From world-renowned cheese to freshly caught North Sea fish, from Surinamese roti to Japanese ramen, from budget bites to special occasion splurges, the best restaurants in Amsterdam have something for every taste and budget. Here’s our round-up of the very best!
Believe it or not, 20 years ago Amsterdam was not reputed as a foodie city at all. Dutch restaurants were known for being bland and stodgy, while international restaurants went as far as French fine dining and Italian pasta but not a lot further. Thankfully, all that has changed over recent decades, and Amsterdam now punches well above its weight when it comes to gourmet eating. The culinary capital of the Netherlands is known not only for its creative local cuisine, but also for excellent Japanese ramen, Neapolitan pizza, Indonesian rijsttafel, and a lot more besides. So forget Dutch food’s outdated reputation, pack your baggy pants, and strap in for some serious eating.
Our Picks for the 10 Best Restaurants in Amsterdam
Floreyn
Any list of the best restaurants in Amsterdam has to start with a Dutch one – and Floreyn is arguably the finest. Located near the Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp, Floreyn is a world away from the street food of the market. Seasonal, local products from Dutch soil and sea are turned into a seven or eight-course tasting menu (with wine pairings if you wish) in the expert hands of chef Jasper Holthuis. Think asparagus with juniper, wild garlic, and egg yolk. Or rhubarb with goat yogurt, hay, and cardamom. This is Dutch food as you’ve never tasted it before.
De Kas
De Kas literally translates as “the greenhouse”, and this longstanding Amsterdam institution takes up a couple of large greenhouses plus extensive gardens on the edge of Frankendael Park in Watergraafsmeer (southeast of the city center). All of this enables to chefs at de Kas to harvest their own produce every day and get it on your plate in a matter of minutes. What they can’t grow on location is cultivated 20 kilometers down the road at a farm in Beemster. Needless to say, the menu is very veg-led and highly seasonal, showcasing the best in Dutch produce.
Warung Spang Makandra
Surinamese food is also hugely popular in Amsterdam, especially as a budget option or to take away. At Warung Spang Makandra (now with two locations), you can take a seat and relax while you order classics like bakabana (battered, fried banana), Surinamese sandwiches, saoto soup, or full roti dishes: yellow curry with meat, potatoes, long beans, egg, and the famous Surinamese flatbreads. All for just a handful of euros.
Blauw
Indonesian cuisine is a must when in Amsterdam, and perhaps our favorite comes from restaurant Blauw – a little off the beaten path at the far end of the Vondelpark. Blauw’s rijsttafel comes in dozens of boat-shaped dishes to share, from mild to spicy, eaten with rice. We love their moreish chicken satay and beef rendang, not to mention Blauw’s “grand dessert” for two people, with classics like spekkoek and mango ice cream, as well as more adventurous flavors like durian parfait.
A-Fusion
Hands down the best Asian fusion food in Amsterdam (in our humble opinion) comes from A-Fusion in Amsterdam’s very own Chinatown on the Zeedijk. You mustn’t leave without trying the rib-eye truffle flambé nigiri, umami oysters, and steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli. Better still, leave the ordering in the hands of the chef; with the Bib Gourmand menu, you’ll be treated to round after round of absolute deliciousness.
Fou Fow
For reasons we don’t entirely understand, Amsterdam has some of the best ramen joints in Europe. They started to pop up around a decade ago, and strong competition did the rest. The first was Fou Fow, now with two locations for ramen and one for udon. You can expect all the classic like tonkotsu, shio and miso ramen, plus fantastic tan tan men. The broths and noodles are exquisite, while the char siu, eggs, seaweed, and other toppings never disappoint. Fou Fow may be the original but it’s still one of the best.
nNea
While Italian food has long since been a staple in Amsterdam, it wasn’t until nNea came along that the city found itself on the map for being home to one of the top 50 pizzas in Europe. nNea’s Neapolitan dough is pillow-y soft and airy, while its tomatoes come from the volcanic soils of Italy. Pizzas range from classics like the margherita and marinara, to more innovative options like the carne alla pizzaiola topped with slow-cooked beef, squeezed plum tomatoes, garlic, smoked scamorza, and oregano. Fast food this is not.
Fromagerie Abraham Kef
The Dutch are a tad obsessed with their cheese, and for good reason. Luckily, you can taste all the kaas the Netherlands has to offer (spoiler alert: it’s not just Gouda) as well as plenty of French fromage at Abraham Kef’s proeflokaal (tasting room) in Amsterdam Noord. Your best bet is to order the Dégustation Intermédiaire, which comprises two platters of nine cheeses in total, building up in intensity from mild to strong and ranging from runny to hard. Your cheese tasting is accompanied by two glasses of wine or craft beer, and can be supplemented with a charcuterie board to turn it into a full meal.
WILS
Awarded a Michelin star just a year after opening, WILS is a restaurant where refinement meets back-to-basics cooking: with fire. The open kitchen means diners can watch as chefs cook on the firepit, wood-burning stove, and wood-fired ovens. A la carte options are available, but we advise you to splash out on the four or six-course chef’s menu that truly showcases the culinary excellence on offer. If you’re lucky, you can step up to the kitchen and watch as the chefs heat beef tallow in a flambadou (cone-shaped metal contraption on the end of a long metal pole) and use it to sear a langoustine tail. This is perhaps some of the most creative cooking in Amsterdam.
Gartine
Tucked down an alleyway just off the leafy Spui square and bustling Kalverstraat, Gartine offers much-needed respite during a day of shopping or sightseeing. Open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, its quaint interior offers a moment of serenity as well as exquisite refreshments. Much of their produce comes straight from their own allotments, which means their soups and quiches are garden-fresh. Gartine’s cakes and scones are also divine – just like your grandmother would’ve made them (if you had a Dutch grandmother who was a really good cook!).
Join a local expert for delicious bites on our Ultimate Amsterdam Food & History Tour. Taste the rich culinary history of the Netherlands for yourself as you explore three of Amsterdam’s most picturesque neighborhoods!
