Dutch€€de-pijpMon-Thu 15:00-22:00, Fri-Sun 12:00-01:00
Kaasbar on Ferdinand Bolstraat runs an Amsterdam cheese-only menu: tasting flights of aged Gouda, raw-milk farmhouse, and a Sunday cheese fondue.
Signature: Cheese flight, Aged Gouda plate, Cheese fondue
Order: The five-cheese tasting flight, with a glass of jenever.
Tip: Small room, books up at the weekend. The cheesemonger upstairs sells what you tasted to take home.
West African€€oud-westWed-Thu 17:30-22:30, Fri-Sat 17:30-23:00, closed Sun-Tue
Kenneh on Nassaukade is the Amsterdam West African room, jollof rice, suya, fried plantain, the menu Adekunle Owolabi built around home cooking.
Signature: Jollof rice, Suya, Fried plantain
Order: Jollof rice with suya skewers; plantain on the side.
Tip: Bring a group; the menu rewards sharing. Reservation strongly advised on weekends.
French€€centrumMon-Thu 17:00-00:00, Fri 15:00-00:00, Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 15:00-00:00
Café de Klepel on Prinsenstraat near the Jordaan border runs a tight French bistro menu, an Amsterdam corner room with a winelist that rewards a long stay.
Signature: Daily-changing 3-course French, Wine pairings
Order: The chef's three-course set with the recommended pairings.
Tip: Open Mondays when many Amsterdam rooms are dark. Books a week ahead.
European€€de-pijpMon-Sat 17:30-00:00
Badcuyp on Eerste Sweelinckstraat is the De Pijp music-cafe and kitchen, the Amsterdam venue running European bistro plates alongside a live-music programme.
Signature: Daily-changing menu, Steak frites
Order: Whatever the day's special is; the steak frites is the safe fall-back.
Tip: Live music many weeknights; check the calendar before booking the late seating.
Dutch€centrumMon-Sat 12:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-17:00
Upstairs Pancakes on Grimburgwal occupies an Amsterdam canal house dating to 1539, four tables of pancakes, teapots on the ceiling, since 1961.
Signature: Sweet pancakes, Savoury bacon-and-cheese pancake
Order: The bacon and cheese pancake with apple, drowned in stroop.
Tip: Cash-only; reservations by phone a week ahead. The stairs are steep, the room is tiny.
International€€amsterdam-noordMon-Fri 17:00-01:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-15:00 and 17:00-01:00
Helling 7 in Amsterdam-Noord is a waterfront warehouse running wood-fired pizza, grills and a long terrace on the IJ, the room you book for a sunny Saturday.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Burgers, Sharing platters
Order: Wood-fired pizza with whatever the seasonal vegetable topping happens.
Tip: Take the NDSM ferry; book the terrace explicitly in summer Walk-ins usually OK.