Index — Amsterdam / Netherlands5 places · 5 tags · curated index
Amsterdam, a quiet read.
AboutA working index of places worth your time in Amsterdam — cafés, kitchens, wine rooms, the occasional hotel. Every entry has been visited at least twice. None of them paid to be here.
How to useFilter by any combination of tags below. Selecting two narrows the list to places that match both. Tap any row for details, hours, and map.
CuratorMaintained by Better Taste + locals. Suggestions welcome — every recommendation is reviewed before it joins the list.
French restaurant · Centrum (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, by Dam Square) · €€€
Amsterdam's answer to the great Parisian bouillons, opened by the team behind Baut inside the monumental Die Port van Cleve building steps from Dam Square. The formula is faithful: French bistro classics at deliberately low prices (dishes roughly €3–16), long communal tables, brisk waiters and a big lively room — with Amsterdam touches like a Kesbeke pickle and the house's numbered steak, served here since 1874. Open for lunch and dinner daily; part of the room is held for walk-ins, but evenings fill up, so book or come early. By day the corner 'Bouillon Service' counter does coffee, croissants and filled baguettes.
Coffee shop · De Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets) · €€
The original Chun, a tiny Nine Streets toast-and-matcha shop that started in 2020 and arguably kicked off Amsterdam's premium matcha wave — the powder comes direct from family farms in Uji, Kyoto. Order the bulgogi beef or garlic-shrimp egg toast with a strawberry matcha latte; the matcha is bright and properly grassy rather than sweetened into oblivion. Expect a queue of 30 minutes or more at peak times and very cramped seating — go right at the 10:00 opening or take your order to the canals.
The first cafe from Amsterdam specialty roaster Friedhats, opened in 2018 in the Bos en Lommer area of Amsterdam-West (Bos en Lommerweg 136). It pours nearly the full Friedhats range as filter or espresso, including competition-grade lots, alongside pastries, natural wines and craft beer.
The Amsterdam-West location of smash-burger chain Le Smash, in the Oud-West area. Serves the brand's no-nonsense lineup of two smashed dry-aged-beef burgers, Le Classic and Le Special, plus meat-free versions.
The Zeedijk branch of smash-burger brand Le Smash, at Zeedijk 87 in the old city centre. Same tight menu as the others: two smashed dry-aged-beef burgers (Le Classic and Le Special) with vegetarian variants and the brand's signature caramelized crust.
↗
The full catalog
Take Amsterdam with you.
Photos, hours, walking routes, and offline access — plus the next places we haven't put online yet. Free on iOS.