Bars and restaurants
Twee Prinsen, Jordaan
This natural-wine bar has the same no-fuss good-produce philosophy as its sibling restaurant, cult favourite Binnenvisser. Order whatever is available by the glass – the list constantly rotates but the focus is on small, low-intervention producers from the Loire, Jura, Beaujolais and northern Italy. Try the snacks and linger for a few hours.
De Kas, Oost
What was once a municipal greenhouse in Park Frankendael was converted in 2001 into what would become one of Amsterdam’s most distinguished restaurants. The interiors by Piet Boon feature eight-metre-high glass ceilings and an open kitchen. Some 300 varieties of vegetables are grown on site, forming the basis for the set menu. And while the menu changes weekly, recurring dishes include the slow-cooked heritage beet with whipped goat’s curd.
Bouillon d’Amsterdam, Burgwallen Nieuwe Zijde
Set in Hotel Die Port van Cleve, Bouillon d’Amsterdam takes the charm of Parisian bouillons and adds a local touch. Inside, you’ll find wood panelling, a red marble bar – and the feeling of being in a classic neighbourhood watering hole. The menu leans into Gallic classics: expect to find rustic terrine de campagne, steak frites with buttery Café de Paris sauce, good table wines and crusty baguettes.
Bocca Coffee, Centrum
In a former garage on Kerkstraat you’ll find one of the country’s best speciality coffee roasters, offering beans sourced directly from Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil and Kenya. Local residents come here to compare pour-overs and it’s also where Amsterdam’s baristas come to train. There are no laptops allowed on weekends – Bocca insists that your attention is better spent enjoying the atmosphere or appreciating its brews.
Oficina, De Baarsjes
Oficina is a minimalist canteen complete with shared tables and plenty of natural light. On weekends, it serves a brunch menu of vegetable-forward dishes made using Japanese-influenced techniques. Try the oatmeal griddle cake with maple brown butter or the scrambled eggs with miso bagna cauda and radicchio. Japanese tea tastings are also offered. If you have time, check out sister venue Fonda Café, on the first floor of the Stedelijk Museum.
Uncommon, Oud-West
This all-day, laptop-free café takes its coffee-sourcing seriously, only selling beans under its label that it has traded in directly. Better still, background information about its producers are displayed on its packaging and at the bar. Uncommon also serves “wild” pastries made from foraged and unconventional ingredients – try the pine-needle croissant and fermented-grain morning bun.
Sichuan Food, Centrum
Locals and generations of food enthusiasts have approved of the Chinese fare here since it first appeared in the 1980s. Order the dan dan noodles, the twice-cooked pork and the cold cucumber with chilli oil, all of which is best paired with either a Tsingtao or a pot of jasmine tea.
Café Cenc, Centrum
From the team behind Bar Parry and Balthazar’s Keuken, Cenc is a fine addition to Amsterdam’s small-plates scene. The multi-level space features a marble bar and offers butter towers, lots of Campari and a menu of seafood prepared simply and well. The cockles in white port beurre blanc, the crab with lemon mayonnaise and the grilled turbot with Café de Paris butter are must-orders.
Gebr. Hartering, Centrum
Brothers Niek and Paul Hartering run this canal-side bistro on Peperstraat, which is one of the city’s most reliable spots for an evening out. At the centre of the open-kitchen is a charcoal grill and there’s a choice of three-, five- and seven-dish courses planned around what’s best at market that day. If it’s listed, order the chicken-liver mousse with toasted brioche, pickled cauliflower and crispy skin. Book well ahead.
REM Eiland, Houthavens
In 1964, a pirate broadcasting platform was built in international waters to evade Dutch television regulations. Since 2011, the property has operated as a restaurant, sitting on stilts above the IJ at the edge of the Houthavens. The ceviche, grilled North Sea fish and seasonal salads are creative and shareable, while the drinks list is well considered -– enjoy a house negroni or order a bottle of Dutch genever.
