5 things I wish I knew about Amsterdam before arriving

1: Book stuff in advance 

I get it. Being spontaneous is cool. Living “in the moment? Totally cool. Strolling into a restaurant because you’re in the ‘hood – finishing up a third glass of pat nat at the new wine bar – and just felt like…keeping the vibe going. I get it. Very, very cool. 

But you know what’s not cool? Being met by the Mega Queue. The type of queue that starts inside, snakes its way past a standing-only bar and ends up outside. (In the rain, probably, if we’re honest.) It’s likely you’ll be told the wait time is between 20 minutes and 40 minutes. Which is fine, I guess. Except for that rain. And that bar that you can’t really get to. 

Instead, book ahead. You can still have those pre-drinks. You can still walk to the restaurant. Hell, you could even pretend you’re doing it all off the cuff. The only difference is, when you arrive, you get whisked to your table and you get to settle in for a cocktail and a snack before dinner, instead of hacking around outside in the rain. 

Seriously. Book ahead. You’re still cool. 

Of course, Unbookables has tons of options where you can do exactly this. 

2: The weather is no joke.

I’d love to say that when you’re looking for a place to enjoy the local food scene, you should consider a nice terrace, or a garden. Or a rooftop. Or anything outside, really. But that’s not really the advice you want here. Nope. What you actually want is a place that is warm, cozy and inviting. The rain is relentless in this city (something you don’t see too much of on postcards and Insta), so play the cards you are dealt and enjoy dinner like a true Amsterdammer, by getting Gezellig. This word has no literal translation but it encapsulates everything you will experience when you’re sitting inside a comfortable, hospitable and, yes, dry venue enjoying food that has been conceptualised to add to the moment. 

Some great options for this include Cafe Parlotte and VRR. Here, the menus match the atmosphere and actually enhance it. It’s a unique experience and something that the good restaurants in Amsterdam seem to be able to harness.    

3: The ferry is worth it.

If you’re not familiar with Amsterdam, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the city centre is where you want to spend most of your time. And, yes, it has a lot going for it. The canals and the architecture and the bikes and the flower stands and the coffee shops that are not selling coffee. It’s all pretty magical and totally unique. But if you can get yourself to the Central Station, you’re a short ferry ride away from some of the best eating options in Amsterdam. 

The North, baby. 

Over the past few years, Amsterdam Noord has seen some of the city’s most exciting restaurants base themselves here. Rent is comparatively affordable, plus the spaces are larger that what you’ll find in the traditional dining neighbourhoods. Added to that is the fact that said spaces are often repurposed industrial buildings, giving the emerging creatives interesting physical starting points to play with. Roller doors, exposed ceilings, hard-wearing materials. These are all incorporated into the end product, often playing a role in the style of the food and even the way the food is served. 

Amsterdam Noord is densely populated with some of my very favourite restaurants; you can take a pick from a huge range of styles, as well as choose from something super casual, to a little bit more of a spoil.  

Examples: 
BACALAR – loud hip hop, absolutely banging tacos, huge cocktail list.
RESTAURANT EUROPA – counter seating, natural wine, one of the best restaurants in the whole country.
LAZUUR – a little bit Portuguese, a little bit French, old school.
RESTAURANT METRO – in-house bakery, no frills, incredible value for set menus.

4: Wine bars serve better food than a lot of restaurants. 

If you back up to point one on this list, you’ll hopefully start embracing the idea that booking restaurants in Amsterdam is a good idea. The problem with this, however, is that so many of the good options are booked up way in advance. Again, this is where Unbookables can come into play and you should absolutely use it to try and snag a table at some of the excellent listed partners. 

But – and this is a big but – sometimes the answer to enjoying an impromptu meal is to look for the food answers you seek in the form of more wine. I know, I know. It’s an excellent plan.

Finding a table at a wine bar is often much easier than at a restaurant and, as you’ll see by giving some of the below options a spin, the food is just as good if you choose wisely. Some of the best options in town include: 

BAR PARRY
Accomplished charcuterie board but with plenty of inventive veg options. 

BAR PIF
Brilliant oysters, always creatively dressed. Fried chicken is a permanent hit but don’t sleep on the pickled cucumbers in soy. 

BOTTLESHOP
Imagine the coolest people in Amsterdam, all arriving at the same party at the same time. And then imagine that party serves Japanese-inspired food and natural wines as good as anywhere I have seen. 

4850
Just when you think you’ve had enough of small plates, these guys remind you how good they can be. Ambitious cooking, with formal accolades surely on the horizon. 

5: Bakeries are a big deal here. 

Like, a really big deal. Paris might get the hype when the topic of bakeries comes up, but the bakeries in Amsterdam are as good. They might even be better. There. I said it. 

With a new wave of young, passionate bakers comes a freedom to experiment and play. Along with the traditional execution of sourdough, wholewheat and spelt variations, these baking bosses are slinging out creative and cutting edge pastries too. Here are a few of my favourites, and a teeny, tiny suggestion on what to get when you’re standing in front of that (often overwhelming) display case. But you do you. 

BAKKERIJ MATER
Braided cheese stick. Made with their croissant dough, this is exactly what you’d expect. Butter. Bread. Cheese. This is over and above getting a croissant because, I mean, duh.  

LOOF
Coffee raisin bun. Think cinnamon bun, but…like…with coffee. Also, get an actual coffee. The coffee programme here is on point and they feature a bunch of great rotating local roasters like Friedhats, Five Ways, Rum Baba etc. 

LEVAIN ET LEVIN
“Wait, wait, wait…so I can stop for some of the best bread in Amsterdam and  I can buy a bunch of curated, natural wine?” You bet your carb-loving ass you can. Grab a bag of madeleines, a couple of canelés and a bottle of Pinot Noir while you’re at it. 

SAINT JEAN
I feel like these guys are almost a victim of their own success when it comes to design and styling. They’ve done such a good job creating a beautiful space – and a brand where EVERYONE wants to be seen – that sometimes they don’t get taken as seriously as they should. They are a brilliant bakery. Slick, inventive and hospitable. Don’t let the Instagram influencers fool you, the food here has real substance. Case in point? How about the apple tatin and pumpkin Danish. Too much? The almond croissant is more your speed then. 

Go forth and eat. Amsterdam style.