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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.
Fans of fabulous nose-to-tail dining have faithfully been placing themselves in the experienced hands of chef Giel Kaagman and sommelier and host Bram Kortekaas since 2015. Their namesake eatery, which has been a leading light in the local bistronomy movement, sits along a medieval alley in the heart of tourist hell, where multiple levels arranged around a slightly sunken kitchen allow some diners to feel like they’re part of the action. Regularly changing four-, five-, or six-course chef’s menus keep things fresh, but there’s usually homemade charcuterie, plenty of traditional techniques and a few offal surprises—picky eaters, you’ve been warned!
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.
