Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [120]
Fish
Kopke Adega Koggestraat 1 020/622 4587. Mediterranean-style fish restaurant that does a great bouillabaisse, as well as some tasty, mainly Iberian fish and shellfish dishes; you can sample them in the restaurant itself or in the more informal tapas bar. Decent prices too – you’ll spend no more than about €30 for three courses à la carte. Daily 6–10.30pm.
Lucius Spuistraat 247 020/624 1831. This long-established, bistro-style restaurant, with its high-varnish wooden panelling, is one of the best fish restaurants in town. The lemon sole, when it’s on the menu, is excellent and so are the seafood platters. Mains €25, a tad less for the daily special. Daily 5pm–midnight.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
French, Belgian and Swiss
De Brakke Grond Nes 43 020/626 0044. Modern, high-ceilinged eetcafé specializing in Belgian beer and food, often full of people discussing the performance they’ve just seen at the adjacent Flemish Cultural Centre. Daily 2–10pm.
Café Bern Nieuwmarkt 9 020/622 0034. This place is really more of a bar, but it’s well known for its food, which is excellent, for example the alcoholic cheese fondue. It’s very cosy and usually extremely crowded, so it’s best to book. If not, just get plastered at the bar while you wait for a table. Daily 6–11pm.
De Compagnon Guldenhandsteeg 17 020/620 4225. This traditional restaurant serves decent French food to a self-consciously discerning clientele in an old-fashioned atmosphere. There’s a great, if not especially cheap, wine list, too. It’s expensive – reckon on €25-plus for a main course – and tends to be fully booked well in advance, but you might get in for lunch. Daily except Sun noon–2pm & 6–10pm; evenings only on Sat.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
Indonesian
Kantjil en de Tijger Spuistraat 291 020/620 0994. This high-quality Indonesian restaurant has been somewhat of an institution for over twenty years. The traditional rijsttafels start at €22 per person and are served in a stylish wood-panelled setting. Mon–Fri 4.30–11pm, Sat & Sun noon–11pm.
Sie Joe Gravenstraat 24 020/624 1830. Small café-restaurant whose great value-for-money menu is far from extensive but comprises well-prepared, simple dishes such as gado gado, sateh and rendang. Mon–Sat 11am–7pm, Thurs till 8pm.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
Italian
Mappa Nes 59 020/528 9170. Classic Italian food with some inventive twists, incorporating good home-made pasta dishes and excellent service in an unpretentious and modern environment. Daily 6–9.45pm (Fri & Sat till 10.45pm).
Vasso Roozenboomsteeg 12 020/626 0158. Genuine, creative restaurant off a corner of the Spui, housed in three curvy, sixteenth-century buildings. Polite and attentive service and moderate prices – around €20 for a main course. Daily 5–11pm.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
Japanese
Kobe House Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 77 020/622 6458. Not a lot of atmosphere, partly because it’s a big restaurant that rarely seems to get full. But if you’re craving sushi or other Japanese treats, this is the place. Daily noon–10.30pm.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
Pancakes
Pannekoekhuis Upstairs Grimburgwal 2 020/626 5603. Minuscule place in a tumbledown house opposite the university buildings, with sweet and savoury pancakes at low prices. Student discounts. Fri & Sat noon–6pm, Sun noon–5pm.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
Spanish and Portuguese
Centra Lange Niezel 29 020/622 3050. This authentic Spanish cantina is a long-standing Red Light District favourite, with a wonderful selection of Spanish food, masterfully cooked and genially served. Daily 1.30–11pm. Cash only.
De Portugees Zeedijk 39 020/427 2005. Truly a little piece of Portugal on the Zeedijk, with chaotic service and authentically hearty and filling (rather than gourmet) food – tasty fish stews, garlicky sausages, salt cod and eggs. Tues–Sun 6–10.30pm.
Eating and drinking | Restaurants | The Old Centre |
Thai
Bird Zeedijk 77 020/420