15 casual dining worth the trip across Netherlands, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Netherlands guides.
La Perla ★ 4.5 · Amsterdam
jordaan · Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 14, 1015 RZ Amsterdam
La Perla in Amsterdam's Jordaan has run a wood-fired Roman-Neapolitan crossover since 2009, the bar across the alley taking overflow and people-watching.
Tip: Walk-up only at the bar opposite; the dining room takes phone bookings.
Warung Mini Surinamese ★ 4.4 · Amsterdam
de-pijp · Ceintuurbaan 205 HS, 1074 CV Amsterdam
Warung Mini in De Pijp serves Amsterdam's signature saoto soep, a clear Surinamese chicken broth crowned with crisp potato, beansprouts and a hard-boiled egg.
Tip: Counter service, closed Mondays. Lunchtime queue forms quickly.
Kenneh ★ 4.4 · Amsterdam
oud-west · Nassaukade 153G, 1053 LB Amsterdam
Kenneh on Nassaukade is the Amsterdam West African room, jollof rice, suya, fried plantain, the menu Adekunle Owolabi built around home cooking.
Tip: Bring a group; the menu rewards sharing. Reservation strongly advised on weekends.
Spang Makandra Warung ★ 4.4 · Amsterdam
de-pijp · Gerard Doustraat 39, 1072 VK Amsterdam
Spang Makandra has been Amsterdam's reference Surinamese counter since 1978, rolling roti, ladling saoto soep, almost nothing on the menu costing over 15 euros.
Tip: Lunch only at the upstairs tables; takeaway counter for everything else.
Caldi e Freddi ★ 4.3 · Amsterdam
centrum · Spuistraat 106, 1012 VA Amsterdam
Caldi e Freddi on Spuistraat is the Amsterdam Italian deli-trattoria you walk past once and book the next week, a tight room with fresh pasta and a wine list to match.
Tip: Lunch is a counter scene; dinner is small-room booking.
Peijie Hotpot ★ 4.3 · Amsterdam
nieuwmarkt-chinatown · Zeedijk 57, 1012 AR Amsterdam
Peijie on Zeedijk is Amsterdam Chinatown's Chongqing hotpot room, the broth red with chilli oil and sichuan peppercorn, with raw platters carried to your table.
Tip: Order the mid-heat unless you mean it. Book ahead Friday and Saturday.
Café de Klepel ★ 4.3 · Amsterdam
centrum · Prinsenstraat 22, 1015 DD Amsterdam
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.
Tip: Open Mondays when many Amsterdam rooms are dark. Books a week ahead.
Tarim Uyghur ★ 4.3 · Amsterdam
oud-zuid · Aalsmeerweg 34H, 1059 AK Amsterdam
Tarim is Amsterdam's halal Uyghur room on Aalsmeerweg in Zuid, hand-pulled laghman noodles, cumin-rubbed lamb skewers, dishes carried out of Xinjiang via the spice road.
Tip: Halal-certified; alcohol-free. Walk-ins fine on weekdays, book Friday and Saturday.
Kaasbar ★ 4.2 · Amsterdam
de-pijp · Ferdinand Bolstraat 10, 1072 LJ Amsterdam
Kaasbar on Ferdinand Bolstraat runs an Amsterdam cheese-only menu: tasting flights of aged Gouda, raw-milk farmhouse, and a Sunday cheese fondue.
Tip: Small room, books up at the weekend. The cheesemonger upstairs sells what you tasted to take home.
Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs ★ 4.2 · Amsterdam
centrum · Grimburgwal 2, 1012 GA Amsterdam
Upstairs Pancakes on Grimburgwal occupies an Amsterdam canal house dating to 1539, four tables of pancakes, teapots on the ceiling, since 1961.
Tip: Cash-only; reservations by phone a week ahead. The stairs are steep, the room is tiny.
Thai Snackbar Bird ★ 4.2 · Amsterdam
nieuwmarkt-chinatown · Zeedijk 77, 1012 AS Amsterdam
Thai Snackbar Bird on Zeedijk has run an Amsterdam Chinatown Thai counter for over two decades, snug, no-frills, the city's most reliable bowl of pad krapow.
Tip: Walk-in only; turnover is fast, the booth seats clear quickly.
Helling 7 ★ 4.1 · Amsterdam
amsterdam-noord · TT Melissaweg 57, 1033 SP Amsterdam
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.
Tip: Take the NDSM ferry; book the terrace explicitly in summer.
Bazar Amsterdam ★ 4.1 · Amsterdam
de-pijp · Albert Cuypstraat 182, 1073 BL Amsterdam
Bazar on Albert Cuypstraat is the cavernous, soaring Amsterdam North African-Middle Eastern room set in a converted church, all halal, all-day from breakfast.
Tip: Halal-certified. Big room, walk-in friendly. Pre-market breakfast is the value.
Badcuyp ★ 4.0 · Amsterdam
de-pijp · Eerste Sweelinckstraat 10, 1073 CM Amsterdam
Badcuyp on Eerste Sweelinckstraat is the De Pijp music-cafe and kitchen, the Amsterdam venue running European bistro plates alongside a live-music programme.
Tip: Live music many weeknights; check the calendar before booking the late seating.
Moeders Dutch Kitchen ★ 4.0 · Amsterdam
jordaan · Rozengracht 251 HS, 1016 SX Amsterdam
Moeders on Rozengracht is the Amsterdam stamppot room, walls lined with photos of mothers from customers, the menu a Dutch grandmother's repertoire.
Tip: Bring a photo of your mother to add to the wall. Reservation advised.