Finding somewhere to eat in Amsterdam is tough – not because there are few options, or the quality is poor, but because there are so many delicious choices that selecting one means you sacrifice an incredible meal from somewhere else.
As a popular residence city and tourist destination, Amsterdam hosts a world of cuisines while keeping the classics at the forefront. I had the pleasure of staying in the city for a week and was keen on trying as wide of a variety as I could while I was there.
Here are ten places that are worth seeking out next time you’re in the city – no matter the vibe you’re looking for:
Modern Cuisine in Amsterdam
BAK | Van Diemenstraat 408, 1013 CR Amsterdam, Netherlands
BAK restaurant is in the western part of the city, overlooking the IJ. On the weekends, a three-course lunch menu is available for €32.50, showcasing local and seasonal ingredients and innovative techniques. The portion sizes are just right, and the courses are subtly flavorful. While the price was higher than I tend to pay for lunches when traveling, this felt like a nice, special treat after a long flight.
—
Hip & Trendy Restaurants in Amsterdam
Vegan Junk Food Bar | Multiple Locations Cannibale Royale | Multiple Locations The Avocado Show | Multiple Locations
It should surprise absolutely no one that stylish Amsterdam creates hip and stylish restaurants. Vegan Junk Food Bar is a fully plant-based junk food restaurant with three locations in Amsterdam (we visited the West location, but after reviewing their menu, it looks like the location with most options is the De Pijp restaurant). While not traditional Dutch food, the veggie burgers and fries were hearty and filling, and veggies and meat-eaters alike will find something to love here.
As for decidedly not plant-based food establishments, Cannibale Royale takes the (beef) cake. Dinner is typically served within a pretty narrow timeframe in the Netherlands, and I discovered Cannibale Royale after missing that window by a few hours one evening. Thankfully the Handboogstraat location serves burgers and bar bites into the wee hours of the morning – the perfect meal for soaking up an evening spent bar-hopping if that’s your thing.
Easily the most Instagrammable restaurant I’ve ever visited is The Avocado Show. Decked to the nines in Millennial trends (the perfect pink, loads of greenery, neon signs, light wood accents, and, of course, the most essential fruit), the food is beautifully served and thankfully as delicious as it looks. My poke bowl (called “The Salvacado”) could have been an art display and the Wagyu Bun Burger nearly won over my avo-hating boyfriend. If I lived nearby I could see myself frequenting their new “Boutique” space for quick takeout lunches. Worth a visit just to say you went.
—
International Restaurants in Amsterdam
Sotto Pizza | Multiple Locations Cafe Bern | Nieuwmarkt 9, 1011 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sotto Pizza has two locations in Amsterdam (I enjoyed the location on Kadijksplein, as it was nearest my Airbnb), and is a member of the prestigious and notoriously tough-to-please Verace Pizzeria Napoletana. The Quattro Stagioni pie was delicious and the right size for two to share (they even cut it in half, which was a nice touch) and the wine prices are reasonable. After spending time in Italy last summer, I can say that this pie was on par with Italian pizzas.
Michael and I made a reservation at Cafe Bern not for the food (though that was certainly a nice perk!) but for the opportunity to try Swiss wines, which we’ve never been able to find in the U.S. We shared a bottle of Swiss Pinot Noir, which was delicious – soft, not too acidic, and almost a little too easy to drink – and a pot of cheese fondue and steak in a pesto sauce. I highly recommend a visit for a cozy evening with someone you love.
—
Amsterdam Food Halls
Foodhallen | Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT Amsterdam, Netherlands Mooie Boules | Zeeburgerpad 3, 1018 AJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
If you’re just in the city for a day or are looking to try lots of things at once, Foodhallen is your answer. It’s quite touristy (the woman at the Bitterballen stand was from Milwaukee, for example), but you’ll be capable of trying lots of “traditional” Dutch foods and other international cuisines all under one roof.
Like Cannibale Royale, Mooie Boules is another place where we ended up because we were hungry and it was late in the evening. A boules court and food hall, Mooie Boules was packed with groups playing the popular Provençal sport. Place your order from food stands such as Pho Sho, Pita Pita Pita, or Warung Indo via a tablet lining the wall, and wait for a text to come through letting you know your order is ready. Once you’ve got your food, grab a seat and watch a game of boules on one of eight courts for rent. It’s also the perfect place to head once next-door neighbor Brouwerij t’ IJ closes for the night.
—
Eat Local in Amsterdam
Gartine | Taksteeg 7, 1012 PB Amsterdam, Netherlands Buurtboerderij Ons Genoegen | Spaarndammerdijk 319, 1014 AA Amsterdam, Netherlands
There are homes with closets larger than the dining space at Gartine (well, not my home, but you can imagine, I’m sure). And though it’s nearly impossible to find and even more impossible to get in without a reservation, we somehow managed to do both (tip: it’s across from the Shake’n Steak). Gartine serves fresh fruits and vegetables from their garden, prepared right there in their open kitchen. Service is kind and you’ll feel comfortable lingering for as long or as little as you’d like. Both of our meals were simply as fresh as could be and served with hearty and impeccable bread.
My favorite meals almost always involve someone asking, “But how did you find us?” and our dinner at Buurtboerderij Ons Genoegen was one of those meals. We ran from the bus down a dirt path in pouring rain and tumbled through the door into the most gezellig place we would visit. Describing Buurtboerderij is difficult, but essentially it is a farm, restaurant, wellness and event space, and bargain shop intended to prepare its volunteers for (re)entry back into the workforce. At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, an evening meal is served for €9.50 per person (cash only), including a main course (meat/fish or vegetarian option) and dessert. The menu varies, and as far as I can tell is not posted online in advance, although reservations are essential. The evening we went, the menu included a hearty lasagna bolognese paired with a simple salad and a scrumptious chocolate tart. Live music adds to the community vibe on Fridays and Saturdays, and there is a bar on-site to keep the conversation flowing.
Practical Tips for Dining in Amsterdam
Times for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are pretty standard throughout the city. I mentioned that it was tough for us to find a sit-down dinner outside of the typical 7p-10p timeframe, and I don’t mean that lightly – for a city that offers places to party all night long, it is incredibly difficult to find a decent bite to eat at a late hour. I would recommend trying to stick to their meal times as much as possible – it will certainly save you the headache we faced a few times.
Prices for meals out were on par with other large cities like London, Paris, or New York. For a mid-range, sit-down meal, expect to pay €8-12 for breakfast, €12-20 for lunch, and €18-30 for dinner, all prices per person. My typical advice for saving on meals without feeling pinched is to choose one meal per day as a “nicer” meal and look for places that offer value – whatever that word may mean to you. A coffee and shared pastry stood in for a “true” breakfast most days (you could also pick up a few small things from a grocery store and eat breakfast at your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb). Many of the more upscale restaurants offer a prix-fixe lunch for a fair price, and less-expensive dinners can be found at a lot of the gastropub-esque places. Amsterdam is a city that seems to love its burgers!
It is imperative that you carry both cash and a credit card when dining out in Amsterdam (actually, when making a purchase from any business in the Netherlands), as the seemingly most popular payment method (a Dutch debit account) is not available for tourists and you may run into technical difficulties. Plus, many places only accept payment by card or cash (but not both). If you have a U.S. credit card, be sure to have a pen handy as most of our cards default to chip + signature, and many places aren’t prepared to have you sign. It’s one easy way to make paying for your meal a little less awkward.
Enjoyed this post? You may also like:
- Dutch Day Trip: Delft and The Hague
- Rotterdam Day Trip + Visit to Kinderdijk
- Getting from A to B in Amsterdam: What You Need to Know About Public Transit in the Netherlands’ Capital City
- Shopping in Amsterdam: The Stores That Are Worth Your Time and Money
- Top Amsterdam Sights and Attractions That Will Make You Want to Book a Plane Ticket Today
- Where to Find the Best Coffee in Amsterdam
- International Travel Timeline: Booking Our Trip to the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium
- 36 Hours in Luxembourg City
- Shopping in Antwerp: A Day-Trip Directory
- A Quick Stay in Brussels: What to Do in the Belgian Capital
- Like a Fairytale: A Day Trip to Bruges, Belgium
- How to Spend a Few Days in Ghent, Belgium
- Recipe: Liege Waffles
- Traveling Light: Two Weeks in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium Packing List
If you could have only one meal in Amsterdam, where would you go?
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Amsterdam and was blown away by the diverse and delicious food scene. From the innovative techniques and local ingredients at BAK to the hearty and filling veggie burgers at Vegan Junk Food Bar, there’s something for every taste and dietary preference. I also enjoyed the classic Dutch experience of cozying up at Cafe Bern with a pot of cheese fondue and a bottle of Swiss wine. And for a late-night bite, Cannibale Royale and Mooie Boules are great options. Overall, Amsterdam offers a world of culinary delights that are sure to satisfy any foodie.