Cosy spots for comfort food in Amsterdam
Winter in Amsterdam can be cold and windy, but the right food will soothe your soul, fill your belly and put a smile on your face. So treat yourself to some hearty fare and keep cosy with this rundown of the best comfort food spots in Amsterdam.
De Vergulden Eenhoorn
Enjoy Burgundian hospitality at De Vergulden Eenhoorn, a historic city farmhouse complete with a roaring fireplace. Take a wintry bike ride east and settle down by the fire for a delicious croque madame with gruyère or a portion of polenta fries with aioli.
De Vergulden Eenhorn | Ringdijk 58, Oost
Hap-Hmm
Traditional Dutch fare is the definition of comfort food – potatoes, cabbage, meatballs – and Hap-Hmm knows how to do it right. This charming eatery has been serving hungry customers for more than 60 years, so you can rest assured that every recipe has been perfected. Read up on the best Dutch winter foods to try to find out what you’re getting yourself in for.
Café Jaap
Ice skating is a favourite winter pastime in Amsterdam, so make a trip to Jaap Edenbaan, an ice rink in Watergraafsmeer. Once you’re done zipping around, head to the on-site café for a delicious warm Chocomel and a rookworst (a tasty smoked sausage) while warming your tootsies at the open fire.
Noorderlicht
Magical Noorderlicht spoils its guests in the winter months with a selection of hearty fare with vegan and vegetarian options. There’s a focus on sustainable, organic and seasonal ingredients, so freshness is guaranteed. Take your pick from soups, stews, burgers, and loaded fries as you watch the weather roll past outside from within this toasty greenhouse.
Noorderlicht | NDSM-plein 102, NDSM
The Cottage
British cuisine gets a bad rep sometimes, but on a chilly day, some classic pub grub might just be exactly what you need. The Cottage in Oost dedicates a whole section of its menu to comfort food, featuring several of the finest exports from across the channel. Tuck into the meat and vegetarian pies, full English breakfasts, Welsh rarebit (that’s cheese on toast made with ale) and of course, a roast dinner on Sundays with all the trimmings.
The Cottage | Linnaeusstraat 88, Oost
Two Chefs Food Bar
The warm neon glow of Two Chefs Bar is irresistible on a grey winter day. Created by the hopheads behind Two Chefs Brewing - one of the city’s most exciting independent breweries. It’s the perfect spot to sample their beers and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. When the temperature drops, order the spicy Korean-style chicken burger – it will heat you right up.
Two Chefs FoodBar | Hugo de Grootplein 7-15, Westerpark
Café Bern
Take a little trip to Switzerland without leaving Amsterdam by visiting Café Bern. Nothing says comfort food like dipping bits of bread, meat and potato into a pot of gooey melted cheese. The folks behind this Nieuwmarkt staple have been there for decades, so you can trust their expertise. The entrecote – which is grilled to perfection at your table – also comes recommended.
Chocolátl
For the perfect hot chocolate, skip the instant powder stuff and turn to the experts. “It takes real chocolate to make a good drink,” say the folks behind Chocolátl, and right they are. For their version of the perfect cup of cocoa, they only use origin chocolate – meaning it’s made from beans from one particular region – which they combine with frothy milk (or soy milk) to create a spectacular hit of deliciousness.
The Lobby
Sip on a dark and stormy, or your winter warmer of choice, next to the fireplace at The Lobby. The chefs are experts in indulgent winter dining, and the menu is loaded with slow-cooked classics and delicious desserts. It’s the perfect ending to a day in the city and a great spot to escape the cold.
De Italiaan
The brick oven inside this cosy neighbourhood restaurant and pizzeria will warm you right up in the cooler months. Alongside the delicious pasta, meat and fish courses, we’d recommend the Il Tartufo pizza with truffle, buffalo mozzarella and lardo - some seriously decadent Italian bacon. Check out our run-down of the best pizza in Amsterdam for more.
De Italiaan | Bosboom Toussaintstraat 29, Oud-West
Moeders
As long as it's cold and bleak outside, and the weather report gives you the shivers, there’s nothing better than a slice of home cooking. At Restaurant Moeders, they cook just like your mum used to, offering classic Dutch dishes like stews and snert as staple winter warmers. Here's a few more fantastic Dutch food restaurants to try for some more home-grown cooking.
Trattoria Graziella
Chef Luigi di Benedetto and his kitchen team bring you the tastes of an authentic Italian kitchen at this charming trattoria. From the homemade cavatelli pasta with oxtail ragout and Pecorino cheese fondue to the feather-light babà al rum with strawberries and Chantilly cream, this friendly joint is comfort food heaven. Pasta fanatic? We've picked some of the best spots for pasta in the city.
Trattoria Graziella | Niewe Doelenstraat 12-14, Centrum
The Pancake Bakery
Pancakes definitely belong on this list and Amsterdam has no shortage of pancake houses. Specialists in the profession, The Pancake Bakery, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary so you can be assured of mouthwatering dishes to fill your belly. We’d recommend going all-in with the banana, rum and whipped cream speciality.
The Pancake Bakery | Prinsengracht 193, Centrum
Fou Fow Ramen
Nothing feeds the soul better than slurping the noodles up from a rich bowl of ramen on a chilly day. Fou Fow Ramen has locations in De Pijp and De Jordaan - the perfect spot to tuck into some delicious umami flavours with spicy toppings. We’d recommend the tonkotsu broth - a creamy emulsion made from pork bones - or the kelp and shitake vegetarian option!
Fou Fow Ramen | Elandsgracht 2A, Centrum / Van Woustraat 3, De Pijp
Sagardi
For satisfying snacks and high-quality steak, this Basque-style pintxos bar serves traditional specialities. Feed your soul with their delicious albacore tuna, anchovies and spring onions on toast or the pink slow-aged Txuleton Rubia Gallega steak served with slightly sweet roasted piquillo peppers.
Pho 91
Though pho was not invented until the early 1900s, this rice noodle and beef soup quickly became Vietnam's most popular street food dish worldwide. There are 40 different types of pho in Vietnam, and you can find a selection of these at Pho 91. This De Pijp-based eatery is the perfect cosy spot to slurp up a steaming bowl of noodle soup on a wintery day. There are also vegan, gluten, dairy and egg-free options.
