Amsterdam Travel Guide

Best Restaurants in Amsterdam

Amsterdam boasts a huge variety of restaurants for travellers looking to spice up their taste adventure. The options, spread out over more than 1,000 venues, range from French cuisine to Indonesian take away and, naturally, there are plenty of authentic Dutch alternatives (characterised by the use of smaller meats such as sausage and an abundance of vegetables). Amsterdam has a very strong tradition of cafeteria dining, including ''brown cafés'', so named because of the dark, nicotine-stained walls and wooden fittings. In this cozy places, you can sample the local beers alongside staples such as steaks, satay and salads: a hearty and cheap dining option. The array of cafés means travellers can enjoy filling meals on even the tightest budget. Chinatown (along Zeedijk, close to Nieuwmarkt) also offers a number of reasonably priced Asian restaurants. At the other end of the scale, there are some serious fine-dining options where you''ll pay up to EUR80-EUR100 a head.

While in Amsterdam, try some of the local snacks: savoury pancakes (or ), pickled herring sold at brightly-coloured fish stalls at canal intersections, (a snack sausage served with mayonnaise, ketchup and onions), and small windmill-shaped cookies called that are traditionally dipped in coffee. Don''t forget to look for the ''Vlaamse frieten'' signs to try chips/fries the Dutch way: with mayonnaise!

While breakfast will traditionally be served up until 10am, lunch between 12pm and 2pm and dinner around 5pm to 8pm, the Dutch prove to be versatile in both tastes and preferred eating hours, with several restaurants and cafés operating into the wee hours of the morning. This is especially true on the city''s vibrant Leidseplein and Rembrandtsplein squares dedicated to late night entertainment. Service is renowned for being poor in Amsterdam, as a gratuity is often included and waiting staff do not rely on tips for their salary. If you do receive good service, however, it is polite to round up the bill to the nearest euro. If you do tip, it is customary to leave it in cash rather than including it on a credit card payment.