3 Best Restaurants in De Pijp, Amsterdam

This elegant two-Michelin star dining room nods to modernity with gleaming metallic design touches, but the French-international food at the "Blue Sky" leans more to the classically extravagant. Any of the three tasting menus (with a choice of two wine pairings) are highly recommended for a celebratory meal. Enjoy beautifully presented dishes—like the signature king crab with Baeri caviar, beurre blanc ice cream, and preserved lemon, or the delicate pink "Dutch shrimp'' with violet potatoes, and an elevated take on Dutch apple pie for dessert—while taking in the amazing panorama from the 23rd floor of the Hotel Okura Amsterdam.

This candlelit French-Mediterranean restaurant with exposed brick walls and whimsical cartoon paintings is a true local favorite. Choose a set menu by picking from several appetizers, mains, and desserts—the minimum order is four courses and ranges all the way up to seven. The menu changes frequently and features highly flavorful modern dishes with an international twist. There's usually a complimentary predessert—which could be a deconstructed apple pie with tapioca balls and cream—poking delicious fun at the Dutch appeltaart tradition.

Traditional Japanese haute cuisine is sublimely presented at this elegant restaurant where a Zen-like sushi bar, kimonoed waitstaff, and views over a pretty Japanese garden (complete with koi pond) all add up to a sublime dining experience. The seasonal kaiseki and omakase dinner menus are a fabulous special occasion splurge.