Amsterdam, Holland, The Netherlands, Travel Guide, City Guide, Where to eat, Where to drink, Where to shop, Where to stay, Insider recommendations, Chef, Sommelier, Local’s Guide, Where the chefs eat, Best Places to eat and drink in Amsterdam
Just because Amsterdam is famous for sex, drugs and gouda, doesn’t mean there aren’t great restaurants. In the heart of the Red Light District, Michelin-starred chef Rogier van Dam and his partner, sommelier Elise Moeskops, recently opened Restaurant Lastage in a 17th Century canal house and offers a modern take on Dutch cuisine.
We asked Restaurant Lastage chef Rogier van Dam and sommelier Elise Moeskops to share where the locals go to eat, drink and food shop in Amsterdam.
Just because Amsterdam is famous for sex, drugs and gouda, doesn’t mean there aren’t great restaurants. In the heart of the Red Light District, Michelin-starred chef Rogier van Dam and his partner, sommelier Elise Moeskops, recently opened Restaurant Lastage in a 17th Century canal house, which offers a modern take on Dutch cuisine.
We asked Restaurant Lastage chef Rogier van Dam and sommelier Elise Moeskops to share where the locals go to eat, drink and food shop in Amsterdam.
Where To Eat, Drink And Shop
A Chef & Sommelier’s Guide To Amsterdam
October 13, 2011
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Shopping | Markets
Lindenhoff Marche
Photograph courtesy of Lindenhoff Marche
Lindenhoff Marche in Baambrugge
On Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, one of the best restaurant suppliers of quality meat opens up the farm and holds a real farmers’ market. Neighbors that produce fruits and vegetables join them, as well as a great traditional baker, dairy producer and some other great things. Only a half an hour drive outside of Amsterdam, you’ll immediately get a feel of what the Dutch countryside has to offer. We love driving out there, petting the cows, enjoying the atmosphere and getting home with bags of fresh produce.
www.lindenhoff.nl, Rijksstraatweg 9c, 1396 JC Baambrugge, T: +31/(0)294.29.12.72
Shopping | Food Stores
Casa del Gusto
They drive back and forth to Italy every week to provide us with the best Italy has to offer: great salamis and prosciutto, but also homemade pastas. It’s a touch of Italy in Amsterdam.
Kerkstraat 121, 1017 GE Amsterdam, T: +31/(0)20.330.83.30
Eating | Restaurants
Bordewijk
Definitely the best place to go if you like classical French preparations of brains, kidneys and just robust food.
www.bordewijk.nl, Noordermarkt 7, 1015 MV Amsterdam, T: +31/ (0)20.624.38.99
Amstel Hotel
Photograph courtesy of drobm [flickr]
La Rive | Amstel Hotel
It might be the restaurant furthest away from what Lastage is doing in Amsterdam, but after years of gathering dust and struggling to stay on top, the Amstel Hotel finally found their dream duo, with the “King of Subtle Flavors” Roger Rassin in the kitchen and with supreme hostmanship from Ronald Opten. We had a meal there that is high on our list of best meals ever. Living in Amsterdam, we’re cheering for this beautiful building and iconic hotel to return to the status Amsterdam deserves.
www.restaurantlarive.nl, Professor Tulpplein 1, 1018 GX, T: +31 (0) 20.5203264
Le Hollandais
Photograph courtesy of Le Hollandais
Le Hollandais
Southeast of the center of Amsterdam, you find Le Hollandais, a restaurant that has been around for ages. Adriaan [Adriaan van Raab van Canstein] the chef, makes clean and honest food. The dream wedding between Dutch produce and French technique. Go for the sausage of the week and have a bottle of wine recommended.
www.lehollandais.nl, Amsteldijk 41, 1074 HV Amsterdam, T: +31/(0)20.679.12.48
Le Restaurant
A former two-starred Michelin chef opened up what is barely more then a living room, after having left the restaurant scene after a couple of years. A set menu, extremely high quality for a reasonable price, Le Restaurant shows that you can do it your own way, without concessions.
www.lerestaurant.nl, Tweede Jan-Steenstraat 3, 1073 VK, T: +31/(0)20.379.22.07
Slagerij ‘T Vet
For lunch -- not really a restaurant, but try the Broodje Zeedijk at Slagerij ‘t Vet on the Zeedijk, best sandwich in town. We survived through the renovation of Lastage on it.
Zeedijk 99, 1012 Amsterdam, T: +31 (0) 20.623.49.08
Eating | What To Eat
Bitterballen
Photograph courtesy of Curious Food Lover [flickr]
Herring
Photograph courtesy of anneh632 [flickr]
The Dutch kitchen does not revolve around dishes, but around stealing the best ideas of other kitchens and combining them with great Dutch produce. A couple of things not to miss are, however, more in the snack category.
These typical Dutch things you could get in almost every Dutch bar in Amsterdam:
- a cold beer with “bitterballen” (fried ragout balls)
- Dutch raw herring with Amsterdam onions and pickles
- and our favorite: patatje oorlog, French fries with mayonnaise, onions and peanut sauce.
Drinking | Bars & Cocktails
Cafe Zilt
On the Zeedijk -- one of our favorite bars in Amsterdam, definitely. It’s at the beginning of the Red Light District and it’s rare to find a bar frequented with mainly Dutch. The bartender/owner, Michael, has a true feel for making everybody feel welcome. Combine that with a better than average selection of beers, wines and whiskeys and it is our pivotal point on a night out and our main hang-out after closing the restaurant.
www.cafezilt.nl, Zeedijk 49, 1012 AR, Amsterdam, T: +31/(0)20.421.54.16
Njoy
A cocktail bar close to the Leidseplein, an area we tend to shy away from -- too busy, too touristy and too loud. Njoy, however, maintains a strict door policy, but once you’re in, you are treated to cocktails made with the freshest fruit available. A true love for the craft of cocktail-making resonates through every conversation you have with a bartender (ask for Lillyin, she’s great). And if you’re done with cocktails, they also serve a more then decent glass of wine and nice snacks to go with them.
www.cocktailclubnjoy.nl, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 93, 1017 PX, Amsterdam, T: +31/(0)62.424.97.42
