Where to eat and drink in Amsterdam

Toastable started in Amsterdam with a simple idea: take the familiar Dutch toasted sandwich and make it much more interesting. Today, its signature is the triple-layered tosti, with fillings that range from classic ham and cheese to kimchi, tuna melt and spicy vegan combinations.

What to expect
The menu is built around freshly toasted sandwiches, with meat, vegetarian and vegan choices. There are also breakfast options, coffee, juices and lemonades, so it works just as well for a quick breakfast as it does for an easy lunch.

Experience
Toastable is casual and uncomplicated rather than a traditional sit-down brunch restaurant. It is a handy choice when you want something warm and filling without losing too much sightseeing time.

Locations
Toastable currently has two locations in Amsterdam: Singel 441, near Koningsplein and the Flower Market, and Nieuwendijk 6, close to Amsterdam Centraal and Dam Square.

Our tip
Come for the tosti rather than expecting a large conventional brunch menu. The triple-layered sandwiches are what give Toastable its identity, and there are enough different fillings to make it more interesting than the standard Dutch ham-and-cheese version.

Good to know
Both Amsterdam locations are right in the city centre, but they suit different sightseeing routes. Choose the branch that fits your plans rather than crossing town specifically for one or the other.

Greenwoods has been serving breakfast and brunch since 1988 and has become a familiar name on Amsterdam’s brunch scene. Its Amsterdam restaurant sits right on the Singel canal, combining a central location with the relaxed feel of a neighbourhood breakfast spot.

What it offers
The all-day menu covers everything from a Full English Breakfast and Eggs Benedict to lighter, vegetarian and seasonal dishes, along with freshly pressed juices and coffee.

Atmosphere
Greenwoods Singel is cosy inside, with tables overlooking the canal and outdoor seating by the water. It works just as well for an early breakfast as it does for a long brunch or an easy lunch while exploring the city centre.

Location
Greenwoods is at Singel 103, within easy walking distance of the Jordaan, Haarlemmerstraat and the western side of Amsterdam’s historic centre.

Experience
This is the kind of place to come hungry. Portions are generous, the menu goes well beyond a basic café breakfast, and the canal-side setting makes it an easy place to linger when you are not in a hurry.

Good to know
Greenwoods Singel works on a walk-in basis and does not take reservations. At busy times you may need to wait for a table, so arriving a little earlier can be worthwhile if brunch is high on your Amsterdam list.

Open since 1990, Café de Jaren is one of those Amsterdam cafés that works at almost any time of day. High ceilings, large windows and plenty of natural light give the interior an open, spacious feel, while the waterside terrace is the real draw when the weather cooperates.

Location
Café de Jaren is at Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20, between Muntplein and Waterlooplein. At the back, the balcony and waterside terrace overlook the Kloveniersburgwal towards the Amstel.

Atmosphere
During the day, the café has an easygoing feel that suits coffee, lunch or simply taking a break from the city. Later in the day it becomes livelier, especially around the bar and terraces.

What to expect
Café de Jaren serves food and drinks throughout the day, making it an easy choice for anything from coffee and something small to lunch, dinner or drinks. The setting is as much a part of the appeal as the menu, particularly if you manage to get a table by the water.

Experience
This is a good place to slow the pace for a while. You are still right in the centre of Amsterdam, but sitting beside the water makes the city feel surprisingly removed from the busy streets just a few minutes away.

Good to know
Café de Jaren is walk-in only and does not take reservations. Payment is by card only. On a sunny day, the waterside tables are naturally the most sought-after, so it is worth being flexible about where you sit.

The Pancake Bakery has been serving pancakes on the Prinsengracht since 1973, making it the oldest pancake restaurant in Amsterdam. It is housed in a characterful 17th-century warehouse and remains one of the city’s best-known places to try a traditional Dutch pancake.

History
The restaurant opened in 1973 in a former warehouse once connected to the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Much of the historic character has been preserved, giving the dining room a suitably old-Amsterdam feel.

Specialty
Pancakes are very much the main event, with more than 75 varieties on the menu. You can keep things traditionally Dutch with syrup or powdered sugar, choose a savoury version, or try one of the more elaborate combinations with international influences.

Atmosphere
Inside, exposed historic details and a cosy, slightly nostalgic interior give the restaurant plenty of character. In summer, there is also a terrace on the Prinsengracht, which is an especially pleasant spot when the weather is on your side.

Experience
This is a good place to try Dutch pancakes without turning the meal into a formal dining occasion. It works for breakfast, brunch, lunch or an informal dinner, and the large menu makes it particularly easy when everyone at the table wants something different.

Location
The Pancake Bakery is at Prinsengracht 191, close to the Anne Frank House and Westerkerk and within easy walking distance of the Jordaan.

Good to know
For groups of fewer than six people, you can simply walk in without a reservation. Reservations are available for groups of six or more, and booking ahead is recommended for larger groups.

Loetje is one of the Netherlands’ best-known names for steak, but its story began on a much smaller scale. The original Amsterdam café opened in 1977 as a billiard café, before its tenderloin steak in Loetje jus became the dish that turned the place into a Dutch institution.

Speciality
The classic Loetje steak is beef tenderloin, usually cooked medium-rare and served in the restaurant’s signature jus with soft white bread for dipping. There are several variations, including the well-known Bali version with sambal jus, while fries and salad can be ordered on the side.

More than steak
Steak is still the reason many people come, but the menu is broader these days, with lunch dishes, fish, salads and vegetarian options. That makes Loetje easier to visit with a group even when not everyone is in the mood for beef.

Atmosphere
Loetje has kept the informal, no-fuss character that made the original café popular. The atmosphere varies a little between locations, but the idea remains the same: straightforward food, a lively setting and a place where you can comfortably stay for a while.

Locations
Loetje currently has six locations in Amsterdam: Amsterdam Café in Oud-Zuid, Amsterdam Centraal, De Pijp, Oost, Zuidas and Aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam Noord. The original Loetje is at Johannes Vermeerstraat 52, close to Museumplein and the Concertgebouw.

Experience
If it is your first time at Loetje, order the classic steak with the jus and use the white bread the way regulars do: to soak up the sauce. It is a simple combination, but it is also the dish that made Loetje famous.

Good to know
With several restaurants across Amsterdam, there is usually no reason to cross the city just to visit a particular branch. Choose the location that fits your sightseeing plans, and book ahead if you want to be certain of a table at a busy time.

Café de Klos has been grilling meat just off Leidseplein since 1971 and has built a loyal following without changing the formula very much. The setting is small and unfussy, the portions are generous, and the spare ribs are still the dish that brings many people through the door.

Specialty
The spare ribs are the obvious place to start, with classic, smoked and mixed versions on the menu. If ribs are not your thing, the grill also turns out tenderloin steak, entrecôte, T-bone, prime rib, lamb and chicken.

Atmosphere
Don’t come expecting polished fine dining. Café de Klos is lively, compact and deliberately no-frills, with the feel of an old-school Amsterdam grill café. It can get busy and a little noisy in the evening, which is very much part of the experience.

What to order
Ribs may get most of the attention, but the lamb shoulder is another house favourite if you arrive hungry. The baked potato with homemade garlic butter is the classic side, while main courses are served with mixed salad, French bread and sauces.

Something to drink
Alongside the usual drinks, Café de Klos serves several house beers made in collaboration with an independent microbrewery, including Manke Monnik, Blonde Barbier and Witte Antonia.

Location
Café de Klos is at Kerkstraat 41, just off Leidsestraat and a short walk from Leidseplein, putting you right in one of Amsterdam’s busiest areas for theatres, music venues and nightlife.

Good to know
Café de Klos does not take reservations, with no exceptions. If there is no table when you arrive, leave your name with the host and wait across the street at sister bar ‘t Genootschap der Geneugten. You can have a drink there until the restaurant comes to get you when your table is ready.

Manneken Pis is one of the best-known names for fries in central Amsterdam, with two locations right in the middle of the city’s busiest walking routes. The focus is simple: freshly prepared Flemish fries, generous portions and a seriously long list of sauces.

Specialty
The fries are prepared from potatoes that are peeled, washed and packed fresh that morning before being delivered to the shops. They are then pre-fried and finished at the location before being served hot in the familiar cone.

Sauces
Choosing the sauce is half the fun, with more than 20 options available. You can keep things classic with Flemish or Zaanse mayonnaise, or try Amsterdam onion sauce, satay sauce, Samurai, truffle mayonnaise, Andalouse or one of the spicier combinations.

Experience
This is street food rather than somewhere to settle in for a long meal. There can be a queue at busy times, particularly around Damrak, but the concept is built around ordering your fries and getting back into the city.

Locations
Manneken Pis has two locations in Amsterdam: Damrak 41, between Amsterdam Centraal and Dam Square, and Nieuwendijk 222, on one of the main shopping streets in the historic centre.

Our tip
Don’t automatically order the largest portion. The fries come in three sizes, and once you add a generous sauce, even the medium can be a substantial snack. If you want something more local than plain mayonnaise, Amsterdam onion sauce or a classic satay combination is worth a look.

Good to know
Both Amsterdam branches are designed for a quick stop rather than a sit-down restaurant experience. Which one to choose mostly depends on where you are already walking, as both are right in the heart of the city centre.

Fabel Friet has become one of Amsterdam’s best-known stops for fries, helped along by the queues that regularly form outside. The idea is simple: freshly prepared fries, a short list of toppings and sauces, and combinations that feel a little more indulgent than the usual cone of chips.

Specialty
The fries are cut from fresh potatoes and cooked for a crisp outside and fluffy centre. One of the combinations Fabel Friet is particularly known for pairs the fries with Parmesan and truffle mayonnaise, turning a straightforward Amsterdam snack into something considerably richer.

What to order
You can keep things simple with fries and sauce, but the toppings are part of the reason people seek this place out. If it is your first visit, one of the house combinations is more interesting than ordering plain mayonnaise and calling it a day.

Experience
Fabel Friet is very much a grab-and-go stop rather than somewhere to sit down for lunch. There is often a queue, particularly at popular times, so factor in a little extra time if you have a museum booking or another fixed appointment afterwards.

Atmosphere
The experience is quick, busy and informal. Order at the counter, collect your fries and take them with you as you continue through the centre. It is street food in the most literal sense.

Location
Fabel Friet is right in Amsterdam’s historic centre, making it easy to work into a day spent exploring the canals, shopping streets and smaller lanes around the old city.

Good to know
Come for the fries rather than the hype around the queue. If the line is reasonable, it is an easy snack to add to a walk through central Amsterdam. If it stretches far down the street and your schedule is tight, there are plenty of other good places for fries in the city.

Winkel 43 has been part of the Jordaan since 1978, but one thing has come to define the café more than anything else: its apple pie. Freshly baked every day with a thick, crisp crust and soft spiced apples, it has become one of Amsterdam’s best-known sweet stops.

Specialty
The appeltaart is the obvious order. It comes in a generous slice, and adding whipped cream is very much part of the experience. The recipe has remained largely unchanged over the years, which is probably wise when people are already willing to queue for it.

A nice detail
There is more behind the famous pie than most visitors realise. Winkel 43 works with Cordaan, and people with disabilities are part of the team that helps bake the apple pies in the kitchen each day.

More than apple pie
Winkel 43 is a proper neighbourhood café rather than simply a cake stop. You can come for breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks or dinner, with changing menus and plenty of reasons to stay after the last forkful of apple pie has disappeared.

Atmosphere
The café occupies a characteristic Amsterdam corner building overlooking Noordermarkt. Its terraces wrap around two sides of the building and are particularly popular when the sun comes out. Winkel 43 has also expanded into the neighbouring property, creating more room while keeping the informal Jordaan café feel.

Location
Winkel 43 is at Noordermarkt 43, on the corner of Noordermarkt and Westerstraat in the heart of the Jordaan. It is an easy stop to work into a walk through the western canal belt.

Good to know
Winkel 43 does not take reservations, so you simply turn up and find a table. Monday and Saturday mornings are particularly lively because of the markets on Noordermarkt. If your priority is a quieter coffee and slice of apple pie, a weekday morning or early evening is usually a better bet.

Van Stapele Koekmakerij has built its reputation on doing one thing and doing it very well. There is just one cookie on the menu: a rich dark chocolate cookie with a soft white chocolate centre, baked throughout the day and served fresh from the shop.

The story
Vera van Stapele created the cookie in her Amsterdam kitchen in February 2013 and opened her first tiny shop later that year. After more than a decade in the Heisteeg, the bakery moved to a larger home on Rokin in 2024, keeping the same single-cookie concept that made it famous.

Specialty
The Van Stapele cookie is made with dark chocolate dough wrapped around a white chocolate centre. The edges have a slight crispness while the middle stays soft and gooey, especially when you eat it while it is still warm.

One cookie, no distractions
There are no competing flavours or elaborate menu to work through. Van Stapele still sells just one type of cookie, with fresh batches baked throughout the day. It is a wonderfully stubborn concept in a city where most successful food businesses eventually start adding more.

Experience
The queue is still part of the Van Stapele experience, although the move to the larger Rokin shop has made things considerably easier. On weekdays, the wait is usually around five to ten minutes, while weekends can be busier.

Location
Van Stapele Koekmakerij is at Rokin 17, right in the historic centre of Amsterdam and only a short walk from Dam Square, Spui and the Begijnhof.

Good to know
The shop opens daily at 10:00 and stays open until the cookies sell out, with availability guaranteed until 16:00. You cannot pre-order or have the cookies shipped, so this is one Amsterdam treat you still have to pick up in person. If you are visiting at the weekend, coming between 10:00 and 12:00 is the shop’s own recommendation for avoiding the longest waits.

René’s Croissanterie is a long-standing bakery and snack stop on Damstraat, only a short walk from Dam Square. Churros are one of the big draws, but there is considerably more behind the counter than the name or the queues outside might suggest.

Specialty
The churros are prepared while you wait and served hot. You can keep them simple with cinnamon sugar or icing sugar, or go considerably sweeter with whipped cream or Nutella.

More than churros
René’s has a surprisingly broad selection for such a central stop. Alongside churros, you will find freshly made crêpes, croissants, pastries, ice cream and chocolates, as well as sandwiches and savoury snacks such as Kwekkeboom croquettes.

Experience
This is the kind of place that works best when you spot something you fancy and order it on the spot. Churros and crêpes are made while you wait, so at busy moments it may take a little longer than grabbing something ready-made from the counter.

Atmosphere
René’s is casual, busy and very much part of the rhythm of Damstraat. It is not somewhere you need to plan your day around, but it works well when you want something sweet, a coffee or a quick snack without leaving the historic centre.

Location
René’s Croissanterie is at Damstraat 20, around 50 metres from Dam Square and right on the walking route towards the oldest part of Amsterdam.

Our tip
If you are coming specifically for something sweet, go for one of the items prepared to order rather than choosing something simply because it is quickest. Fresh churros or a crêpe make more sense here than treating René’s as just another bakery counter.

Cannibale Royale is one of Amsterdam’s go-to addresses when dinner calls for serious portions, grilled meat and a lively room rather than white tablecloths and whispered conversation. With several locations across the city, the formula revolves around steaks, burgers, ribs, drinks and a deliberately dark, slightly eccentric atmosphere.

What to order
Meat is very much the headline here. The Favourite Ribs come slowly roasted with a sweet and sticky glaze, while the steak selection includes cuts such as flat iron and ribeye. The burgers are another staple, made with locally sourced organic grass-fed beef and piled with combinations of cheese, bacon, sauces and other toppings.

Not only for meat eaters
Despite the name and carnivorous reputation, there are vegetarian choices too. Options such as the plant-based burger and Mac & Cheese mean a mixed group does not necessarily have to rule Cannibale Royale out just because one person is skipping the meat.

Atmosphere
The interiors lean into Cannibale Royale’s own theatrical style: dark, eclectic and a little rough around the edges, with vintage objects and plenty to look at. Add craft beer, cocktails and late opening at several locations, and it feels as much like a bar for a long evening as somewhere to simply eat and leave.

Locations
Cannibale Royale has six locations across Amsterdam: Handboogstraat, Lange Niezel, Ruysdaelkade, Rozengracht, Amstelveenseweg and du Nord at the NDSM wharf. Each puts you in a very different part of the city, so it makes sense to choose the restaurant around the rest of your plans rather than travelling across Amsterdam for a particular branch.

Good to know
Handboogstraat is the original Cannibale Royale and a good choice if you are already exploring the historic centre. Some locations stay open late, making the chain particularly useful when you want a substantial dinner after an evening out rather than an early restaurant reservation.

Castell has been grilling in Amsterdam since 1971 and has become something of an institution around Leidseplein. The original restaurant is tucked away on Lijnbaansgracht, with charcoal-grilled steaks, generous portions and an old-school interior that feels refreshingly different from the polished restaurants nearby.

What to order
The charcoal grill is the heart of the kitchen. The meat selection includes a hefty T-bone, tournedos, ribeye, flat iron steak, lamb chops and marinated spare ribs. Portions are generous and presentation is deliberately straightforward, often arriving on a wooden board with sauces and a baked potato on the side.

Not just steak
Castell is known first and foremost for meat, but the menu goes further. Grilled salmon, tuna steak, sole, langoustine and other seafood dishes make it a better choice for mixed groups than its steakhouse reputation might suggest.

Atmosphere
This is where Castell really has its own personality. The original Leidse restaurant is cosy and dark, with leather sofas, a fireplace and a large bar. Some guests eat with their plate on their lap while sitting around the fire, a wonderfully unconventional habit that has been part of Castell’s character for decades.

Locations
Castell now has two Amsterdam restaurants. The original Castell Leidse is at Lijnbaansgracht 252-254, a few minutes from Leidseplein, Paradiso and Melkweg. Castell Zuid is at Valeriusstraat 128b and offers the familiar grill concept in a different setting in Amsterdam Zuid.

Good to know
Castell Leidse is particularly useful for late-night dining. The restaurant and bar currently stay open until 01:00, with the kitchen serving until 23:30. If this is your first visit and you want the classic Castell experience, we would choose the original location near Leidseplein.

Foodhallen Amsterdam brings together street food, drinks and a lively social atmosphere inside De Hallen, a former tram depot in Oud-West. Opened in 2014, it was the first Foodhallen location and has become an easy choice when everyone at the table seems to want something different.

How it works
Instead of choosing one restaurant and one menu, you order from independent food stands around the hall and find a table together. That makes Foodhallen particularly useful for families and groups where one person wants pizza, another is thinking about sushi and someone else has already spotted dessert.

What to eat
There are currently 19 food stands, with choices ranging from Indonesian and Vietnamese street food to Mumbai flavours, Spanish tapas, sushi, ramen, pizza, burgers, BBQ, pita and falafel. Petit Gâteau takes care of the French pastries if you still have room afterwards.

Something for different diets
The variety is not only about cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options are available too, although the exact dishes differ between individual stands. If you have an allergy or specific dietary requirement, check directly with the vendor before ordering.

Atmosphere
Foodhallen is at its best when you treat it as a shared food hall rather than a traditional restaurant. Order from different kitchens, grab drinks and settle in around one table. The atmosphere becomes livelier towards the evening, but daytime visits are often easier if your main priority is exploring the food.

Location
Foodhallen is at Hannie Dankbaarpassage 16 in Oud-West, inside the larger De Hallen complex. The building’s tram-depot past is still visible in the architecture, including original details preserved throughout the complex.

Good to know
Foodhallen is fully wheelchair accessible and works especially well when the weather makes an outdoor food crawl less appealing. Do not rush away after eating: De Hallen also houses FilmHallen, shops, cultural spaces and other places worth exploring under the same historic roof.

NENI brings the flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean to Amsterdam with a style of dining built around sharing. Created by the Molcho family, the concept draws on family traditions and a mix of cultural influences, with colourful mezze, hummus, freshly baked pita and dishes from the grill arriving at the table for everyone to dig into together.

The story
The name NENI comes from Nuriel, Elior, Nadiv and Ilan, the four sons of founder Haya Molcho. Family is at the heart of the concept, along with influences from the Molchos’ Israeli, Romanian and Spanish roots. Their word for the resulting mix is Balagan: a kind of cheerful chaos that makes more sense once the table starts filling with plates.

What to eat
Sharing is the best way to approach the menu. Expect creamy hummus, colourful mezze, freshly baked pita, crisp falafel, smoky kebabs from the grill and plenty of vegetable-led dishes. There are also good vegetarian and vegan choices, making NENI an easy restaurant for groups with different preferences.

Atmosphere
The original NENI Zuid occupies part of the former Citroën garage at Stadionplein. The industrial shell has been turned into a warm, lively restaurant with a large open kitchen at the centre, so much of the cooking remains visible from the dining room. Upstairs, The Lemonman adds a cocktail bar to the experience.

Locations
NENI now has two restaurants in Amsterdam. NENI Zuid is at Stadionplein 8, opposite the Olympic Stadium, while NENI Centrum opened in 2026 at Nieuwendijk 60 inside Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam, bringing the same Eastern Mediterranean sharing concept right into the heart of the city.

Good to know
If this is your first NENI visit and you want the most distinctive setting, we would choose Stadionplein for the former Citroën garage, open kitchen and Lemonman Bar. NENI Centrum makes more sense if you are staying near Amsterdam Centraal or spending the day in the historic centre. Reservations are a good idea for dinner, particularly towards the weekend.

Koffie ende Koeck is a tiny, fully vegan daytime café opposite Westerpark, with the kind of neighbourhood feel that can be hard to find in central Amsterdam. Opened in 2014, it has built its reputation around homemade cakes and pastries, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and seriously good coffee, all without using animal products.

The story Koffie ende Koeck was founded by Maartje Borst, who also wrote the vegan baking book Taart ende Koeck. The café later passed into the hands of members of its own team and is now independently owned by Ruby. That small-scale character still matters here: this feels much more like a neighbourhood café than a polished vegan concept.

What to order
The cakes and baked treats are a big part of the reason to come. Expect a changing selection alongside breakfast and savoury lunch dishes, with plenty of temptation behind the counter. Coffee gets proper attention too, with organic beans from Amsterdam roaster Bocca, plus a broad selection of teas.

Afternoon tea
One of the more interesting ways to experience Koffie ende Koeck is its fully vegan afternoon tea, combining sweet and savoury treats with tea in the cosy café. Unlike a regular visit, afternoon tea needs to be booked in advance and availability is limited.

Atmosphere
This is a genuinely small café, with only 16 seats inside, so expect intimate rather than spacious. From March to October there is also outdoor seating when the weather cooperates. If the café is full, taking something away and heading across to Westerpark is hardly a bad Plan B.

Location
Koffie ende Koeck is at Haarlemmerweg 175, directly opposite Westerpark and close to the Westergas cultural complex. It is a particularly nice stop if you want to combine coffee or lunch with a walk through one of Amsterdam’s most enjoyable green spaces.

Good to know
You normally do not need a reservation for coffee, cake or lunch, and walk-ins are welcome. Because the café is small, finding a table is easier with a smaller group. Afternoon tea is the exception and should be reserved at least a day ahead.

MOMO Restaurant, Bar & Lounge has been part of Amsterdam’s dining scene since 2008, combining refined Asian flavours with Western influences in a polished setting near Museumplein. It is the kind of place where sushi, cocktails and dinner flow naturally into a longer evening, with a cosmopolitan atmosphere that becomes livelier as the day goes on.

What to order
The menu is designed around sharing, so ordering several dishes for the table is the best way to experience it. Two long-standing signatures are the Black Cod with Spicy Miso and the MOMO Roll with tuna, salmon, sea bass, avocado and tarragon miso. Beyond those, you will find sashimi, ceviche, dim sum, seafood, Wagyu, lamb and plenty of smaller plates.

Sushi and seafood
Sushi is an important part of MOMO, but it is only one side of the menu. There are nigiri and rolls alongside yellowtail, tuna and salmon preparations, black cod, sea bass and other seafood dishes. The kitchen regularly combines Japanese techniques and ingredients with flavours and ideas from elsewhere in Asia and beyond.

Cocktails
The bar is part of the MOMO experience rather than an afterthought. The cocktail list mixes classics with original creations using ingredients such as lychee, yuzu, shiso, matcha and Japanese whisky, making it just as easy to come for drinks as to stay after dinner.

Atmosphere
MOMO has a sleek, urban feel and attracts an international crowd. During the day it works for lunch and a more relaxed meal, while evenings tend to feel more energetic. This is less about a quiet neighbourhood dinner and more about combining food, drinks and atmosphere in one place.

Location
MOMO is at Hobbemastraat 1, right where Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter meets the Vondelpark area. The Rijksmuseum, Museumplein and P.C. Hooftstraat are all close by, making the restaurant particularly easy to fit into a day in this part of the city.

Good to know
If you are coming for dinner, especially towards the weekend, reserving ahead is sensible. MOMO also works well if not everyone wants the same kind of meal, as the sharing format lets you mix sushi, seafood, meat and vegetable dishes across the table.

Nomi combines Korean BBQ, sushi and Asian fusion in a lively all-you-can-eat concept in central Amsterdam. The experience is deliberately social: order different dishes in rounds, share sushi and warm plates around the table, and grill your own barbecue while music and cocktails add to the atmosphere.

How it works
Korean BBQ is one of the main attractions. You grill meat and other barbecue choices at the table, turning dinner into something more interactive than a standard restaurant meal. Nomi describes the setup as an odourless BBQ environment, designed to keep the experience comfortable while everyone cooks together.

What to eat
The menu brings Japanese and Korean flavours together, with fresh sushi and sashimi, Korean BBQ, warm dishes, side dishes and Asian fusion specials. The all-you-can-eat format makes it easy to order several rounds and try a little of everything rather than committing to one main course.

Atmosphere
Nomi is geared towards a fun, social evening rather than a quiet dinner. Groups of friends and families can share dishes, grill together and combine dinner with cocktails and music, making the experience as much about the table as the individual plates.

Locations
Nomi has two restaurants in central Amsterdam. Nomi Leidseplein is at Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 17, right in the city’s theatre and nightlife district. Nomi Vijzelstraat is at Vijzelstraat 26, conveniently placed between the canal belt, the Flower Market and the Rembrandtplein area.

Good to know
If Korean BBQ is the main reason for your visit, come with enough time to enjoy the experience rather than treating Nomi as a quick meal. The combination of all-you-can-eat dining, tabletop grilling and sharing works particularly well with a group, and reserving ahead is sensible for a busy evening.

A-Fusion has been serving Asian cuisine since 2003 and its Amsterdam restaurant on Zeedijk has become a well-established name in the city’s Chinatown. It is listed in the MICHELIN Guide and brings Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean influences together on one wide-ranging menu.

What makes it different
Rather than concentrating on a single Asian cuisine, A-Fusion lets you move between several of them during the same meal. Sushi is prepared to order, while elsewhere in the kitchen the focus shifts to dim sum, wok dishes and the grill. That variety is a big part of the appeal.

What to order
The menu runs from sushi and sashimi to dumplings, wok dishes, grilled satay and more elaborate Asian-fusion creations. Portions are generally designed so you can order several dishes and share, which is the best way to explore the different styles coming out of the kitchen.

Atmosphere
A-Fusion feels lively rather than formal. The different kitchen stations add movement to the room, and being able to see sushi prepared as you enter gives the restaurant more character than the usual polished fusion setting.

MICHELIN Guide
A-Fusion is included in the MICHELIN Guide for Amsterdam, where the inspectors highlight its mix of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean flavours, the freshness of the sushi and the opportunity to sample several dishes thanks to the smaller portions. It is MICHELIN Guide recommended rather than a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Location
The Amsterdam restaurant is at Zeedijk 130, right in the middle of Chinatown and only a short walk from Nieuwmarkt. This is one of the most atmospheric parts of the old city centre, so A-Fusion works particularly well as part of an evening exploring this side of Amsterdam.

Good to know
A-Fusion previously also had an Amsterdam Houthavens location, but that branch is currently listed by the restaurant as temporarily closed. For an Amsterdam visit, the Zeedijk restaurant is the location to keep in mind. Reserving ahead is sensible for a busy evening.

Thai Phutakun is a small Thai restaurant on Reguliersdwarsstraat, tucked between the canal belt, the Flower Market and Rembrandtplein. Rather than trying to be a polished Asian-fusion concept, it keeps things straightforward, with a broad menu of familiar Thai dishes and an intimate, informal atmosphere.

What to order
The menu covers plenty of Thai classics, including Tom Yam and Tom Kha soups, Som Tam, stir-fries and curries such as Massaman, Panang and green curry. If you enjoy exploring different Thai flavours, sharing a curry, a salad and a couple of smaller dishes is more interesting than simply sticking to one familiar favourite.

Curries and spice
Curries are a particularly good direction to explore here, with coconut-based Massaman, Panang and green curry appearing alongside spicier stir-fried dishes. If you are sensitive to chilli, ask about the level of heat when ordering rather than assuming every dish will be mild.

Vegetarian options
There is a dedicated selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu, including vegetable and tofu preparations. If you eat vegan or need to avoid gluten or other allergens, it is better to check the individual dish with the restaurant before ordering rather than assuming that a vegetarian dish automatically meets those requirements.

Atmosphere
Thai Phutakun is small and intimate rather than spacious or elaborate. That works well for couples and smaller groups looking for an uncomplicated dinner in the centre, especially if the food matters more to you than elaborate restaurant design.

Location
You will find Thai Phutakun at Reguliersdwarsstraat 11H, a short walk from the Flower Market, the canal belt and Rembrandtplein. The location makes it particularly easy to combine dinner with an evening walk through this part of central Amsterdam.

Good to know
Because the restaurant is relatively small, booking ahead is sensible if you have a particular evening or time in mind. The menu is extensive, so if it is your first visit, consider choosing a few different dishes for the table rather than everyone ordering separately.

Sama Sebo is a long-established Indonesian restaurant on P.C. Hooftstraat, just around the corner from Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter. While the street outside is better known for designer boutiques, inside the focus is firmly on traditional Indonesian cooking, with a classic atmosphere that feels very different from the fashionable restaurants surrounding it.

Why come here
Sama Sebo is particularly known for its traditional approach to Indonesian food. The kitchen is staffed by cooks with Javanese roots, and the emphasis remains on familiar dishes and preparations rather than modern reinterpretations or elaborate presentation.

Try the rijsttafel
If this is your first introduction to Indonesian food in the Netherlands, the rijsttafel is the obvious place to start. Rice arrives with a collection of smaller dishes, allowing you to move between different flavours, textures and levels of spice during the same meal. Rijsttafel is closely connected to the shared Indonesian and Dutch culinary history and remains one of the classic dining experiences to try in Amsterdam.

More than rijsttafel
You do not have to order a full rijsttafel. The menu also includes individual Indonesian dishes and regional specialities, with vegetarian choices available as well. This makes Sama Sebo easier to visit if you want a simpler lunch or dinner rather than the complete spread.

Atmosphere
Do not expect a fashionable redesign or minimalist dining room. Sama Sebo has kept a more traditional character, and that is part of its appeal. The restaurant feels like an established Amsterdam institution rather than somewhere trying to follow the latest restaurant trend.

Location
Sama Sebo is at P.C. Hooftstraat 27, a short walk from the Rijksmuseum, Museumplein, Leidseplein and Vondelpark. That puts it in one of the easiest parts of Amsterdam to combine a meal with museums, shopping or a walk through the park.

Good to know
Come here for traditional Indonesian cooking rather than contemporary Asian fusion. If you have never tried a rijsttafel before, this is the kind of restaurant where it makes sense to order one and take your time over the different dishes. If you prefer something lighter, ordering à la carte is also an option.

SUPPER has been turning dinner into a night out in Amsterdam since 1993. Set inside a striking historic building on the Singel, the concept brings together a multi-course dinner, live performances, music and immersive visuals before the restaurant gradually gives way to the nightclub later in the evening.

What to expect
This is not a conventional restaurant where entertainment happens somewhere in the background. The dinner show is part of the evening from the start, with performers, music and visual effects appearing around you while the different courses are served. Themes change throughout the year, so no two periods at SUPPER necessarily look or feel the same.

Dinner show
The restaurant currently works with multi-course menus, while the performances can range from dancers and theatrical acts to aerialists, DJs and other live entertainment depending on the current production. If you are coming specifically for a particular show, check the programme before booking rather than assuming the same concept runs all year.

The famous beds
One of SUPPER’s most recognisable features is its white lounge beds, where guests can settle in for dinner in a way that deliberately breaks with normal restaurant etiquette. More conventional seating is available too, including tables and balcony options, so it is worth looking at the different seating categories when reserving.

From dinner to club
After the dinner show, the venue transforms into a nightclub. Restaurant guests currently receive access to the club as part of their reservation, making it possible to stay in the same place as the evening shifts from dining and performances to DJs and dancing. Club nights and music styles vary, so check the current agenda if staying late is part of your plan.

Atmosphere
SUPPER is theatrical, social and deliberately unconventional. Come here because you want the entertainment to be as much a part of the evening as the food. It works particularly well for celebrations, groups and couples looking for something more elaborate than a standard dinner in Amsterdam.

Location
SUPPER is at Singel 460, right on Amsterdam’s canal belt and within easy walking distance of Spui, the Begijnhof, the Nine Streets and several of the busiest parts of the historic centre.

Good to know
The dinner-show concept changes during the year, and club events and line-ups also vary from night to night. Check the current programme before booking, especially if a particular performance or club night is an important part of your plans. This is also one restaurant where your seating choice can make a noticeable difference to the experience.

De Kas is one of Amsterdam’s most distinctive places to eat, set inside a monumental greenhouse in Park Frankendael. The greenhouse was built in 1927 as part of the city’s municipal nursery and later transformed into a restaurant. Since 2001, De Kas has worked according to a simple philosophy: harvest as close to the moment of cooking as possible and let the seasons decide what appears on the plate.

From plant to plate
The gardens are at the heart of De Kas. Around 300 varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruit are grown in its greenhouse and gardens in Amsterdam and on additional land in the Beemster. Ingredients can be harvested in the morning and appear on the menu later that same day, making the connection between garden and kitchen unusually direct.

What you will eat
Vegetables take centre stage, supported by produce from Dutch growers and combined with international flavours and techniques. Meat and fish can also appear, but they are not necessarily the starting point of the dish. There is no à la carte menu: De Kas serves fixed seasonal menus that change according to what the gardens and growers provide.

MICHELIN recognition
De Kas holds both a MICHELIN Star and a Green MICHELIN Star. The Green Star is particularly fitting here, recognising a philosophy in which sustainability, seasonal growing and the relationship between the garden and kitchen are fundamental rather than decorative extras.

The setting
The building is a major part of the experience. High glass walls flood the dining room with daylight, while the surrounding gardens make it easy to forget that you are still in Amsterdam. In good weather, the garden terrace is especially appealing, with the restaurant’s own growing spaces right beside you.

Dietary options
The fixed menu can currently be served completely vegetarian or vegan, and the kitchen can also accommodate gluten-free, nut-free and lactose-free requirements. Cross-contamination remains possible, and more complex allergies or dietary restrictions should always be discussed with the restaurant before booking.

Location
De Kas is at Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3 inside Park Frankendael in Amsterdam-Oost. It sits well away from the busiest tourist streets, but that is part of the appeal: instead of squeezing dinner between city-centre sights, you come here for the restaurant, the gardens and the park around it.

Good to know
De Kas is a destination restaurant, so booking ahead is strongly recommended rather than leaving it to chance. The menu follows the harvest and changes continuously, which means it makes more sense to come with an open mind than with a particular dish in mind.

MR PORTER combines a modern steakhouse with the atmosphere of a chic rooftop lounge inside W Amsterdam. Just behind Dam Square, it is designed as much for an evening out as for dinner, bringing together serious cuts of meat, cocktails, music and a polished setting high above the historic city centre.

What to order
Steak is at the heart of the menu, with cuts ranging from rib eye, sirloin and bone-in fillet to Japanese Wagyu and larger steaks designed for sharing, including Tomahawk and the restaurant’s signature MR PORTER cut. If not everyone at the table wants meat, there are also seafood dishes such as lobster, sea bass and prawns, alongside salads and vegetable dishes.

More than a steakhouse
MR PORTER deliberately combines two ideas: a modern steakhouse and a stylish lounge. The central bar, cocktail menu and music are part of the experience rather than an afterthought, making this a restaurant where it feels natural to stay for another drink once dinner is finished.

Atmosphere
The mood becomes livelier as the evening develops, with house DJ sets adding to the rooftop setting. It is polished without feeling like a traditional formal steakhouse, and works particularly well for couples, groups and celebrations where dinner is meant to become part of the night out.

Rooftop setting
MR PORTER sits on the rooftop level of W Amsterdam, giving the restaurant a very different feel from the street-level restaurants around Dam Square. The wider W Amsterdam rooftop also includes the W Lounge and WET Deck, both known for their city views, making this one of the more distinctive rooftop destinations in central Amsterdam.

Location
MR PORTER is at Spuistraat 175 inside W Amsterdam, immediately behind Dam Square and the Royal Palace. The Nine Streets, Spui, the canal belt and many of the historic centre’s main sights are all within easy walking distance.

Good to know
MR PORTER has a smart casual dress code, so this is one place where it is worth thinking about what you wear before heading out. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for dinner and busy evenings, with W Amsterdam advising guests to book more than 24 hours ahead when possible.

Pianeta Terra brings seasonal Italian cooking to Amsterdam’s historic canal belt. Set inside a characterful seventeenth-century building, the restaurant combines an intimate setting with a kitchen that looks to Italy for inspiration while allowing the seasons and available ingredients to shape the menu.

Seasonal Italian cooking
Rather than building the menu around the same familiar dishes throughout the year, Pianeta Terra follows the seasons. Vegetables, fish and meat all have a place in the kitchen, with ingredients chosen according to quality and availability and prepared with techniques rooted in Italian cooking.

The setting
Part of the appeal is the building itself. The restaurant occupies a former stable in a historic canal house, and traces of its past remain part of the interior. Spread across different levels, the dining rooms feel intimate rather than grand, giving the restaurant plenty of character without losing its relaxed atmosphere.

What to expect
This is not the place to come looking for a predictable line-up of pizza and pasta classics. The experience is more about seasonal ingredients, carefully composed dishes and an Italian kitchen that changes direction as the produce changes throughout the year.

Atmosphere
Pianeta Terra feels calm, personal and slightly tucked away from the busiest parts of central Amsterdam. That makes it particularly appealing for couples, a special dinner or anyone who prefers a smaller restaurant over the louder dining rooms found around the main squares.

Location
The restaurant is in Amsterdam’s canal belt, making it easy to combine dinner with a walk through the historic centre. Despite the central location, the immediate surroundings feel noticeably quieter than Dam Square, Leidseplein and the city’s main shopping streets.

Good to know
Because the kitchen works with seasonal produce, individual dishes can change rather than remaining fixed throughout the year. Come for the style of cooking rather than one particular dish, and reserve ahead if Pianeta Terra is an important part of your evening.

Casa di David has been serving Italian food on Amsterdam’s Singel since 1976. Founded by Nicoletta Gezzi and her Dutch husband Warmolt, the restaurant is now celebrating 50 years of Italian hospitality and remains a family business, with a third generation continuing the story in the heart of the city.

Italian roots
Casa di David describes its cooking as La Cucina Italiana Originale, with fresh seasonal ingredients and a strong connection to traditional Italian recipes. The restaurant has changed with Amsterdam over the decades, but its identity is still built around straightforward Italian cooking and family hospitality rather than chasing every new restaurant trend.

What to order
The menu goes well beyond pasta. Alongside traditional and fresh pasta dishes, you will find pizzas from the wood-fired oven, antipasti, bruschetta, fish and seafood, and Italian meat dishes. Bread is made in house, while seasonal ingredients mean parts of the menu can change during the year.

Pizza and pasta
If you are choosing between the classics, both are taken seriously here. The pizzas come from a traditional wood-fired oven, while the pasta selection ranges from familiar Italian favourites to fresh filled pasta and more elaborate seasonal combinations. It is the kind of menu that works well when everyone at the table wants something different.

Atmosphere
Casa di David has a warm, romantic feel that suits its canal-side location. After half a century, it feels more like an established part of Amsterdam’s Italian dining scene than a restaurant trying to reinvent itself every season, making it equally suitable for a relaxed dinner and a more special evening.

Don’t miss the deli next door
Casa di David also has its own deli a few doors away at Singel 434. Its focaccia is prepared fresh each morning, alongside other Italian favourites to take away. It is worth remembering if you pass through the area during the day and do not have time for a full restaurant meal.

Location
The restaurant is at Singel 426, on the corner of Beulingsloot in the historic centre of Amsterdam. Spui, the Begijnhof, the Nine Streets and the main canals are all within easy walking distance.

Good to know
Casa di David opens for dinner every day and currently also serves lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Last-minute reservations can be arranged by phone, while groups of six or more who want to dine à la carte are asked to contact the restaurant directly. If dinner here is an important part of your plans, reserving ahead is the safer option.

The Seafood Bar is a family-run seafood restaurant that has grown into one of Amsterdam’s best-known addresses for fish and shellfish. Founder Fons de Visscher spent 27 years running a fish shop before opening the first Seafood Bar in 2012, and today the family operates several restaurants across Amsterdam.

From fish shop to restaurant
That background still shapes the concept. The focus is firmly on seafood, served without unnecessary complication and with enough variety to work equally well for a quick plate of oysters, a casual lunch or a full dinner built around fish and shellfish.

What to order
The menu ranges from oysters, mussels and fish & chips to lobster, North Sea crab, langoustines, king prawns, salmon and catch of the day. There are also dishes such as tuna tataki, grilled octopus and vongole, so you can keep things relatively simple or turn the meal into a much bigger seafood feast.

Go for a sharing platter
If it is your first visit, the sharing platters are one of the easiest ways to understand what The Seafood Bar does best. The Fruits de Mer brings together a selection of chilled shellfish and seafood served on ice, while the mixed grill focuses on seafood prepared on the plancha. There are also larger combinations for two if you want a bit of both.

Atmosphere
The restaurants have a bright, contemporary look that feels polished without becoming formal. That makes The Seafood Bar easy to fit into different kinds of days in Amsterdam, whether you are stopping for lunch between sights or settling in for oysters, wine and dinner in the evening.

Which location?
The Seafood Bar has several Amsterdam locations, and choosing the right one can save unnecessary travel. Van Baerlestraat works particularly well around Museumplein, Spui for the historic centre and canal belt, Ferdinand Bolstraat for De Pijp, and Damrak if you are exploring the area between Amsterdam Centraal and Dam Square.

Good to know
The menu is extensive enough that you do not need to order one of the large seafood platters to enjoy the restaurant. If you are sharing, however, the platters are particularly useful because they let you try several types of seafood in one order. For dinner at popular times, reserving ahead is the safer option.

Restaurant Showw is one of the newer names in Amsterdam’s Michelin-starred dining scene. Chef Dorus Floris and sommelier Lendl Mijnhijmer opened the restaurant with a clear idea: bring the precision of fine dining together with the comfort and generosity of food people genuinely enjoy eating. The approach worked quickly, with Showw earning its first Michelin star only ten months after opening.

Two people behind the Showw
Floris and Mijnhijmer previously worked together at Michelin-starred Restaurant Bougainville, and that partnership between kitchen and wine remains central to Showw. Floris brings experience from several Michelin-starred kitchens, while Mijnhijmer has built an impressive reputation in the world of wine and was awarded the Michelin Sommelier Award in 2024.

High-end comfort food
Showw describes its cooking as high-end comfort food, but that does not mean familiar dishes simply dressed up for fine dining. The kitchen combines precise technique, powerful sauces and international influences with combinations that remain approachable and focused on flavour rather than unnecessary complexity.

What to expect on the menu
The menu changes, but current dishes show the direction of the kitchen particularly well, with ingredients such as tuna, Oosterschelde lobster, langoustine, turbot and veal appearing alongside carefully constructed vegetable dishes. You can choose the tasting menu or order à la carte, and there is also a dedicated vegetarian tasting menu.

Wine is part of the experience
Wine is not an afterthought here. Mijnhijmer’s extensive selection and carefully considered pairings are an important part of the Showw experience. If you enjoy discovering wine alongside food rather than simply ordering a familiar bottle, this is one of the restaurant’s strongest reasons to visit.

Atmosphere
Despite the Michelin star, Showw deliberately avoids feeling stiff. The restaurant is modern and elegant, but the atmosphere is more relaxed and lounge-like than traditional fine dining. With around 60 covers, it also remains compact enough for the service to feel personal.

Location
Showw is at Gelrestraat 28 in Amsterdam-Zuid, inside the Crossover building near Amsterdam RAI. It is outside the historic centre but easy to reach by train, metro and tram, making it particularly convenient if you are staying around Zuidas, RAI or the southern part of the city.

Good to know
Showw currently serves dinner from Thursday through Monday and lunch on Sunday and Monday. Online reservations are available for parties of up to six; larger groups should contact the restaurant directly. If you are driving, a limited number of parking spaces are available in the Crossover building and need to be arranged with the restaurant.

Maoz Falafel is an Amsterdam original. The first Maoz opened in the heart of the city in 1991, long before the name expanded internationally. More than three decades later, the formula is still refreshingly simple: freshly made falafel, warm pita and a generous self-service salad bar that lets you build the meal exactly the way you like it.

Born in Amsterdam
What many visitors do not realise is that Maoz started here. The original concept combined vegetarian fast food with fresh ingredients and plenty of choice, eventually growing from Amsterdam into an international falafel brand with locations elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

How it works
Order your falafel and pita at the counter, then head to the salad bar and finish it yourself. With more than 15 salads and sauces in the Maoz selection, you can keep things fresh and simple or load your pita with vegetables, pickles and different sauces. The salad bar is all you can eat, so you can go back for more.

More than falafel
Falafel remains the classic order, but there are other options too. You can choose a salad box and add ingredients such as falafel, mushroom shoarma or hummus, while fries and other extras can turn a quick snack into a more filling meal.

Atmosphere
Maoz is fast food in the literal sense: casual, straightforward and designed for a quick meal rather than a long restaurant evening. That makes it particularly useful when you are sightseeing, shopping or simply want something fresh and filling without losing too much time.

Locations
Maoz has several locations in Amsterdam. The current line-up includes Albert Cuypstraat 67 in De Pijp, Damrak 40 in the historic centre and Haarlemmerstraat 42, making it easy to fit a falafel stop into very different routes through the city.

Good to know
The real advantage of Maoz is the freedom to build your own meal. If you are vegetarian or simply looking for a quick meat-free lunch, it is one of the easiest options in Amsterdam. Just don’t fill the pita completely at the salad bar on your first attempt: leaving a little room makes the second round considerably less architectural.