If you’re heading to Amsterdam and have a love for exceptional food, this post is for you. I’m sharing two Amsterdam restaurant recommendations that are worth the splurge. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself to a memorable night out, these dining experiences go beyond just a meal. They’re the kind of places you’ll reminisce about long after your trip and I promise you will love them.
Tips on Dining in Amsterdam
When we started looking at restaurants in Amsterdam, a couple of things really surprised us. First off, reservations are a must—seriously, almost every place we checked out required one. So, if you are heading to Amsterdam don’t even think about skipping this step. Second, most restaurants we looked at offered a tasting menu for dinner. If you didn’t go for the tasting menu, your options were pretty limited to a small à la carte menu. Not, everyplace was like this, but it’s just a heads up.
Now, we dined at some other absolutely incredible restaurants, hole in the wall spots, fry spots (OMG), bakeries, and another omg – coffee spots! I can’t wait to share more about them soon—so make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss out!
But, there were two meals in particular that completely stood out and honestly brought me to tears so I really wanted to share those with you first. I know it sounds dramatic, but a truly great meal has that effect on me and it’s a really important part of dining for me. I’ve shared some great restaurants in Switzerland, but not a single one of them has ever left me feeling so emotional or thinking “wow, this might be the best meal I’ve ever had”. Which says a lot, and is frankly a bit disappointing to me. Because to me, that’s what makes a meal extra special—when every single course, every single bite, the service, and atmosphere, is just perfect from start to finish and you feel so lucky.
Amsterdam Restaurant Recommendations (Top 2!)
It might seem a bit unusual to spotlight just two restaurants, but I’m doing this for a reason. These spots come with a bit of a higher price tag, and honestly, when we were searching for places to book, the lists we found were overwhelmingly long. As a travel and food writer, I’ve noticed this is a common trend—food guides packed with a dozen recommendations, leaving you wondering if the writer has even tried them all. My goal is to do things differently. I want my guides to feel intentional, offering only places I’ve genuinely loved and wholeheartedly recommend. No fluff, no overwhelm—just solid suggestions you can feel confident about. So, let’s dive into my two amsterdam restaurant recommendations.
#1. Troef
Address: Schollenbrugstraat 8 | 1091EX Amsterdam
Website: Troef Amsterdam
Troef almost didn’t happen as reservations were extremely limited, but at the last second we grabbed an early dinner spot at the bar and let me tell you, eek! It was just amazing. We started off with a glass of champagne, because it was December 28th so why not, and two regular oysters and two oysters beurre blanc. Have you ever had these before?! I have never tasted something so amazing in my life! It was an oyster with eel and a butter champagne foam on top. Need I say more?
Now, Troef’s menu changes, but there is one item has stayed since their opening. It’s their smoked dutch eel and it’s a must order. I’ll leave you with some photos of the night and let your stomach rumble.
I truly cannot recommend Troef enough, and know you will love it too. A few things we especially enjoyed we the Ravioli Fiore Oudwijker, Vol-au-Vent, and the Winter Tartelette. We loved sitting at the kitchen bar, where you can see every dish being made to order. + the servers were so friendly.
#2. R21
Address: Peperstraat 23 | 1011 TJ Amsterdam
Website: Restaurant R21
R21 actually happened on accident, but let me tell you – this was THE BEST meal of 2024, and it’s in my top 5 all time favorite restaurants. We headed here for New Year’s Eve and it was the perfect way to end the year. Honestly, I am in tears just thinking about it. It was such a great experience, and the food was so thoughtful, I cannot wait to go back.
R21 is a fine dining restaurant, serving international flavors that I promise you’ll love. You can take a peak at the menu here.
Aside from every dish being absolutely mouthwatering, what truly stood out was that each one was personally brought out by the owner and head chef, Orlando David. This added such a personal touch, creating a deeper connection to the food and an incredibly authentic dining experience. The warm, welcoming vibe extended beyond the food—throughout the restaurant, you could feel the genuine camaraderie among the staff and their meaningful interactions with customers.
I hope the restaurants give you a good staring place when eating in Amsterdam, and stay tuned for a list of everywhere we ate during our trip that I also couldn’t recommend more. Let me know in the comments a favorite restaurant of yours in Amsterdam! Also, please always let me know if you have any questions or need tips – that’s what I am here for!
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