Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Bypass Centraal Station's fast-food mega-chains and head to this contemporary spot for great burgers. Its 14 varieties include a towering beef Double…
Must-see restaurants in The Netherlands
Rotterdam
Sampling menus from across the Middle East and North Africa, Bazar dishes up versions of Turkish kebaps, Egyptian falafel, Moroccan couscous, Persian…
Rotterdam
He's cooked with luminaries including Heston Blumenthal and is certainly Rotterdam's best-known chef, but we're not convinced that François Geurds' menus…
De Pijp
Tucked away in a quiet side street, this little cafe serves cakes (including spicy speculaas (spiced biscuit) cheesecake and signature sea-salt chocolate…
North Holland
In the shadow of an old windmill, Abby's has cool jazz inside and cool breezes outside on the terrace. Soups, salads and sandwiches are the mainstays at…
Maastricht
This cosy spot is a great place to try traditional zuurvlees (sour stew) made with horsemeat and served with apple sauce. But there are also fresh fish…
Overijssel
Of the many cafes in this vast old-town square, the Four Seasons is often the most crowded and for good reason: fast service, tasty cooking, excellent…
Nijmegen
A perennially popular collective-run eatery with natural, creatively prepared fare and plenty of vegetarian options. The kaas gehakt (€11.50) is their…
Amsterdam
Red awning, pavement tables, rustic interior, bottle-lined walls and charcuterie: immerse yourself in a corner of France, with a regularly changing menu…
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…
Leiden
A large klok (clock) and jaunty black-and-white awning signal this restaurant's presence on one of the town's major foodie strips. The menu is resolutely…
North Holland
Inside an old East India Company warehouse, opening to a lovely walled summer garden, this upmarket seafood specialist serves seasonally changing Dutch-…
Den Haag
Take your taste buds on a journey around the globe at perennially popular Oker. The menu of small plates draws on Italian, Japanese, Thai, French, Chinese…
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…
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…
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…
South Holland
The young entrepreneur who owns this ice-cream parlour was the subject of Mirjam Van Veelen's 2017 documentary Chill: The Road to David's Gelato, the…
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…
North Holland
Dutch cheeses take centre stage at this corner bistro, both at lunch (on gourmet sandwiches such as goat's cheese with Alkmaar-smoked ham and pickled…
Haarlem
Waddenzee shrimp and razor clams, Zeeland oysters, North Sea herring, Middleburg mussels, Terschelling scallops and house-smoked Vlieland mackerel are…
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…
Rotterdam
Ask any Rotterdammer to nominate their favourite sweet treat, and there's a good chance they will opt for the apple pie served here. A cinnamon-spiced…
North Holland
Outside tables at this vintage cafe/restaurant stretch along the canal and wrap around to the old fish market, while inside, enjoy works by Dutch sculptor…
Leiden
The giant Dutch-style pancakes here widen the eyes of kids and adults alike. Whether you're after something savoury (marinated salmon, sour cream and…
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…
Rotterdam
Its name means 'In Praise of Sweetness', and this stylish cafe certainly serves delicious sweet stuff. Sample the goods in the daily afternoon tea, which…
North Holland
On the main square in the splendid Waag building, this local gathering place has a heated terrace strung with fairy lights and a bustling dining room…
Utrecht Province
Black walls with low-wattage lamps and a crowned mural of Notorious B.I.G. give Jackie Brown a self-consciously 'urban' vibe, but the tapas-sized portions…
Den Haag
Classy is the appropriate descriptor for this small restaurant on Den Haag's prime foodie stretch, and it applies to everything from the interior (brocade…
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…
South Holland
As hip as Dordrecht gets, this hybrid bar, cafe and restaurant shares an airy and historic space with an art gallery at the rear and a music shop with…
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…
Rotterdam
An Instagrammer's paradise, this industrial-chic eatery serves dishes that are utterly gorgeous to look at. Utilising local produce and often featuring…
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…
