Dutch cuisine gets a bit of a bad rap. While the stars of the table, Gouda and Edam, get a lot of international play and beers from the Netherlands certainly garner a thirsty global audience, not much else is known about Dutch gastronomy. The fact is however, that there’s a lot more going on in Dutch kitchens besides world class cheese and pastry.
A trip to cosmopolitan Amsterdam, beyond the Heineken museum and cannabis coffee shops of course, is enough to convince anyone of the Dutch capital’s merits as a great food city. Phenomenal ethnic diversity and affordable grub mingle with ultra-swish restaurants in the classy, canal city of 750,000 people.
Here are some of the best places to eat in Amsterdam, from haute cuisine to street grub.
Though a short ride from central Amsterdam, De Kas feels like light years away from the canals, cobblestone and bicycles. The fine-dining establishment is housed in the city’s former municipal nursery and was saved from demolition by Michelin-star chef Gert Jan Hageman. The greenhouse backdrop is not simply for show – the restaurant features a wide variety of homegrown produce on an ever-evolving and eclectic menu. For a special treat, book the chef’s table or in summer, reserve a patio table in the restaurant’s lush herb garden.
Be sure to try: Homemade breads and herb salads from the garden.
Just outside Amsterdam in Oudekerk aan de Amstel, Ron Blaauw emphasizes local produce and slants towards French cuisine. The modern room is sexy and contemporary, with a compatible menu approach. Diners have a few options at their disposal: the Progress, Almost Classic or Alliance menu. The Progress menu, by far the most fun, thrusts inventive new creations on diners, while the Almost Classic menu features immovable staples from the restaurant’s past repertoire. The Alliance is a concensus menu, with unanimous new classics of the season from the kitchen’s skilled team of chefs.
Be sure to try: Fried mushrooms with canap? of goose liver and smoked quail egg yolk.
On the 23rd floor of the prestigious Hotel Okura, Ciel Bleu is the only two-star Michelin establishment in the city. The professional kitchen’s philosophy is haute cuisine all the way, with the requisite price tag of course. No detail is left out at Ciel Bleu, where every facet of the restaurant operation, from stemware to table linens, powder rooms to service, is first class. One of the most glamorous dining rooms in Amsterdam, chefs Onno Kokmeijer and Anna Speelman do reach from time to time into the Dutch playbook to inspire their French creations. Ciel Bleu’s extensive wine list will please discerning oenophiles as well.
Be sure to try: The sweetbreads.
La Rive’s spectacular location puts more pressure on the kitchen staff than any restaurant in Amsterdam. Located in the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, the only Grand Hotel in the city and one of the best in the world, La Rive is the crown jewel restaurant, with a long tradition of excellence. While reputations provide many chefs with the opportunity to coast, that luxury is one Rog?r Rassin can never afford. The Amstel is a Dutch landmark and as such, every plate at La Rive must pass a rigorous inspection. For romance, ambiance and haute cuisine, the restaurant is tough to beat.
Be sure to try: The Dutch hare and the cheese plate.
Late night and affordable eats
Most people travel on a budget and can’t indulge in Michelin star restaurants every night, which makes Amsterdam a terrific place to explore. While posh establishments abound, the city is also awash with superb food stalls and late night snack shops. There’s a decent Indonesian eatery around every corner and a heaping cone of frites, complete with sauces, or solid falafel sandwich, is never a long walk away. Together, this trio of de facto national staples form the most reliable source of affordable nourishment.
Pancakes believe it or not, are popular lunch-time staples in Amsterdam. They offer cheap sustenance, especially at a place like the convivial Pannekoeken Upstairs. Located on a pretty stretch of canal in a central part of the city, the old Dutch house that holds the small restaurant is right out of a fairy tale.
Amsterdam has a great market culture and for good, cheap fast food, you can’t do much better. From ubiquitous herring to fine chocolates, ethnic fare to irresistible baked goods, the myriad markets of the city are perfect for hungry backpackers and famished families alike. The best of the lot are the Farmers Market on the Noordermarkt, Dappermarkt and Albert Cuypmarkt.
Discover the best rates on fine Amsterdam hotels.
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