Paolo Española
Paolo Española is a wandering diner in search of a good meal and an ever-elusive identity. His first forays into food took place during a soul-crushing stint as an accountant beginning with a food blog. This expanded into Hidden Apron, his side project that dabbled into everything from catering and pop-up dinners, to podcasting and things in between. He is a contributing author to the best-selling cookbook, “The New Filipino Kitchen” and his writing appears in Thrillist, The Counter, and Atlas Obscura. He believes that food is a universal language that can solve the world’s most challenging problems and that in breaking bread, we break boundaries. He is currently based in Amsterdam.
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The Best Restaurants In Amsterdam
Yes, there will be stroopwafel. Also bike for some Surinamese food, ride the canals for cheese, and have dinner in a greenhouse.
Coba
Make a reservation at Coba in Amsterdam-Noord, which serves some of the only good tacos in Amsterdam.
Public Space
If you’re on the Noord side of the river and want something a little more pensive than the massive joints the rest of the public frequents by the ferry stops, head to Public Space.
Le Salonard
De Pijp locals flock to this wine, bread, and cheese shop to prep for a picnic or pre-dinner party spread.
Kaasbar
The Dutch are some of the biggest consumers of cheese in the world, and Kaasbar in De Pijp is where you should go to give it all a taste.
Coffee & Coconuts
Coffee & Coconuts in De Pijp is great for a quick breakfast or lunch. If you're making a boozy brunch, get a whole young coconut and ask them to spike it.
Wijmpje Beukers
If you forgot to make a reservation, head to Wijmpje Beukers for Dutch food in De Pijp.
Batoni Khinkali
Head to Batoni Khinkali for acharuli khachapuri, a boat of warm dough filled with melted, salty cheese with pats of butter and an egg.
101 Gowrie
101 Gowrie in De Pijp feels simultaneously familiar and buzzy and serves food that will surprise you.
Restaurant Blauw
Bring a friend to Restaurant Blauw to share Indonesian dishes after a bike ride through Vondelpark.
Warung Mini
Order roti, curry, and other Surinamese dishes at Warung Mini and then head to Sarphatipark.
Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs
Dutch directness is epitomized at the aptly named Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs. What do they serve? Pannenkoeken. Where do they serve it? Upstairs.
New Draver
The Surinamese dishes at New Draver in Amsterdam-Oost are a must before a big day of biking.
De Kas
Head to De Kas in Amsterdam-Oost with a group to eat wonderful produce in their dining room that's a literal greenhouse.
Pesca
Pesca is a "theater of fish" in Jordaan where you can have some of the best seafood in all of Amsterdam.
Ter Marsch & Co
It's essential to eat fries while in Amsterdam, and the best place to get them is at Ter Marsch in Binnenstad because of their toppings.
Flore
Flore is a lunch and dinner spot with hyper-seasonal tasting menus, located where several major canals meet the river Amstel.
De Plantage
De Plantage functions somewhat like your run-of-the-mill museum or tourist attraction eatery, but feels more like the lobby of a nice hotel.
d'Vijff Vlieghen
d’Vijff Vlieghen calls itself a culinary museum and serves Dutch dishes in Binnenstad.
Cafe 't Papeneiland
This canal-side café is a great pit-stop for a dutch apple tart with whipped cream in Jordaan.
The Best Bars In Amsterdam
Here’s where to drink tiny beers by a windmill and bow down to the forefather of gin.
Duke of Tokyo
You’ll have a blast at this Japanese-themed bar with karaoke rooms for that one friend who needs to belt it out at least once a week.