Must-see restaurants in The Netherlands

  • Pool bar at the Kanarie Club

    Kanarie Club

    Amsterdam

    Lots of plate glass and the dizzying De Hallen tram-shed height make this a breezy option for a laid-back meal, with all-day breakfast and lunch dishes…

  • Cheese with everything at Fondue and Fondue, Amsterdam

    Fondue & Fondue

    Amsterdam

    Against a backdrop of white tiles and exposed brick, this reasonably priced restaurant serves silky Alpine fondues, with a choice of fish (tuna, salmon…

  • For budget Indonesian food look no further than Toko Kok Kita

    Toko Kok Kita

    Amsterdam

    A humble Indonesian toko (shop) attracting queues for its authentic Indonesian dishes. Diners choose either rice or noodles and then select their…

  • De Taart van m’n Tante café tea room in De Pijp .

    Taart van m'n Tante

    De Pijp

    One of Amsterdam's best-loved cake shops operates from this ultra-kitsch parlour, turning out apple pies (Dutch, French or 'tipsy'), pecan pie and wish…

  • Look no further than Ocha for well-priced Thai cuisine

    OCHA Thai

    Amsterdam

    Nothing fancy, this simple cafe serves up authentic and tasty Thai cuisine – great green and red curries, pad thai and papaya salad – at excellent prices…

  • Angelo Betti, facade

    Angelo Betti

    Rotterdam

    Serving a flavourful array of soft, rich gelato, Angelo Betti has come a long way since its humble beginnings as an ice-cream cart in 1922. Four…

  • World of Food is a parking garage turned street food venue in Amsterdam's Bijlmer neighbourhood

    World of Food

    Amsterdam

    This parking-garage-turned-street-food-venue is a popular spot in the Bijlmer neighbourhood. Stalls serve up good, honest food at excellent prices from a…

  • De Bessenschuur

    Frisian Islands

    Once a storage shed for the copious cranberry harvest in this part of the island, this pretty forest cottage with red-and-white-striped canopies now…

  • Little Collins

    Jordaan & the West

    Bilderdijkstraat's brunch scene was boosted by the 2019 opening of this light, bright cafe. Lemon curd and goat's cheese 'cigars', salted cod on walnut…

  • Blue Sakura

    Overijssel

    When you tire of Dutch or European cuisine, head to this Japanese and sushi grill, which pulls in the crowds with its bottomless 'all-you-can-eat-in-2½…

  • Lot en de Walvis

    Leiden

    The name translates as 'little things mean a lot', but it's not the little things that make this cafe in the handsome 1889 De Volharding warehouse a…

  • De Loft 23

    Limburg

    Upstairs on an initially unpromising central street, De Loft has a modern, semi-industrial vibe inside plus a wide open-air terrace overlooking a rooftop…

  • Volendammer Vishandel

    De Pijp

    Dutch flags fly from this traditional haringhuis ('herring house', ie takeaway fish shop), which has its own fishing fleet at the seaside resort of…

  • Engel Winkelcafé

    Overijssel

    Among the jungle of cafes on people-busy Grote Markt, this hybrid cafe-concept store stands out. Its designer, chandelier-lit interior is an enchanting…

  • Alchemist Garden

    Amsterdam

    This bright, high-ceilinged cafe's food may be gluten-, lactose- and glucose-free, but it's certainly tasty. There's a health-rich, vitamin-filled organic…

  • Carnegie Cottage

    Gelderland

    This picture-postcard cottage restaurant is as evocative as its name suggests. Squirrelled away down a narrow lane by a prairie frequented by rutting deer…

  • Black & Blue

    Western Canal Ring

    Black & Blue's Josper (super-hot Spanish charcoal oven) chargrills succulent Black Angus steaks, accompanied by Béarnaise sauce, herb butter or pepper…

  • Gys

    Utrecht

    Everything's organic at this bright and airy bistro, which positively exudes aromas of healthy living, yet feels invitingly spacious, with low-wattage…

  • Bar Fisk

    De Pijp

    Fish-scale tiles in marine blues and greens clad the bar at switched-on seafood bar Fisk. Small lunchtime sharing plates (oysters with limoncello dressing…

  • Frites uit Zuyd

    De Pijp

    De Pijp's best frites (fries) by far are at takeaway shop Frites uit Zuyd, with black-and-white chequerboard tiling on the walls and floors, and at its…

  • Patisserie Holtkamp

    Southern Canal Ring

    This is where the Dutch royals stock up on baked goods. It was founded in 1886; the gorgeous art-deco interior was added in 1928 by architect Piet Kramer…

  • Eetcafé Ceramique

    Maastricht

    A local dining favourite for decades, Ceramique's relaxed, unfussy interior is always buzzy and low-lit by candles in paper bags. The wide-ranging menu…

  • Poppe

    Overijssel

    Find this elegant restaurant tucked behind a part-black, part-red brick facade in a former blacksmith's shop. A steady stream of superb seasonal dishes –…

  • Jackie's

    Overijssel

    It might not quite be 'New York cuisine' as its strapline suggests, but the international kitchen at this trendy eatery is top-notch and the alfresco…

  • Ambrosijn

    Schiermonnikoog

    Named after the wild apples that grow on Schiermonnikoog, Ambrosijn ('Ambrosia') is an ode to seasonal island produce, lovingly crafted into exquisite…

  • Seafood Bar

    Medieval Centre & Red Light District

    Stunning tiling and white-painted timber make this a stylish dining spot. Sustainable seafood includes line-caught fish, Volendam smoked eel, North Sea…

  • De Stadsherberg

    Overijssel

    Head to this riverfront mansion for traditional Dutch and European cuisine served in an old-world setting. Views of the swirling Ijssel and holden-wheel…

  • Festina Lente

    Jordaan & the West

    Canal-side neighbourhood hang-out Festina Lente (Latin for 'make haste slowly') typifies Jordaanian gezelligheid (cosiness). The wood-panelled, vintage…

  • De Firma

    Nijmegen

    Given its near-water location on a 16th-century street in the so-called 'lower town', De Firma's appealing beachy vibe is appropriate. Vintage, sea-blue…

  • Omelegg

    De Pijp

    In sparing surrounds with polished-concrete floors, wooden furniture and a mural of traditional Dutch windmills on the back wall, this omelette specialist…

  • De Hinde

    Friesland

    The terrace across from a vintage lifeboat shed is the main draw at this harbour-side restaurant, run by the same family for three generations. Limited…

  • Mantoe

    Jordaan & the West

    An Afghan family runs this small restaurant, which is so cosy it feels like you're dining in someone's home. There's no menu: it's just whatever they cook…

  • De Bakkerswinkel

    Jordaan & the West

    The wonderful 'Bakery' has numerous branches throughout the city (and country), but this one is uniquely situated by the drawbridge in the old regulator's…

  • Twentsche Foodhall

    Overijssel

    Enschede's sustainable food hall is the hipster spot for everything from a Twente sandwich stuffed with bakworst (oven-baked slices of liver sausage) to…

  • Corazon Coffee

    Utrecht Province

    Put away iPads or computers in this people-friendly cafe – digital devices are discouraged but there's a free book exchange and close-packed tables to…

  • IJsboerderij Labora

    Texel

    At this working dairy farm, you can see the cows being milked (by robots) to make Labora's luscious ice cream. Each day there are 18 flavours, such as…

  • Apostrof

    Jordaan & the West

    Well-priced European wines pair perfectly with chef Sjoerd Visser's mix-and-match multicourse menus (no à la carte) of monthly changing dishes. Choices…

  • Toscanini

    Jordaan & the West

    Classy Toscanini bakes its own bread, rolls its own pasta and pours Italian wines. The weekly-changing dishes that grace the white tablecloths might…

  • de Zwarte Vosch

    Utrecht

    Some of the pintxos (Basque-style tapas) here are remarkably creative, such as the fig, goat's-cheese and orange-mousse rusk (€2.90). Peruse and order…

  • Meatless District

    Jordaan & the West

    Inspired by New York's Meatpacking District, with a whitewashed and exposed brick open-plan interior and outdoor tables with timber benches, this vegan…

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