserie Keyzer
€€
If you want an old-fashioned Dutch place, formal and grand with waiters kitted out like they were when the place opened in 1905, then the Keyzer is it. You can eat more cheaply in the more casual café at the front, which our price rating is based on, but it goes up to the next level if you book for the restaurant proper.
Van Baerlestraat 96
020 671 1441
brasseriekeyzer.nl

Sama Sebo
€€
Best Indonesian in town? For a long time it’s worn that crown and it shows no signs of slipping. Go for the 20-dish rijsttafel and maybe a pavement table in summer to watch the passing show on the most fashionable shopping street in the city.
P.C.Hoofstraat 27
020 662 8146
samasebo.nl

Le Garage
€€€
Definitely the place for a blow-out treat in this area, Le Garage is still as fashionable as it gets in Amsterdam. It is a former garage, and a big one, with mirrored walls and tables filled with the smart set. A place to dress up, though if you want to go more casual there’s an annex called Le Garage en Pluche where they serve Indonesian-style street food, and they also have a Speakeasy called Next Door.
Ruysdaelstraat 54-6
020 679 7176
legarageamsterdam.nl

WESTERN CANAL RING

 De Blauwe Hollander
€
One of the best eating options near the Leidseplein is this down-to-earth Dutch place. It serves very basic Dutch grub in huge cheap helpings and everyone shares the large communal tables, so you might find yourself a new friend over the sausages or roast beef.
Leidsekruisstraat 28
020 623 3014
deblauwehollander.nl

Van Puffelen
€€
If you want to get the essence of Amsterdam, you have to come to a place like the Puffelen. It’s a canalside building that on one side is the perfect brown café and on the other is an excellent restaurant that is casual but serves gourmet-quality food. There’s also a barge moored on the canal that’s open in the summer and adds to the fun of the place.
Prinsengracht 375-7
020 624 6270
restaurantvanpuffelen.com