Restaurants
Amsterdam Restaurants: The ultimate guide to the best dining experiences
Restaurants in Amsterdam
Eating out in Amsterdam is mainly a matter of proper selection. Not every restaurant is for every night, and those who know that difference once rarely go wrong. The city has plenty of places where the food is good - the question is mainly why you sit down somewhere.
Restaurants where the food plays the main role
There are addresses you go to because you fancy an evening where everything revolves around the plate. You take your time, you let yourself be surprised and you accept that the pace is not set by you. These are places where seasons, product and technique are leading. Think of restaurants where you notice serious cooking without being stiff.
The Greenhouse
RIJKS
Reliable spots for every week
Opposed to that are the restaurants that are your regulars for most of the year. Not exciting, but good. You come here because you know it's right: the menu is clear, the cuisine consistent and the atmosphere relaxed. These are restaurants where you sit down during the week as easily as on weekends, and where no one is surprised if you come to eat alone.
[Internal link: eateries in Amsterdam]
[Internal link: neighborhood restaurants Amsterdam]
Kitchens that you find everywhere - and that's precisely why they count
Amsterdam has long been eating internationally. Italian restaurants are so established that the difference is mainly in how they cook, not what they serve. French cuisine is mostly found in places where attention and structure are important. Japanese and sushi restaurants range from quick and functional to distinctly specialized. Those here who choose by style rather than name tend to eat better.
Italian Restaurants Amsterdam
French Restaurants Amsterdam
Asian restaurants Amsterdam
Restaurants with a distinct signature
Some restaurants don't attract everyone - and that's exactly the point. They have a distinct way of cooking or serving and deviate from what you see everywhere. That requires a little more attention from the guest, but also provides something you don't easily find elsewhere. These are places you consciously go to, and rarely end up at by chance.
Food as part of the place
There are restaurants that work because they coincide with their surroundings. Not separate from the neighborhood, the terrain or the idea they are part of. You come here as much for the setting as for the food, and often stay longer than planned. These are addresses where lunch imperceptibly turns into drinks and where evenings naturally grow longer.
Café de Ceuvel
New restaurants that add something
Not every opening is relevant, but some new restaurants actually fill a gap. A different cuisine, a different tone or simply a place that pops up at just the right time. These restaurants are worth following precisely because they don't try to copy what's already there.
[Internal link: new restaurants Amsterdam]