French restaurants in Amsterdam
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Café-Restaurant Amsterdam
One of the city's hippest eateries is housed in a former water-processing plant. Expect classic French brasserie cooking (steak bearnaise, mussels, roasted garlic chicken). Note the 30m wooden ceilings (with hanging metal hooks and chains) and the huge floodlights rescued from the former Ajax and Olympic stadiums.
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Wil Graanstra Friteshuis
Wil’s little stall near the Anne Frank Huis has been serving up freakishly golden crispy frites since 1956. Legions of Amsterdammers swear by them.
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Villa Ruysch
The Oost is short on stylish eateries, so this grand cafe stands out. Particularly nice is its package breakfast: eggs baked with cheese, a perfectly flaky croissant and homemade preserves. At night, it’s on to cocktails and a menu of French bistro fare. There’s lots of outdoor seating, but then you’d miss out on the gorgeous interior, which glitters with Murano-glass mosaics and other flash details.
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Blender
Way out west of the Jordaan, Blender's cheeky, curvy, 1970s airport-lounge interior (think lots of orange swivel chairs) is just the place to sip cocktails, sample inventive French-Med food and socialise as DJs spin deep house and soul. People love it and hate it for the same reason (self-conscious hipness), but there's no doubt it's a scene.
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Balthazar’s Keuken
This is consistently one of Amsterdam’s top-rated restaurants, but don’t expect a wide-ranging menu. The byword is basically ‘whatever we have on hand’ – but it’s usually absolutely delectable. Plus, there’s a modern-rustic look and attentive service (!). Reservations recommended.
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De Struisvogel
This former kitchen to some large canal houses offers a great deal. It’s in the basement, and yes they do serve the bird ( struisvogel means ‘ostrich’), along with a nightly rotating menu that offers generous portions of more conventional French-inspired choices. It gets crowded; book ahead.
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Van Vlaanderen
One of our favourite French restaurants in town, it has lovely canal views from the raised deck. Owner Bas Verstift will come out to chat and advise on your wine, and the fine nuances of dishes are always surprising – such as tuna carpaccio with avocado, chicken with bacon mousse or langoustines done three ways.
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Klokspijs
Located in an old bell-maker's workshop, this charming, intimate restaurant with a handful of tables makes for a fine end to a day of poking around De Pijp. The three-course menu of, say, smoked duck breast salad, grilled sea bass and strawberry-rhubarb cake is a class act, and the wine selection is small but superb.
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Voorbij Het Einde
It means 'beyond the end', and on your trek out here to Java Eiland you may begin to question your judgement. Don't. This place, with its super-mod architectural interior (frosted glass walls, lots of right angles), wins high praise for high French in high style - the menu changes every month or so.
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Le Hollandais
This subdued split-level restaurant doesn’t look like much, but it’s helmed by a smart, thoughtful chef with a passion for regional French food. The kitchen makes its own sausages and doesn’t shy away from ‘variety meats’; sweetbreads and black pudding abound!
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Christophe
Lobster dishes, duck-liver terrine and unusual elegance keep Jean-Christophe Royer's Michelin-starred restaurant busy every night. However, the excellent, caring service puts it over the top in our book, making this an extraordinary restaurant by world, and not just Amsterdam, standards.
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De Belhamel
In warm weather the canalside tables at the head of the Herengracht are an aphrodisiac, and the sumptuous art nouveau interior provides the perfect backdrop for excellent, French- and Italian-inspired dishes such as silky roast beef.
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Jean Jean
One of the hottest places in town, this cosy neighbourhood bistro offers honest and affordable Gallic comfort food: soups, meat and fish dishes etc. The setting is understated yet sophisticated, and service is professional.
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Bordewijk
The interior here is so minimal that there’s little to do but appreciate the spectacular French/Italian cooking. The chefs are not afraid to take risks but the skilled staff take your wishes with aplomb. Locals love it.
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Vleminckx
This hole-in-the-wall takeaway has drawn hordes for its monumental frites since 1887. The standard is smothered in mayonnaise, though you can ask for ketchup, peanut sauce or a variety of spicy toppings.
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La Rive
A Michelin star and a formal dining room with graciously spaced tables and views over the Amstel make La Rive the perfect venue for an out-to-impress lunch or dinner. The French menu changes frequently.
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