The tourist hotspots in Amsterdam where you want to be found
With a big arc around the Dam, the Red Light District, everything around the Central Station, the Leidse and especially the streets around the Rokin. That’s our usual route when we slalom through Amsterdam, but now it turns out that it’s not necessary. Because we can just line up at those little restaurants with pictures on the menu, and our friends from FavorFlav will tell you where.
‘Eat like a local in Amsterdam’ and ‘8x hidden gems that no one knows about’ are phrases that fly around your ears when you’re looking for the best food in the capital. Of course, it feels extra cool when you accidentally discover that small, cozy restaurant, but definitely also pay a visit to these ‘tourist traps’.
I actually don’t understand anything about the whole trend that everyone wants to go on vacation but absolutely doesn’t want to be a tourist. Imagine someone realizing that you are a tourist or worse: thinking you are a tourist while you are actually a true Amsterdammer. If you turn your nose up at the tourist spots, you really miss out on a lot. Sometimes you just have to stand in line for a herring or eat in the middle of the Red Light District.
Van Stapele
The lines at this small cookie shop are getting bigger by the day because Van Stapele is in almost every guide about Amsterdam. You might find that very annoying, but you can also just stand in that line. Owner Vera has been working on the recipe for the ultimate chocolate cookie for years. The result? A cookie that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the extra surprise of melted white chocolate in the middle. You get the cookie pushed warm into your hands, so you better eat it right away. You can also buy a tin to take home, then the staff will give you reheating instructions.
Sea Palace
For years I laughed at people in my head who ate at Sea Palace. Who goes to eat Chinese food on a huge boat at the Central Station? There must be something seriously wrong with you. That’s what I thought, because since a Chinese friend told me that you can dim sum there wonderfully, I’ve been going there almost every weekend. In the evening it’s quite expensive and for that money there are better Chinese restaurants on and around the Zeedijk, but in the afternoon this is where you need to be. Definitely order the turnip cake, sticky rice with meat and shrimp pangsit. Oh, and the sponge cake and custard buns for dessert of course.
Loetje
The steak restaurant is now located all over the country, so you don’t have to come to Amsterdam just for that, but it might still feel like a tourist trap to sit at a chain. Just do it, the steaks are always on point and come with plenty of gravy. Fries on the side, white bread to dip, and such a delicious old-fashioned salad and you have the evening of your life. Half among tourists and half among Amsterdammers who have been coming here for years.
Vleminckx
Kalverstraat is a place I try to avoid as much as possible, but when I crave good fries, there’s really no other option than to head that way. At Vleminckx you have the absolute best. The facade is filled with articles praising the Flemish fry shop and the line is always longer than you would want. You really won’t find a better fry in Amsterdam, so quickly get in that line and look forward to the crispy fries you’re about to eat.
Xampanyeria Centra
Another place I prefer to avoid: the Red Light District. I just never feel like dealing with hordes of tourists walking in front of me, making it hard to bike. Calling doesn’t help, since everyone is so stoned that they just turn around and stare at you blankly. Still, I occasionally make an exception for Xampanyeria Centra. The restaurant on Lange Niezel (a alley with only tourist supermarkets and a New York Pizza) sells such delicious Spanish dishes that I’m willing to endure the terrible bike ride. You can buy cava here starting at €2.50 per glass, so if you’re still grumpy, you can always just drink it away.
Salsa Shop
A chain with brightly lit restaurants at the Central Station and at Rembrandt Square. All features that usually lead to ringing alarm bells. But no, the burritos and tacos here are incredibly delicious. You completely customize them by choosing your own filling and toppings, and everything tastes wonderfully fresh. Definitely choose the smoky pineapple chipotle as salsa, you won’t be disappointed.
Nam Kee
Also listed in all guides and of course known for ‘Oysters from Nam Kee’. The Chinese restaurant now has three locations where you can enjoy grilled meat with rice, pancakes with Peking duck, wantan soup, and beef with broccoli. The famous oysters in black bean sauce are also amazing and huge. I would skip the location at Heineken Square, but the ones on Zeedijk and Geldersekade have been delivering great quality for years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/4M3SOWPCXo/?
Herring
At the Gigant on Westermarkt and Stubbe’s Haring on Singel, you have a good chance of a line, but an even greater chance of a perfect herring. So go for it!
Apple pie at Winkel 43
On a Saturday, you can stand in line for a very long time at this café on Noordermarkt. What makes Winkel 43 so popular? The best apple pie of your life. The generous slices go over the counter as, yes, as warm apple pie. They understand here that the crust is the best part of the pie, so no nonsense with lattice patterns; the entire top is covered with crust. A generous dollop of whipped cream on the side and in winter a warm hot chocolate, for that ultimate comfort feeling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmNlZpHn2Qi/?
Van Dobben
The croquettes from Van Dobben are sold all over the country, but the only real eatery is located right in the center of Amsterdam. In an alley by Rembrandt Square, you eat the best croquette sandwiches in the city. Not because the croquettes are suddenly tastier, but because you’re in a noisy place where, among the tourists, there are also many regulars who come to read the newspaper alone. Enjoying such a croquette sandwich of course, or a half-and-half sandwich or tartare. Whatever sandwich you choose, always order a glass of milk with it.
Patisserie Holtkamp
Walk a little further and you’ll encounter another croquette giant. At patisserie Holtkamp, you can buy their famous (shrimp) croquettes frozen to take home, or fried so you can eat them right away. Bonus: the focus here is actually on pastries, so fill your bag with lemon meringue pie, pear points, filled cookies, bonbons, and cheese butterflies. You really can’t make a wrong choice here.
Patisserie Kuyt
A few hundred meters further is Patisserie Kuyt. Here you can also find bonbons, pastries, and sweets, but they are especially known for their apple schnitt: a thin ‘slice’ of apple pie with a super crispy base and almond flakes and cinnamon sugar on top. So addictively delicious that whenever I’m within 500 meters of the bakery, I always take a detour to grab a piece. I prefer to eat it at home, with freshly whipped cream with vanilla and a tiny bit of sugar.
Stroopwafel
The typically Dutch cookie that is so touristy that it is sold at all the tourist shops at Schiphol. Because of that, you might forget that a fresh, warm stroopwafel is incredibly delicious. At Lanskroon on Singel, they sell the absolute best (I also always get my granola there, but that’s beside the point). They are so big that you think you can share one, but do yourself a favor and just take a whole one. Not in the area? Then you can also get delicious stroopwafels at the Albert Cuyp.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUv-5cdFvMp/?taken-by=lanskroonamsterdam
Poffertjes
If you’re already at the Cuyp, then stop by the poffertjes stall. Again, you may stand in the line where only tourists are, but these are tourists who will be blissfully happy all day because they just had a serving of soft poffertjes with lots of powdered sugar and a lump of butter. Don’t you want to be part of that?
FEBO
Around the corner from the Albert Cuyp, you’ll find the very first FEBO location. Don’t go out of your way for it, because there are many more locations throughout the city. For tourists, our snacks from the wall are a true sight because where else do you find that? You can walk around it, but you can also just gather your change and take a diagonal shortcut. I would always go for the latter.
De Drie Graefjes
My homemade red velvet cake is a recipe I’m very proud of, but every time I’m at De Drie Graefjes, I get jealous of the person who developed this recipe. So moist, flavorful, and with lots of frosting; this cake is out of this world. Are you with two? Then take a piece of red velvet and a piece of carrot cake, which is also really good here. I actually don’t care for the rest of the cakes here, so stick to these two classics.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjfIqNoH0nU/?tagged=dedriegraefjes
