Looking for the best local restaurants in Amsterdam? Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes in Europe, and we have been exploring it for more than 20 years. This list is not based on what is trending on TikTok or going viral on social media. It reflects years of local knowledge, repeat visits, and honest opinions.
You will find neighbourhood restaurants that Amsterdammers have loved for decades, alongside a few truly special dining experiences that are worth planning your trip around. Every restaurant on this list has earned its place based on quality alone.
As the Dutch say, “liefde gaat door de maag” (love goes through the stomach).
Smakelijk eten!
Amsterdam’s best restaurants are spread across the whole city — not just the obvious tourist areas. The Jordaan is the most rewarding neighbourhood for eating out, with a dense cluster of independent restaurants that locals return to for years. De Pijp and Amsterdam West both have a strong local food culture. Amsterdam Noord — just a free ferry ride across the IJ — is home to some of the city’s most creative dining. We have also included hidden gems in Amsterdam East, and a few truly off-the-beaten-track spots that most visitors never find — because the best meals in this city are rarely where the tourist maps point you.
Want to go beyond restaurants and taste Dutch cheese with an expert? Try our Premium Cheese Tasting in Amsterdam, a 90-minute small-group experience in a historic canal house.
1. De Silveren Spiegel: Traditional Dutch Fine Dining in Amsterdam
If you only visit one traditional Dutch restaurant in Amsterdam, make it this one. De Silveren Spiegel (The Silver Mirror) is set inside two step-gabled canal houses dating from 1614 and looks exactly like what most people imagine when they picture old Amsterdam.
The candlelit dining rooms, historic interiors, and seasonal tasting menus create a truly special atmosphere. The cuisine focuses on refined Dutch flavours, carefully presented and thoughtfully prepared. It is Michelin-recommended and worth every euro.
Central | Dinner | Dutch
Address: Kattengat 4-6, 1012 SZ Amsterdam
Website: https://www.desilverenspiegel.com/
2. Bird: Best Thai Restaurant in Amsterdam
If you walk along Zeedijk and see a queue stretching out the door, you have probably found Bird. It serves some of the best Thai food in Amsterdam. The restaurant has been here for years, is loved by locals, and does not need Instagram to fill its tables.
The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and once you have tasted their pad thai, you may find it hard to order it anywhere else.
Central | Lunch / Dinner | Thai
Address: Zeedijk 72-74, 1012 BA Amsterdam
Website: https://thai-bird.nl/
3. Moeders: Classic Dutch Comfort Food in Amsterdam
Proper Dutch food does really exist, and Moeders (Dutch for ‘Mothers’) is the place to try it. The menu features classic Dutch comfort dishes such as stamppot, hutspot, and boerenkool with rookworst.
The walls are covered with photos of mothers sent in by guests over the years, and the whole place feels like someone’s large, welcoming kitchen. It has been a local favourite for more than 30 years.
Jordaan | Dinner | Dutch
Address: Rozengracht 251, 1016 SX Amsterdam
Website: http://www.moeders.com/en/home
4. Pllek: Waterfront Dining in Amsterdam Noord
A short free ferry from behind Amsterdam Central Station takes you to Pllek in Amsterdam Noord, set right on the waterfront. Built from old shipping containers, it has a laid-back, creative atmosphere that feels very different from the historic city centre.
The real draw is the setting. A sandy beach looks out over the IJ, making it one of the best spots in Amsterdam for a drink on a sunny day. The menu is largely plant-based, with fresh, seasonal dishes designed for sharing. It is not about fine dining, but about relaxed food, great views, and a unique location just across the water.
Noord | Dinner | Drinks
Address: T.T. Neveritaweg 59, Amsterdam
Website: https://pllek.nl
Through summer 2026, Pllek’s urban beach hosts a free seasonal programme of live music, open-air film nights and beach yoga right on the IJ waterfront.
Restaurant Pllek and the city beach
5. Black and Blue: Best Steak Restaurant in Amsterdam
Two minutes from the Anne Frank House, on a beautiful, quiet canal. Black and Blue is a proper steak restaurant. Not a touristy steakhouse, but an actual good one. The beef is dry-aged, the wine list is serious, and the setting, in a converted canal house on the Leliegracht, is hard to beat. If you are celebrating something, this is a strong choice.
Jordaan | Dinner | Steak
Address: Leliegracht 46, 1015 DH Amsterdam
Visiting the Anne Frank House while you’re here? It is literally two minutes on foot – but book your tickets well in advance. They sell out weeks ahead.
Website: https://www.steakrestaurantamsterdam.nl/
6. De Belhamel: Romantic Canal-side Dining in Amsterdam
The corner of Herengracht and Brouwersgracht is probably the most photographed canal junction in the city. De Belhamel sits right on it, and the Art Nouveau interior is just as beautiful as the view outside. The Dutch-French menu is of a consistently high quality and a favourite for special occasions. It’s one of the most romantic dining rooms in Amsterdam.
Jordaan | Dinner | French-Dutch
Address: Brouwersgracht 60, 1013 GX Amsterdam
Website: https://www.belhamel.nl
7. Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen: Historic Golden Age Dining in Amsterdam
Five interconnected 17th-century canal houses, each room decorated with original Delftware, antique Dutch silver, and Rembrandt etchings. D’Vijff Vlieghen has been open since 1939 and has fed everyone from Winston Churchill to Walt Disney. The food is classic Dutch, the atmosphere is like stepping into a Golden Age painting, and there is genuinely nowhere else like it.
Central | Dinner | Dutch
Address: Spuistraat 294-302, 1012 VX Amsterdam
Website: https://vijffvlieghen.nl
8. Pazzi: Best Wood-Fired Pizza in Amsterdam
Without any doubt, one of the best pizzas in Amsterdam. Every pizza is cooked in a wood-burning oven and the dough is made fresh every day. It is the kind of place that has a queue outside of regulars who come every week. Small, loud, and brilliant. Get the burrata to start.
West | Dinner | Pizza
Address: De Clercqstraat 93III, 1053 AG Amsterdam
Website: https://www.pazziamsterdam.nl/
The conservatory of the Plantage with a great view over Artis Zoo
9. De Plantage: Neighbourhood Restaurant in Amsterdam East
This is where we take our mum for her birthday. Set in the beautiful Plantage neighbourhood near Artis Zoo, De Plantage is one of those restaurants that gets everything right. The room is gorgeous, the seasonal menu is thoughtful, the service is warm without being fussy. A proper neighbourhood restaurant in the best sense of the word.
East | Dinner | European
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 36, 1018 CZ Amsterdam
Website: https://caferestaurantdeplantage.nl
10. La Perla: Authentic Pizza in the Jordaan
Yet another outstanding pizza restaurant, this time in the heart of the Jordaan. La Perla has been quietly perfecting its craft for years, and the locals know it. Pizzas that are thin, lightly charred and perfectly topped. The place itself is tiny and always busy, which is exactly the right sign. If Pazzi is full, come here. If La Perla is full, go to Pazzi. Either way, you cannot lose.
Jordaan | Dinner | Pizza
Address: Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 53, 1015 RZ Amsterdam
La Perla is a 10-minute walk from the Anne Frank House – a great spot for a pizza before or after your visit. Just make sure you sort your tickets first – they sell out weeks in advance.
Website: http://pizzaperla.nl
11. Dignita Hoftuin: Best Brunch Spot in Central Amsterdam
Beautiful food in a cosy hidden space, with a genuinely good cause behind it. Dignita is Amsterdam’s best brunch spot and also a social enterprise that trains and employs people who are rebuilding their lives. The avocado toast gets a lot of attention, but the whole menu is excellent. In a hidden courtyard just next to the Amstel River. They also have a second location in Oud Zuid.
Central | Brunch / Lunch | Healthy
Address: Nieuwe Herengracht 18a, 1018 DP Amsterdam
Website: https://eatwelldogood.nl/
Foodhallen, try delicious food in one of the foodstands.
12. Foodhallen: Indoor Food Market in Amsterdam West
Struggling to decide what you want to eat? Foodhallen solves that problem. Amsterdam’s best indoor food market is set inside a converted tram depot in the West and brings together around 20 food stalls under one roof. Ramen, pizza, oysters, burgers, wine. The atmosphere on a Friday night is brilliant. Good for groups, perfect for indecisive people.
West | Lunch / Dinner | Street Food
Address: Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT Amsterdam
Website: https://foodhallen.nl/amsterdam
13. Restaurant Blauw: Best Indonesian Rijsttafel in Amsterdam
Blauw means blue in Dutch, yet the interior is entirely red. The name is a bit misleading but the food is not. This is one of the finest Indonesian restaurants in the city, popular with locals from the Zuid neighbourhood and anyone who knows their way around a good Indonesian rijsttafel. Bigger and more polished than Jun, and brilliant in its own right.
Zuid | Dinner | Indonesian
Address: Amstelveenseweg 158-160, 1075 XN Amsterdam
Website: https://restaurantblauw.nl
14. Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam: Dinner Inside a Historic Water Pumping Station
Set inside a former water pumping station that once supplied drinking water to the whole city. The space is enormous, the ceilings are cathedral-high, and the original machinery forms part of the decor. The food is solid Dutch-European, and the portions are huge. It is not fine dining, but it is a genuinely special setting that few tourists find.
Westerpark | Dinner | European
Address: Watertorenplein 6, 1051 PA Amsterdam
Website: https://www.caferestaurantamsterdam.nl
15. REM Eiland: Dining on a Former North Sea Oil Platform
In 1964, a group of Dutch entrepreneurs built an illegal pirate TV platform in the North Sea, 12 kilometres off the coast. The Dutch navy eventually shut it down and towed the platform to Amsterdam, where it has been a restaurant ever since. The food is good international fare, but honestly, you are here for the location too. There is nothing else like it, especially at sunset.
West | Dinner | International
Address: Haparandadam 45-2, 1013 AK Amsterdam
Website: https://rem.amsterdam
16. De Kas: Farm-to-Table Dining in a Historic Greenhouse
One of the most memorable meals you can have in the Netherlands. De Kas is a restaurant inside a genuine 1926 greenhouse in Amsterdam East. The chefs grow most of what they serve in the greenhouse and kitchen garden around you. The menu changes daily depending on what is ready to eat. No choices, no fuss. Just exceptional seasonal food in a stunning space. Book well in advance.
East | Dinner | Modern Dutch
Address: Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE Amsterdam
Website: https://restaurantdekas.com
De Kas now holds a Green Michelin star for sustainability, and still harvests most of its vegetables, herbs and flowers each morning from its own on-site greenhouse garden.
Moeders (Dutch for mothers), try traditional food surrounded by hundreds of pictures of mothers.
17. Moon: Revolving Rooftop Restaurant with Panoramic Views
For a meal you will not forget in a hurry, head to Moon on the 19th floor of the A’DAM Tower in Noord. The restaurant makes one full rotation every 90 minutes, so by the time you finish dinner you will have seen every angle of Amsterdam from above. The kitchen delivers, which is not always guaranteed with restaurants who sell their view. Take the free ferry from Centraal Station.
Noord | Dinner | International
Address: Overhoeksplein 1 (A’DAM Tower), 1031 KS Amsterdam
Website: https://restaurantmoon.nl/en/home-en/
18. Wolf Atelier: Fine Dining for Special Occasions in Amsterdam
A stunning restaurant inside a renovated 1920s railway bridge on the Westerdok, with 80 floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water. Chef Michael Wolf has been earning serious praise for his creative, ingredient-led cooking since day one. This is a special occasion restaurant in a genuinely spectacular space. One of Amsterdam’s most exciting chefs, in one of its most beautiful rooms.
Westerdok | Dinner | Modern European
Address: Westerdok, Amsterdam
Website: https://www.wolfatelier.nl/en/
19. Bouillon d’Amsterdam: Top New Restaurant Opening in Amsterdam (2026)
The most talked-about opening in Amsterdam right now. Bouillon d’Amsterdam brings the classic Parisian bouillon concept to the Dutch capital, inside the beautifully restored Hotel Die Port van Cleve on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. Think French comfort food done well, at prices that will surprise you. Dishes from €3 to €16, a lively grand-café atmosphere, and a menu built for everyone. The iconic Numbered Steak that’s part of the hotel’s long history is still on the menu. Just opened in early 2026, and it’s already packed with locals.
Central | Lunch / Dinner | French
Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 176-180, 1012 SJ Amsterdam
Website: https://www.bouillondamsterdam.nl/
20. Vuurtoreneiland: Adventurous Dining on a Private Island near Amsterdam
This is the most adventurous restaurant on this list. Vuurtoreneiland, which translates as Lighthouse Island, can only be reached by boat from the village of Durgerdam, just outside Amsterdam. Once there, you eat a set menu in a restored 19th-century fortress surrounded by water. No choices, no alternatives, no distractions. Just extraordinary food, a remarkable setting, and a story to tell when you get home. Plan well ahead, as it sells out months in advance.
Outside Amsterdam | Dinner | Dutch
Address: Accessible by boat from Durgerdam, Amsterdam
Website: https://vuurtoreneiland.nl/
New for 2026: chef Benny Blisto (formerly of BAK) now leads the kitchen, cooking fire-driven dishes with island-grown herbs, local fish and foraged ingredients.
Vuurtoreneiland in summer setup, sitting next to the lighthouse on a small island
We recommend booking in advance for all restaurants on this list, as Amsterdam’s dining scene is more popular than ever. Enjoy every bite!
Bonus: 6 Unmissable Amsterdam Food Experiences
Beyond restaurants, Amsterdam has a handful of iconic food experiences that every visitor should know about. None of these are sit-down dinners; they are the kind of simple, legendary bites that locals have been enjoying for decades.
B1. Cafe Papeneiland: Famous Apple Pie in Amsterdam
A genuine Amsterdam institution dating back to 1642, tucked into the corner of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht. The appeltaart here is legendary: thick-crust, stacked with fresh apple slices, and served warm with a generous dollop of fresh cream. Even Bill Clinton stopped in when he was in town. Order it with coffee, sit by the window, and watch the canal life go by. Truly one of the great simple pleasures of the city.
Address: Prinsengracht 2, 1015 DV Amsterdam
Website: https://papeneiland.nl
B2. Vleminckx de Sausmeester: Legendary Frites in Amsterdam
The best frites in Amsterdam are in a tiny hole-in-the-wall on the Voetboogstraat, a short walk from the Spui, where Vleminckx de Sausmeester has been frying since 1957. Flemish-style frites, crispy and golden, served in a paper cone with your choice of more than 28 homemade sauces. Order the oorlog (Dutch mayo, peanut sauce, raw onion) for the full Dutch experience. There will be a queue, but it moves fast. Locals have been coming here for generations, and visitors who find it never forget it.
Address: Voetboogstraat 33, 1012 XK Amsterdam
Website: https://vleminckxdesausmeester.nl/
B3. Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs: Traditional Dutch Pancakes in Amsterdam
Hidden on the second floor of a 16th-century building on Grimburgwal, this tiny four-table pancake house has been going since 1961. The Dutch pannenkoek is thinner than the American version but thicker than a French crepe, and here they come plate-sized with your choice of sweet or savoury toppings. Hundreds of teapots hang from the ceiling. Celebrities from Anthony Bourdain to the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have made the trip up the famously steep staircase. Book by phone, a week in advance as they do not take online reservations.
Address: Grimburgwal 2, 1012 GA Amsterdam
Website: https://upstairspannenkoeken.nl
The ceiling of the tiny pancake house full of tea pots.
B4. De Laatste Kruimel: Cosy Brunch Cafe in Amsterdam
Tucked down a narrow alley just off the Rokin, De Laatste Kruimel (“The Last Crumb”) is a seriously charming bakery-café that is consistently rated in the top 200 restaurants in Amsterdam. Everything is homemade and baked fresh daily, from flaky quiches and rustic cinnamon rolls to gorgeous cakes displayed behind the window that stop passers-by in their tracks. Go for brunch, order too much, and do not leave without trying the apple pie. The vintage-cottage interior is one of the cosiest rooms in the city.
Address: Langebrugsteeg 4, 1012 GB Amsterdam
Website: https://delaatstekruimel.com
B5. De Tokoman: Surinamese Street Food in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a large and proud Surinamese community, and their food is one of the city’s best-kept culinary secrets. De Tokoman is the place to start: a compact toko right opposite the Stopera on Waterlooplein (yes, essentially at the metro station exit under the City Hall), serving up incredibly fresh Surinamese street food. The star of the show is the broodje pom, a soft roll stuffed with pom, a baked casserole of chicken and pomtajer root spiced with citrus, with roots going back to Amsterdam’s Surinamese-Jewish history. Order it with chilli and pickles. Outstanding value, and genuinely one of the tastiest bites in the whole city.
Address: Waterlooplein 327, 1011 PG Amsterdam
Website: https://detokoman-amsterdam.nl
B6. Brouwerij ’t IJ: Local Craft Beer in Amsterdam
One of the most iconic spots in Amsterdam, and one every visitor should see at least once. Brouwerij ’t IJ is a working craft brewery at the base of a genuine Dutch windmill in Amsterdam East. The beers are brewed on site and poured in a small, atmospheric tasting room. Order a Zatte or a Columbus, grab a Dutch snack board, and sit outside if the weather allows. It is not a restaurant, but you will not leave hungry or unhappy.
Address: Funenkade 7, 1018 AL AmsterdamWaterlooplein 327, 1011 PG Amsterdam
Website: https://brouwerijhetij.nl
Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam Restaurants
What is the best restaurant in Amsterdam?
De Silveren Spiegel is widely considered the finest dining experience in Amsterdam. This 400-year-old canal house near Centraal Station serves exceptional Dutch cuisine and holds a Michelin star. For something more relaxed but equally memorable, De Kas in Amsterdam East grows its own vegetables on site and delivers one of the most unique meals in the city. Both need to be booked in advance.
Where do locals eat in Amsterdam?
Locals tend to avoid the tourist-heavy spots around Dam Square and head instead to the Jordaan, De Pijp, and Amsterdam West. Moeders on the Rozengracht is a long-standing favourite for traditional Dutch food. Bird on Zeedijk is the go-to for Thai. Pazzi in Amsterdam West draws queues of regulars for its wood-fired pizza. The best sign you are in the right place is always a menu without photos and a room full of Dutch people.
What Dutch food should I try in Amsterdam?
Start with stamppot, a hearty mash of potato and vegetables typically served with smoked sausage, Moeders does the best version in the city. Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table) is also a must, reflecting Amsterdam’s colonial history; Restaurant Blauw and Jun are both excellent for this. For street food, pick up frites (thick-cut fries) with Dutch mayo or oorlog sauce from Vleminckx de Sausmeester near the Spui, and finish with an apple pie at Cafe Papeneiland on the Prinsengracht.
Which area of Amsterdam has the best restaurants?
The Jordaan is the most rewarding neighbourhood for eating out, with its dense cluster of independent restaurants, wine bars, and hidden gems with very few tourist traps. Amsterdam West and De Pijp are close behind, both with a strong local food culture. For something more atmospheric and off the beaten track, Amsterdam Noord, just across the IJ has Restaurant Stork and the revolving Moon restaurant in the A’DAM Tower.
Do I need to book restaurants in Amsterdam in advance?
For popular spots like De Silveren Spiegel, De Kas, Wolf Atelier, and Moon, booking at least a week ahead is strongly recommended, especially in summer and during tulip season (April and May). More casual restaurants like Bird, Moeders, and Black and Blue fill up quickly on weekends too. Amsterdam does not have a strong walk-in culture at the mid to upper end, if a restaurant matters to you, book it.
