Top Restaurants in Amsterdam: Raravina's Picks
We think the hallmark of a true food city is the ability to find outstanding food regardless of price, cuisine, or atmosphere. That's more true of Amsterdam today than ever before, and the food scene is increasingly yet another wonderful thing about this incredible city.
As avid food lovers, we've put together this short guide to what we see as some of the top restaurants in Amsterdam. To be clear, this is not meant to be a ranking of the “best” restaurants in the city (there's always the Michelin guide for those looking for hard rankings), just highlights of a few of our favourite spots to help you find some new gems. We recommend advance reservations everywhere.
Restaurant Sebastian
Hartenstraat 241016 BT Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/restaurant.sebastian/
Open 6 days a week - closed on Tuesdays
Our new favourite pizza spot that, if honest, we visit simply too often is Restaurant Sebastian. Located in the Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets)—a famous area for shopping, snacks, and dining—Sebastian is a higher-end pizza (and pasta) restaurant with just great food, service and vibes!
Raravina tip: Have dinner seated at their lovely bar. Also, we are obsessed with their mortadella and burrata pizza (and you probably will be, too).
Domenica
Noordermarkt 71015 MV Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/restaurantdomenica/
Open Tuesday to Sunday
Hands-down one of the best restaurants in Amsterdam, Domenica is a high-end, intimate Italian restaurant where the menu changes daily based on seasonal food. They offer an à la carte menu as well as 3- and 5-course chef's menus. We love to sit and eat at the bar and talk to the super friendly (and knowledgeable) staff.
Raravina tip: Try the bone marrow and langoustine starter. And the wine list is a blast to explore.
Masmais Taqueria
https://www.instagram.com/masmais.taqueria/
Open Tuesday to Sunday
If you are like us and love authentic tacos, guacamole and margaritas, then this is the perfect place for you. Maismais, owned by two Dutch friends who fell in love with Mexico and its cuisine, started as a casual friends BBQ in the park, then turned into a pop-up and now has two permanent locations in the city. The growth makes sense - the tacos are awesome. Expect a relaxed, cool vibe and take advantage of the €5 margaritas every Thursday (yes, please!).
Raravina tip: Try the Pumpkin quesadilla if you're lucky enough to find it on the menu.
Momenti
Herenstraat 25, 1015 BZ Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/momenti.italiancuisine/?hl=en
Open 7 days a week
Marco Boldrini, a Raravina somm from Day 1, is the kind of restauranteur you wish there were more of. His true love for wine, food, and hospitality shine through at Momenti, which is always bustling yet personal and serves truly delightful Italian fare. The wine list (unsurprisingly) is Italy-heavy and filled with solid picks and some truly special options for those looking to go off the beaten path. On the scenic Herenstraat just outside the city centre, it's great for a casual aperitivo outside or a full, lengthy dinner in.
Raravina tip: Marco has another restaurant, La Maschera, nearby in the Jordaan. With just a few tables, it has a very intimate, cosy feel and is perfect for a warm pasta on a cold night.
Thai Thai Poppetje
Van Speijkstraat 157HS1057 GX Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/thai_thai_poppetje/
Open Tuesday to Saturday
We were recently introduced to Thai Thai Poppetje by some lovely friends and have to say this is now one of our favourite restaurants in Amsterdam. The food and service are outstanding and the restaurant is a beautiful, colourful setting on a quiet street.
Raravina tip: Absolutely do not miss their signature dish, the Khao Soi 😋
Kikkie’s (Kikkie van de Prinsensluis)
Prinsenstraat1015 DD Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/kikkie.amsterdam/
Open 7 days a week
A never-ending debate among our friends is which is the best burger spot in Amsterdam. The (general) consensus is Kikkie’s! Walking by, Kikkie’s seems like a classic brown cafe (and it is!) - not the kind of spot you’d expect a top-flight burger. But trust us. The smashburger is, well, smashing. And if a burger is not your thing, there's a wider, and also great, menu. Plus it's a lovely location on the Prinsengracht to enjoy a nice glass of wine or ‘biertje’!
Raravina tip: The bottle list is short but has some real winners. Burger+fried potatoes+a bottle of red=success.
Pendergast
Groen van Prinstererstraat 141051 EG Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/pendergastsmokehouse/
Open Wednesday to Sunday
This modern neighbourhood smokehouse is located on a quiet, beautiful corner just south of the Westerpark. Being American and a self-declared BBQ connoisseur, Spencer was (very) dubious that good BBQ could be found in Amsterdam, but he was blown away. If you like smoked meats and American classics such as mac-and-cheese, cornbread, and the like, you need to give this a try. (FYI for true aficionados: it’s Kansas City-style BBQ and the sauce is on the sweeter side. We love it, but get that's not everyone's preferred style). Small with a warm, inviting ambiance, they also have classic cocktails alongside a wide selection of bourbons and craft beers and a small but strong wine list.
Raravina tip: There’s a semi-hidden menu item, the short rib, available some nights in limited quantities. To get it, we recommend emailing a few days in advance to reserve.
Bacalar
Chrysantenstraat 4, 1031 HT Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/bacalar.amsterdam
Open 4 days a week - closed Monday to Wednesday
Is this a taco place? Yes. Isn’t there already a taco place on this list? Is that too many taco places? How dare you ask such a question (#neverenoughtacos). Bacalar has a rusted-out garage vibe in the best possible way. The tacos are out of this world, the cocktails are bomb, and it feels like the kind of place you’d see Dom Toretto having a Corona at the next table over. Go to Noord, go here, and thank us later.
Restaurant Wils
Stadionplein 261076 CM Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/restaurantwils/
Open Tuesday to Saturday
One of our favourite restaurants for a tasting menu is the Michelin-starred Restaurant Wils. A modern but warm, inviting space, Wils matches the impressive prowess of a top-flight kitchen team with service that perfectly combines fine dining with a casual accessibility. The head sommelier here, Raravina's own Barbora Peterikova, has a truly encyclopaedic knowledge of wine and an infectious passion and joy for it that shines through in her recommendations.
Spanjer en van Twist
Leliegracht 601015 DJ Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/tweeprinsen/
Open 7 days a week
For those visiting and who have not tried the Dutch (bar snack) delicacy of bitterballen, we recommend you change that. Think of a croquet filled with a thick stew and meat - it may not sound appetising, but trust us, it’s some of the best bar food on the planet. While you can find them at any bar in the city, we will give a special shout out to Spanjer en van Twist, a ‘gezellig’ cafe right on the gorgeous Leliegracht canal with some of the best bitterballen in town. They have both indoor and outdoor seating but we love to grab a table in the summer evenings on the canal and watch the boats go by sipping on an aperol spritz. If you’re lucky, you can get seats right on the edge of the canal.
The Talent Table
https://www.thetalenttable.coma
https://www.instagram.com/thetalenttable/
A (generally) once-a-month affair, The Talent Table, run by our fabulous friend Dita Guth, is a must-do for any serious food-lover. TTT brings together foodies, chefs and culinary storytellers to celebrate food and wine. Each event is unique and an opportunity to savour the stories and creative cooking of some truly remarkable chefs. Dita leverages her globe-spanning network to bring chefs from all over the world to Amsterdam, with each event featuring a single chef crafting a tasting menu just for Talent Table guests. Expect exceptional food, a relaxed atmosphere, and great conversation.
Raravina tip: We recommend never skipping the wine pairing.
For each of the picks above, there are 10 we left out. Message us and let us know your favourites - we're pretty sure there will need to be a Volume 2 of this post ;)
Until next time Stay Nosey.
