10 Best Restaurants in Amsterdam: A Foodie's Paradise You'll Never Want to Leave (2024)

Photo courtesy of Bazar

Walk into a world of food at the Bazar. The building, once a church, features high ceilings and is full of color, character and beauty. The restaurant serves North African, Iranian and Turkish food, where you can choose a delicious dish from the main menu or one of the daily specials; either way you cannot go wrong. As the establishment is located in the Albert Cuypstraat, it's a great place to take a break from shopping at the Albert Cuypmarkt and enjoy a fresh mint tea. If you want to have dinner, make sure to reserve a table ahead of time, as the restaurant is quite popular and often busy. Try to get a table on the upper level; it overlooks the bar. For breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Bazar is sure to please.

Jessica's expert tip: Take a break from shopping at the Albert Cuypmarkt and enjoy a fresh mint tea at the Bazar.

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Photo courtesy of La Oliva

Dining at La Oliva Pintxos Y Vinos in the Jordaan will make you feel as if you've left Amsterdam and traveled to Spain. The restaurant serves the best Pintxos in town, as well as other delightful dishes from Northern Spain. Go with a group of people and share several Pintxos plates — this way you can taste a bit of everything. Each bite you take is perfectly complimented with a carefully chosen Spanish wine. Enjoy your lunch or dinner in a relaxed atmosphere paired with great food and friendly service. Call ahead for a reservation, as the restaurant fills up fast.

Jessica's expert tip: Go with a group of people and share several Pintxos plates - this way you can taste a bit of everything.

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Photo courtesy of Jessica Lipowski

Bring out your inner Italian at De Italiaan. Make yourself at home in the cozy environment. Enjoy a delicious, traditional pizza from the wood oven or indulge in other Italian creations, including pastas, antipasti, bruschetta, meat and fish dishes, desert and much, much more. Complete your lunch or dinner with a glass or bottle of Italian wine, perhaps a prosecco to start, followed by a Pinot Grigio or Chianti to accompany the main meal. By the end of your dining experience, you'll be saying "Delizioso, Magnifico!" (Delicious, Magnificent). Friendly service will round off the entire evening; you'll be dying to return.

Jessica's expert tip: The traditional pizza, baked in the wood oven, is absolutely to die for.

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Photo courtesy of Pont 13

Up until 1995, what is now Pont 13 used to be a ferry; now, the boat has been converted into an upscale restaurant, completely renovated. The restaurant is situated a bit out of the city centre, west of Centraal Station in the Westelijke Houthavens, but is special because of the ambiance and location on the harbor. You can sit indoors or outdoors and treat yourself to one of the numerous dishes available, including seafood and steak. Random fact: the tables are even for sale, available in different designs and sizes. The entire experience is a delicious adventure, every step of the way.

Jessica's expert tip: If you see a table you like, the tables are also for sale, available in different designs and sizes.

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Photo courtesy of @boetter

Enjoy the freshest ingredients at Restaurant de Kas, located in Frankendael Park. Every morning at sunrise, chefs and wait staff help owner and founder Gert Jan Hageman harvest herbs, vegetables and edible flowers. Ingredients are harvested in the restaurant's very own greenhouse and garden, situated in their backyard, as well as from a field about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Amsterdam. If an ingredient cannot be grown in their field, De Kas purchases additional foods, such as dairy products, meats, fish and various fruits and vegetables, from local farmers and vendors. Dine in the restaurant, relax on the patio or sit at the chef's table and watch the magic happen in the kitchen. Either way, you're sure to love the flavorful creations.

Jessica's expert tip: Guests are served the freshest ingredients daily, as herbs, vegetables and edible flowers are harvested every morning at sunrise.

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Photo courtesy of Restaurant Moeders

Give your Mom a break from the cooking and the cleaning and take her to Restaurant Moeders. Moeders, which literally translates to "Mothers" in English, is the family restaurant in Amsterdam, especially for Mother's Day or your Mom's birthday. The walls are decoratively adorned with a collage of photos, featuring mothers from all corners of the world; pictures are still being collected. Moeders serves a dish of the day for only 10 EUR. Visitors can also choose from an a la carte or a three-course menu. With typical Dutch cuisine and a friendly, welcoming ambience, Moeders will make you feel right at home.

Jessica's expert tip: If your mother or wife has a birthday, Moeders will give her a small present.

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Enjoy a truly elegant evening at Ciel Bleu. The restaurant, located on the 23rd floor of the gorgeous five-star Okura Hotel, promises a top-notch dinner. Ciel Bleu boasts two Michelin stars, definitely well deserved. The restaurant serves classic French cuisine with a creative twist. The chefs always select the best of the best ingredients and often use local products. The menu, which rotates four times a year, always features the finest flavors of the season. In addition, numerous wines are just waiting to complement your meal. The entire experience is made complete with a beautiful panoramic view of Amsterdam. Make a reservation at Ciel Bleu for an evening of culinary art.

Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Ciel Bleu, a two Michelin star restaurant, serves terrific culinary delights and boasts a beautiful view of Amsterdam.

Jessica's expert tip: Try to reserve a table by the window, so you can overlook the city of Amsterdam

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Prepare yourself for a divine culinary experience at d'Vijff Vlieghen. With good food, great wine and a dash of history, d'Vijff Vliegen calls itself a culinary museum. Dishes are always surprising and range from scallops and tartar of veal to start, with filet of lamb and pan-fried sea bass as two of the main courses. The restaurant's name has two origins: Vijff (Five) is the number of houses in which the restaurant is situated, and Vlieghen (Flies) comes from the nickname of the first person who lived in the house, Jan Janszoon in 1627. Make sure to also admire the character in each of the dining rooms. For instance, the Rembrandt Room displays four original Rembrandt etchings, while the Knights Room features knight paraphernalia and Delft Blue tiles at every table.

Jessica's expert tip: One of the restaurant's dining rooms has four original Rembrandt etchings on display.

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Photo courtesy of Restaurant RED Amsterdam

If you love surf and turf, Restaurant Red is one place in Amsterdam you will definitely not want to miss. Rediscover the pleasure of food; Restaurant Red definitely provides a distinct dining experience. You can choose from lobster or beef fillet, each prepared in one of two styles. Dishes are served with a salad and a side of fries. Complement your selection with a nice glass of wine, or close the evening by trying one of the chef's delectable desserts, such as the warm chocolate tart or tarte au citron vert. With each bite, from start to finish, you'll be craving more. To top it off, prices are quite affordable. With lobster and beef as the main stars, dining doesn't get much better than this.

Jessica's expert tip: Close the evening with the warm chocolate tart or tarte au citron vert.

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Photo courtesy of Jessica Lipowski

There is a saying, "The best things come in small packages." In the instance of Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs, the best pancakes are served in the smallest space. Make your way to the top of the steep, narrow stairs, and you'll find a room with only four tables and numerous teapots hanging from the ceiling. Prepare yourself for the largest pancakes you have ever seen, homemade and topped with a variety of delicious fixings. Have a look around at all the photos of the Royal Family and ask about the history of the house. It's a perfect place for lunch; the hours are limited, and sometimes the owner closes early if he runs out of ingredients. This is one place you cannot miss.

Jessica's expert tip: Go earlier in the day, rather than later. Sometimes the owner closes early if he runs out of ingredients.

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