In 't Aepjen is a cafe restaurant in Amsterdam.
Editorially verified May 20, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: Tiny wooden-fronted brown cafe on Zeedijk, occupies one of two surviving 15th-century wood-fronted buildings in Amsterdam, easily missed.
Tip: Order a jenever and look up: the maritime memorabilia tells the story.
2.5 hours
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Address: Zeedijk 1, 1012 AN Amsterdam
Jenever proeflokaal in Pijlsteeg behind Krasnapolsky, established 1679; 70 Dutch liqueurs and genevers tasted standing from tulip glasses, no chairs.
Why locals goDown an alley off Dam Square; you have to know the door. The Amsterdam jenever proeflokaal nobody outside the Netherlands seems to know about.
TipNo tables. Bend over the bar to take the first sip without spilling.
Roef in Amsterdam: Watergraafsmeer is outside most tourist itineraries; this is where locals go for a five-course menu at half the central price.
Why locals goWatergraafsmeer is outside most tourist itineraries; this is where locals go for a five-course menu at half the central price.
TipTake tram 9 from Centraal. Book at least a week ahead Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
Hotel De Goudfazant: a 1,200-square-meter warehouse in Noord with French bistro classics, daily-changing menu, open kitchen, fully natural wine list.
Why locals goCavernous Amsterdam-Noord warehouse most tourists never cross the IJ to find, a 1200 sqm canteen with one of the city's best four-course menus.
TipTake the free Buiksloterweg ferry from Centraal. Book a fortnight ahead for weekend nights.
Café de Reiger in Amsterdam: Locals' Jordaan eetcafe with a back kitchen, the room tourists walk past for the more famous brown cafes nearby.
Why locals goLocals' Jordaan eetcafe with a back kitchen, the room tourists walk past for the more famous brown cafes nearby.
TipBook ahead for dinner; the bar takes walk-ins for snacks and the daily menu.
Modern Dutch restaurant on Javaplein in Indische Buurt, set-menu format 3 to 5 courses from Dutch soil, game and sustainable fish, open kitchen, brick walls.
Why locals goFar enough east in Indische Buurt that day-trippers skip it; the city's reference game-and-modern-Dutch room runs at half the price of central equivalents.
TipThree-course menu early in the week is the value sweet spot.
Warung Mini is small ceintuurbaan counter most guidebooks skip for the more famous spang makandra; this is where locals come for the city's best saoto soep.
Why locals goSmall Ceintuurbaan counter most guidebooks skip for the more famous Spang Makandra; this is where locals come for the city's best saoto soep.
TipClosed Mondays; arrive before 13:00 for the proper lunch service.
