When I first moved to Amsterdam over 20 years ago, the sandwich scene was pitiful: most lunches consisted of the ubiquitous broodje kaas<\/em>, which was essentially supermarket sliced bread with a thin slice of Gouda and nothing else. (To the point that I was inspired to write an entire cookbook about alternative lunches<\/a> for the working week.) Luckily, times have changed and we now have a bounty of gourmet sandwich shops to choose from. Whether you\u2019re looking for a top toastie, banging bagel, serious sando or royally good wrap, Amsterdam has a sandwich with your name on it.<\/p>\n Before you can sample the city\u2019s sandwiches, you\u2019re going to need to get here! Below are a few trip essentials, but my Amsterdam trip-planning guide<\/a> covers everything from transport to the best time to visit.<\/p>\n Right in the centre of the city and handily close to the Canal Belt, Ros\u00e8l<\/a> only serves four sandwiches but it does them so well that further choice would be superfluous. Get the chef\u2019s signature \u201cRos\u00e8l\u201d: Dutch ham, guanciale compote, sweet \u2018n tangy pickles, mustardy mayo and fresh rocket. Take it to a nearby canal-side bench and enjoy in the sun (ideally) or bring an umbrella as Ros\u00e8l doesn\u2019t have indoor dining.<\/p>\n Chef\u2019s signature Ros\u00e8l (they really are serious about sandwiches)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s not many toasties I\u2019d bike through a hailstorm to get to, but the calorific goodness at Monty\u2019s<\/a> was worth braving the elements for. They use sourdough bread from fancy Fort Negen, plus four types of cheese (two Dutch, two English) in every toastie. From there, you have a choice of three other fillings: sweet onion chutney, spicy kimchi, or umami Marmite. I think the chutney just edged it for me, but the kimchi came a close second.<\/p>\n Cheese & chutney toastie from Monty\u2019s in the Jordaan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve long been a fan of Erik\u2019s Delicatessen<\/a> on the Beukenplein \u2013 it\u2019s where I buy all my cheeses for my Dutch wine tastings<\/a>. So I was excited when they opened a sandwich shop next door: Erik\u2019s Keuken, making the most of the excellent produce from the deli. We tried two: the warm pastrami, gruyere and kimchi toastie, which had quite the cheese pull factor; and the \u201cBella Bologna\u201d sandwich, featuring mortadella, juicy stracciatella<\/em>, thinly sliced fennel and a nutty, salt-crunch pesto. Both were excellent, but I think the Bologna took the lead by a slight margin.<\/p>\n Ugly-delicious toastie at Erik\u2019s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the always-bustling Van Woustraat, Broodje Popov<\/a> is know for its Philly cheesesteak sandwich (or Philly cheesecake as I keep accidentally calling it): thinly sliced hot beef in gravy with melty American cheese, caramelised onions and mayo. We added jalapenos for 50 cents extra, which was a good idea as they helped cut through all that richness. Amazingly, given the gravy situation, the bread held together. A triumphant sandwich, if ever there was one.<\/p>\n Broodje Popov\u2019s famous Philly cheesesteak (it tastes better than it looks!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Serving real-deal Italian sandwiches, Zero Zero<\/a> started in the centre but now has a branch in de Pijp too. I ordered the \u201cMortadella\u201d: sourdough bread stuffed with mortadella, stracciatella<\/em>, pistachio and parmesan, and it took me straight back to Lucca where I ate huge Tuscan sandwiches a couple of years ago. But everything on the menu looked delicious \u2013 I saw other people coming out with several different sandwiches and I was jealous, even as I was eating my own. The Gerard Doustraat location doesn\u2019t have any space to eat inside, but there are benches on the nearby square for an impromptu picnic if the weather\u2019s ok.<\/p>\n Italian-style mortadella sandwich from Zero Zero<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After being away for five months at the start of 2024, I was happy to come home and discover Dough Studio<\/a>, just down the road from me behind the Weesperzijde, serving enormous schiacciata<\/em> (Italian sandwiches that give Zero Zero a run for their money and are so big you could easily split one between two people). The first time we went, we ordered the porchetta with truffle pecorino, rucola, mayo and caramelised onions (pictured below), and both the fillings and the bread itself were fabulous. Dough Studio\u2019s other sandwiches have been just as good on every subsequent visit.<\/p>\n Italian porchetta schiacciata from Dough Studio<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Looking for Italian food beyond sandwiches? Try my guide to Italian restaurants in Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n There are a couple of streets in De Pijp that are chock-full of restaurants, and Eerste van der Helststraat is one of them. It\u2019s home to a huge multitude of Amsterdam eateries, but for a filling and delicious sandwich at lunchtime, make a beeline straight for Mezzave<\/a>. Leaning Middle Eastern and Mediterranean, there are only four options and three of them are meaty: beef short ribs, chicken shawarma and smoked brisket (you\u2019ll never catch me tasting the mushroom shawarma, I\u2019m afraid). My favourite was the smoked beef short ribs with aioli, pickles and salad, in a baguette that stood up well to the juiciness of the filling. But I\u2019ll let you be the judge!<\/p>\n Beef short rib baguette at Mezzave<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s something aesthetically delightful and also quite childlike about the Japanese sando, with its cut-off crusts and perfect symmetry. At the eastern end of the Albert Cuypmarkt, tucked behind the market stalls, you\u2019ll find Ranchi<\/a> \u2013 serving up Japanese classics like chicken katsu<\/em> and ton katsu<\/em>. But I was not in the mood for meat the day I visited, so I ordered the egg salad instead: a soft and comforting mix of egg mayo, spring onions, miso and wholegrain mustard. Like something you\u2019d find in your school lunchbox \u2013 only nicer.<\/p>\n Japanese-style egg salad sando at Ranchi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Surely the queen of breakfast sandwiches, the croque madame is a thing of great French beauty: two thick, crusty slices of bread filled with ham, gruyere and mornay sauce, topped with a fried egg. So simple and yet remarkably hard to find in Amsterdam. Well, search no more: Le French Caf\u00e9<\/a> is here to help! They also do a range of other French-inspired lunch sandwiches plus aperitif hour and dinner in the evening. The interior and terrace are pure French bistro \u2013 you can\u2019t help but feel a bit like Emily in Paris.<\/p>\n Le croque madame at Le French Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For years, it was impossible to find real-deal New York-style bagels in Amsterdam (although old-time Amsterdammers like me will still have a soft spot for Tony\u2019s New York City Bagels). But then along came Flo\u2019s Deli<\/a>, now with two locations in the city. Their authentic bagels come topped with smoked salmon and a schmear of scallion-chive cream cheese, but there\u2019s also a carrot version for vegans.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Flo\u2019s because I ate my bagel too fast!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Several years after Flo\u2019s Deli came Breadwinner<\/a>, purveyors of hand-rolled, baked-on-site, sourdough bagels that are extremely good (and extremely popular among the expat crowd). I got the hot-smoked salmon with cream cheese; my friend got the pastrami with sauerkraut. But you\u2019re really here for the everything bagels: chewy, salty, satisfying and all-round delightful.<\/p>\n Best bagels in town: Breadwinner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve been going to Singel 404<\/a> ever since I was a student in Amsterdam over two decades ago. In fact, it\u2019s where I met my oldest and best friend in the city for the first time. In all those years, the menu hasn\u2019t changed much and I order the same thing every time I go: it\u2019s an open sandwich on brown bread, topped with smoked chicken, guacamole and sun-dried tomatoes, then brie that\u2019s been melted over the top, followed by a smattering of cress. This felt very exotic back in 2001. Now, it\u2019s perhaps a little more pedestrian (and more expensive) but still just as delicious.<\/p>\n An oldie but goodie from Singel 404<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You\u2019ll want to arrive early to beat the queues at this TikTok favourite in the Negen Straatjes. Alongside bubble tea and other specialty drinks, Chun Caf\u00e9<\/a> does a line in gourmet stuffed toast that\u2019s not to be found anywhere else. I tried the egg with garlic shrimp, which came in its signature toasted brioche pocket \u2013 warm, garlicky and perfectly seasoned. Mr Foodie ordered a breakfast classic of egg, bacon and cheese, which was similarly good \u2013 but we\u2019ll have to go back to try the rib-eye bulgogi as it sounds awesome.<\/p>\n Stuffed gourmet toast at Chun Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Netherlands\u2019 history with Suriname may be problematic, but it thankfully saved us all from a lifetime of bland food. Surinamese sandwiches stuffed with all sorts of spicy fillings make an excellent alternative to the ubiquitous broodje kaas<\/em>. Popular favourites include broodje pom<\/em> \u2013 a spiced chicken and pomtajer<\/em> filling \u2013 and broodje bakkeljauw<\/em>, a Surinamese preparation of salt cod. Try both at hole-in-the-wall De Tokoman<\/a> (now with four locations in Amsterdam) for affordable, satisfying sandwiches at lunchtime.<\/p>\n De Tokoman: best broodje pom!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you like the idea of Surinamese sandwiches, you might also like my guide to Surinamese food and restaurants in Amsterdam<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Prefer to make your own lunch in the office or at home? Get your hands on a copy of my Working Lunch<\/a> cookbook \u2013 the simple way to spice up your lunch break!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the Javastraat, Tigris & Eufraat<\/a> is a supermarket on one side, and a cooking station for takeaway on the other. Which means that there\u2019s no place to sit, so heading here for lunch probably only makes sense if you live or work in the area. That said, I hope you do<\/em> live or work in Oost because the \u201cMiddle Eastern sandwiches\u201d (which are in fact more like wraps) are some of the best on offer in Amsterdam. My favourite was the sucuk<\/em> version, stuffed with spiced minced meat, melted mozzarella and perfect pickles. The halloumi sandwich was also fresh and tasty, while the falafel and manouche<\/em> (which I\u2019ve sadly not tried yet) looked delicious, and the prices were extremely affordable.<\/p>\n Halloumi wraps and sucuk sandwiches from Tigris & Eufraat<\/p>\n<\/div>\nPlanning your trip to Amsterdam<\/h2>\n
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Amsterdam sandwich shops and what to order from them<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ros\u00e8l: chef\u2019s signature sandwich<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Rosel-sandwiches-Amsterdam-500x667.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMonty\u2019s: cheese & chutney toastie<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Montys-toastie-Amsterdam-500x595.jpg\")
<\/p>\nErik\u2019s Keuken: Bella Bologna sandwich<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Eriks-Keuken-sandwiches-in-Amsterdam-1024x1268.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBroodje Popov: Philly cheese steak sandwich<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Broodje-Popov-Philly-cheesesteak-sandwich-in-Amsterdam-500x482.jpg\")
<\/p>\nZero Zero: mortadella sandwich<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Zero-Zero-500x793.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDough Studio: porchetta sandwich<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Dough-Studio-Italian-sandwiches-in-Amsterdam-500x582.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMezzave: smoked beef short ribs baguette<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Mezzave-Middle-Eastern-sandwiches-500x500.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRanchi: Japanese sando<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Ranchi-sandwich-amsterdam-500x684.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLe French Caf\u00e9: croque madame<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Le-French-Cafe-croque-madame-sandwich-500x310.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFlo\u2019s Deli: lox bagel<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Flos-Appetizing-500x334.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBreadwinner: everything bagels<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Breadwinner-bagels-in-Amsterdam-500x637.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSingel 404: brie and smoked chicken open sarnie<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Singel-404-sandwich-amsterdam-500x563.jpg\")
<\/p>\nChun Caf\u00e9: stuffed toast<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Chun-cafe-Amsterdam-500x764.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDe Tokoman: broodje pom<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"De](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/De-Tokoman-e1668517060992-500x500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/lunch-cookbook-ad-500x419.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTigris & Eufraat: s<\/strong>ucuk and mozzarella flatbread<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Tigris-Eufraat-500x275.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWant to eat more than just sandwiches in Amsterdam? 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>\n