Ideal restaurants for a date in Amsterdam
Normally, Jet is our hospitality expert but I'm taking her place for now. Because dating & men is my area and today I want to talk about the perfect restaurants for a date, so Jet, forgive me. A restaurant for a date must meet a number of requirements, and a poorly chosen restaurant can ruin the whole date, while a well-chosen restaurant can ensure that you leave the place on fire à deux. It’s quite important. Anyone planning a date in Amsterdam can book a table without worries at one of the restaurants below, and you’re guaranteed to be in for a treat.
The newly opened Taiko in the Conservatorium Hotel is an experience. A sensation. And more of those big words. It starts right at the entrance where a very nice person takes your coat, brings you to your table, and then hands you over to the one who will serve you tonight. The Asian menu is full of small dishes and the idea is that you choose 4 to 5 dishes per person, and then share them with your date. Shared dining, as they call it. The dishes on the menu might be familiar to the foodies among us, but it means a bit less to me. When I was there, we were served by the sweetest girl ever who could literally explain every dish to us and advised us on everything. The food that appears on the table is indescribably delicious, so fresh, so beautifully made, and so special. You roll from one foodgasm to another, and the ambiance makes everything even more delightful. You’re no longer in the Netherlands but in a cosmopolitan, urban New York-ish restaurant, and that’s a celebration even on a weekday.
A personal favorite because it’s around the corner from my house. The bar of this hotel has a similarly urban effect as Taiko, but you sit here for less money and almost just as comfortably. If you have a we’re-going-to-have-a-drink date, park yourself at the large bar, order a decent bottle of wine for twenty euros, and let the attractive surroundings do their work. For a we’re-going-to-have-a-meal date, the restaurant is at least as good an option. Last night I was there for a tasting of the new menu and oh my, it was truly a divine accumulation of courses. My favorite was the truffle risotto, I’m still dreaming of it. Just the new menu alone is reason enough to book a table immediately, and also because you’re in a super sexy place, so even the most boring date gets an incredibly exciting edge here. And if you really hit it off, you can roll from the bar and dinner straight to a room in the hotel.
New in town and we’re already happy with it. Located under the Rijksmuseum (duh) so perfect for when you want to make a bit of a cultural impression on your date. The menu features as many organic dishes as possible, the chefs love slow food, and the kitchen uses as many products from Dutch soil as possible. Just like at Taiko, the idea here is to choose four or five dishes and share them with your date, which is much more fun. The interior is incredibly beautiful and you know what else is incredibly beautiful? The head chef. His name is Joris Bijdendijk and he’s a real catch. If your date turns out to be a disappointment, you can just send him home on a bike and sneak a peek in the kitchen with the chef.
This little restaurant in the most beautiful street of Amsterdam (Bosboom Toussaintstraat) has the absolute best pizzas in the city. Baked in a real wood oven and with the perfect thickness, and oh, as I write this, my mouth is watering again. As mentioned, it’s a small place with many tables, and it’s always busy and cozy. Ideal for a low-key date where you don’t expect too much (and thus don’t want to go out to eat too expensively) but still want to have a simple, uncomplicated, and enjoyable evening. Want more romance in the place? Then ask when reserving if you can get a table in the nook, then you sit very privately and no one sees it when a kiss is exchanged left or right.
Extremely suitable for a date because it’s large, busy, with many people and a very relaxed atmosphere. You’re not stiff and forced across from each other but have to find a spot in the crowd, which is already an icebreaker. In the Foodhallen, there are dozens of types of small restaurants, so whether you’re in the mood for sushi or a steak sandwich, it’s all available. Get what you feel like, park yourself at a bar or claim a table and let the evening unfold. Next door are the Filmhallen, so when you no longer feel like talking or want to sit à deux in the dark, you can catch a movie afterward.
