Best late-night dining in Amsterdam
Dutch dinnertime is known for its earliness – beginning at anywhere from 17:00-19:00 – meaning most kitchens close around 21:00. But as Amsterdam’s population internationalises, there’s a growing demand for late-night dining – and restaurants are catching on. Whether it’s a burger on the way home or a towering plate of pasta before you head out, there’s more choice than ever to burn the midnight oil and appetite.
Cannibale Royale
Often the go-to recommendation for late-night eats, Cannibale Royale has earned that title for a reason. With the kitchen open until 23:00 most nights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, at any hour, you’ll find burgers stacked with cheddar, sautéed onions and bourbon BBQ sauce, glorious rib–eye steaks and even a very respectful veggie burger. The restaurant has branches all over the city, with the NDSM and Rozengracht locations our pick of the bunch.
Cannibale Royale | City-wide | Kitchen hours: Friday–Saturday 17:00-00:00, Sunday–Thursday 17:00-23:00
De Japanner
Japanese food has well and truly taken over the city, and De Japanner’s izakaya-inspired concept is proof. Their mantra is beer, sake and finger food, and the no-frills menu embodies just that. With highlights such as braised pork buns, fried squid ‘french fries’ with spicy mayo and miso-glazed aubergine, this is a great spot to drop by if you’re out with friends and want something to share. They have locations across the city, with most open till 01:00 on weekends, making this a winner wherever you end up in Amsterdam.
De Japanner | City-wide | Kitchen hours: Sunday–Thursday 18:00-23:30, Friday–Saturday 18:00-00:30
Café-Restaurant Amsterdam
A grander venue for late-night fare, Café-Restaurant Amsterdam is a local institution. A roomy brasserie located just south of Westerpark, this is where to go for a more substantial meal. Think grilled sea bass, heaping portions of steak frites and grilled salmon with samphire salad, all served until 22:30 on weekdays and 23:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. If a long, lazy banquet with friends is the plan, this is the spot.
Café-Restaurant Amsterdam | Watertorenplein 6, Westerpark | Kitchen hours: Friday–Saturday 11:30–23:30, Sunday-Thursday 11:30-22:30
SOJU Bar
Korean food has had something of a renaissance around the world and in Amsterdam, it’s no different. Korean fried chicken in particular has worked its way into the hearts of many, which makes Soju Bar a welcome addition to the city’s food scene. Beyond serving up generous portions of wings in nine flavours – including ‘Honey Butter’ and the fiery ‘Go to Hell’ – the kitchen is also open until 22:00. While not as late as some other venues, the restaurant stays open until 00:00, which should give you enough time to wash the spice down with a Korean beer and a shot of Soju.
SOJU Bar | Ferdinand Bolstraat 13–15, De Pijp | Kitchen open until 22:00 daily
Foodhallen
The capital’s favourite food court makes the cut by virtue of the sheer amount of choice and lateness of its hours. You’ll find a huge array of cuisines in the former tram depot turned food hall – from dim sum to tacos, fried chicken to oysters, meatballs to Mumbai streetfood. Better yet, it’s right in the heart of Oud-West making it a great pre or post drinks spot for when the hunger hits.
Foodhallen | Bellamyplein 51, Oud West | Kitchen hours: 12:00–22:00 Sunday–Thursday, Friday–Saturday 12:00–23:00
nNea
Ranked for years as one of the Netherlands’ best pizzeria and among one of the world’s greatest, nNea is an essential stop for purveyors of Neapolitan pizza. Here, you’ll find classics as well as dreamy combinations like pizza topped with grilled artichokes and mint or even oven-roasted octopus for the non-traditionalists. nNea often gets booked up well in advance which is why stopping by later in the night is often your best bet.
nNea | Bilderdijkstraat 92, Oud West | Kitchen hours: Monday–Thursday 17:30–22:30, Friday-Saturday 17:30–23:30, Sunday 17:30–22:00
Full Moon Garden
Much of eastern and southeast Asia is regarded for its love for nighttime food, hence the rise of night markets that rule after hours in the region. For a taste of that in Amsterdam, head to Full Moon Garden, a hub for dim sum hunters and lovers of Cantonese cuisine. Located just off popular Leidseplein, this first-floor restaurant is a perfect spot to perch and snack on prawn dumplings and sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves as dim sum transitions from daytime to midnight fare. For most of the week, its opening hours resemble much of the city’s, but Thursday through Saturday, it keeps its doors open until 22:30.
Full Moon Garden | Leidsestraat 95, Centrum | Kitchen hours: Sunday-Wednesday 12:00-21:30, Thursday-Saturday 12:00-22:30
Night Kitchen
The clue is in the name at Night Kitchen, which keeps its kitchen open until later in the night than most in Amsterdam’s Oud West. The restaurant’s concept is based on a communal dining experience where you’ll find shared plates of homemade ricotta dumplings, Mediterranean ceviche and tteokbokki (Korean rice-based gnocchi). It’s worth booking ahead as you can personalise the menu, but a late-night drop-in with friends is always a good idea.
Night Kitchen | Jan Pieter Heijestraat 172H, Oud West | Kitchen hours: Tuesday-Sunday 18:00-23:00
Burger Bar
A truly beloved late-night staple, Burger Bar has been keeping Amsterdammers fed in the early hours for years now. They have seven branches across the city and hey’re open most nights until 00:00 and in the Warmoesstraat and Kolksteeg branches, until 01:00 on weekends. Other than being open late, their success is down to the fact that they continue to serve up reliably good burgers that you can even customise to your liking. Extra fries always though.
Burger Bar | City-wide | Kitchen hours: Sunday-Thursday 12:00-midnight, Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00 at selected locations
African Kitchen
A Zuidoost special, African Kitchen pays home to the best of West African and Nigerian cuisine. Towering plates of jolof rice and fried plantain line up alongiside grilled fish and ribs for hearty and substantial portions that will keep you filled throughout the night. Better yet, they keep their kitchen open till midnight making those late weeknights a little more appealing.
African Kitchen | Bijlmerdreef 1288, Zuidoost | Monday-Friday 12:00-00:00, Sat-Sunday 14:00-00:00
Pata Negra
Reliable, cosy and open late, Pata Negra is Amsterdam’s quintessential tapas spot. Located on Utrechtsestraat – one of the city’s prettiest streets and best for shopping – its been running since 1997 and is still going strong. Locals looking to soak up drinks or simply grab a few small dishes before their night begins can be found dunking hunks of bread in garlicky prawns and snacking on patatas bravas here.
Pata Negra | Utrechtsestraat 124, Centrum | Kitchen hours: Sunday-Thrusday 12:00-23:00, Friday-Saturday 12:00-23:30
Le French Café
French bistros are known for their all-day affairs and Le French Café takes its cues from its namesake. With two outposts – its flagship restaurant in Amsterdam Oost and one in West – these dreamily lit bistros provide a tidy edit of classic French dishes like rotisseries chicken, fruits des mer and artichoke with lemon mayonnaise. Conveniently, their kitchens stay open till late and nothing quite hits the spot like a croque madame after a few beers.
Le French Cafe | Javastraat 42,Oost; Admiraal de Ruijterweg 1, De Baarsjes | Kitchen hours: Monday-Thursday 17:00-23:00, Friday-Saturday 11:00-23:00
