Restaurants and bars in Zuidoost
All foodies will lose themselves for hours in the colourful street markets and sustainable kitchens of Zuidoost, or there's a whole range of restaurants, cafes with sunny terraces, microbreweries and green initiatives to tuck into.
Oma Ietje
Oma Ietje is more or less the living room of Zuidoost. It’s a place where everyone feels at home and there is always something delicious to eat and drink. Between tasty toasties and chunky sandwiches, artisanal coffee, the special beer of the month, and wickedly delicious homemade cakes, you’ll find lots to choose from on the menu. The vibrant terrace, surrounded by some exceptional street art, is one of the liveliest hang-outs in this part of town.
Restaurant Elixir
Tucked away between Diemen and the New Holland Park district, Elixer is a circular restaurant focusing on sustainability and good food. Not only do they allow locals to exchange allotment-grown vegetables for dining tokens, but they also organise monthly cooking sessions and ’swap’ markets with varying themes. Order à la carte from the menu - choosing from special variations of Burgundian and Dutch classics - or be surprised by the chefs' three or four-course menu.
The Traveller
Set off on a culinary gap year, whilst keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground at The Traveller. What started as a pop-up restaurant, now how two locations in Amsterdam, both at the RAI in Zuid and in Zuidoost. The concept highlights the most delicious dishes from a range of international cuisines; crispy duck gyoza and tempura chicken sit next to pani puri (wafer-thin crispy balls filled with chickpeas and mint), beef chimichurri, tuna tacos or burrata. Because the extensive menu is mildly overwhelming, there’s also a 4-course shared dining menu, to help indecisive eaters out.
Margherita Tutta la Vita
Margherita Tutta la Vita has become something of a household name in Diemen-Zuid. Much frequented by students and residents, the restaurant is known for its authentic and affordable pizzas - some of the best in the city, we’ll have you know. On top of mouth-watering pizzas baked with passion by the Italian-born Chef, Stefano, you can also order homemade lasagnas, calzones, paninis and desserts. That means a mega helping of tiramisu, please.
Lebkov & Sons
You can’t go wrong with lunch from Lebkov & Sons and their delicious range of sandwiches, cakes, soups and salads from across Europe and the Mediterranean. They’re incredibly proud of their coffee, sourced from a Guatemalan plantation and roasted fresh every week, and some fans even boldly claim that it’s the best in the city. Head over to their bright and airy location, kitted out with nice modern touches such as the giant industrial pendant lamps.
30ML Coffee Roasters
30ML Coffee Roasters' Arena location is one of the newer additions to their ever-growing cafe empire across Amsterdam, Leiden and Utrecht. In terms of coffee, 30ml is the measure of a shot of espresso, the very basis of your latte, flat white or cappuccino. Alongside delicious coffees made from their own roasted beans, the cafe serves breakfast dishes, homemade sweets and fresh juices throughout the day.
A Beautiful Mess
Enjoy delicious Middle-Eastern dishes at A Beautiful Mess, a restaurant with an interesting origin. Located in the laundry room of the former Bilmerbajes prison, dishes are prepared by newcomers to Amsterdam as part of a hospitality apprenticeship programme for refugees. This large cosy space, which still houses the enormous washing machines, is furnished with a brightly coloured bar, wooden furniture and cheerful lamps. In the summer, The Bajes Beach Club pop-up opens, where you can sip refreshing drinks with your feet in the sand or unwind with yoga and DJ sessions.
Brouwerij Kleiburg
Brouwerij Kleiburg, based on the site of a former abbey, makes beers according to age-old monastic traditions. It’s also a social enterprise in which a portion of profits goes directly back into the monastery’s activities for the good of the people. Enjoy a brew on the terrace, with a view of the kettles, or head into De Proefzaak, the tasting room located in a spacious green hanger. Understandably beer is central on the menu here, but you can accompany your drink with dishes like fish and chips, a Moroccan tagine or tasty veggie burgers.
Kon Esi Baka
Just opposite the Reigersbos Shopping Center, you’ll find Kon Esi Baka. This cosy restaurant doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside you can tuck into an array of delicious and affordable dishes from authentic Surinamese-Creole cuisine. The most popular dish is the roti kip (a flatbread stuffed with egg, curried potatoes, spicy vegetables and chicken). Kon Esi Baka means 'come back soon' in Surinamese, and trust us, you’ll certainly want to! Can’t get enough sambal? Have a read of this guide to the best Surinamese restaurants in Amsterdam.
