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    Urban Bliss Life ยป Blog ยป Where to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam

    Published: May 26, 2016 / Updated: December 18, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

    Where to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam

    460 shares

    Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is a bustling, walkable/bikeable European city brimming with fabulous open-air markets, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Check out my guide on Where to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    During my 48 Hours in Amsterdam, I was able to visit quite a few fantastic restaurants, markets, wine bars, and cafes. Although time was limited, I wanted to be sure that I ate a few classic Dutch foods, and visited some hot spots and new spots, to give you all a glimpse of the wide variety of food & beverage options you can find during your next trip to this beautiful city.

    Here's a quick look at some of my favorites! We'll start with classic Dutch food, and then go into the restaurants and bars.

    Classic Dutch Food: Stroopwafels

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Stroopwafels are a sweet dessert/snack made of round wafers that have a thin layer of a caramel filling. The wafers have a waffle-mark design, and are crunchy but soften thanks to the filling. You can find these usually sold in packs at markets and local shops, and they are sometimes served in cafes. I picked up a pack at the Albert Cuyp Market (see below) and thought they were mighty tasty, although they are rather sweet; one stroopwafel alone can satisfy the sweet tooth for days!


    Classic Dutch Food: Bitterballen

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Bitterballen are similar to arancini, but instead of fried stuffed rice balls, these are fried bites filled with a doughy roux that usually have some sort of chopped meat mixed in, such as ham. It's served as a snack or side dish, and comes with a side of mustard dipping sauce.

    I ordered a plate of bitterballen at Rogh, a sweet cafe that's about a 10-minute walk down the street from the touristy Heineken experience and the main Amsterdam Canal Cruises. This restaurant was such a find: it's small, but I found service to be friendly and I loved the focus on fresh, organic food here. Grab a table by the windows and watch the whirl of Amsterdam activity (the tram, bikes, cars, pedestrians) buzzing by while you leisurely enjoy some coffee, fruit, and bitterballen.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Rogh Cafe
    Vijzelgracht 35
    1017 HN Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    HOURS: 9:00am - 6:00pm


    Where to Eat & Drink in Amsterdam


    Largest Outdoor European Market: Albert Cuyp Market

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The Albert Cuyp Market first opened in 1905 and is located on Albert Cuypstraat (Albert Cuyp Street) in the Latin quarter of Amsterdam, known as the Museumplein neighborhood. With 260 vendor booths, it is the largest open market in Europe. Here, you'll find everything from clothing to bikes, to toys to luggage and souveniers, to of course, plenty of local food.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com
    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com
    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com
    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com


    My picks at the Albert Cuyp market:the fresh seafood stalls with the morning's best catch (herring is apparently a popular fish in Amsterdam); the fresh cheese stalls with so many different types and colors of cheese imaginable; the waffles; and all of the amazing sweet and savory pastries!

    Albert Cuyp Market
    Located on Albert Cuypstraat, between Ferdinand Bolstraat and Van Woustraat
    Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Closed Sundays


    Classic Dutch Beer Experience:
    Brouwerij't IJ - the windmill brewery

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    During my 3-hour bike tour, we made a pit stop at Brouwerij't IJ – a brewery within Amsterdam's largest windmill. So very Amsterdam, right?

    This brewery offers approximately 33 of its own microbrews on tap at any given time, and they do have seasonal beers as well. All beers are unfiltered and unpasteurized. You order at the bar and then find a seat at one of the many tables indoors or on their outdoor patio. In addition to the many beers they have on tap, you can order a variety of traditional pub snacks. It's a really great spot to chill with your friends in the middle of the afternoon to take a break from all of the walking or biking.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Brouwerij't IJ
    Funenkade 7 1018
    AL Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    +31 20 622 8325
    Hours: daily 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm


    Fancy dinner: D'VIJFF VLIEGHEN

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    If you are looking for an elegant dinner in a more formal, beautiful setting, where you can dine under four original etchings by Rembrandt and surround yourself with walls lined with 17th century gold leather wallpaper, I highly recommend D'Vijff Vlieghen - which, translated, means The Five Flies.

    I know: the name is interesting for a restaurant, but you'll find no flies here - only beautifully plated, expertly executed dishes. The restaurant space is a combination of five centuries old canal houses, and each room is decorated in a different style.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.comWhat to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.comService is impeccable here. I quite enjoyed dining here by myself, so I could fully soak up the ambience and take in all of the details that make this restaurant truly special. From the linens to the accoutrements that come with the bread, to the Five Flies branded water bottle at each table, this is the kind of fine dining experience I dream about in each city I visit.

    The wine list here is also exceptional, and I love how the dinner menu is simple and doesn't overwhelm you.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    I ordered the stuffed fowl with a potato pancake and seasonal vegetables. Actually, when I would ask locals to describe a "classic Dutch dish," they would say they don't really have one - unless you count meat with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Nothing wrong with that, my friends. This was a beautifully cooked fowl with a delightful au jus.What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com
    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    After a delicious chocolate mousse cake dessert (so good!), they offered a classic Dutch after-dinner digestive spirit, similar to Jagermeister - it's a blend of herbal and orange liquer. A refreshing way to end an absolutely incredible dining experience!

    TIP: You will definitely need to make reservations far in advance for this restaurant. It is very popular among locals and tourists alike.

    D'Vijff Vlieghen
    Spuistraat 294-302
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    http://vijffvlieghen.nl/


    Classic Cuisine in a modern setting: Morgan & Mees

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Morgan & Mees is new to the Amsterdam scene, having opened last summer. While it is also a hotel (and I will share photos and info about the hotel in a future post), the restaurant downstairs is large and serves a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. There's a beautiful bar across the way from the main dining room (pictured above), as well as a side smaller room which would be great to rent out for private events, and an expansive outside patio with a beautiful view of a canal street, which I imagine I would spend a lot of time in during summer months.

    You'll find classic dishes here, done well. This is a great spot if you are looking for some solid, reliable, and easily accessible meals to all palates: they make beautiful and delicious classic cheese & charcuterie plates, sandwiches, and pasta dishes.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com
    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Morgan and Mees
    HOURS: 8:00am - 10:00pm
    Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat 2-6
    1052 LC Amsterdam
    The Netherlands
    +31 (0)20 2334930
    Reservations: reservation@morganandmees.com
    http://morganandmees.com/


    Best burger & fries: Ter Marsch & Co.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Behold: The Netherland's Best Burger.

    At least, that's what I was told, so of course I had to check it out.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Ter Marsch & Co. started in Rotterdam, and recently opened their Amsterdam location right across from the popular tulip market. "De Burgeresse" AKA The Lady Citizen burger (pictured above and below) was named the 2015 Best Burger in The Netherlands. It's a large, two-hands-required, burger made with Scottish Angus Beef and Japanese Wagyu, lakjus winter truffle, young lettuce, pickles, plum tomato, red onion, cottage cheese, panchetta and Ter Marsch sauce.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    All of their burgers are made medium rare, and cooked to perfection. I don't eat a lot of burgers, so when I do, I want it to be worthwhile, and this one definitely is. The beef and wagyu is so tender, and the winter truffle with their special house sauce adds some sophisticated tang.

    It paired well with the Primitivo wine that was recommended by my waitress.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Ter Marsh & Co.
    Vijzelstraat 4
    Amsterdam
    KITCHEN HOURS: Sun-Thur 10:00 am - 1:00 am, Fri & Sat 10:00am - 3.00am
    Bar open late
    http://www.termarschco.nl/amsterdam


    Spanish dinner + wine: Mercat

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Located in the Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam, Mercat is a lively restaurant and bar set in a large, modern, industrial space with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The cuisine here, full of hearty paellas and plenty of delectable tapas, is inspired by Spanish markets in Barcelona.

    Their wine list is more expansive than many other restaurants in Amsterdam, with a wide variety of whites, reds, and some lovely Cavas. If I lived here, I think I would go here quite often with my friends. It's such a fun, vibrant spot with great food and wine!

    48 hours in Amsterdam, Travel Bliss on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Mercat
    Oostelijke Handelskade 4
    1019 BM Amsterdam, Netherlands
    +31 20 344 6424


    Ultimate Tourist Spot:
    The Heineken Experience
    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The most touristy of all tourist spots for beer lovers is the massive, bohemoth mothership known as the Heineken Experience.

    You can tour their first brewery in Amsterdam and the tour finishes with a tasting. If you've never been on a brewery tour before, this could be a great experience for you.

    TIP: go SUPER early to get in line first. By the time they open, there's always a very, very, VERY long line. Be prepared to wait anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour during peak summer days. I recommend having a couple of people wait in line, while the others go off and explore the nearby canals, Albert Cuyp Market, or nearby cafes and restaurants, and then you can switch off, so that your day is not entirely wasted waiting in line. Cheers!

    Heineken Experience
    Stadhouderskade 78
    1072 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands
    http://www.heineken.com/Heineken-Experience
    TICKET INFO: https://tickets.heinekenexperience.com/


    More authentic local options:
    Like a Local Guide Experiences

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    If you want a more authentic Amsterdam tourist experience, check out the current options for food & beverage experiences through Like a Local Guide. This company matches locals in countries all over the world who offer authentic experiences in their hometowns to visiting tourists.

    I signed up for the Dinner at an Artist's Home Studio in Amsterdam, which was hosted by local artist Petra Hart. She has a lovely studio along a canal, and serves a 3-course meal with Prosecco while sharing her "heart World" art. What I love most about this experience is that you get to dine with strangers who may be tourists from other parts of the world, or, like my experience, with locals who have lived in Amsterdam for several years but came from other countries (one was originally from France and the other from Italy). It was such a fabulous opportunity to learn more about Dutch culture and what it's like to live in Amsterdam, all over a delicious meal. And, being a lover of art and all things creative, I really enjoyed learning more about Petra's art process and viewing her work.

    What to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam. Popular Dutch food, top restaurants, great outdoor markets. Read more on UrbanBlissLife.com

    To find this and many more different options for food & beverage experiences in Amsterdam, visit Like a Local Guide.


    These are the places I enjoyed during my 48 Hours in Amsterdam, and I can't wait to go back and discover more great places to eat and drink in this beautiful city!

    Have you ever been to Amsterdam, and if so, what are your restaurant recommendations? If not, which of these places listed here looks & sounds the most appealing to you? 

    Many thanks to the Port of Portland for sponsoring my #NextStopAMS press trip to Amsterdam. As always, all opinions and photos are my own, and I am so grateful to my travel partners for making it possible to continue bringing you fresh, original, first-person experience content and travel information to help you find your next travel bliss! 

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Charlotte says

        November 28, 2018 at 3:57 pm

        I wish I would have seen this post before going to Amsterdam this summer! Morgan and Mees looks fabulous!!

        Reply
      2. Josh says

        August 28, 2018 at 2:59 am

        Hi there! The 3 hour bike tour you mentioned, did you do the tour through a specific company or just rented bikes on your own and did your own thing ?

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          September 04, 2018 at 12:13 am

          Hi Josh! It was through a bike tour company - http://www.mikesbiketoursamsterdam.com/

      3. Jessica Ciesla says

        February 27, 2018 at 9:34 am

        Great post! I was just in Amsterdam a few weeks ago with my boyfriend. I wish I had stumbled across this sooner :) I did write a blog post about some of the places we enjoyed, as well!

        Reply
      4. stephanie says

        July 23, 2017 at 10:54 am

        Have you been back to Amsterdam?
        I would love to know if you have new favorites!
        x

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          July 23, 2017 at 1:38 pm

          Hi Stephanie. I just went last year and haven't been back, but I would love to go back again! So many places to go, so little time :) If you visit, do let me know if you find some other great spots in Amsterdam!

      5. ranesha says

        May 31, 2016 at 6:57 am

        I would love to visit New Amsterdam minus the 16 hour flight lol.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 02, 2016 at 10:47 pm

          16 hours is a long flight :) I feel pretty fortunate that we have a quick 9-hour direct flight option from Portland!

      6. Denay DeGuzman says

        May 27, 2016 at 12:29 pm

        What gorgeous photos! I love lingering on your blog just scanning through all your fabulous images. This page is wanderlust heaven. One day I hope to have an opportunity to visit Amsterdam.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 02, 2016 at 11:08 pm

          Oh thank you so much for the kind words, Denay! I hope you can visit Amsterdam someday as well. I fell in love with this city!

      7. Danielle says

        May 27, 2016 at 11:26 am

        I've been searching pinterest for good amsterdam posts and haven't really found any!!!! I pinned this, thanks so much! We are going to Amsterdam in August right before Italy! I want to try like all of these places!! We liked arancini when we were in italy, i'll try the similar thing in Amsterdam :)
        Danielle | AccordingtoD.com

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 02, 2016 at 11:09 pm

          Danielle, I am SO excited for you! I love Amsterdam, and hope you do, too!

      8. Chelsea says

        May 27, 2016 at 12:46 am

        I can't wait to eventually visit Amsterdam again! There is so much to see and do.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 02, 2016 at 11:10 pm

          There really is, which is amazing when you consider how small the city really is. There's so much packed into Amsterdam!

      9. Gina says

        May 26, 2016 at 10:48 pm

        Amazing photos! I've never been so the photos were a great thing to see. I see if I went there I'd gain some pounds after coming back home. lol

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 02, 2016 at 11:11 pm

          LOL - I definitely thought I'd come back with some extra "baggage" but I think all of the constant walking and biking helps -- which makes it an extra great city to visit! :-)

      10. Melissa says

        May 26, 2016 at 9:55 pm

        I love reading about your adventures!!! :)

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 02, 2016 at 11:13 pm

          So glad! Thank you, Melissa! XO

      11. Create/Enjoy says

        May 26, 2016 at 7:46 pm

        WOW!!! I don't know if I will ever make it to Amsterdam but those sound like some amazing places!

        Reply
      12. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        May 26, 2016 at 7:40 pm

        Wowsers Marlynn - You hit a LOT of spots in 48 hours! They all look totally amazing. Your pictures capture it perfectly.

        Reply
      13. linda says

        May 26, 2016 at 6:55 pm

        Now I want to go to Amsterdam! Pinned to my travel board!

        Reply
      14. Pech says

        May 26, 2016 at 5:47 pm

        Although that Burger looks soooooo good, I want to be a good traveler and try things unique to the country so I'd go to the Albert Cuyp market to progressive eat there or get things for a picnic, even if only in my hotel room!

        Reply

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      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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