Amsterdam
in North Holland

This popular bistro is always buzzing, every single night of the week. The team at Café Caron has dreamed up a simple, straightforward menu of hearty French classics that makes even the coldest, drizzliest of evenings in Amsterdam cosy. Unlike many restaurants in the city, Café Caron is open late seven nights a week, so it’s perfect when hunger strikes well after the sun has gone down.

De Ceuvel is a biological and ecological heaven built in an old shipyard that is currently home to a completely circular office park - think a hippie, sustainable version of Silicon Valley on a bunch of Dutch houseboats! 

Meander across the wobbly scaffolding past the ‘office boats’ to get the full scope of the project and end your evening at Cafe De Ceuvel for a completely sustainable meal. 

This wildly popular table d’hôte is buzzy for a reason. The laid-back French food is delicious – we like to order the weekly four-course menu – & settle in for a long, lovely evening. You can’t order a la carte, but trust us, you won’t miss it. If the weather is nice, ask for a table outside, & be sure to sufficiently probe the host to discover the very best wine.

If there is such a thing as a perfect neighbourhood café, Café De Linden comes remarkably close. Don't come expecting elaborate dishes or fancy cocktails. Instead, you'll find toasties, good wine, and lots of friendly faces.

Café Garçon is doing its darnedest to transform its corner of Oud-Zuid into Little Paris. We are big fans of its stunning contemporary-classic interior and quintessential French menu. Classics such as niçoise salads, escargots and blinis with smoked salmon are done solidly if not superbly, but it's a great spot for a casual dinner.

This innovative restaurant in Amsterdam Noord is absolutely worth crossing the IJ for. If you’re wary of cycling all the way back to the city after a few glasses of excellent natural wine, treat yourself to a room at their hotel just upstairs. Not up for a full meal? Grab a delicious treat from the bakery & take it with you as you explore the area.

Run by the same lovely team behind Café de Klepel, Parlotte is a sweet little bistro and wine bar tucked away on the Westerstraat. It's the best for chatting the day away with friends and family!

It can be tough to find a spot in the city for big groups – or for dining with children, for that matter. Thankfully, there's always Café Restaurant Amsterdam. The food is solid, and the space is relaxed and inviting.

Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between, Meyer is a no-fuss, Amstelveld hangout. The food is hearty yet simple: fresh salads are the lunchtime staple, replaced by lemon ricotta ravioli with a crunchy pistachio pangrattato in the evening. Though the real highlight is the large terrace spilling with fellow ‘Dammers, which gets especially crowded in time for cocktail sundowners.  

This former spice market turned cafe is a lovely brunch spot for those who want more than eggs and toast. Cafe Simon de Wit has a global menu that is available for brunch and dinner. We love sitting on their terrace and nibbling away at their loaded Rendang fries.

Another of Noord's café-restaurant to add to the ever-expanding list. Café Soleil is a bright, beacon of light, due to its playful yellow branding and for its exceptional, laid-back cooking. Funky interiors, shimmering candlelights and Sunday jazz evenings are just some of the highlights. 

Hidden away on a quiet residential street in Oud-West, this all-day neighbourhood favourite serves everything from generous breakfasts and French-inspired seasonal plates to homemade cakes and well-earned glasses of wine. Claim a spot on the tree-lined terrace, challenge your friends to a game of jeu de boules, and see where the afternoon takes you. Chances are, you'll end up staying for dinner.

What began as chef Petra Moerbeek’s pandemic side project has grown into one of Amsterdam Noord’s most soulful food spots. Born in Java and driven by a desire to do Indonesian cuisine justice, she turned home-style comfort food into a carefully executed offering. Expect slow-cooked rendang (a coconut-milk-based beef stew) and a perfectly spiced ayam geprek (crispy Indo-style fried chicken), with vegetarian options and a rotating monthly special. Decorated to look like a traditional warung, it’s the perfect easy-going hangout for a relaxed dinner. 

Chef Timo de Beurs has turned his attention to a new, exciting venture: Café Wu. Inspired by classic Chinese cuisine, de Beurs’ bistro takes a new approach with European techniques and ingredients. And while most people probably come for the food, the team at Café Wu have given extra special attention to the music. A groovy collection of vinyls and tapes blast through the speakers, making this place an absolute blast.

For years, people have slighted vegetables. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case, particularly at Choux, a trendy restaurant near to Central Station (don’t let the location scare you off!) that gives prominence to the humble vegetable. The menu is ever-changing, & the kitchen prides itself on employing as many local, seasonal products as possible. Come to Choux to be delighted by the wonders of the earth.

While a host of excellent restaurants have opened across De Jordaan in recent years, Christiaan Smit quickly found its way into our hearts, serving some of the finest food in Amsterdam. Don't miss the red mullet with peas, bisque, tomato and saffron, and be sure to save room for the stuffed madeleine with almond and vanilla ice cream.

Amsterdam is many wonderful things, but a hotspot for top-notch Mexican food it is not. Until now, that is. Coba Taqueria is an achingly cool restaurant serving a short & sweet menu of tacos, quesadillas & tostadas. If your thirst is as strong as your hunger, indulge in any of the great tequila-based cocktails, natural wines or bright, fresh juices.

A moveable deep-red stainless steel bar, huge glass-panelled windows and mahogany tables topped with mimosa flowers, flickering candles and metal cutlery, Copain Amsterdam is amongst Noord's hottest openings. On the menu is delectable dishes of seasonal veg, meats and fish rustled up by the wonderful chef that is Jesse Cameron. 

Amsterdam Noord is the place to be for all things hip & happening. This formerly overlooked corner of the city has had a serious renaissance in the last few years, and it's only getting better. A favourite of ours in the 'hood is cornerstore. This charming restaurant has a menu heaving with fantastic natural wines & eastern Asian-inspired bites. 

Casual but still cosy, Coulisse is the kind of place you can easily envision becoming part of your dining out routine, though we also think it’s fantastic for special occasions. Like so many of our go-to spots, Coulisse is hyper-focused on sourcing quality ingredients from local farmers, fishermen & producers (the chef is ex-Noma, so it's really no surprise). That means, whatever you’re eating – spring, summer or fall – it’s going to be fresh, fresh, fresh.