Best of Amsterdam
Where locals eat in Amsterdam
Start with Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp for stroopwafels, kibbeling, cheese, herring, Café Chris in Jordaan for beer, jenever and Stubbe's Haring in near Centraal Station for herring. Here are all 10, with what to get at each.
- Albert Cuyp MarketDe Pijp
Get: Stroopwafels, kibbeling, cheese, herring
Street market · Herring; stroopwafels; international foods. Lively open-air street market in De Pijp with stalls for stroopwafels, herring, cheese and produce.
- Café ChrisJordaan · brown cafe
Get: Beer, jenever
Amsterdam's oldest brown cafe in the Jordaan, cozy and worn-in, a classic spot for a beer among locals.
- Stubbe's Haringnear Centraal Station · herring stand
Get: Herring
Classic herring stall near Centraal Station, a quick stop for raw herring on a bun or with onions and pickles.
- Winkel 43Jordaan · cafe, apple pie
Get: Apple pie with whipped cream
The apple pie every Amsterdam list mentions. Jordaan corner cafe famous for its apple pie, with outdoor tables perfect for people watching over coffee.
- Brouwerij 't IJeast Amsterdam · craft brewery
Get: Zatte tripel, Natte dubbel
Beloved craft brewery under a windmill in east Amsterdam, known for its hazy, bold Dutch ales on tap.
- Café HoppeSpui · brown cafe, beer
Get: Jenever
Historic brown cafe on the Spui, packed with regulars for beer, jenever and old Amsterdam atmosphere.
- FoodhallenOud-West · food hall, varied
Get: Bitterballen from De BallenBar; bao buns
Buzzy indoor food hall in Oud-West with dozens of stalls, good for sampling everything from ramen to oysters.
- Restaurant BlauwAmstelveenseweg 158 · Indonesian rijsttafel
Get: Rijsttafel
Lively Indonesian restaurant on Amstelveenseweg known for its rijsttafel of many small, richly spiced dishes.
- Tempo DoeloeUtrechtsestraat 75 · Indonesian rijsttafel
Get: Rijsttafel
Long running, candlelit rijsttafel restaurant on Utrechtsestraat, known for generous Indonesian spreads and properly spicy sambal.
- Wynand Fockinkbehind Dam Square · jenever tasting house
Get: Jenever
Historic 17th century tasting house behind Dam Square, pouring traditional Dutch jenever and liqueurs from the barrel.
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What are the local restaurants in Amsterdam?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Albert Cuyp Market (De Pijp), Café Chris (Jordaan) and Stubbe's Haring (near Centraal Station). All 10 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Albert Cuyp Market, get stroopwafels, kibbeling, cheese, herring. At Café Chris, get beer, jenever. At Stubbe's Haring, get herring. At Winkel 43, get apple pie with whipped cream.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Amsterdam?
Most of these are in Jordaan. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Amsterdam: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Amsterdam
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.