The question I get asked more often than any other: what\u2019s your favourite restaurant in Amsterdam? It\u2019s like asking me which is my favourite child! (Or not, as I\u2019m merrily child-free, but you know what I mean.) Of course, I have different favourites at brunchtime<\/a>, or when I\u2019m in the mood for Indonesian rijsttafel<\/a>, or feel like splashing out on fine dining<\/a>. But Wherever you eat in Amsterdam, but at these modern classics in particular, you\u2019ll need to make a reservation. Many of the restaurants below have their own reservation systems that use platforms like\u00a0Formitable<\/a>\u00a0to book your table and take a deposit, which is deducted from your bill at the end. You can also sometimes find\u00a0good deals on TripAdvisor<\/a>. Whatever you do, however, please avoid websites like Appointment Trader that charge you to make reservations. They are the ticket touts\/scalpers of the restaurant world, and are making eating out even less accessible and affordable for diners.<\/p>\n What better way to start a round-up of modern classics than with a restaurant called Caf\u00e9 Modern<\/a>? One of the culinary pioneers of Amsterdam Noord, Caf\u00e9 Modern has been in business since 2011 \u2013 serving its five, six or seven-course surprise menu to guests, based on seasonally changing ingredients. Their wine pairing arrangement also deserves a shout-out: it\u2019s as unconventional as it is spot-on. The autumnal evening I dined there, the first course of slow-cooked squid with sea buckthorn set the tone \u2013 bright, fruity and well matched with a tropical Fern\u00e3o Pires from \u00d3bidos. Mussels with chestnut pur\u00e9e, leek, nashi pear and sake sabayon followed, its earthy-briny balance mirrored by a dry, savoury sake. But my favourite dish was the boudin blanc<\/em> with pistachio, spinach and duck-liver jus \u2013 rich yet delicate, lifted by a lightly sparkling red Lambrusco with cranberry freshness.<\/p>\n A main of duck breast with rillette and shallot pur\u00e9e showed classic technique without feeling dated, especially alongside a floral Xinomavro from Naoussa that could\u2019ve passed for Burgundy. To finish, a baba with elderflower, clementine, goat\u2019s yoghurt and fig-leaf ice cream met its match in a honeyed Ramandolo from Friuli \u2013 a clever, fragrant finale that summed up Caf\u00e9 Modern\u2019s knack for marrying creativity with comfort.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: I was invited to Cafe Modern as a journalist, and I didn\u2019t pay for my meal. I try to be as objective as possible, but I always disclose when I\u2019ve had a freebie.<\/em><\/p>\n From an old-timer to a newcomer: restaurant Roef in Watergraafsmeer<\/a> only opened its doors in September 2025 but it\u2019s already delivering accomplished cooking. The menu is made up of small bites, medium-sized \u00e0 la carte dishes, and large sharing plates (or you can opt for the chef\u2019s menu) \u2013 allowing you to try a bit of everything.<\/p>\n The \u201cBites\u201d all offered a pop of small but perfectly formed flavour: Asian oysters were umami-sweet with miso and spring onion, kaassouffl\u00e9<\/em> was laced with jalapeno and truffle, and steak tartare on slices of brioche was accented with sesame and bottarga. Next, we tried an elegant presentation of red gurnard with yellow beetroot discs and buttermilk sauce studded with jalapeno and lime gel (perhaps my favourite dish of the evening). The brandade<\/em> was reminiscent of a Portuguese cod croquette, but served with Dutch witlof<\/em> and a punchy salsa verde<\/em>. While an earthy, autumnal salad of red beetroot, blackberries, hazelnuts and goat yoghurt brought a welcome hit of veggies. Lastly, we shared the \u201cTomapork\u201d main: essentially a hefty pork chop with a savoury red onion and mustard seed chutney, plus chips and Brussels sprouts. I was eating out with my parents, and Mr Foodie Senior (aka my dad) was effusive in his praise for the contrasting flavours of the small dishes, plus their juxtaposition with the hearty meat \u2018n chips main. And if he\u2019s happy, I\u2019m happy!<\/p>\n I first discovered Kop van Oost\u2019s<\/a> fantastic takeaway meal packages during the covid lockdowns in 2020. I dined there in person as soon as restaurants were allowed to reopen and I\u2019ve been back again many times since (most recently in summer 2025). Perched on the water overlooking the Brouwerij \u2018t IJ windmill, it\u2019s the perfect spot to take visitors. As for the food, the menu has recently been updated with all sorts of tempting, shareable dishes: baked cauliflower with miso and kosho sauce, lamb satay with crispy rice and pickles, sweet potato ravioli with celeriac and smoked almonds, and even an Asian take on spaghetti carbonara. Kop van Oost\u2019s wine list is well thought out, while there are good options for those who prefer cocktails or beer. And of course you can\u2019t beat the windmill view from the terrace.<\/p>\n With a large terrace on the Beukenplein, Leo Bistro<\/a> is the kind of place where you can rock up without a reservation on a Friday night and still get a table (almost unheard of in Amsterdam in 2025). It\u2019s part of the Goudvisch restaurant group that\u2019s also behind Arie, and it\u2019s similarly casual with a friendly neighbourhood vibe and good service. Leo offers a very affordable three-course menu but everything is also available \u00e0 la carte \u2013 and the snacks alone are worth the detour from the fixed menu. With beer, we split some salty, crispy chorizo croquettes and spicy vegan vlammetjes<\/em>, followed by the smash burger on a helpfully manageable brioche bun with melty cheese, pickles and a sort of piccalilli mayo. Upscale bar food, perhaps, but done well and for a good price. The wine selection is well curated too: I enjoyed the light Spanish orange Grenache and the rich Pfalz Sp\u00e4tburgunder \u2013 both chilled on a warm day.<\/p>\n When a city is four metres below sea level, water management is of paramount importance. So it\u2019s no surprise that since the 1900s, the Westerpark area has had its own water pumping machine, water tower and engine room. While these have evolved in the intervening years, the disused engine room was converted into a caf\u00e9 and restaurant in 1996. Unfortunately it seems they couldn\u2019t think of a more creative name for it, but at least you know what you\u2019re getting with\u00a0Caf\u00e9-Restaurant Amsterdam<\/a>. Nowadays, they serve a simple but well executed menu of classic dishes like steak-frites, Caesar salad or gambas with aioli. CRADAM (as it\u2019s affectionately known) is a huge space \u2013 so it\u2019s ideal for group dining or for families getting together. It\u2019s where I meet my friends for Sunday lunch when all their kids are in tow.<\/p>\n Every six months, the aptly named restaurant Nomads<\/a> in Oostpoort takes you on a culinary journey through a different country, serving you four, five or six courses. The first night I visited, that journey was to Jordan. The Nomads Experience started with three mezze-style dishes: sweet \u2018n spicy muhammara<\/em> (red pepper and walnut paste); fragrant falafel with yoghurt dip; and smooth but simple hummus \u2013 all excellent, and all served with fluffy, warm, whole-wheat pitas. The subsequent courses included razor clams spiked with preserved lemons; lamb tartar with onions and capers; and soft, smoky aubergine with a coriander and basil dressing. The main courses of cauliflower and labneh<\/em> and grilled duck with beetroot were just as delightful, and the service was spectacular too. The experience has been equally marvellous when I\u2019ve been back for the Portuguese and Vietnamese editions on subsequent occasions.<\/p>\n Nestled into a leafy square just off Wibautstraat, Alba\u2019s<\/a> extensive, covered terrace is perfect for warm evenings. There\u2019s a varied menu of natural, organic wines by the glass, which the servers will let you taste before you decide if you ask nicely. But for those who fancy themselves as sommeliers, there\u2019s an expansive list of wines by the bottle to select from. On the food front, Alba is hard to categorise. We tried a perfectly devilled egg, which felt classically French, but later had a Japanese-style slow-cooked egg with a sort of curried mousse \u2013 impossible to describe but trust me, it was good. Continuing the fusion theme, we ate ultra-fresh peas with tofu and crispy chilli oil, side by side with ricotta gnocchi and courgette. And finished up with hanger steak with spiced sweet potato pur\u00e9e and chipotle dressing. Even the bread and butter were delicious. It\u2019s been just as good on every visit since.<\/p>\n Located in a former auto garage in hipster, industrial Amsterdam Noord, Hotel de Goudfazant<\/a> occupies a huge warehouse space that gives the restaurant a relaxed, no-frills feel. When I went back there after over a decade, I was pleased to see they still had a poultry and pistachio terrine on the menu \u2013 and I still loved it. As mains, we ordered the crispy pork belly with Hollandse garnalen<\/em> and samphire, and cauliflower with epoisses<\/em> cheese and hazelnuts. Both were classic, well made dishes. We skipped dessert in favour of a bottle of a red Loire valley blend, and came out spending not too far over \u20ac100 for two people.<\/p>\n Touting itself as a South African-Amsterdam mashup that also brews its own beer, Lion\u2019s Head Restaurant & Brewery<\/a> is the kind of place that offers something for everyone \u2013 whether you\u2019re in de Pijp on a date or for after-work drinks with colleagues. The menu features grilled peri-peri chicken with a pint of k\u00f6lsch<\/em> on the one hand, and bunny chow with a fruity watermelon wheat beer on the other. Plus a smattering of American buffalo wings and Tex-Mex nachos thrown in for good measure.\u00a0I\u2019ve been back to Lion\u2019s Head several times since I discovered it: the relaxed atmosphere and lovely service make it hard to resist.<\/p>\n It might call itself an eetcafe<\/em>, but Wijmpje Beukers<\/a> is clearly a cut above what that name would imply. At this neighbourhood gem in de Pijp, you\u2019ll find an elegant, creative, well-thought-out \u00e0 la carte menu made up of five starters, five mains and five desserts. The evening I dined there, one highlight was the smoked carrot with goat\u2019s yoghurt, fenugreek and pumpkin seeds, which was savoury-sweet, chewy-smooth and full of autumnal flavour. Next came perfectly tender bavette with confit red cabbage and a hearty hash brown; and gurnard with new potatoes, samphire, an apple and dill salad and a sauce of smoked eel and lardo<\/em>. On the wine list, I worked my way through a Limoux Chardonnay, a Pfalz Sp\u00e4tburgunder and a Rioja Crianza. They were generous pours and good examples of their grapes. The only downside is that Wijmpje Beukers doesn\u2019t take reservations. So at popular times, you can expect to wait a little for your table. Don\u2019t despair, though: I\u2019ve heard they\u2019ll mix you a mean espresso martini at the bar.<\/p>\n This article is now available as a mobile app. To download it for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to\u00a0Walking Tours and Articles in Amsterdam<\/a>\u00a0on GPSmyCity.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\nReservations at Amsterdam restaurants<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Looking for other restaurant tips in Amsterdam? <\/em><\/strong> Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Amsterdam-Restaurant-Guide-2023-banner.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nCaf\u00e9 Modern<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Cafe-Modern-Amsterdam-Noord-500x748.jpg\")
Roef<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Roef-restaurant-Watergraafsmeer-500x307.jpg\")
Kop van Oost<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Kop-van-Oost-modern-classic-500x823.jpg\")
Leo Bistro<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Leo-restaurant-Amsterdam-500x808.jpg\")
Caf\u00e9-Restaurant Amsterdam<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/CRADAM-500x625.webp\")
Nomads<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Nomads](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Nomads-restaurant-Oostpoort-500x677.jpg\")
<\/a>Alba<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Ricotta](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Ricotta-gnocchi-with-courgette-at-Alba-500x625.jpg\")
<\/a>Hotel de Goudfazant<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Hotel-de-Goudfazant-500x628.jpg\")
Lion\u2019s Head <\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Lion's](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Lions-Head-Brew-Bar-Amsterdam-nachos-500x412.jpg\")
<\/a>Wijmpje Beukers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Eetcafe-Wijmpje-Beukers-Amsterdam.jpg\")
<\/a>Looking for other restaurant tips in Amsterdam? <\/em><\/strong> Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n