Dutch pancakes are a different variety from the typical American style French Sunday morning pancakes , crêpes, South Indian dosa or any other pancakes that may have been sampled around the world. Dutch pancakes are often tasty and served with bacon, ham, Gouda cheese, or a combination of two. They are also sometimes served with sweet fruits such as pineapples, bananas, or apples.
What really sets Dutch pancakes apart from our maple syrup-laden American pancakes is when they are served. Most often a dinner plate, most pancake restaurants in Amsterdam don’t even open until long after breakfast! However, if you’ve ever had breakfast for dinner, you’ll really enjoy eating these little salty or sweet but always fluffy clouds at any time of the day or night.
Pancakes and their smaller, but no less tasty cousins, poffertjes , are a popular Dutch food that tourists visiting the Netherlands must try at least once. If you time things perfectly, depending on where you live, visit one of the best pancake restaurants in Amsterdam right when your flight arrives in the morning, and it will be breakfast time at home.
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PANCAKES
Direction
Berenstraat 38, 1016 GH Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 528 9797
Web
Visit the website
Berenstraat 38 and three other locations
Quality is in the details at PANCAKES, who source their flour from an authentic Dutch windmill in nearby Hoofddorp. PANCAKES not only offers the Dutch variety, but also offers international pancakes like Russian blini, French clafoutis , and Korean pageboy. It’s one of the rare pancake houses open for breakfast, so if you like to eat an international breakfast, make this your first stop. As another incentive, I Amsterdam cardholders receive a 25% discount before 1pm
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Arriba Pancake House
Direction
Grimburgwal 2, 1012 GA Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 626 5603
Web
Visit the website
Grimburgwal 2
Phenomenally small but very cozy, Pannekoekenhuis upstairs is the best traditional Dutch food and atmosphere. True to its name, visitors have to climb a steep, steep staircase, typical of old Dutch houses, to sample some of the best sweet and savory pancakes in town. It’s no surprise that this is also the pancake house featured in Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover.
And don’t worry, there is no typo – the spelling pannekoeken (instead of pannenkoeken ) predates the Dutch spelling reform which added the extra n , which is silent.
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The pancake bakery
Direction
Prinsengracht 191, 1015 DS Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 625 1333
Web
Visit the website
Prinsengracht 191
The Pancake Bakery is the most touristy on the list, but nonetheless a solid favorite for its extensive menu of really huge pancakes, bite-size poffertjes , and a wide variety of kid-friendly dishes. It also has the largest variety of pancake-free dishes for the pancake aversion, from soups and salads to omelets and sandwiches. Bonus: it’s just a stone’s throw from the Anne Frank Huis, which partly explains its popularity, but it’s still a solid option for a hearty meal.
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Happy Pig pancake shop
Direction
Rosmarijnsteeg 12, 1012 RP Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 737 0206
Web
Visit the website
Rosemary Alley 12
Described as the one with the best pancakes in Amsterdam (and possibly the world), based on some comments from happy guests on TripAdvisor, The Happy Pig Pancake Shop is a cozy little restaurant and cafe located in the historic center of Amsterdam. The restaurant space is beautifully decorated but also incredibly small, making it very difficult to find a seat at times.
If you don’t mind waiting (or taking your items to go), the menu features classic Dutch pancakes made with organic ingredients, and a variety of sweet and savory toppings rolled onto the pancakes and sliced. The Happy Pig also serves gluten-free pancakes, Belgian waffles, specialty coffee drinks, teas, soft drinks, smoothies, and delicious organic ice cream.
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Japanese pancake world
Direction
Tweede Egelantiersdwarsstraat 24 , 1015 SC Amsterdam , Países BajosGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 320 4447
Web
Visit the website
Second Egelantiersdwarsstraat 24
This pancake house, obviously from the name, is not Dutch at all. However, it deserves an honorable mention as a favorite pancake house in Amsterdam. Japanese Pancake World specializes in Osaka’s okonomiyaki specialty – a pancake made from wheat flour dough and yam with shredded cabbage mixed in, then topped with any number of extras.
The pancakes are crossed with a Worcestershire sauce and Japanese mayonnaise just before serving and are incredibly delicious. Please note that the restaurant is usually closed for long periods of time without prior notice. But, if you can visit this non-traditional pancake house, it is worth the wait.
