Amsterdam, Netherlands — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Restaurants
Expensive
Christophe
Chef Jean-Christophe Royer is fully deserving of his Michelin star for his clever blending of French style with US experience and East Asian influences to great effect. The result is exotic flavor combinations, such as cod and merguez sausage, with preserved Cevennes onions in a reduction of red wine and vinegar. His culinary creations are served with flair in a chic, contemporary canal-side restaurant. Reservations are essential. Only open for dinner.
Leliegracht 46
Tel: (020) 625 0807.
Website: www.christophe.nl
De Belhamel
Stylish continental cuisine at affordable prices is the specialty at this sumptuous art nouveau-style restaurant, overlooking a picturesque, leafy canal in the bohemian Jordaan district. The signature dish (beef with poached shallots and Armagnac and anise mushroom sauce) is a must, followed by crème brûlée with vanilla ice cream and a cinnamon galette or Dutch cookies served with vanilla-flavored mascarpone and red fruits. Booking is advisable, especially for the sought-after tables on the terrace.
Brouwersgracht 60
Tel: (020) 622 1095.
Website: www.belhamel.nl
De Silveren Spiegel
Fish is the specialty on the haute cuisine menu of this intimate, candlelit restaurant, housed in two beautifully restored 17th-century townhouses near the Centraal Station. Menu highlights include Zaandam mustard soup with bacon crackling, lukewarm smoked eel from Volendam with cucumber salad and white wine and horseradish sauce, a sensational calf's liver terrine with bacon and apple sauce or grilled filet of brill with seasonal vinaigrettes.
Kattengatt 4-6
Tel: (020) 624 6589.
Website: www.desilverenspiegel.com
Envy
This creation by the legendary people behind über-cool restaurant and bar Supper Club is a firm favorite of the Amsterdam style brigade. The immaculate staff look like they have just walked straight off the catwalk and the décor is suitably stylish and smoothly minimalist. The most popular option is a five-course tasting menu that combines fresh local ingredients and culinary influences from all over the world.
Prinsengracht 381
Tel: (020) 344 6407.
Website: www.envy.nl
Moderate
Café van Puffelen
At the back of this intimate, sawdust-strewn brown bar, there is a cosy restaurant that serves generous portions of tasty, modern Dutch food. The mustard soup with mussels, followed by salmon marinated in beetroot with a saffron dressing, with delicious cherry clafoutis for dessert, is highly recommended. The handmade chocolates served with coffee should not be overlooked. During the summer, a barge moored outside doubles as a terrace.
Prinsengracht 377
Tel: (020) 624 6270.
Website: www.restaurantvanpuffelen.com
d'Vijff Vlieghen
d'Vijff Vlieghen (The Five Flies) is a cosy, candlelit restaurant that is popular with both tourists and locals. Set in a series of period rooms and spread over five ancient, rambling, 17th-century canal houses, the dark wooden paneling, crisp white linens and antique furnishings of the interiors create a formal yet intimate setting. Typically experimental dishes include spring onion soup laced with berry-flavored Dutch gin or red perch with sauerkraut, with tangy plum compote for dessert.
Spuistraat 294-302
Tel: (020) 530 4060.
Website: www.d-vijffvlieghen.com
Krua Thai Classic
This is one of the city's best and most stylish Asian restaurants, with subdued lighting, sleek chairs and candles on the tables. Diners are ushered into Krua Thai Classic by smooth Thai staff in suave rather than overblown traditional dress. Highlights include juicy chicken satay to start and mains such as Penang beef. Sticky rice with coconut milk and mango is a good way for diners to cool down after the hotter dishes.
Staalstraat 22
Tel: (020) 622 9533.
Website: www.kruathai.nl
Rain
This bar/restaurant/club complex is a breath of fresh air on touristy Rembrandtplein. The bouncers and dark facade are a bit off-putting, but it is worth the effort of getting inside to enjoy a funky, visually impressive space. The menu covers three different types of cuisine (Asian, Continental and Mediterranean) and carries each off impressively well.
Rembrandtplein 44
Tel: (020) 626 7078.
Website: www.rain-amsterdam.com
Cheap
De Keuken van 1870
Once a soup kitchen for the poor, this basic, old-fashioned establishment now serves huge platefuls of cheap, no-frills Dutch fare to workers and tourists alike, all seated at communal tables. Visitors should expect traditional staples, such as stamppot (a meaty stew) and paling (smoked eel).
Spuistraat 4
Tel: (020) 620 4018.
Website: www.keukenvan1870.nl
Pancake Bakery
Situated in a lovely old gabled canal house, the Pancake Bakery is a friendly restaurant that claims to produce 'the best pancakes in town'. With over 70 different sweet and savoury toppings, the choice can be bewildering. Offerings range from the simple syrup or sugar pancake variety to gourmet creations such as pancake with cheese, sunflower seed, onion and mushroom. Dessert is just as adventurous, including the Dutch favorite of a hot cherry, vanilla ice cream, cherry liqueur and whipped cream pancake.
Prinsengracht 191
Tel: (020) 625 1333.
Website: www.pancake.nl
Wagamama
The highly successful Wagamama formula works well in Amsterdam. Those in the know will be pleased to hear that all of the Wagamama staples are here - the communal seating, the chopsticks and, of course, the great big bowls of noodles. Prices are reasonable for large and healthy portions of ramen noodle dishes and spicy curries. The communal seating may not be to everyone's liking.
Max Eeuweplein 10
Tel: (020) 528 7778.
Website: www.wagamama.com
Nightlife
Amsterdam is one of Europe's top party cities. At night, it is like a human zoo, with all sorts of weird and wonderful activities on offer. The city can be the venue for a romantic stroll or a night spent bar-hopping before partying until dawn in one of the city's top clubs. It could even be a nefarious evening, dipping into the dirty underbelly of a city with few inhibitions.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is one of the most hip areas in the city for bar and clubs. If you are interested in listening to live bands and dancing the night away, head for the Rembrantsplein-Leidseplein area. If you want seedy, then head for Walletjes and indulge. The gay and lesbian scene thrives in Amsterdam, with Reguliersdwarsstraat one of the more cutting-edge nightlife areas.
Amsterdam's clubs usually open at 2200 and, by law, must close promptly at 0400 during the week and 0500 at the weekend. The mainstream clubs prefer a smart-casual dress, with no trainers or jeans. Anything goes at the funkier, more cutting-edge venues.
Amsterdam tolerates the sale and use of soft drugs, which centers around smoking cafés or coffee shops. These places usually have a drugs 'menu', with all sorts of nefarious offerings available.
Bars
Café Kale de Derde
Current favorite watering holes of the local ‘in' crowd include the Café Kale de Derde, with its chic art deco décor (all pastels, mints and Buddhas) and smooth cocktails.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 18-20
Tel: (020) 470 0651.
Website: www.18twintig.nl
De Stil
Whisky lovers should head for De Stil, which boasts hundreds of single malt whiskies as well as old whisky barrels that serve as tables. The owners are friendly and will coach whisky virgins through the first stages of discovering whisky unaided by cola or water as a mixer.
Spuistraat 326
In De Wildeman
Beer aficionados should make a beeline for In De Wildeman, a former distillery tasting house which serves 17 beers on draught and over 200 bottled beers and from all over Europe. In de Wildeman is a unique, authentic bar without music.
Kolksteeg 3
Tel: (020) 638 2348.
Website: www.indewildeman.nl
Clubs
Escape deLux
One of the biggest clubs in the heart of Amsterdam, Escape deLux offers a diet of dance music in an intimate venue.
Amstel 80
Website: www.escape.nl
Panama
Panama caters to an older crowd in the up-and-coming Zeeburg warehouse district. Try the original Panamartini (vodka, crema ciocolata and espresso).
Oostelijke Handelskade 4
Tel: (020) 311 8686.
Website: www.panama.nl
Rain
Rain is a huge nightlife complex right at the heart of Rembrandtplein that is a hybrid bar/restaurant/nightclub, all the rage in Amsterdam at the moment. It is worth battling past the scary-looking bouncers. For music, expect a blend of global sounds, including hip-hop, funk, electro and house.
Rembrantplein 44
Tel: (020) 626 7078.
Website: www.rain-amsterdam.com
Live Music
ArenA Stadium
The ArenA Stadium stages many of the bigger international rock and pop acts.
ArenA Boulevard 1
Tel: (020) 311 1333.
Website: www.amsterdamarena.nl
Bimhuis
Jazz has always been popular in Amsterdam. Many of the jazz greats have lived in the city, including Chet Baker, who died here. Head for Bimhuis, the city's top jazz venue. The Dutch Jazz Orchestra plays on Wednesdays and musicians from all over Europe perform on the other days of the week.
Piet Heinkade 3
Tel: (020) 788 2188.
Website: www.bimhuis.nl
Melkweg
Old dame the Melkweg seems like it has been around forever but it is still going strong and is a fun place for a party and often has rock gigs and sets by alternative acts. It is a good bet at weekends for an unpretentious and fun night out.
Lijnbaansgracht 234A
Tel: (020) 531 8181.
Website: www.melkweg.nl
