Local Flavor: where to eat and drink in Amsterdam

20.06.2024 - 08:07 / lonelyplanet.com

Jun 19, 2024 • 7 min read

Amsterdam's culinary landscape is as vibrant as the tulip fields that surround it; thanks to its diverse population, creative local food purveyors and ambitious chefs who are constantly pushing the envelope.

When I first moved here in 2009, it was hard to find hot sauce but now there's something to suit every palette. If you're visiting Amsterdam, these are the places I would take you to.

In 2018, two food-loving friends from Sydney opened Box Sociaal to serve tasty Australian-style boozy brunch and cocktails – I like their new location along the Bloemgracht, one of Amsterdam's most adorable canals. I start with a flat white while chatting with the cheerful staff and then enjoy a plate of Kims Tacos, handcrafted tortillas with fried chicken, sweet and spicy Korean sauce and kimchi slaw, plus a glass of homemade passionfruit-peach-mango kombucha . Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

G’s is the "very nice place" that most likely sparked Amsterdam’s brunch awakening more than a decade ago. Today they serve brunch... on a boat! It’s one of my favorite places to take my friends when they visit. Rain or shine, Miss G’s departs from the Herengracht for a 90-minute ride through scenic canals while passengers enjoy chicken and waffles or a vegetarian breakfast burrito, plus unlimited tipsy drinks. If you'd rather skip the booze for the most part, you can opt for a regular option that includes one dish and one drink; either way, advance reservations are a must for this one-of-a-kind experience.

If you're in the mood to sample Dutch fare, visit De Ysbreaker, an eatery housed in a charming historic building on the Amstel River. They’re known to serve locally grown white asparagus when it's in season, a Dutch treat called "white gold." It’s best eaten with poached eggs, salmon and Hollandaise sauce.

Caffeine addicts will be thrilled by the wide range of specialty roasters, quaint cafes and carb-loaded bakeries that view coffee as an art. To try something typically Dutch, order a koffie verkeerd, similar to a latte. The signature of Dutch coffee culture is a small treat, usually a cookie or mini stroopwafel (waffle cookie), and you can pick up a warm, fresh one gooey with caramel at Rudi's famous stand at the Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp. Tip: Don't confuse cafes serving coffee with the city's cannabis coffee shops. 

Back To Black is a specialty coffee bar and roaster tucked away on a quiet side street in the Spiegelkwartier. With bright corner windows and a cozy interior, it’s welcomed coffee lovers since 2013 and is the perfect spot for a morning caffeine boost before visiting the Rijksmuseum across the street. I enjoy a coconut milk iced latte paired with their apple pie or