Our top Amsterdam restaurants include:
Halte 3 Brasserie: A great spot for lunch attached to the De Hallen Food Hall. It has a fun, open atmosphere with a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches. Loved my pumpkin, carrot soup with harissa and a smoked salmon sandwich on a bagel with cream cheese and greens. Bellamyplein 51.
De Hallen Food Hall/DeFoodhallen: Located in an historic tram depot, this popular Food Hall has a number of restaurants and stands, featuring burgers, sushi, beer, pastries, breads, Spanish ham, Indian street food, pizza and Turkish specialties. Bellamyplein 51.
Restaurant Max, Herenstraat 14: A neighborhood restaurant featuring both Dutch and Indonesian specialties. It has a contemporary design and offers a two or three course tasting menu including one of just Indonesian food. I enjoyed a fun dinner with a friend.
Restaurant De Kas: This is a must visit restaurant when in Amsterdam. It is located in a beautiful restored conservatory or greenhouse from 1926. I loved it for lunch where you can really appreciate the design and surrounding gardens. They offer a 2-course lunch menu, a menu of 3 small starters or a lunch entree alone. For dinner they offer a three-course menu also available with cheese and wine pairings. They grow many of their own herbs and vegetables in their greenhouses and gardens. They offer a Chef’s table to see the kitchen action and patio dining during the summer in the herb garden. Tours are often available of the nursery and gardens.
The presentation was really spectacular. I loved my fish entree with capers, sauerkraut, tomatoes and blood oranges which came with some very fresh greens. The apple cake with parsnip ice cream and crumbles was the perfect end to the meal. Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, in East Amsterdam.
On my first trip to Amsterdam, I enjoyed lunch at ‘t Blauwe Theehuis, or The Blue Teahouse, at Vondelpark 5. It was a lovely spot after a morning of visiting the great art museums.
Due to the past Dutch influence around the world, there are many types of food from these areas. For example there are some great Indonesian restaurants. I really loved the food at Long Pura at Rozengracht 46-48. I had the Nasi Campur or a choice of different typical Indonesian dishes served on one plate.
I also enjoyed a wonderful meal at Restaurant Proeverij 274 at Prinsengracht 274. It is still on many top lists.
Other restaurants getting great reviews that I did not try include, Noordelicht Cafe, &samhoud places, SLA, ‘t Smalle, Cafe Modern in an old bank building, Aan de Amstel, and Hotel de Goudfazant – a bistro in an old factory that is decorated with a massive chandelier of glass bottles and several vintage cars.