New in Town (March 2023)

Looking for all the latest openings this March? Karin Engelbrecht's monthly roundup is always packed with Amsterdam's most exciting new additions, launches and seasonal offerings. Interested in a broader list of places to eat and drink? Explore our comprehensive coverage of bars and restaurants in Amsterdam.

Admire Iberian style on Amsterdam’s chicest street

Looking for the iconic Amazona or Puzzle bags or other LOEWE statement pieces beloved by the likes of Kylie Jenner and Zendaya? The Spanish fashion house – one of the oldest luxury brands in the world – has finally opened its first store in the Netherlands. The 129 m2 boutique features a candy-coloured interior with playful elements echoing creative director J.W. Anderson’s motto of “art, craft and design”. Rietveld’s Utrecht chairs, scattered throughout in various hues, add a Dutch touch. Spread over two floors, the shop showcases women’s ready-to-wear, bags, shoes and accessories, including jewellery, small leather goods and sunglasses. Muy elegante!

LOEWE store, P.C. Hooftstraat 97

Enjoy glocal gastronomy while ogling Oosterpark

Soaring 15-metre-high ceilings, original wooden beams and large picture windows are the first things you notice when you enter VanOost, the fine dining restaurant at the new Pillows Hotel Maurits at the Park. The award-winning Studio Linse has transformed a 20th-century university dissection lab with what it calls “noble simplicity”. Carefully considering the building’s heritage, they’ve used subdued colours brightened with fresh flowers to create an interior that oozes calm, contrasting the robust original features and bustling open kitchen. Rising star Floris van Stralen (ex-Felix, Oud Sluis***, Pure C** and Vinkeles*), who was recently named as one of Gault&Millau’s “New Chefs on the Block” 2023, happily marries globally inspired influences with the best local ingredients. Highlights of a recent dinner included king crab tail, peanut, radish and unagi, a lobster dish inspired by Indian butter chicken with curry gel, kohlrabi and squid ink and a dessert featuring salted fermented vanilla with speculaas, yuzu gel and chocolate sorbet (from €85 for a 5-course chef’s menu). Expect expert service and flawless pairings with a story and a smile by one of the city’s best sommeliers, Saskia Smeenk (wine pairings from €35). We’re calling it: this is the must-visit new culinary destination in Oost right now. Get there before the Michelin Guide does, because we predict a bright and starry future.

VanOost, Mauritskade 61

Indulge yourself at the city’s latest bakeries

Amsterdam’s bakery explosion shows no sign of slowing down – lucky us! – with three new specialists joining the fray. Following a pop-up at Hermitage Markt, Salvo Lioniello now has a permanent shop in West for his popular maritozzo. At Salvo Bakehouse (Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat 9H), you’ll find cream-filled Roman pastries as well as other authentic Italian treats such as bomboloni (filled doughnuts, €5.50), orange polenta cake and miglaccio ricotta (baked Italian cheesecake).

For handmade pastel de nata (custard tarts) in flavours such as port, chocolate, coffee and, of course, the real-deal original (from €3) make a beeline for Mister Nata (Van Woustraat 48). There are also a few other Portuguese pastries and some vegan options.

There can never be too many French patisseries, and at Et-CLAIRE (Beethovenstraat 38) the viennoiserie comes in creative flavours that may include crème brulee croissants (from €3.00), salted rosemary cheese twists and savoury truffle cruffins.

Enjoy all-day classics with Vondelpark views

Situated in a listed 1806 building inspired by a Venetian villa, Parkzuid is the latest in a succession of eateries at this awesome address. The menu offers all manner of crowd-pleasers including poached eggs, “power breakfasts”, chopped salads, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and burgers (from €9.50). Not on the menu: unparalleled views of Amsterdam’s most famous park from a seriously impressive terrace.

ParkZuid, Vondelpark 3

Explore new Portuguese fusion menus

There are two new tasting menus at ARCA, the popular bar-restaurant opposite Central Station, where Portuguese tradition meets Dutch art and Asian refinement. In addition to the a la carte menu, diners can now choose between Asian or Portuguese-themed tasting menus (both are €75 pp). The former includes dishes like meltingly tender glazed pork ribs with coleslaw, hoisin and fried garlic mayo, beef sirloin steak with teriyaki sauce, sauteed greens and sweet potato and an unusual tart with a caramelized nutty base, white chocolate-cauliflower mousse and a green curry sorbet. The latter brings typical Portuguese flavours such as octopus salad with smoked paprika oil, potato and red pepper dressing, salted cod confit with fried chickpeas and a brandade foam and a deliciously different warm sponge cake with goat’s cheese ice cream. The service here remains a cut above and the wine list is interesting and varied with plenty of Portuguese offerings, from bubbly to wine and, of course, the perfect Port. Bom proveito!

ARCA Amsterdam, Martelaarsgracht 5

Shop the latest beauty launches

High-end haircare brand Innersense Organic Beauty has added two new products to its range. Specifically designed to balance hair colour and made with blonde, grey and bleached hair in mind, this nurturing vegan formula works across all hair types and textures. The purple-hued shampoo gently cleanses and tones by neutralising brassy and yellow tones. Nourishing apple and rice extracts draw in moisture and monoi oil protects and brightens. Bright Balance Hairbath (€35) and Bright Balance Conditioner €38 are available via Bioplaneet.nl.

Looking for glow-on-the-go? Chasin’ Rabbits has a new vegan multi-balm stick (€18 at K-beauty specialist Haru Haru Beauty Store) that conveniently fits in your handbag. Enriched with skin-soothing ingredients such as Centella, Inca inchi oil, shea butter and ceramides, it instantly moisturises dry skin and adds shine to areas such as the lips, face and clavicles.

Finding an eye cream that ticks all the boxes can be tricky. Ideally, it should absorb well, brighten, smooth and work with makeup. Enter ILIA Beauty Bright Start Activated Eye Cream (€56 via The C of Cosmetics) by the cult “clean beauty” brand that’s made a name for its skincare-powered makeup. Its cooling ceramic tip glides over the skin, while caffeine and peptides depuff the under-eye area. Enriched with upcycled avocado extract and the “plant-based retinol” sea fennel (touted to be the next bakuchiol) the pearlescent eye cream delivers moisture and adds glow while plumping fine lines.

Eau Thermale Avene has a new anti-ageing skincare line it calls “revolutionary”. Packed with active ingredients such as pure hyaluronic acid and a whopping 6% of niacinamide, the Hyaluron Active B3 product range (from €37) aims to “target the cause of ageing”. It claims to do so by delaying the onset of cellular senescence, therefore slowing the spread of ageing in the skin while stimulating cellular regeneration. Now available at pharmacies across the Netherlands, see stockists page.

Looking for up-to-the-minute eating, drinking and shopping recommendations? Follow Karin on Instagram where you’ll find her checking out the latest restaurants, bars and shops, and returning to old favourites.