Top 15 Restaurants in Amsterdam to Try Right Now
Restaurants in Amsterdam are becoming more creative and exciting. It is an excellent time to visit this charming city.
Modern Amsterdam
Amsterdam is tiny in comparison to some of its European capital city neighbours. The buildings here are often tall and narrow. Meaning some of the cities best eateries have very few tables to seat their desperate-to-be patrons. But when you do manage to get a little nook at your favourite spot – it will be cosy and welcoming like no place else. It does mean that booking a table where possible (which isn’t always the case) is the best option.
While the food here is historically traditionalist there are numerous restaurants opening the tastes and minds of locals and tourists alike. A good outcome considering the national dishes don’t serve the vegetarian well – think bitterballen, kroket, and pork snert soup. Their sweet offerings are another story.
Options for All
Amsterdam is well-known as a multicultural city with over 178 different nationalities calling it home. Diverse food and people are to be found in its quaint, cobblestoned, canal lined streets. Big Indian flavours quietly bubble to the foreground while becoming an increasingly popular cuisine. A recent explosion of great pizza is booming across the city – some of the best in Europe outside of Italy. And, although not particularly known for its vegan offerings, the city has some new spots that would pleasantly surprise any carnivore and flat out astonish vegans.
The fine dining scene has perhaps, more than any other style of restaurant, modernised Dutch cuisine. The offerings for meticulously prepared and served food in Amsterdam are plentiful. If you love to treat yourself to a tasting menu or some of the best food and produce this lush city has to offer, you’ll find permission here. Many of these establishments provide a vegetarian menu – at the very least all on our list do.
REMEMBER:
Vegan options
Your carnivorous friends will also find options here
Cecconi’s 🌱 🍗
Great for date night or even the whole family if your kind love an atmosphere that feels glamourous. Cecconi’s is located underneath the Soho house private members club but is thankfully not part of it so anyone can book – which you should do well in advance. Their pizza is truly delicious, with a generous amount of flavourful sauce and excellent quality mozzarella. Their menu has many vegetarian options. They also serve a Sunday buffet if you’re feeling extra hungry.
Wijmpje Beukers 🍗
The most unexpectedly excellent restaurant in all of Amsterdam. No bookings, just turn up and they will try to accommodate. Always busy and filled with an eclectic bustle of diners. A real top notch eating experience at a very fair price point. Dishes that are dancing with unexpected flavours in a changing menu always gives space for a new and exciting dining experience with each visit. Not to be missed.
De Kas 🌱 🍗
The freshest plates of food you may ever eat. Grown in their own garden in the city, although they serve meat and fish, vegetable are the hero here. You can taste the thoughtful curiosity that each one receives with every beautiful bite. Tasting menus that you will savour long after the meal has ended.
Sherpa 🍗
Don’t be fooled by Sherpa’s tourist centric location in the Leidseplein – this is the real deal. A mainstay in Amsterdam and early contributor of Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian cuisine to the locals of Amsterdam. Their menu is large with bountiful options for vegetarians. The momos are a favourite and are generously stuffed with a perfect, chewy texture. The paneer butter masala is rich and indulgent with one of their buttery nans. A meal that will warm you up inside.
nNea Pizza 🌱 🍗
Pizza in Amsterdam hasn’t always been great, but many restaurants here have begun taking lessons from the Italian masters. Nowhere more than nNea. They are meticulous in their pursuit of the best dough, and it shines through. It’s also both visually and tastefully apparent just how good their produce is. Not to be missed by the pizza fanatics.
Mana Mana 🌱 🍗
Middle Eastern excellence. One of the kindest and most generous of cuisines to the vegetarian forever humbled by its ability to create heaven from minor star vegetables. The baba ganoush is smoky, creamy, and zingy all in one; the psychedelic cauliflower with grapefruit is salty and savoury whilst still feeling light – we could go on…They have a few locations, but we always recommend booking.
Vegan Junk Food Bar 🌱
Big fun and big energy. A restaurant and menu with bags of attitude. A vegan spot that will convince even the meatiest of carnivores. The food is fun but not lacking in substance. Their fizz is a frankly outstanding attempt at the often poorly replicated fish. Kalamariz ringz, shrimpz, betterballs, chikn – enough alternatives to blast away any lingering carnivorous cravings. A vegan trailblazer.
Arie 🍗
Arie feels like going to your sibling or friends house to hang out. It’s a very homely and relaxed local favourite with a younger crowd. We recommend the beyond double smashed cheeseburger for what could be the best veggie burger in the city. They also serve great cocktails too – people come in for a drink and it can get rowdy, but it all adds to the atmosphere.
Five Brothers Fat 🍗
Tapas in Amsterdam. Five Brothers Fat is a gastronomical treat and it’s near impossible not to order everything on the menu. Some dishes have their own twist on the originals – siracha mayo on their patatas bravas is a nice touch. We especially recommend the umami rich miso aubergine and one of their exquisite cocktails.
Pho 91 🌱 🍗
For a healthy but tasty alternative try Pho 91. A good selection of dishes without becoming too busy a menu. Their pho is their bread and butter, but other dishes are ignored at your own peril. The rice noodles are a fresh, light, pickled alternative and their crispy cauliflower stands its own against the chicken dish of a similar style. A good spot for health-conscious vegans.
Vegan Sushi Bar 🌱
Don’t ever let someone tell you vegan sushi can’t be as good as the real thing. The sushi from Vegan Sushi Bar will blow your mind and blast away any previously held perceptions of this difficult to imitate delicate food group. The food is incredible. The standout signature rolls are the unbelievably life like flambe salmon and the crunchy no chicken teriyaki. Each bite is a delight. WARNING: No booze.
Jansz 🍗
A fine dining favourite in Amsterdam, Jansz is a popular restaurant that will woah you with intricate flavour pairings and utterly beautiful dishes. Modern Dutch food that also serves a more accessible lunch menu with a selection of sandwiches amongst the mains. A great choice if you want to try the best modern Dutch gastronomy has to offer.
The Cottage 🌱 🍗
British pub food at its finest and unexpectedly in the middle of Amsterdam. It doesn’t make sense – until you eat it and then everything makes sense. Properly delicious British classics like the sausage roll (mushroom for veggies), scones, marmite toast and the ultimate in British cuisine – the Sunday Roast. The best spot for cosy comfort food.
Choux 🌱 🍗
If you want to dip your toe in the tasting menu life, then Choux could be a great entry level option. Their three-course theatre menu is reasonably priced in comparison to some other establishments. We especially love Choux as their menu is vegetable focused meaning they always have a vegetarian and vegan menu available. The only problem? The dishes are almost too pretty to eat.
Pizzeria Dope 🌱 🍗
A busy, Italian pizzeria in the bustling De Pijp. Super saucy pizza made the Italian way with a bunch of solid options for vegans too. The atmosphere is very laid back. Definitely the place to go if you like to enjoy a few drinks before your pizza arrives and not feel rushed out the door and off your table.
