Our favorite restaurants in Amsterdam

Written By Felipe Pacifico

Here you can find all our choices for dinner, lunch or breakfast. Regardless if you want a really local family restaurant, a haute cuisine fancy table, international delicacies or just the best value for your buck, this is place to find what you are looking for. Not affiliate links or commissions, those are our very own favorites in the city.

Let’s talk about food in Amsterdam

BREAKFAST

  • WINKEL 43 - located in the charming Jordaan neighbourhood, this cafe is famous for the best apple pie in the city

  • DE KOFFIESCHENKERIJ - coffee and cakes in a cozy, wood-lined interior or on the garden terrace of a former church compound.

  • THE PANCAKE BAKERY - apparently the place has been flipping pancakes since the early 70s, and they are not slowing down. Needs a booking for tables larger than 6 people.

DUTCH CUISINE

  • MOEDERS (dinner only) - a really cozy and traditional restaurant. The walls are fully decorated with photos of mothers (moeders), and it can have yours as well! Main courses costs around 22 euros.

  • 'T HEEMELRIJCK (dinner only) - also with a unique and warming ambience, some of the family recipes have been perfected for half a century. They also serve spirits from the local distillery Wynand Fockink. Main dishes between 15 and 30 euros.

  • WILDE ZWIJNEN (dinner only) - a relatively new restaurant, they focus on local sourced and high quality seasonal products, exploring the modern aspects of the dutch cuisine. Prices around 35 euros.

  • DE SILVEREN SPIEGEL (dinner only) - on the high end of fine dinning, this Michelin rated restaurant is located in a historical building, where you can try the creations of the chef Yves van der Hoff. Seven course menu around 150 euros, seven glasses of wine pairing for 100 euros.

  • SPECTRUM (dinner only) - this is the Amsterdam sister restaurant of the De Librije, the only 3 stars Michelin restaurant in the Netherlands. Boasting an impressive 10 course menu, prices around 200 euros.

VEGAN

  • GARTINE - near Spui in Amsterdam, Gartine offers a quiet escape for breakfast, lunch, or high tea. With just 24 seats, the menu features ingredients from its kitchen garden, organic eggs, and regional Slow Food products.

  • HEART - a plant-based restaurant serving creative, globally inspired fusion dishes in a warm and welcoming space

GLUTEN FREE

  • CROQUE MADAME - a small family-run bistro just steps from Centraal Station and Dam Square, the owners are well educated in gluten issues. The Croque Madame offers a cozy spot with just sixteen seats.

PESCATARIAN AND SEA FOOD

  • PESCA - this isn’t your typical restaurant. Here, you choose your fish and sides directly from the market, where prices change throughout the day to prevent waste. The selection varies daily based on seasonal availability and weather.

  • BRUT DE MER - in Amsterdam’s lively De Pijp, offers high-quality seafood in a cozy, intimate setting. Perfect for a romantic dinner or a night with friends, it also features outdoor seating for wine and people-watching

INDONESIAN

  • MAX AMSTERDAM - serves modern Indonesian dishes with a hint of tradition, set in Amsterdam’s canal district. Enjoy a relaxed mood with a curated selection of biodynamic and natural wines.

  • INDRAPURA - located in the cultural heart of Amsterdam, has been serving authentic Indonesian cuisine for over 30 years. It's the perfect spot to gather with friends and family, offering a relaxed atmosphere and dishes that feel like home.

CHINESE

  • SEA PALACE - with intricate decor featuring Chinese warlord statues and pagoda motifs, this floating restaurant offers a unique escape near Centraal Station. The menu celebrates authentic Cantonese dishes like dim sum, stir-fried noodles, and Peking duck - an affordable Michelin adventure.

  • FULU MANDARIJN - in Amsterdam for over 40 years, serves authentic Sichuan cuisine with bold flavors and inventive dishes. Enjoy creative cocktails and the tradition of ‘Share-Dining’ for a communal experience.

JAPANESE

  • KYO - created to offer a casual, Izakaya-style experience with authentic Japanese food, sake, and beer—a perfect spot to unwind with friends.

  • AKYTSU - (temporarily closed due to street renovations)

THAI

  • PHU THAI - small family business with the tables next to an open kitchen, certainly the best thai food in the center.

MEAT AND STEAKS

  • SALMUERA - created by the owners of the first mezcaleria in Amsterdam, might be the best restaurant for south american food in the city. From mexican tapas to argentinian assados, everything tastes better at this place.

  • DAY'S STONEGRILL 1870 - amazing choices of different cuts with great garnishing, you cook the meat yourself in hot piece of rock in your table. Beware, it makes things a bit smokey. But delicious.

ITALIAN

  • FUOCO VIVO - real sour dough pizza made by italian people, and they are very friendly and passionate about it.

MOST AFFORDABLE

  • ALBERT CUYP MARKT - street food and portions for under 10 euros. Fried chicken, hering sandwiches, huge fresh made stroopwaffles and lot more.

  • 2GOOD2GO - not a restaurant but an app, where you can find which restaurants are selling food that is about to expire, but still good, for much cheaper prices.

Felipe Pacifico
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