Flights are becoming more and more expensive, and unfortunately we’ve grown out of the age where guaranteed family vacations are on the menu. Most of your friends are either away or stranded in Amsterdam with you. And while I do love an Amsterdam summer, sometimes it’s nice to be able to escape the city, even if it’s just for a moment. To be transported to your favourite holiday destinations and be able to enjoy your favourite holiday meals, all whilst convincing yourself that lying by Marineterrein is similar to tanning on a beach in Spain.
So, if you’re craving a pastis in Paris, a taco and tequila in Mexico, or maybe a pasta in Napoli, and want to mimic that holiday feeling, this list is for you!
Spanish
In true Spanish fashion, it’s late, and you haven’t eaten yet. You find yourself on a wooden deck chair, a table full of tapas, one too many sangrias in, the evening heat still keeping you warm as a table full of chatter, laughter, and Spanish voices fills the air. A table where everything is shared.
Duende Dos
Duende Dos is one of those places you hope to find on your holiday to Spain. Flung-open windows, flavourful tapas, late nights, passing interactions, a bottle of red wine, and some classic bruschetta con anchovies, accompanied by smoky grilled aubergine. It’s one of those places you could keep coming back to and always discover a new favourite tapa.
Pata negra
Hidden on the Utrechtsestraat, this spot is easy to miss but another gem. Warm tones, hams hanging from the ceiling and Spanish tiling wrapping the walls. It has succeeded in creating a space that feels truly Spanish. My favourite place to come for some sangria and boquerones fritos (fried anchovies).
Italian
Italian food leaves a lot of room; it can be the most comforting meal or the most disappointing. Get it right, though, and you’re looking at a beautifully rounded wine or a fresh spritz in hand, a carb-filled plate in front of you, and (of course) olive oil and bread on the table.
Toscanini
Toscanini is one of those places that knows how to nail Italian, an Amsterdam staple for a reason. Their cookbook has inspired many to attempt their addictive pastas, but luckily for you, if you’re as hopeless in the kitchen as I am, you can treat yourself in the restaurant by ordering a negroni and making sure any one of the antipasti is already on their way to the table. All whilst the sun beams through the glass ceiling.
Basilico
However, more trattoria, Basilico has some limited seating outside. With their freshly made Italian pasta vongole and fresh shrimp, this place packs all your (Italian) holiday essentials, with even the signature Mulino Bianco cookies stacked on the shelves. It’s the perfect place to get a small taste of Italy whilst claiming a seat in the sun.
Mexican
Tacos, mezcal and an excuse not to go home early, that is exactly what these places offer. Whether you dragged that one other left behind friend over there for dinner, or you’re just passing through for a quick bite, there is just something about Mexican food that transports you far away for the night.
Coba Taqueria
A slice of Mexico in North-Amsterdam. With a cactus in the corner and mezcals staring at you from the bar, this is a must-visit. They serve all the Mexican classics. My personal favourite? A michelada and tacos de pastor, and perhaps an arroz con leche to finish off.
French
As the sun goes down, the last light slips under the awnings as you sip a perfectly chilled pastis. There are no shortage of Parisian experiences in Amsterdam, but few manage to transport you there. I’ll admit, when it comes to France, I may be a little biased. My grandad used to always say, Italy was his mistress but France his wife. Which is why I could not leave it at just two.
Pastis
So, if you’re after a true night in Paris, you’ve come to the right place. Pastis has been around for a while but never fails to make the night unforgettable. Always catching the evening sun, you can sit on the terrace with a rosé in hand, whilst sharing a steak tartare (or, for those who dare, escargots).
Rijsel
Rijsel, French-Flemish, has a laid-back style to it. With classics, like a perfectly roasted poulet, always making their way onto the constantly changing menu. The kind of place that emulates a quiet corner of Lille rather than Amsterdam.
Greek
Greek food has always had a way of making me feel less lonely (especially when many of my friends are on holiday). My mother always said, whenever I went to Greece, “Just don’t stay there and get married.” Well, may these places make you feel married to the people and make you beg to stay longer.
Moroccan
The kind of places where you come once, and know you’ll always be welcomed back with the warmest greeting. Where a mint tea arrives before even ordering, and the smell of herbs fills the air. And where slow afternoons turn into long evenings.
Rue d’Alger
Run by some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, this neighbourhood favourite has a way of making each dish into what I can only describe as soul food. Every plate is layered with slow-cooked meats, fluffy couscous, and colourful vegetables made to be enjoyed in their cushioned downstairs area or at their small summer fold-out tables.
Couscous Bar
Looking for a quick bite in between lying by the (canals) water and evening terrace drinks? This is the place, with quick, healthy bowls. Perfect for a pitstop. But what keeps you coming back is the atmosphere and the sense of community. The setting you look for when away.
So, put down your Skyscanner app and book yourself a table.
