Guidebook for Amsterdam
Food Scene
Close by, informal, good food, cosy. Note: you can't reserve a table, so go earlyish.
32 locals recommend
Café Restaurant De Reiger
34 Nieuwe LeliestraatClose by, informal, good food, cosy. Note: you can't reserve a table, so go earlyish.
Excellent value Turkish food: fresh mezze and grilled meat or fish. Not for a romantic evening but for some honest fare.
43 locals recommend
Orontes - Amsterdam West - Turks Restaurant - Mediterraans Restaurant
8 Hugo de GrootpleinExcellent value Turkish food: fresh mezze and grilled meat or fish. Not for a romantic evening but for some honest fare.
Sweet little Italian restaurant in a nice location just around the corner. The street had lots of Italian restaurants. Opposite is a wonderful ice cream place: Monte Pelmo. People queue up for the homemade Italian icecream.
15 locals recommend
La Trattoria Di Donna Sofia
300 AnjeliersstraatSweet little Italian restaurant in a nice location just around the corner. The street had lots of Italian restaurants. Opposite is a wonderful ice cream place: Monte Pelmo. People queue up for the homemade Italian icecream.
New hotspot in town, so reserve in time. Beautiful food, simple but cosy decor. For a special night out.
63 locals recommend
BREDA
210 SingelNew hotspot in town, so reserve in time. Beautiful food, simple but cosy decor. For a special night out.
Housed in an unassuming brown cafe, this restaurant is a cut above the ordinary. Only set menus, but standard is high. Also nice for a leisurely lunch.
109 locals recommend
Restaurant Daalder
1 PostjeswegHoused in an unassuming brown cafe, this restaurant is a cut above the ordinary. Only set menus, but standard is high. Also nice for a leisurely lunch.
Great location on the 3rd floor of an old warehouse overlooking a harbour, this restaurant serves imaginative food with local ingredients. Set menus only.
101 locals recommend
BAK restaurant
408 Van DiemenstraatGreat location on the 3rd floor of an old warehouse overlooking a harbour, this restaurant serves imaginative food with local ingredients. Set menus only.
Take a free ferry to NDSM island (one leaves from Central Station, one from Westerdok) to this funky place with good food on the waterfront. In the summer there's a beachy feel to the terrace. Also good for lunch. Nearby Noorderlicht is also great.
1052 locals recommend
Pllek
59 T.T. NeveritawegTake a free ferry to NDSM island (one leaves from Central Station, one from Westerdok) to this funky place with good food on the waterfront. In the summer there's a beachy feel to the terrace. Also good for lunch. Nearby Noorderlicht is also great.
In the Tolhuistuin (THT) they serve small dishes that you share. A bit like tapas, but not Spanish. The food is delicious and of you have two or three dishes each, it's enough, so it's never expensive. It's a big place with a nice buzz. Also handy if you plan to see a film or an exhibition in the nearby EYE film museum. You need to take a free ferry behind Central Station to Buiksloterweg, turn left when you get off.
322 locals recommend
Tolhuistuin
2 IJpromenadeIn the Tolhuistuin (THT) they serve small dishes that you share. A bit like tapas, but not Spanish. The food is delicious and of you have two or three dishes each, it's enough, so it's never expensive. It's a big place with a nice buzz. Also handy if you plan to see a film or an exhibition in the nearby EYE film museum. You need to take a free ferry behind Central Station to Buiksloterweg, turn left when you get off.
One of my favourite restaurants located in an old bank building. I love the food and the atmosphere here. Set menu only but you can let them know what you don't like/eat. terrific value, I find. Wines are not expensive. You need to take a free ferry from behind Central Station to Buiksloterweg and then it's a short bicycle ride away. The area is still a bit rough, but up and coming.
131 locals recommend
Café Modern
2 MeidoornwegOne of my favourite restaurants located in an old bank building. I love the food and the atmosphere here. Set menu only but you can let them know what you don't like/eat. terrific value, I find. Wines are not expensive. You need to take a free ferry from behind Central Station to Buiksloterweg and then it's a short bicycle ride away. The area is still a bit rough, but up and coming.
Creative and imaginative cuisine in this new restaurant in what used to be a bit of a grubby area near Central Station. Meat, fish or vegetarian menus and the vegetarian food is particularly good. Everything organic.
61 locals recommend
Choux
128 De RuijterkadeCreative and imaginative cuisine in this new restaurant in what used to be a bit of a grubby area near Central Station. Meat, fish or vegetarian menus and the vegetarian food is particularly good. Everything organic.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun, busy, friendly cafe in one of the liveliest streets of the Jordaan. Wine is not so good here so drink beer.
202 locals recommend
Café de Tuin
13 Tweede TuindwarsstraatFun, busy, friendly cafe in one of the liveliest streets of the Jordaan. Wine is not so good here so drink beer.
Beautiful old café in a lovely location on the canal. There's a terrace opposite the café on a boat for warm summer evenings. Decent wines.
90 locals recommend
't Smalle
12 EgelantiersgrachtBeautiful old café in a lovely location on the canal. There's a terrace opposite the café on a boat for warm summer evenings. Decent wines.
One of the most famous views of Amsterdam because it's such an old and beautiful building on the corner of two main canals. Very old, traditional café with a local clientele.
71 locals recommend
Cafe Papeneiland
2 PrinsengrachtOne of the most famous views of Amsterdam because it's such an old and beautiful building on the corner of two main canals. Very old, traditional café with a local clientele.
Parks & Nature
Westerpark is not just any park. This former industrial area has some wonderful 19th century building with cafes, restaurants, music venues and a cinema. There are wide open spaces, wetlands, playgrounds, park area with a fountain, picnic spots and lots more. In the weekend there are often festivals or markets. On the first Sunday of the month there is a Sunday Market with food stalls, design, clothes and lots more. Beware of pickpockets.
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 HaarlemmerwegWesterpark is not just any park. This former industrial area has some wonderful 19th century building with cafes, restaurants, music venues and a cinema. There are wide open spaces, wetlands, playgrounds, park area with a fountain, picnic spots and lots more. In the weekend there are often festivals or markets. On the first Sunday of the month there is a Sunday Market with food stalls, design, clothes and lots more. Beware of pickpockets.
Arts & Culture
Foam
609 KeizersgrachtPhotography museum. The Helmut Newton exhibition runs until 4th September.
Shopping
Sells the Amsterdam brand King Louie which is especially known for its stylish but practical dresses, very popular with Dutch women who want to look good but still need to be able to ride their bicycles. The brand also has a market stall on Mondays and Saturdays on Noordermarkt with discounted items.
King Louie
10 HartenstraatSells the Amsterdam brand King Louie which is especially known for its stylish but practical dresses, very popular with Dutch women who want to look good but still need to be able to ride their bicycles. The brand also has a market stall on Mondays and Saturdays on Noordermarkt with discounted items.