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Amsterdam's Cafes
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The Cafe scene in Amsterdam is the primary social milieu for meeting friends. Apartments are so small that most gatherings are held in a favorite cafe. In the summer, everyone sits outside especially when the weather is fine. Cafes attract a very diverse crowd depending upon the location, the food, and the ambience. Brown cafes have a regular crowd of older locals. Other cafes have a more trendy menu attracting a younger group. Coffeeshops attract mostly tourists by selling marijuana and hashish. No matter what your tastes, you'll find numerous cafes that'll interest you. The locale, the music, the crowd, and the food all contribute to the ambiance, making each cafe a unique experience. Few cities in the world can match Amsterdam's cafe scene.
Pig Out in Amsterdam!
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Indonesian Ricetafel
American Chinese Dutch French Greek Indian Indonesian Italian Japanese Malaysian Mexican Moroccan Spanish Thai Turkish Vegetarian |
So you've got the munchies and need to find relief. Luckily, you're in Amsterdam where a whole world of tempting delights await to satisfy your hunger for something different.
If you're looking to eat out, your quest should start with our story about Amsterdam's Restaurant Scene. It'll give you an overview of the types of food available. If you're wondering where to find restaurants, our ever expanding Restaurant Reviewswill point you in the right direction for International cuisine. We're pretty picky so you shouldn't be disappointed by our recommendations.
For less formal fare, consider Amsterdam's Cafes which often have very tasty food and stay open later! If you want a quick, inexpensive bite to fill up your tank, Fast Foodcan be a good option.
If you want to fix your own meal or just pick up some cheese and bread we recommend visiting one of the outdoor markets like the Dutch Specialties to whet your appetite.
Where to Find Restaurants in Amsterdam
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The largest concentration of restaurants in Amsterdam is around the Leidseplein. In the summer, almost all have outdoor seating. This is most enjoyable since you get to people watch, musicians come around to serenade you, and you can more easily avoid smokers (often a problem as few Dutch restaurants have non-smoking sections). Here there are streets leading away from the square with one restaurant after another. The competition is intense, and after you've spent ten minutes trying to decide which one to eat at, they all start looking the same. It's a good idea to decide what type of food you want which will make choosing somewhat easier. You might want to decide based upon ambiance, but if you're eating outdoors, they're all equal.
The Leidseplein area has a number of well known restaurants including 't Swarte Schaep (The Black Sheep) with great food in a cozy 300 year old building (expensive). We found several very good, reliable Italian restaurants in the area, and some not so good Indian restaurants. The best clue as to how good the food is, is how long the line is!
Dutch Chocolate
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The Dutch are famous for their chocolate, but are often overshadowed by their Belgian neighbors. The Spanish discovered this ancient Aztec & Mayan treat in the 16th century. But the Dutch figured a way to make a milder tasting powder, with a lower fat content, that disolves in water and could be used to make solid chocolate. This Dutch processed cocoa is what we use today for hot chocolate, a delicious treat available in almost every Dutch cafe, restaurant or coffeeshop.
Tip!Don't miss an opportunity to try Dutch Cocoa, "met slagroom" - with whipped cream!
Where to Shop for Food
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Amsterdam has a fine selection of wine, since they import it from all over Europe including France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Hungary, etc. House wines in restaurants are usually good accompaniment to the cuisine, and much cheaper than a vintage. There are many wine shops in Holland and the selection and prices are very good. If you're used to paying high prices for French wine, you're in for a treat. Thanks to the E.U. there's no import duties added, so a fine Bordeaux can be had for under €5! We find the Gall and Gall shops to have a decent selection, but their wines are somewhat overpriced, and recommend you look elsewhere for your alcohol needs. I prefer to take a trip to France and stock up there where the selection and prices are unbeatable!
For general food shopping the Albert Heijn chain of supermarkets has an excellent selection, including many organic (biologisch) produce and vegetarian foods. They're a bit more expensive than the other markets in town, like Dirk van den Broek. The A&P supermarkets have a better selection of products that Americans and English might be missing in Holland.
For health food there's a chain of stores called De Natuurwinkel with shops around town. Organic produce can also be found in small markets, like the one on the Jodenbreestraat.
For personal care products like shampoos, vitamins, and non-prescription items, try Etos or Kruidvat (good prices).
The Albert Cuypmarkt
The Albert Cuypmarkt is the best place to shop for fresh produce, cheese, nuts, fish and much more. It's a four block stretch of stalls that have the best deals in town on food and toiletries. It's open from 9am to 5pm Monday thru Saturday. There are several other local outdoor markets around town including an the Borenmarkt, an organic food market on Saturday around the Noorderkerk in the Jordaan (9am-5pm).