Dear Aa readers,
After some rigorous field research, and subsiding cholesterol levels, I can not be more excited to present you my Amsterdam Snack Bar Guide. Bored with the city’s natty wine bars and their slim pickings? Snack Bars offer a unique and unsung escape — these beloved institutions are interwoven into Amsterdam’s cultural and culinary fabric.
For those unfamiliar with Dutch culture, The Snack Bar is a quintessential fast-food establishment, which can be frequented during both the PMs and AMs. They serve up a variety of hot, deep-fried, and satiating snacks. From burgers and kroketten, to frites, broodjes, and kapsalon. Snack Bars are a cornerstone of Dutch culture right up there with bikes, tulips, and gezelligheid. Most snack bars feature a neatly stacked display of pre-cooked or miscellaneous broodje components, ready to be deep-fried into oblivion.
While the menus may seem daunting to newcomers, fear-not, Google Translate and the ever-helpful snack bar employees are there to guide you. Upon moving to Amsterdam and as my palate refined, I grew fond of the snack bar scene and their unique sophistication, gradually mastering the snack bar dialect along the way.
An honourable mention to zachte Franse packet mosterd that accompanied most of these delights, alongside the endless array of sauce varieties: (mayo, ketchup, joppie, satay, curry, knoflook, speciaal, ketchup, oorlog, chilli).
*By no means were any scientific testing and procedures measures followed in the making of this guide.
P.S. You can save the google maps list of the guide here
Guide by Claudia Checketts
Cover Visual by Anastasia Gviniachvili
Snackbar Karnak
Hendrik Jacobszstraat 20 1HG, 1075 PD
Mon – Sun | 1100 – 2200
Arguably Oud-Zuid’s most hidden gem on the corner of the picturesque Lomanstraat, Snackbar Karnak has been serving its sophisticated clientele for over 40 years. The owner, Hany, is Egyptian and Dutch and his favourite is the shrimp croquette. The interior boasts a mid-century modern style with chic red and white accents and books about vongels for the table. Refresh yourself with their selection of soft drinks, ice cream, or Tony’s. I’ve tried the kip satay and chicken wings here – both were a joy!
FEBO
Anywhere and everywhere
Opening hours depends on location and day of the week (Mean = 11:30 AM and closes between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM)
It would be sacrilegious not to include FEBO in the snack bar guide. A Dutch institution, steadfast, efficient, FEBO pioneered instant gratification and now has more than 75 locations in the Netherlands. FEBO (est. 1941) is an essential dining experience renowned for its iconic automat style. Visit FEBO for an immediate and urgent kroket fix. Along with dubious first timers, you will also find the seasoned professionals. Opinions vary – patrons either have severe admiration or condemnation – no one feels impartial towards FEBO. The self-service nature of FEBO allows users to complete the whole process blissfully undisturbed – making for a somewhat spiritual and meditative snackbar experience? I’d like to give a special shout out to the Rozengracht FEBO – where we were lucky enough to go backstage and see where the magic happens. Bonus: it closes at 5am on weekends (8pm on school nights). De Lekkerste! <3
Snackbar Constantijn
1e Constantijn Huygensstraat 84, 1054 BX Amsterdam
Mon – Thu (1200 – 0130) Fri (1200 – 0330) Sat (1300 – 0330) Sun (1300 – 0130)
Snackbar Constantijn is a sophisticated old-school Dutch snackbar, with a classic menu and charming interiors and exteriors. It’s also got a repurposed automatic snack wall now used to store non-perishables. Inside, warm creamy wooden tones make for a cosy atmosphere, while the glamorous art nouveau exterior catches the eye with stained-glass signage. The staff are super friendly, making it a welcoming spot for both locals and visitors. Constantijn offers a more traditional snackbar experience, serving up the usual fried fare alongside magazines, newspapers, and even a bouncy ball machine. We stopped by on a listless Sunday afternoon and went for the obvious combo: a bami noodle kroket, chicken burger, vanilla milkshake, and an indecent portion of oorlog frites. Open until 3:30 AM on Saturdays, it satisfies the late-night cravings of West Siders.
Het Smikkelhoekje
Meeuwenlaan 185 B, 1021 JC Amsterdam
Sun – Thu (1200 – 2000) Fri & Sat (1100 – 2000)
We ventured out to Noord to visit Het Smikkelhoekje, where we tried the Smikkelburger™, a kroket and a kipfrikandel. This snack bar offers a wide range of vegetarian options to cater to all appetites. Don’t be alarmed by the grand assortment on display for it’s an essential Amsterdam starter pack – a wide range of confectionery goods, wine bottles, beers, condoms, bike lights, playing cards, ice cream, soft drinks, chips, and an exhaustive milkshake menu. The delicious food and miscellaneous offerings render Smikkelhoekje a one-stop shop. Highly recommended if you’re on your way to or from Garage or murmur.
Snackbar Johan
Pijnackerstraat 12, 1072 JT Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mon – Sun (1200 – 2200)
Snackbar Johan first served me as a shelter from harsh weather, but it quickly became so much more than that. Nestled in the back end of De Pijp, I grabbed a quick frikandel, where the eponymous Johan himself served me (his father self-named the snack bar on its opening in 2001. From start to finish I received Michelin star-like customer service – table ordering, a drink on the house, and tasty food. Johan also let me practice my sub-par Dutch – ‘heel lekker’!
De brug
Stadionkade 72-A, 1077 VS Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mon – Sun (1200 – 2400)
De Brug has been serving customers for 100 years, offering snack bar delicacies waterside on the Zuider Amstelkanaal. This snack bar is perfect for a frites pause when traveling by boat. Although it’s small, it has a very warm and friendly atmosphere,a welcome contrast to Zuid’s industrial stature. I enjoyed a frikandel speciaal (essentially a naked hot dog).
Snackbar Marja
Jan Evertsenstraat 20, 1056 EC Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sun – Thu (1100 – 0100) Fri & Sat (1100 – 0300)
Snackbar Marja, offers the authentic Amsterdam experience, showcasing an array of fried beige and brown delights. Named after the owner’s daughter, Marja is inconspicuously hidden behind ongoing construction, but to the trained Amsterdammer eye, is easily found and well worth the visit. We indulged in hot crispy frites, a broodje kroket and a broodje shoarma, all while seated at their charming laminated-wooden tables. As we ate, we were treated to a fascinating show of potato polymorphism—from sack, to cutting machine, to fry. The pièce de résistance is their homemade gelato shop, a sweet finish to a savory feast.
Snackpoint ‘Break-Even’
Postjesweg 89, 1057 DX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tue – Sun (1200 – 2100)
Snackpoint ‘Break-Even’ is conveniently located near my Vinted parcel collection spot, making it a frequent stop for me. It has a classic snack bar menu and old-fashioned interiors. While I’ve only had the kroketten with mustard, I’ve had very pleasant experiences at snackpoint ‘Break-Even’. They offer an extensive choice of six different frites sizes, making them versatile enough to suit any mood, appetite, or situation. While you wait, perch on a bar stool and indulge in their bookshelf and newspapers. Bonus – they have a bratwurst sandwich on the menu.
Stoot Je Hoofd Niet
Elandsgracht 63, 1016 TP Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sun – Thu (1130 – 0100) Fri & Sat (1130 – 0300)
The literal and informative translation of snack bar Stoot Je Hoofd Niet already puts it in good standing. Tucked along the bustling Elandsgracht, this snack bar is unassuming but full of charm. I tried the kaassoufflé which had a very photogenic cheese pull. Another snackbar goer mentioned that this place had ‘the best fries in Amsterdam’. They also streamed football – I suppose a plus?
Till next time…
Xx, Claudia
