We are arriving late on August 19th to Amsterdam and staying for two nights before departing out into the rest of Western Europe. Looking for a great restaurant that possibly overlooks a canal for dinner on our 2nd night in Amsterdam. We are staying at the Singel Hotel so if near there that would be awesome as well.
Thanks!
The most memorable meals I've had in Amsterdam have been Argentine Steakhouses and Indonesian Rijsttafels. Of course, it's a city with just about any kind of food you'd ever want.
The Rijsttafels are where they just start bringing little plates of appetizers. After 15 to 20 little plates, you will come away very satisfied. The Indonesian restaurants are staffed by very gentile, low key servers, and it's just a great experience in dining.
The highest rated Indonesian restaurant is Restaurant Blauw. We last ate at one a block or two from the Hard Rock Café.
I also love the street food with pomme frites in paper cones with mayonnaise on the side. And my dessert in Amsterdam is soft serve ice cream in small Lebanese store fronts that taste like it's made from straight cream.
Not on a canal, but I really enjoyed Long Pura for the rice table - my favorite meal while in Amsterdam. We did not try it but there is a newer canal front restaurant that was highly recommended to us for their steaks. It's right in front of the train station with lots of outdoor seating. I can't remember the name but you can't miss it. Also, consider the 6th floor of the library for lunch overlooking the harbor - great salads, sandwiches, smoothies, etc.
Agree, the 6th floor of library for lunch!
I have several suggestions for you; alas, none is on a canal. For lunch on a busy day of sightseeing, try the amazing restaurant level at La Place department store, downtown. For a nice dinner, I have three suggestions. Two, Wave and Zorba de Griek are on Restaurant Row, an unabashedly touristy area, but the food at these two is great. Wave is at Lange Leidse Dwarsstraat #27. Great seafood, with some of the best fish I have ever eaten. Zorba de Griek is in the same street, but I don't know the number. Probably the best rice and the best lamb I have ever had, anywhere. And huge portions, with attentive service. And near the Hotel Alexander is the Italian restaurant Sogno, at Stadhouderskade 7. Very good food, and outstanding cappucino. One more: our group "Last Supper" was at the Cafe Americain: an incredible meal (the prawns!) at what would have been a major splurge had it not been included on our tour. We had never thought of Amsterdam as a "restaurant city," but we never had a bad meal, and had several remarkable ones.
I agree with Jane. My husband and I just returned from Amsterdam. We had lunch at LaPlace at the V&D dept store. There is also one in Haarlem with great city views. It was quite nice and reasonable. Down the block near the Greek restaurant she mentions we ate at Pantry. Another forum member had recommended it. We actually ate there 2 nights. They have traditional Dutch food. We ate the smoked eel - better than I expected, and the Stamppot.
Thanks, Fabris. I knew La Place was in a department store, but I didn't remember the name.
There actually aren't many canal-side restaurants as the canal-sides are taken up by parking. The best one I saw (but didn't eat at) is Café de Jaren along the Amstel. Has a large indoor area and a large outdoor area along the water. That was one of the few outdoor waterside restaurants we saw.
I also recommend Café Americain for it's incredible Art Nouveau interior (and pretty good food). Works for lunch or dinner.
