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.
Daalder
Six months after receiving its first Michelin star, Daalder exchanged its setting in a former Jordaan café for a much larger location out West. Now situated in the monumental Het Sieraad building, tuck into a creative blend of internationally-influenced casual fine dining, 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.
Baro
Also located at the monumental Het Sieraad building, the Ibiza-meets-Tulum vibe of Daalder’s casual summer pop-up Baro contrasts the Amsterdam School architectural features of this former goldsmith’s college. Tuck into shareable bites and summery cocktails on a large patio overlooking the Kostverlorenvaart waterway. The menu of the new open-air eatery combines Mexican and Spanish crowd-pleasers. Drink-wise, there’s everything from sangria to spicy margaritas. Food-wise, you can feast on oysters with smoky mezcal, light, just-right aguachile (Mexican ceviche), padron peppers and crispy duck skin enchiladas. There are also chicken chipotle tacos, as well as patatas bravas and BBQ green asparagus.
Winehouse SOMM
Despite his experience working as a sommelier in some of Europe’s top restaurants, the owner of SOMM’s aim with this relaxed, no-nonsense wine bar is to make the finer things in life - eating and drinking well - accessible and enjoyable for all. Sample your way through the extensive list of high quality wines (orderable by the glass starting from €5), paired with a delightful small plate menu - we’re talking slow-cooked Iberico, shellfish, ceviche - and charcuterie or cheese platters. The all-day lunch on Sundays is a three-course journey of discovery - the perfect way to put that aperitivo sparkle into your afternoon.
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.
Restaurant DS
Restaurant DS boasts a changing small-plate menu that is as surprising and delicious as ever. The restaurant is located in a former workshop for training car mechanics that is now converted into a beautiful industrial space with long corridors, high ceilings and old-school chairs that will take you back to your classroom years. You’ll be attended to by knowledgeable and relaxed staff who will give you sound advice on the dishes and wine pairings.
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.
Oficina
The creative, plant-based catering company Chef Nana recently opened its own cantina, Oficina, on Jan van Galenstraat. During the day, swing by for bright green matcha paired with beautiful pastries such as basbousa (Egyptian cake) with roses and cardamom or maritozzo, (a typical Roman pastry). For lunch, choose from inventive dishes such as the focaccia with tomato, grilled aubergine, radicchio and crispy potato skins or the farinata (chickpea pancake) with rosemary.
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.
Sapporo Ramen SORA
Nothing feeds the soul better than a bowl of rich noodle soup on a chilly day. Sapporo Ramen SORA specialises in the delicate art of broth making with eclectic kitsch decor that will transport you straight to Japan’s colourful streets. Packed with deep and complex umami flavours, the shoyu (strong and cloudy made from pork bones) and miso (fermented soybean) ramens are the stars of the menu. These can be spiced up with toppings like bean sprouts, seaweed, roasted pork and vegetables. If that already sounds good, the selection of tasty sides like gyoza (dumplings), chicken teriyaki and panko-breaded shrimp will really get you feeling warm again.
