Check out my Travel Blog Post: Amsterdam! Having visited Amsterdam earlier this year, I was blown away by their numerous plant-based restaurants that were also fresh and healthy! Even if it was not a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, there were still excellent vegetarian options that just spoke to how dynamic of a food scene Amsterdam has. There seems to be an eco-consciousness in the Dutch capital given how ubiquitous bicycles are and how intense people are about riding them even if the weather is turbulent. Amsterdam also has solid coffee shops with cold brew and natural wine spots that will not disappoint especially in the Noord and Jordaan neighborhoods. I rounded up my favorite places that are also vegetarian-friendly, enjoy reading about these gems below.
Restaurants/Food Spots
De Kas is on every list of essential restaurants in Amsterdam and it is there for a reason! While it is prix-fixe, it is definitely more of an approachable prix-fixe for lunch and dinner. You can also customize your meal as vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, etc.. Everything about the experience feels so special and unique as they have their own greenhouse and farm where they grow their own vegetables, fruit, and herbs. The freshness was transcendent here. They also have excellent cocktails with unique ingredients such as the Yellow Beet with horseradish, sake and Szechuan peppers.
Our meal started with an amuse bouche of a fresh, green chilled soup reminiscent of a mint chutney. They serve all of their diners an incredible combination of sourdough with a crispy cracker reminiscent of poppadum with a side of celery aioli and a garlic herb butter. The other highlights for me were the cauliflower taco with chutney – extremely flavorful and crunchy. I also enjoyed the turnips bathing in breadcrumbs and a savory mustard sauce.
Another highlight was their chanterelle mushroom toast and hollandaise sauced infused with cauliflower and bbq peas. I also thoroughly enjoyed their white and green asparagus with a black pepper infused sauce served with rose petals on top. For dessert, they have a sweet and savory option and both are incredible. The sweet one was a strawberry cream with cucumber, merengue, and mascarpone (not even that sweet, which I prefer) ad a violet sorbet. Their savory desert had goat cheese with profiterole and arugula – never had a desert like this but it worked. I left extremely satiated and grateful to have experienced one of the best restaurants in the world and one of the best ones in Amsterdam.
This hip, vibrant spot in NDSM/Noord is very friendly to plant-based eaters honoring fresh vegetables with a penchant for sustainability. We ordered the artichokes with an herbal cream spread, which was very flavorful. I also really loved the olives with the pickled garlic. They have no shortage of devilish fried food like croquettes and bitterballen if you’re feeling naughty.
With a name like Tiramisup, you might except something touristy and cheesy, but don’t let the name deter you! One of my favorite bites was from this charming Italian spot in Jordaan. We shared a streetside pesto gnocchi, which was very flavorful, fresh, and some of the best pesto I ever had. Eat it on one of their charming benches outside and you’ll be very happy (if the weather is nice).
Bistro Vincent: Museum District
Hungry at the Van Gogh Museum? Grab a snack at Bistro Vincent and you will be satiated. While museum cafes are not known for their culinary delights, this one did not disappoint. It feels nearly impossible to get a vegetarian French Onion soup, but they had one with a soy broth that was super flavorful. They also had vegetarian Croque Monsieur without the ham – what an inclusive museum café! Their dishes are inspired by Van Gogh’s art and travels, especially his travels to Japan.
After seeing some art, get some sun (if it’s there) in this beautiful Vondelpark. There are quite a few cafes there, but Groot Melkhuis has amazing bitterballen, which is a Dutch version of Arancini but even moister. They had one with a creamy mushroom filling served with a zesty mustard typically served in Amsterdam.
While this spot is in a touristy area, it is super charming and is a great way to try some excellent Dutch cheese. It’s very cozy and boasts 7 types of fondue. Our server recommended the four-cheese fondue and it did not disappoint. I recommend getting it with some baked veggies – the veggies could be seasoned more but it was a nice contrast from all the bread and cheese.
Foodhallen is a great way to try different specialties in Amsterdam without committing to one restaurant. It is crowded and intense so don’t spend too much time there if that’s not your cup of tea. Amsterdam is known for their Indonesian food so I got some tempeh skewers and it was served with an incredible sweet/salty molasses-esque sauce. I also had to get more bitterballen where you can do a sampler – with several vegetarian options. I loved their truffle and mushroom one.
When in Amsterdam, you must get Stroop waffles, which are two crispy thin waffles glued together with your choice of filling. I had the hazelnut and chocolate filling/toppings and I couldn’t get enough!
De Sering (Vegan community spot): Westpoort
De Sering is a cultural space that serves a 100% vegan menu on a sliding scale. It is an incredible spot that is community-centered. The sliding scale is $2-$15 including unlimited soup, mains, and dessert. It’s served with love and you can also order non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages. They have a vast patio near the clubby part of town.
Upstairs Pancakes: City Center
Check out the super narrow Dutch stairs that are characteristic of some older homes in the city center. If you are wearing heels or are tipsy, I don’t recommend going up or down these stairs because it will be hard. Their specialty is Dutch pancakes, which are super thin with sweet and savory options. We tried a sweet one with chocolate drizzled and whipped cream, which was my absolute favorite. It’s an excellent guilty pleasure. Many of their savory ones had meat but we tried a cheese one, which was good but if you can only order one, I recommend the sweet one.
Amsterdam Cheese Deli: City Center
While this is in a touristy area, it’s meant for tourists to indulge in plenty of cheeses with a plethora of samples provided! So do your duty and try all the samples because it will make you happy. They also have plenty of desserts such as mini cannolis with tiramisu filling. It was heavenly.
Wine, Cocktails, Bars
We just happened to walk past this spot and knew we had to come in. While their food menu is quite intriguing with an East Asian inspiration, we just came for some drinks. I had a very flavorful natural red wine from Sicily. It is quite vibey and the kind of place you can get lost in conversation.
Looking for fun cocktail bar vibes? Check out Flying Dutchman where you’ll experience plenty of the beloved Dutch liquor, Jenever. We tried a flight of Jenever and the mixologists can tell you more about each pour on the flight. I also tried a Jenever martini, which was well-balanced and very briny with cornichon.
Bordello Aperitivo is the cocktail bar connected to the record label Bordello Aperigi with DJs Thursday-Saturday and cozy, hip vibes. It has a sultry red interior and wonderful cocktails. I loved their super briny martini with blue cheese and olives!
Looking for a cozy wine bar? Check out Ente for a classic, dimy lit wine bar aesthetic. There is a charming street-side patio and two rooms where you can slowly imbibe your wine.
A German themed bar in the middle of Noordse Bos, this cozy, grungy spot has vintage feels with incredible affordable wine, cocktails, and Jenever.
Coffee Shops
Our hotel on the Eastern edge of Amsterdam did not have too many coffee shops near it, but it did have Wakuli, which was a cold brew specialty spot. I was very happy to see this because I love my cold brew and they had so many unique flavor variations that I have never seen before such as coconut flavored or cinnamon cold brew. They also have a lot of nitro cold brew.
I found this coffee shop to be very charming with delicious pastries and good, solid cold brew. They were also very friendly and welcoming.
There you have it, Amsterdam is filled with so many gems that are also vegetarian/vegan-friendly and also natural wine friendly. Hungry for more adventure? Check out my other travel blog posts here.
De Kas sounds like a truly unique experience! The idea of having a prix-fixe meal made with ingredients grown right on the premises is such a cool concept—definitely adds a personal touch to the whole dining experience.