Jordaan & the West
With rustic decor and white-clothed tables, Donna Sofia – named for the owner's grandmother – has a daily-changing blackboard menu of Neapolitan dishes…
Must-see restaurants in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Red awning, pavement tables, rustic interior, bottle-lined walls and charcuterie: immerse yourself in a corner of France, with a regularly changing menu…
Amsterdam
In the swanky residential neighbourhood the Old South, this split-level dining space has art and photography covering the walls, and a lovely street-side…
Amsterdam
This simple canteen-style Surinamese cafe often has a queue out the door, but it moves fairly fast. Place your order at the bar – the scrumptiously punchy…
Western Canal Ring
Pan chapla (Peruvian sandwiches) and egg dishes such as huevos de codorniz con patatas (quail eggs and potatoes) are among the lunch choices at this…
Western Canal Ring
Potatoes fill the front window of this hole in the wall; watch them being cut while you wait for frites (fries), accompanied by homemade ketchup, curry…
Southern Canal Ring
With its dark-wood furniture and wood-panelled walls hung with pictures, this feels like an old-school pub. The building dates from 1900, but it's been a…
Jordaan & the West
Fronted by a red awning and white-timber facade, this hip little bar is the perfect place for a drink accompanied by bar snacks. Try the mini lasagnes,…
Amsterdam
Bright with African art and brilliant-hued textiles, Ibis is a cosy and delightful spot to get your hands on (literally, using the spongy Ethiopian injera…
Southern Canal Ring
Rose's is a great addition to Amsterdam's gay street with a grass-green interior topped by massive glitter balls and a greenery-fringed courtyard. Enjoy…
De Pijp
Everything at Mangiancora is imported from Italy's Naples region – not only ingredients and wines but even the sand and stone from Mount Vesuvius that the…
Amsterdam Noord
This large covered food market has fresh fruit, vegetables, an on-site bakery, gourmet foodstuffs, and a fine selection of cheese, wine and beers. There's…
Amsterdam
'Heavenly Mud', named after its signature dark and white chocolate mousse, has a stylish mid-century-style interior and a Dutch-meets-global menu that…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Teensy Van Stapele is a true specialist, baking just one thing and baking it well: chocolate cookies. Specifically, it's a Valrhona dark chocolate cookie…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Join the locals sitting on wooden chairs in the sun (or at the window seats inside) at this fabulous little sandwich shop in a winning canal-side location…
Jordaan & the West
Action! Located in a former movie theatre, this spirited Italian restaurant pays homage to its cinematic roots with black-and-white stills and images of…
De Pijp
Spicy carrot cake, flourless chocolate-and-raspberry cake, a zesty lemon cake, classic Dutch apple pie and cookies such as oatmeal, cranberry and coconut…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Dutch cheeses are the speciality of this split-level deli; taste them on cheese boards at its handful of tables, or get them vacuum packed to take home…
Southern Canal Ring
Exercise lovers on the run flock to this pale, gleaming place, which offers fast food that is as healthy as takeaway gets. The poké (pronounced poh-kay)…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Low-key Van Kerkwijk is easy to miss, but locals sure know it's here: the small wooden tables are typically packed. It doesn't take reservations and there…
Amsterdam
An enchantingly pretty place to stop for a bite, this casual neighbourhood gem feels like it's straight out of an Edith Piaf song. Come for a croissant…
Southern Canal Ring
Pastini serves up Italian-infused dishes such as tagliatelle with stewed lamb, tomato, aubergine and parmesan. Authentic starters include fried courgette,…
De Pijp
Van 't Spit does one thing – free-range chicken (half or full), marinated overnight and spit-roasted over a wood-burning fire, with optional sides such as…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
A long line regularly snakes out the door of this narrow, generations-old shop where everyone is queuing for – wait for it – vanilla ice cream. That's the…
Jordaan & the West
On a picturesque stretch of the Prinsengracht, this brown cafe is an idyllic spot for a drink on the canal-side terrace or in the cosy bar. But it's best…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Two-century-old coffee and tea vendor Wijs & Zonen (the monarch's purveyor) maintains this pretty courtyard restaurant. It serves Dutch stews, a couple of…
Amsterdam
Named after the building's 18th-century architect, Caspar Philips Jacobsz, this restaurant is housed in a grand old inn (a former courthouse, then turned…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
A large coral-filled aquarium sets the scene at this stylish seafood restaurant. Named for the freshwater pike inhabiting only clean, clear water, Lucius…
Western Canal Ring
It's easy to miss this tucked-away spot, despite its location near the bustling Spui (look for the cobalt-blue awning). The menu is as simple as can be –…
Amsterdam
Poco Loco is a good spot for people-watching on Nieuwmarkt, while tucking into filling salads and sandwiches for lunch, or pan-European tapas for dinner,…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
It won't win any design awards, but year in, year out, Nam Kee, serving Cantonese classics, is the most popular Chinese spot in town. The steamed oysters…
Jordaan & the West
At this parquet-floored place with marble-topped tables, wood-fired pizzas are made with serious care. Perfectly charred crusts come topped with fresh…
Jordaan & the West
With sunny decks at either end and a cavernous interior, this vintage 1927 ex-car and passenger ferry once plied the IJ and is now permanently moored in…
De Pijp
Refined Mamouche's minimalist dining room, with mottled raw-plaster walls and slat-beam ceilings, complements its French-accented North African cuisine,…
Amsterdam Noord
Amid artful yet simple decor with a subtle designer feel, Cafe Modern is serious about its gastronomy yet without any stuffiness. There's a choice of a…
Western Canal Ring
Legions of Amsterdammers swear by the crispy chips at Wil Graanstra Friteshuis. The family-run business has been frying on the square by the Westerkerk…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
This delightful cafe attached to the Oude Kerk serves freshly made sandwiches such as brie with sweet pepper, rocket and mustard mayo, or smoked salmon…
Jordaan & the West
At this shop specialising in okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes; literally 'cook as you like'), your pancakes come in a hot iron dish with your choice of…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Bird has some of the best Asian food on the Zeedijk – the chefs, wedged in a tiny kitchen, don't skimp on lemongrass, fish sauce or chilli. The resulting…
Jordaan & the West
It's the best of both worlds: Jordino makes rich chocolates and velvety ice cream and combines the two by scooping the ice cream atop cones dipped in…
