The 15 best restaurants in Amsterdam

When you think of Amsterdam, you no doubt envision charming canals lined with bicycles and bright tulips, or perhaps your mind wanders through the hedonistic Red Light District and the little ‘coffee shops’ (a secret name for cannabis purveyors). But once you scratch the surface and get away from the tourist traps, you’ll find that Amsterdam’s food scene is out of this world, and it’s a good thing too, because a tour of this city (by bike, natch) can leave you more that a little hungry.

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Best for a drunken brunch: Little Collins

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+31 20 673 2293

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Little Collins is a slice of sunny Melbourne in Amsterdam. Brunch cannot be reserved, but you can put your name in and go for a walk through the trendy Pijp district, packed with boutiques, until your table is available. The brunch menu changes every few months, but don’t expect your standard eggs to have any flair. Here, chefs play with flavors, mixing bacon with chili peppers and ginger or stirring tofu alongside shiitake mushrooms. Get a side of the halloumi to share, the slices are huge and predictably tasty. Everything is incredibly more sophisticated and there are three types of Bloody Marys that you can wash everything with.

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Best Instagram Opportunity: Mama Kelly

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+31 20 225 2684

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People are turning to Mama Kelly for the remarkably installable millennial pink interiors on Instagram, but once you’ve posted your photo on the ‘gram, you’ll be pleased to know that the food is worth the shout-out too (unless you’re a vegetarian, then the options are thin to none). The focus is on rotisserie chicken or lobster, but there are also salads, steaks, and sandwiches on the menu. French fries are a must, whether you opt for a land or sea main dish. Choose the “fries”, as they are called, with the truffle mayonnaise, because why not? (PS: Broccoli with chili and roasted almonds is not good in this world.)

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Best for views: Moon

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+31 20 237 6311

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Just a five-minute ride across the water from Central Station (you can take the free shuttle boat) is A’Dam, a multi-story building that houses a hotel, music school, nightclub, and observation deck ( with a giant swing), between its many floors. It is also home to Moon, a restaurant that rotates once an hour, allowing diners a 360-degree view of the city. You might suspect that the food won’t live up to the panoramic view, but the elegant restaurant offers a multi-course menu that includes dishes like the sumptuous beef shoulder and a wonderful moon-inspired dessert that is as pretty as a picture.

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Best for pancakes: Pannenkoekenhuis above

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+31 20 626 5603

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The Dutch are known for their love of pancakes, so the Pannenkoekenhuis above, the smallest and most picturesque pancake house in Europe, is worth adding to your itinerary. Located up a steep staircase in a 16th-century building, you’ll find this five-table restaurant (thankfully, they take reservations) with an open kitchen and a ceiling adorned with kettles. It’s wonderfully quirky and the pancakes are delicious. Keep it simple with sugar and lemon or try one of the best sellers, the Sufian with bananas, cinnamon and cream.

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Best for Traditional Dutch Food: The Pantry

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+31 20 620 0922

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Sitting on a fairly touristy street near Leidseplein is The Pantry. A small homey restaurant, it is the perfect place for a rainy day. The menu is unapologetic Dutch, so if you’re looking for a traditional meal, this is the place to go. To start with, the salted herring with pickles and onions is incredibly fresh and light, then as a main test, the combination of hutspot (mashed potatoes mixed with stewed meat, carrots and onions), boerenkoolstamppot (mashed potatoes mixed with kale) and zuurkoolstamppot (mashed potatoes mixed with sauerkraut) served with sausage or meatballs. It’s comfort food at its finest, and if you still have room for more, you can’t go wrong with another Dutch classic: apple pie.

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Best for a pit lunch: water and brood

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+31 6 41078060

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Just east of the River Amstel is Water & Brood, a light and airy place to grab a bite to eat before heading to Artis, Amsterdam’s zoo. It serves American-style breakfast and brunch with Surinamese flavors throughout the day. The OG Fraîche Fried Chicken & Waffles is a must have – the chicken is drizzled into a crispy batter before being fried (miraculously not greasy) and served with fluffy waffles, the best scrambled eggs in town, and a good dose of maple. syrup. There’s a solid cocktail menu and the homemade lemonades are glorious – try the ginger spice with ginger and cinnamon for a kick.

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Best for an unusual experience: Vuurtoreneiland

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If you can set a table at Vuurtoreneiland, consider yourself lucky. It is booked months in advance, but it is definitely worth checking website availability as tables appear due to cancellation. So why all the fuss? Vuurtoreneiland is situated on an island with a lighthouse that is only accessible by boat, turning the whole experience into a five-hour mini-vacation at lunch or dinner time. Open all year round, the summer restaurant is in a conservatory, while the winter restaurant is a cozy affair with fires and blankets. The five-course set menu changes monthly and is seasonal, natural, and supports local producers, from farmers to brewers.

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Best for lunch on a sunny day: Bar Brasserie Occo

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+31 20 530 2010

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You will find Bar Brasserie Occo located inside the modern boutique hotel, The Dylan. Head to High Wine, the restaurant’s version of tea, but instead of tea and cakes, they serve you four Dutch-inspired food and wine pairings selected by Executive Chef Dennis Kuipers and Sommelier Natasja Noorlander. Or keep things casual and on a sunny day head here for a pink lunch on the quaint patio.

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Best for Italian: Eddy Spaghetti

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+31 20 370 9388

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If you crave an Italian party, then head over to Eddy Spaghetti. Start the night with a fresh bruschetta or share the antipasti if you’re feeling especially hungry. In addition to the very authentic pastas and pizzas, there is a solid list of gins and a selection of Italian classics like Campari, Aperol and Negronis so you can try everything. The restaurant is small and popular, so reserve a table to avoid disappointment.

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Best for a special occasion: Breda

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+31 20 622 5233

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Possibly one of the most elegant restaurants in Amsterdam, Breda is located in Singel, just a couple of canals from the Anne Frank house. You could go for lunch here, but there is something magical about this restaurant and part of town once the sun goes down. There are three tasting menu options that are described as a selection of dishes, a wide selection of dishes, or the entire mik mak. The wide selection takes around 90 minutes and displays a wonderful selection of seasonal foods, sophisticated flavors, and a beautifully rustic presentation. There is no detailed menu to peruse, so tell your waiter if you have any dietary requirements or don’t like it and the chef will tailor the dishes to your liking.

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Best for Carnivores: Balthazar’s Kethaken

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+31 20 420 2114

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A stone’s throw from the boutique De 9 Straatjes (the 9 streets), this 24-year-old restaurant prides itself on a small menu that changes weekly. The menu is inspired by local and seasonal foods. If you prefer to spend time catching up with friends rather than immersing yourself in a menu, you will love Balthazar’s Keuken as the only things you have to choose from are your drinks and your entrée between two options. There are five starters to share, a choice of meat or fish for a starter (sorry, vegetarian), and a dessert. Essentially, this place is for foodies who are not picky eaters; But if that’s you, you won’t be disappointed.

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Best for Vegetarians: Cafe Restaurant De Plantage

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+31 20 760 6800

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Flanked by sycamore trees overlooking the Amsterdam Zoo Aviary, this elegant restaurant has a surprisingly relaxed and laid-back vibe. Head here for all-day brunch, where the menu includes dishes like shakshouka, tomato-baked eggs, and labneh yogurt. The lunch and dinner menus are a wonderful combination of modern and traditional, inspired by southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levante region. For dinner, roasted cauliflower with coconut polenta and pickled bok choy would please even meat eaters. Not convinced? The Iberian pork belly served with aniseed gnocchi and roasted celery is gloriously rich and not to be missed.

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Best for families: Food Hallen

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If you are traveling with a group, it can be difficult to please everyone. At Food Hallen, an undercover food hall, there are 21 different stands, serving everything from tacos and tapas to steaks and dim sum. Since there are so many options that it can take a while to make a decision, let us suggest that you head straight to De Ballenbar to get started. It serves traditional Dutch bitters made by chef Peter Gast, who also runs the Michelin-starred ‘t Schulten Hues. The little croquette-shaped sandwiches contain different fillings: the truffle is divine, as are the spinach and cheese.

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Best to start on a Friday night: Pata Negra

You might not think to head for tapas in Amsterdam but this rustic tile-adorned restaurant has a wonderful festive vibe. The two locations are always bustling with tourists and residents alike and it serves up excellent tapas. There is a large bar that you sit at to eat, and if you can get the stools by the wall in the far left corner you can soak up all atmosphere without so much of the hustle and bustle. Kick off dinner with a glass of Cava and then switch to wine or sangria with your tapas. The dates wrapped in bacon are a crowd pleaser, padron peppers are always a good idea, and the Ibérico ham is pricey but wonderfully buttery and flavorful. 

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Best for a Low-Key Dinner: Tashi Deleg

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+31 20 620 6624

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You could stop by this modest restaurant if you didn’t know it’s there. The staff are incredibly friendly and the food is full of vibrant flavors. If you’re not sure what to choose, the Tibetan or Indonesian tasting menus are a great bet. The Tibetan option comes with dumplings to start and then a selection of meat and vegetable dishes ranging from mild to spicy. They also give you rice and bread to soak up in all the glorious sauces. Every dish is a winner.