Prior to moving to Amsterdam this week, I’ve visited the city three times in the last two years, partly due to the affordable accommodation the city has to offer. Part of what I love about the city is the range of food options, particularly the unusual Asian and African cuisine.
What I do find they do really well, though, and what I’ve indulged in every time I’ve stayed in Amsterdam, is pizza and burgers. Here are a list of my favourite restaurants in the city that I’m looking forward to eating at in the next few months, and can definitely recommend.
The Butcher
Much like a hole-in-the-wall dive bar, The Butcher is an unassuming little burger joint that produces quality food. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, and it’s only got a handful of tables inside, but the burgers can rival any of the gourmet burger joints I’ve eaten at around the world. They even do a mean fish and chips, which is what I ordered last time, and that honour isn’t bestowed by me lightly, coming from the home of fish and chips. Also, it apparently has a separate little room in the back where you can enjoy cocktails in the evening.
- Albert Cuypstraat 129, Amsterdam
Pancakes!
Traditional Dutch pancakes are huge and can be eaten at any time of the day or night (enjoy your pick of sweet or savoury) at Pancakes! They are made by cooking the ingredients into the batter and my favourites are the banana, chilli pepper and bacon. They also do some great daily specials, including some unusual combinations made with goat cheese and avocado. Situated in the 9 Streets area of the city, this place gets busy at lunch time, so you may have to wait for a table.
- Berenstraat 38, 1016 GH Amsterdam
La Perla
La Perla serves wood-fired pizzas made with ingredients shipped in straight from Italy. The mozzarella is soft and stringy and tastes super-fresh and the dough is light and fluffy. I love their unusual combination of toppings and their spicy salami is actually spicy, which is always a bonus. This place gets gets really busy, especially at dinner time, so reservations are recommended.
- Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 14 & 53, 1015 RZ Amsterdam
Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx
One of the best imitations of Belgian frites in the city, at Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx they serve them with a Dutch twist. The most popular frites topping is a combination of diced white onion, peanut sauce and Flemish mayonnaise. It sounds disgusting, but you have to trust me that it’s pretty delicious. They have a long list of sauce toppings, but there’s no-where to sit and eat them at the stand, so be prepared to scoff them standing up.
- Voetboogstraat 31-33, Amsterdam 1012
Cafe Wilhelmina
We stumbled across Cafe Wilhelmina one day while cycling into the city centre. It isn’t far from the neighbourhood we housesat in and is the perfect steamy little cafe that produces great coffee, homemade cakes and sandwiches. Their hot and thick soups are the perfect antidote to the gloomy Amsterdam winter weather, but if you don’t get there early, many of the cakes will already be sold out.
- Eerste Helmersstraat 83 A, 1054 DD Amsterdam
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