Best pasta restaurants in Amsterdam

Calisto

Imagine yourself in sunny Italy from the terrace of the cosiest restaurant, Calisto, in the Jordaan. Start with focaccias topped with anchovies, tuna, and aubergine croquettes, followed by sumptuous pappardelle alle Genovese and desserts to die for. All plates can be paired with a glass or bottle from the curated list of low-intervention wines from Italy, France, and beyond.

Calisto | Haarlemmerdijk 61, Centrum

Spaghetteria

Spaghetteria serves up heaped plates of no-fuss pasta from their six locations across the city - a testament to this budget-friendly pasta bar’s popularity. The pasta is prepared according to time-tested Italian recipes with an emphasis on organic flour. You can choose from six traditional pasta dishes - three of which change daily - on the menu, but be sure to save room for their tiramisu.

Spaghetteria Amsterdam | Jan Pieter Heijestraat 131, Oud-West / Jan Hanzenstraat 32, Oud-West / Javaplein 7, Oost / Olympiaplein 176, Oud-Zuid / Daniël Stalpertstraat 93, De Pijp / Van Woustraat 123, De Pijp

Ciro Passami L'Olio

Just a stone's throw from Vondelpark, a little piece of Italy is hidden at Ciro Passami L'Olio - a cosy restaurant where you can enjoy traditional Italian cuisine every day. In addition to the daily specials, choose from five homemade pasta dishes, including linguine alle vongole and tagliatelle al tartufo. When the weather is good, we recommend dining on the terrace, while enjoying a glass of carefully selected Italian wine.

Ciro Passami L'Olio | Tweede Helmersstraat 3, Oud-West

Toscanini

Pure, honest and simple homemade pasta dishes are central to Toscanini in the Jordaan. Open from Monday to Saturday, the restaurant has a large, bright dining room with a view of the kitchen. While the menu changes regularly, you can also pick from the Menu della Cucina: a six-course tasting menu for the whole table. If you fancy a culinary challenge, the Toscanini Deli sells boxes of fresh pasta and other fine Italian ingredients to try recreating dishes at home.

Toscanini | Lindengracht 75, Centrum

Ponte Arcari

Located on Herengracht, Ponte Arcari is a small Italian restaurant which is nearly always full. From the tiny kitchen, classic Italian food, like carpaccio, vongole, vitello tonnato, tiramisu, comes out in generous portions and, all of which are reasonably priced. With customers seated elbow-to-elbow, the service straddles that perfect middle ground between chaotic and lively, giving this cosy pasta joint that authentic Italian atmosphere.

Ponte Arcari | Herengracht 534, Centrum

Bussia

The kitchen at Bussia prepares Italian food at its most refined. Housed in a glass-fronted building in the bustling Nine Streets neighbourhood, the menu changes weekly. In addition to the à la carte offerings, you can enjoy the popular four, five, six, or seven-course tasting menu, including fettuccine with langoustines. The service, elegant interior, and culinary heights make visiting this restaurant a real treat.

Bussia | Reestraat 28-32, Centrum

Impero Romano

This well-loved eatery stands for the best of Italy: great food and warm hospitality. Commence your culinary journey with a plate of colourful antipasti or mouth-watering burrata, then delve into their traditional menu encompassing fresh pasta delights like salmon tagliatelle or a bubbling lasagne. Inside, the atmosphere is laid back and welcoming; you can tell that over the years, the restaurant has witnessed countless wedding proposals, birthdays and family get-togethers.

Impero Romano | Amsteldijk 25, De Pijp

Gustatio's

A mainstay of the westernmost edge of Overtoom, Gustatio's is worth the pilgrimage if you're a pasta lover. This is the spot if it's fresh pasta you're after, with an entire half of the menu dedicated to dishes made exclusively with fresh spaghetti, tagliatelle and ravioli, to name a few. The best part, however, is that you can pair any dish with homemade pasta. So take in the cosy fairy-lit interior while you tuck into the richest Amatriciana you've indulged in or our pick of the bunch, Bigoli alla Mare, a seafood pasta that brings on the savoury, salty and umami flavours of the sea.

Gustatio's | Overtoom 459 H, Oud-West