Restaurants and bars in Bos en Lommer & De Baarsjes
The food and drink scene in Bos en Lommer and De Baarsjes has been hotting up for several years, with this corner of West fast becoming a go-to area for dining out and bar hopping. Along Jan Evertsenstraat and Bos en Lommerweg, speciality coffee joints, bakeries, noodle spots, pizzerias, and wine bars are building solid reputations. Elsewhere in the hood, you’ll find a wonderful mixture of family-friendly restaurants, higher-end cuisine and - perhaps most importantly - some of the best canalside terraces in the city.
Coffee
The award-winning baristas at FUKU have been putting the caffeine high into BoLo since 2018. Meticulously crafted flat whites are poured with a smile at their funky location, kitted out with retro vending machines and bonsai trees. Meanwhile over in De Baarsjes, Selma’s is a beautiful little Scandinavian-inspired cafe that will not only meet your hot drink needs but sell you a delicious cinnamon roll or smoked salmon sandwich on the side. And for just coffee – stellar coffee mind – then White Label Coffee on Jan Evertsenstraat brews up imported beans, which you can buy by the cup or in gorgeous bags.
PONG | House of Ping
What game is more exciting and nostalgic than table tennis? Paddle your way to victory at Pong | House of Ping with a vegan kebab and delicious cocktail to treat the winner. Check the agenda for competition nights, tournaments, live music parties and bottomless brunches.
Daalder & Daalder Streetfood
Now situated in the monumental Het Sieraad building, tuck into a creative blend of internationally-influenced casual fine dining at Michelin-starred Daalder, choosing from the chef’s menu or a la carte. Expect all the signatures, from an artful Indonesian-spiced satay ayam amuse and a perfectly-judged slow-cooked 65-degree egg with textures of porcini mushroom, brown butter brioche croutons and a kaffir lime foam to a now-iconic stroopwafel parfait for dessert. You’ll also find the casual summertime terrace pop-up Daalder Streetfood, with its sizeable wrap-around terrace overlooking the Kostverlorenvaart waterway. Favourites from the menu include fried chicken, smash burgers, loaded fries, and more.
Fort Negen
One of an impressive batch of new bakeries, ex-De Kas baker Maarten Langeslag’s Fort Negen lives up to the hype with fluffy madeleines, scrumptious strawberry and pannacotta cruffins, decadent gorgonzola croissants and marvellous sourdough specialities - fermented for 26 hours and baked to dark-crusted perfection. Yum!
Terrasmus
This cheerful cafe in Erasmus Park is the beating heart of both neighbourhoods, drawing in dog-walkers, joggers and families from Bos en Lommer and De Baarsjes. People queue up for fresh juice and coffees in the morning. whilst on a sunny evening, the terrace is a great spot for an after-work glass of wine or a cold beer. Alongside refreshments, they offer a selection of home-made cakes and sandwiches (the banana bread is really special) - perfect to take away with you on a gallivant through the park. There’s a playground right next door so the cafe is particularly popular with little ones in pursuit of an ice lolly.
Podium Mozaïek
Besides being a multicultural venue with varied theatre performances and children’s programming, Cafe Mozaiek is also a great place for lunch or a pre-performance meal. The sunny terrace comes alive at weekends for the traditional Turkish brunch. You’ll need to bring a big appetite and some friends to get through the range of warm and cold mezze dishes on offer including fried peppers, freshly-baked bread, eggs, börek, cheeses and salamis all washed down with unlimited tea. Midweek, the restaurant-cafe serves home-cooked dishes with Mediterranean influences - think tagines, grilled vegetables, stewed beef, lentil soups and hearty couscous salads.
Spaghetteria Rijpgracht
There’s nothing cosier than sharing a good Italian meal with friends over a few bottles of wine. Spaghetteria Rijpgracht does exactly what it says on the tin, offering sizable pasta portions at relatively cheap prices. The chefs change the menu daily to include six different dishes packed full of flavour and fresh produce. The large canalside terrace and big group tables make the location ideal for summer events and birthday parties. It’s never a bad idea to round off the night with that necessary limoncello shot and a slice of tiramisu.
Eetwinkel Buurman & Buurman
A few years back, two bros from the hood decided there was not enough good food in Bos en Lommer, so they opened their own pizzeria on the corner of Erasmus Park. Eetwinkel Buurman & Buurman has since gained a reputation for serving up some of the best pizza in Amsterdam-West. Classic toppings are given a gourmet boost with options like parma ham with truffle tapenade, artichoke, grilled fennel and smoked mackerel doused in wasabi mayo. You can eat on the vibey canalside terrace, which catches the light until late afternoon or get your order to take-away before finding a scenic spot in the park next door.
Meneer de Wit Heeft Honger
The head chef at Meneer de Wit Heeft Honger is all about home-cooking that’s bursting with flavour and slow-cooked love. Inspired by his Moroccan roots and with a wealth of experience working in kitchens across Amsterdam and Barcelona, he combines Mediterranean spices and herbs into a colourful palette. Seasonal veg takes centre stage on the menu with sustainably-sourced meat and seafood ingredients used as an accent. Inside, the atmosphere is as welcoming and unpretentious as an Italian grandma’s kitchen - and with the chintzy tableware to match.
Restaurant FAAM
On the corner of Reinier Claeszenstraat and Maarten Harpertzoon Trompstraat you’ll find one of the best kept secrets of De Baarsjes. The secret recipe? The owners of Restaurant FAAM won't reveal that, of course, but it probably has something to do with the traditional wood oven pizzas and other homemade Italian dishes that people just can't stop talking about. Leave some room for dessert, because the famous tiramisu turns out to be one of the best in Amsterdam.
