7 trendy places to eat in Amsterdam in 2024

Eat your heart out 🍽️

There are so many places to eat in Amsterdam that it’s enough to make you feel paralysed by choice. But geen probleem, we’ve narrowed the list down to 7 places you absolutely have to try.

These are some of Amsterdam’s most chill and hip restaurants that offer delicious food and amazing cocktails!

Also, know that different DutchReviewers went to different trendy places, so we got all our brains together to find the best places. Enjoy!

1. Ode aan de Amstel

The name “Ode aan de Amstel” translates to “ode to the Amstel” — it’s an homage to the river that flows into Amsterdam’s iconic canal ring and helps shape the city.

Both the terrace and the ground floor of this restaurant are located on the Amstel river (you can even dock your boat on the terrace!), letting you enjoy the peaceful sounds of the rippling water and a stunning view.

Ode-aan-de-amstel-restaurant-on-water-in-amsterdam
If it weren’t so dark in this photo, you’d see how the restaurant is surrounded by water. Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ode aan de Amstel is all about providing guests with a peaceful dining experience. The intimate interior is complimented by an open kitchen and, of course, a menu that will leave your mouth watering.

If every single item on the menu sounds good to you (we feel you), we suggest going with the three, four, or five-course chef’s selection menu. This is a daily-changing menu with the chef’s most tasty, innovative and original dishes.

With only the best cuts of meat and the freshest seafood, this place truly left us wanting more.

Fresh-food-cut-of-meat-at-restaurant-ode-aan-de-amstel-in-amsterdam
A medley of flavours! Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

2. Midtown Grill

An eclectic and excellent eating experience! Honestly, the prospect of eating at a steakhouse near Amsterdam’s Leidseplein wasn’t too exciting initially. But we were wrong!

When you walk into Midtown Grill, you immediately feel it won’t be your usual steakhouse experience. Its interior is showered in class, luxury, and eclectic wallpaper. (How often do you appreciate that in a place?)

READ MORE | 33 best things to do in Amsterdam in 2023 [UPDATED]

The staff is courteous and never makes you think you’re eating out in Amsterdam — which is a compliment — and the menu is limited. Not 627 options, but what they did, they did well. (It had proper veggie options like any place should have nowadays.)

Trendy Steakhouse Amsterdam
Get in there! (Image: DutchReview)

The steak we had was a proper beast. The staff shows you the cuts beforehand and advises on how you should want it prepped (a thick cut should be a bit medium, or else you’re just eating raw meat).

They also prepared a custom whisky sour, and we have to recommend the ‘mixed plankje and the lobster bitterballs’ (how can we not?)

📍 Address: Stadhouderskade 12, Amsterdam, NH 1054 ES
🍽 Recommendations: Lobster Bitterballen and a steak, obviously
👍 Socials: Instagram, Facebook

3. NOMADS

NOMDAS-place-to-eat-in-Amsterdam-entrance
Look at that gorgeous colour scheme! Image: DutchReview/Supplied

Twice a year, NOMADS “travels” to a different location. Not only does the menu change to the country’s food but the interior design of the restaurant.

We visited when it was adorned with photographs of the streets of Alfama and typical blue tile murals in the bathroom — you guessed it, Portuguese cuisine.

We had a four-course meal, accompanied by a bottle of white Serras de Azeitão from Setúbal. Everything was great, particularly the octopus salad and the pastéis de bacalhau (or codfish pastries).

These are staple dishes in Portuguese culture, and we are glad they haven’t been forgotten. The oysters were the best part of the meal; they literally tasted like the sea.

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Can it get much better than this? Image: DutchReview/Supplied

For dessert, we got a true Portuguese treat. THE pastel de nata that is so hard to replicate was by far the most authentic we’ve eaten outside of Portugal.

It couldn’t beat the original “Pastéis de Belém” as it follows an ancient recipe from the Jerónimos Monastery, but it would surely beat a lot of well-established bakeries in Portugal.

We also had a “rice pudding”, a take on the classic “arroz doce”. The pudding’s consistency and taste were perfect, which is hard to do with just milk and rice.

It’s usually topped with cinnamon, but the chefs at NOMADS innovated by adding raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, as well as a fruit-infused foam.

It was a great experience. NOMADS made us feel like we were back in a mother’s kitchen in Lisbon.

📍 Address: Oranje Vrijstaatkade 55 1093 KS Amsterdam
🍽 Recommendations: Oysters, pastéis de bacalhau, and pastel de nata
👍 Socials: Instagram, Facebook

4. In de Waag

When in Amsterdam, you truly can’t miss out on a meal at one of the city’s most iconic restaurants: In de Waag.

Located in an old city gate in the centre of the lively “Nieuwmarkt”, this place is a historic monument that was built between 1425 and 1488.

in-de-waag-restaurant-in-Amsterdam-on-a-sunny-day
What a glorious exterior! Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

What used to be a city gate eventually became a “weighing house” (Dutch: Waag, hence the name ⚖️), and finally one of Amsterdam’s trendiest restaurants. 🙌

The rustic interior at the Waag is lit by more than 300 real candles, creating a romantic vibe that compliments the interesting history of this building. But besides the stunning interior, the Waag also sports one of Amsterdam’s sunniest terraces — perfect to enjoy during the warmer months of the year.

We stopped by Waag for lunch, and went for the famous Waag burger and the puffed aubergine. Both were fresh, full of flavour, and of course, heel lekker!

lunch-at-waag-restaurant-in-amsterdam-eggplant-and-burger
We don’t know about you, but we’re getting hungry just looking at this! Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

For dessert, we were served the “Apple tarte tatin”, a small apple pie with cinnamon ice cream and vanilla custard.

Whether you come here for a mid-day snack or for a nice dinner, the selection of bites, main courses, desserts, and drinks won’t disappoint — and the lovely staff will make you feel right at home.

5. NENI Amsterdam

A sharing menu including the best falafel in town? Sign us up. We took a trip to NENI Amsterdam to try their new Balagan menu — and we weren’t disappointed.

Right next to the Olympic stadium in Amsterdam-Zuid, NENI‘s location might not be the first choice for tourists. However, it is worth the short journey outside of the centre.

As you enter, you’re greeted by the smell of fresh bread baking in the deli (well, only on the weekends). Here you can purchase freshly baked Mediterranean goods, including sourdough, babka, and challah. 🥐

Entrace-to-NENI-Amsterdam-a-good-restaurant-in-Amsterdam
Yes it is, NENI, yes it is. Image: DutchReview/Supplied

The concept at NENI is that sharing is caring. There is a wide range of plant-based, fish, and meat dishes, ideal for when you are as indecisive as we are.

We had the Balagan menu, which offers a variety of their top dishes. The more people you have, the more dishes they add. You can ask for just vegetarian dishes.

Balagan-sharing-menu-at-NENI-Amsterdam-showing-best-trendy-restaurant-in-Amsterdam
Here you can see the fava bean salad, hummus, and the shrimp cigar. And lots of bread. Image: DutchReview/Supplied

It’s not the cheapest, coming in at €40 per person, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. For four people, we were completely stuffed — and happy about it.

All of the food was fresh and had a perfect balance of salt and spice. Our highlights were the caramelised aubergine and possibly the best falafel we’ve ever had. But there wasn’t a dud dish on the menu.

Balagan-sharing-menu-at-NENI-a-trendy-restaurant-in-Amsterdam
There’s that tasty aubergine hiding in the middle. Image: DutchReview/Supplied

NENI has a great concept and food that’s packed with flavour in every bite. The sharing menu was a little on the pricey side, but you get a lot of food for the price you pay. Perfect for a special occasion or a stop-by for a deli lunch.

📍 Address: Stadionplein 8, 1076 CM, Amsterdam
🍽 Recommendations: Carmalised aubergine and falafel from heaven
👍 Socials: Instagram, Facebook

6. Kanarie Club

photo-of-inside-of-Kanarie-Kitchen-trendy-restaurant-in-Amsterdam
With plenty of seating in Food Hallen, you can bring as many friends to Kanarie Club as you like! Image: DutchReview/Supplied

The former tram depot in Amsterdam, known as “Food Hallen”, is where you’ll find one of Amsterdam’s most stylish hotspots.

The interior of the Kanarie Club’s design is made up of materials and colours inspired by the different industries housed in the hall. From woodwork and metalwork to painting.

It’s split up into different zones: a café where you can work, a cosy restaurant, and a beautiful cocktail bar. With film and food halls in the Kanarie Club’s backyard, this old tram depot in Oud-West is rightly one of Amsterdam’s most popular working spots.

close up of raddish at Kanarie restaurant in Amsterdam
We never thought we could enjoy a radish this much. Image: DutchReview/Supplied

The Kanarie Club isn’t just an ideal work spot for students, freelancers and those looking for a place to enjoy some quiet time or chill with friends and family.

The menu is extraordinary, the atmosphere is nice, the staff are cheerful, and the setting is as beautiful as expected.

Whether you’re there for breakfast, for flexible working, lunch, dinner, or just to drink cocktails: Kanarie Club remains one of Amsterdam’s best hotspots.

📍 Address: Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT, Amsterdam
🍽 Recommendations: Bitterballen
👍 Socials: Instagram, Facebook

7. Bardak Amsterdam

Note: Bardak Amsterdam is temporarily closed in 2024, but will reopen its doors with delicious new food soon.

Bardark is a Tel Aviv-themed bar in Amsterdam, located in the ever-growing hip and cool area — de Pijp. It’s perfect for those nights when you want to go for some chill drinks but know you’re going to get hungry. It’s truly one of the best places to eat in Amsterdam!

The menu is pretty simple — everything you order will arrive on a tray with three sauces, street food style. The three sides are tahini, manjo, and chilli.

READ MORE | 15 delicious vegan restaurants in Amsterdam

If you like meat and mint, treat yourself to the Arais kebab. It comes in a “flavour-soaked pita”, which is delicious.

If you want to go for something a little less fatty, then we’d advise getting the kebab from the grill, the rib-eye steak or their melt-in-the-mouth chicken liver. 😋

For the vegetarians out there, you’ve got to try the grilled okra. Quite rightly, it’s nicknamed the “Sexy Okra” by the head chef. There’s also a vegan mushroom shwarma, which comes with oyster mushrooms, sour cream, and a lovely warm pita.

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The Solero Sour: Abbie’s favourite. Image: Veronika Licheva/Supplied

The bar offers a unique range of some of the best cocktails in Amsterdam. We’d recommend the Solero Sour, the Chili Cucumber Margarita, and the Pink Lychee Martini.

As for desserts: while the Kanafeh was a beautiful mix of Kadaif pastry and goat cheese (with ricotta and honey), our favourite dessert had to be the Babka, AKA “Grandma’s Chocolate Roll”.

photo-of-inside-of-trendy-restaurant-in-Amsterdam
Bardak is buzzing! Image: Veronika Licheva/Supplied

📍 Address: Ferdinand Bolstraat 12, 1072 LJ
🍽 Recommendations: Sexy Okra and the babka
👍 Socials: Facebook

So there you have it! These are some of the best places to eat in Amsterdam in 2024. Have you been to any of these amazing restaurants? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image:Abuzer van Leeuwen

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