Top Dining Experiences in Amsterdam
Amsterdam continues to carve out a niche as one of Europe’s most exciting food and drink scenes. The Dutch capital combines its respect for tradition with its flair for design, global outlook, and commitment to sustainability in everything from bite-sized snacks to fine dining and fearlessly original new concepts. Here are our top picks for where to eat in Amsterdam.
1. Helling 7
Amsterdam’s hottest dining space isn’t post-industrial; it’s industrial. Built over a slipway at the Damen ship-repair yard from recycled and reclaimed materials, including steel-hull plating and boat-deck timber floors, diners at Helling 7 look over cranes and container ships. Virtually everything, including the cote de boeuf (rib steak) and catch of the day, is cooked over the flaming wood-fired grill in the open kitchen and served at white-clothed tables in the cavernous, glass-paned interior or vast wharf-side terrace with a retractable roof.
2. D’Vijff Vlieghen
The enchanting D’Vijff Vlieghen (Five Flies) rambles over five Golden Age canal houses in Amsterdam’s medieval center. Romantic nooks and crannies retain features such as carved timber paneling, Delft blue-and-white tiles, and extraordinary antiques and art (including Rembrandt originals), complementing refined Dutch-sourced cuisine such as Zeeland seaweed–wrapped herring with red-beetroot and rye-bread crumble, and oyster crème.
3. REM Eiland
A red-metal former North Sea pirate broadcasting station, REM Eiland now rises 22m (72ft) above the IJ in Nieuwe Houthaven. A rockstar team of Amsterdam restaurateurs took over the extraordinary structure in 2021, with TV-famed Dutch chef Bobby Rust flexing his creativity in four- to six-course chef’s menus and inspired bar snacks (tandoori chicken tacos; ribs with smoked eel…). The rig’s three platforms have 360-degree views, including from the former helipad rooftop.
4. Restaurant Floreyn
Dutch cuisine is at the cutting edge at Floreyn. Its sparing dining room references its locale with a wall-mounted bike sculpture (seemingly fished from the canal) and a central pillar marked with a NAP zero-elevation marker, signifying diners enjoying a unique meal below sea level. The star of the show is the food – bread with freshly churned goats-milk butter; pickled mackerel with horseradish ice cream; clear, deconstructed mustard soup with cheese foam; roast roe deer with deer-liver balkenbrij (traditional Dutch offal); and for dessert, speculaas spice cake with galangal mousse and coffee soil – paired with local Dutch wines.
5. Vleminckx
Frites (fries) have been sizzled up at Vleminckx for decades, achieving cult status in this little hole-in-the-wall. Visitors can choose from more than two dozen sauces – from classic mayonnaise to spicy ketchup, sambal, or satay – to slather on their coneful while standing in the inevitable line. This popular spot is beloved for good reason.
6. Ciel Bleu
Fine dining reaches dizzying heights at the twin-Michelin-starred Ciel Bleu, located on the Hotel Okura’s panoramic 23rd floor with glittering skyline views. Multicourse menus are intricately crafted, and an entire degustation menu is dedicated to caviar (you can also order caviar tastings in increments of 10g). For the ultimate indulgence, consider a front-row seat at its chef’s table.
7. Miss G’s Brunch Boat
Combining the love of brunch with the scenic canals of Amsterdam, the “world’s first brunch boat” departs from Keizersgracht for a leisurely 1½-hour cruise. Revitalizing brunch dishes include eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, breakfast burritos, and a Dirty North (toasted brioche with smoked salmon, avocado, mascarpone, and chives) along with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. The bottomless option with unlimited drinks, including five different Bloody Marys, makes this experience truly unique.
8. Restaurant Blauw
An unmissable dining experience related to the Netherlands’ historical ties to the islands is a rijsttafel (“rice table” aka Indonesian banquet). Restaurant Blauw stakes a justifiable claim to being the best in the city, showcasing tiny, aromatic sharing dishes with various spice levels served with white rice, in meat, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan versions.
9. Morris & Bella
Proving that vegan dining and gastronomy aren’t mutually exclusive, Morris & Bella utilize produce sourced from local farms and foraged from meadows and forests in stunning creations such as green beans with lemon, white-bean miso, fermented kohlrabi, and piccalilli ice cream; potato muffins with char-grilled celeriac; and hazelnut sponge with spiced-pumpkin chutney. Its sophisticated, minimalistic dining room opens onto a sunny street-side terrace.
10. Stubbe’s Haring
Located on the Singel canal near Centraal Station, Stubbe’s Haring is one of that rare breed of traditional herring houses that still exist, serving brine-cured herring that is either chopped and eaten with a toothpick or placed in a fluffy white-bread roll, accompanied by diced onion and sweet pickles. This establishment has been going strong for over a century.
11. Kaasbar
Kaasbar ingeniously delivers 24 Dutch varieties of cheese handcrafted by small-scale producers beneath glass cloches aboard its kaastrain (“cheese train”), a sushi-style conveyor belt that circumnavigates the bar. Each cheese comes with an accompanying garnish and pairing suggestions for wine, beer, or cocktails. Blue cheese or truffle Gouda fondue are excellent winter warmers.
12. Foodhallen
Foodhallen is an airy communal dining space surrounded by 21 food and drink stands. Highlights include burgers by Amsterdam icon The Butcher and popular Dutch bar snack bitterballen (meat-filled croquettes). Located within the larger De Hallen complex, formerly tram sheds from 1902 repurposed as a cultural and dining venue, it’s a vibrant spot for discovering culinary delights.
13. Hap Hmm
Dating back to 1935, Hap Hmm radiates warmth with its home-style comfort food, including chicken cooked in Amsterdam beer, grandmother’s-recipe meatballs, and locally award-winning schnitzel. For dessert, enjoy Dutch favorite pancakes served with whipped cream and ice cream or stewed rhubarb or pear.
14. Vegan Junk Food Bar
Situated near Amsterdam’s floating flower market, the Vegan Junk Food Bar is known for its innovative plant-based, meatless alternatives. Delight in tapioca-starch seafood, loaded fries adorned with flower petals, and brightly colored burgers that match its eye-catching street-art decor and hip hop and R&B soundtrack. Local craft beers are provided by Two Chefs Brewing.
15. Moon
For a unique dining experience, head up to the A’DAM Tower’s 19th floor and its revolving restaurant, Moon. Here, three- to seven-course menus, either “full moon” (sea- and land-based) or “green moon” (vegetarian), change monthly in tune with the seasons and can be paired with wine or tea. A full revolution of the city takes about an hour.
This article was first published Mar 3, 2020, and updated Dec 15, 2023.
