the Amsterdam food guide
While Amsterdam’s food scene can’t compete with NYC, I still think there are some gems. Therefore, after spending the first six weeks of my gap-ish semester in Amsterdam doing extensive “research” (eating my way around the city), I can confidently say that these are some of the best places to eat in Amsterdam.
Bakeries/Cafes
Having grown up in NYC, home of the best bagels in the world, I’m very picky when it comes to my bagels. So the fact that I find these bagels decent is pretty high praise from me. They’re the closest to NYC bagels that I’ve tried in Amsterdam. While they’re on the smaller side, I especially love the smoked salmon they use here that almost melts in your mouth. The cinnamon rolls, covered in a thick glaze and slightly dense, are not bad here as well.
This bakery seems to have all the trappings of an overpriced tourist trap, except the pricey baked goods are actually delicious. The passion fruit croissant cube is a sugary, delightful mess to eat, with the buttery, perfectly laminated croissant balanced by the gently sweet and slightly sour passionfruit filling. The rosemary parmesan knot is also fantastic, and reminds me of Ottolenghi’s Parmesan pretzel that I literally dream of.
If there’s not a massive wait, I would definitely recommend stopping by this cafe for a Dutch apple pie, especially if the weather is nice enough that you can sit outside. The pie, is a bit different from what you would expect in the States, as it resembles a more similar to a skillet cookie with apple filling, but is a nonetheless delicious treat.
You know this place is legit when they have gelato in those metal buckets. And I can confirm this gelato makes an excellent post-dinner dessert, especially if you’re coming from Sinne around the corner. Their focus is mostly classic flavors, but I also really enjoy their marscapone and fig.
If you’re in the mood for trying more inventive gelato flavors, I would definitely come here. I love their vibrant and deliciously potent matcha flavor, but I would definitely try some of their seasonal offerings as well, such as burrata or buckwheat.
Casual
These crispy smash burgers are everything you want in a burger. Messy, greasy, and utterly delicious. Every single time I go here I absolutely demolish their le special burger. I would come here with a friend, so you can share a massive portion of fries as well.
Even though this place was swarmed with primarily British and American tourists when I came here, the slightly pricey smash burgers here also live up to their hype (I discovered this place on TikTok). It’s hard to top the classic shoestring fry, but their smashed potatoes, with their crispy and jagged nooks and crannies and rich brown butter sauce are an excellent spinoff.
This casual Dutch-ish cafe is an excellent spot for a leisurely lunch with a side of people watching. Grab an outside table, right next to a canal, and enjoy their crispy flammkuchen that are generously smeared with an almost butter-esque sour cream, lightly spiced French fries, and gambas al ajillo that you will mop up with bread.
Brouwerij 't IJ - Proeflokaal de Molen
This brewery situated next to a windmill is another delightful way to spend an afternoon, especially considering the bread and cheese is shockingly tasty for a place known for its beer.
Dinner
This stylish intimate Italian cafe would be perfect for a date night, or even a birthday. The creative pizzas here are on the thin and crispier side, more similar to a flatbread, but delicious nonetheless, especially the picante. I also loved the appetizers, and particularly the fried zucchini flower stuffed with a rich and tangy ricotta, gorgonzola, and parmesan mix. And of course, don’t forget to stop by the extremely photogenic bathroom.
While the name of this restaurant is a little on the nose, its candlelit, intimate ambience makes this place another spot for a date. And it’s easy to see why, with the perfectly cooked classic French dishes, from the roast chicken with tender meat and crispy skin, to the rich, luxurious chocolate mousse that most importantly, came with a side of people watching. Seriously, when I came here, I was surrounded by at least three first dates.
Although this is in a pretty touristy part of town (it overlooks a rubber ducks store), looks are very deceiving in this case. You just have to trust me when I say it actually has some of the best Chinese food in Amsterdam. This Cantonese leaning restaurant has delicious dim sum, and most importantly a version of sticky rice steamed with crab that rivals my NYC mainstays. Their crab sticky rice alone convinced me that perhaps I could live in Amsterdam after all. The rice is extremely flavorful, and studded with scallions and mushrooms. Plus the portion is incredibly generous given the price.
Perfect stop to fuel before a night out, this restaurant unsurprisingly has scrumptious soju options, but also excellent sticky yet crispy Korean fried chicken. Definitely save room for dessert though, as the massive bingsoo are a must to round out your meal.
This quiet spot has some of the best Japanese food in NYC. It is on the pricey side, but we devoured everything we ate here, especially the assorted tuna sashimi. Plus, they have some solid kakigori as well.
En Japanese Kitchen and Sake Bar
This is a bit of a splurge as well, but their assorted sashimi and sushi platters are well worth their price. I love that they give you different soy sauces for the different fish you’re eating as well. You can really tell they put a lot of thought into what you’re eating
This seafood-focused restaurant is well worth the trek. Their generous seafood platters are meal in it of themselves, but if you have room, squeeze in their escargot (with a side of extra bread, of course) and dense, sugary, caramelized sticky toffee pudding as well.
For a bit of a splurge, this Michelin-starred restaurant is the perfect end to a day of wandering the rooms of the storied Rijksmuseum next door. I loved that they start your meal with a series of seasonal butters with your complimentary bread.
This Thai-inspired omakase place is perfect for a celebratory meal, especially if you’re sitting at the bar. I’ve always loved how at omakase restaurants you can watch each course being prepared.
I’m still not completely sure what I ate at this place that specializes in seasonal tasting menus, but I do know I did not leave anything on my plate. Everything was cooked to perfection, especially the tender scallop and fish with crisp skin.
Every single one of the inventive plates we got here was perfect, albeit on the smaller side. From the arancini, to the seared scallops, and my personal favorite that combined two of my favorite foods, Brussels sprouts with mashed potatoes. The cheesy, velvety potatoes with the crunchy and slightly soft sprouts is just perfect. I also demolished their passion fruit and mango pavlova, which was simple yet so delicious that as soon as I got home I immediately began plotting how I could remake it at home.
