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Restaurants in Amsterdam's historic center tend to have loads of character but are often filled with tourists. Although it's not the best area to find a gourmet feast, for a casual Dutch-focused meal with a lot of atmosphere, the Centrum's the place to be.
This snug breakfast, lunch, and high-tea favorite is strewn with flea-market finds (such as a gorgeous Portuguese chandelier and charmingly mismatched tableware), but there are only 10 tables, so be sure to make a reservation (even for breakfast). It's worth planning in advance for comforting French toast or pancakes, lovely lunchtime soups, salads, and toast spreads with veggies picked fresh from the owners' kitchen garden, or for homemade cakes, tarts, and quiches.
Fix your morning woes with some of the city’s richest croissants, butteriest brioche, and most perfect pain au chocolat at this artisan French bakery on Nieuwendijk. Or indulge in a high tea you won't easily forget.
The Flemish (Dutch-speaking Belgians) have a reputation for making the best fries in this part of Europe, and one of the best places to try the Lowlands' famous Flemish fries is Vleminckx de Sausmeester, where everything's freshly made and delicious. Go native and order a patatje oorlog (war-style fries), topped with mayonnaise, satay sauce, and raw onion.
One of the city's best-known grand cafés, Luxembourg has a stately interior and a view of a bustling square, both of which are excellent for people-watching. Lunch, when the restaurant fills with locals and tourists, is the best time to come. The classic café menu includes soups, salads, "Luxemburgers" and excellent croquettes (oblong-shape meatballs), here with a cheese, shrimp, lobster, or veal filling. Those with less interest in urban sociology can entertain themselves at the communal table, which is democratically packed with an assortment of Dutch and international newspapers and magazines.
