Now that you have our suggestions on What to do in Amsterdam it’s time to get down to the important stuff. What to eat and drink in Amsterdam!
There are so many different options on what to eat and drink in Amsterdam, so don’t feel like you need to stick to our list. But here are a couple of things that we feel you cannot miss!
What to eat in Amsterdam; Try the haring!!
We stopped at Kras Haring which is an 8-minute walk from the NEMO Science Museum. We wanted to try the haring on our first trip to Amsterdam in 2019 but sadly didn’t pull the trigger. This time we made it our mission and tried it on the first day. The staff behind the counter were incredibly helpful. Everything was in Dutch so we needed a little help.
I had one Haring, which was €2,50, and it came with a side of pickles and onions. Trevor had the Broodje Haring (which translates directly to “raised biscuit” but it’s like a hot dog bun) and it was €3,00. It was slimy, fishy, and very salty but with the onions and pickles, it was quite tasty. Because Trevor had the broodje, it masked the fishy-ness so he loved it. We would definitely suggest you add the haring to the list of what to eat and drink in Amsterdam. It’s cheap and a fun story to tell when you get home.
What to drink in Amsterdam; Beer at Brouwerij’tij Amsterdam
Brouwerij’tij is one of the biggest and most well-known breweries in Amsterdam. They have been brewing Belgian beers since 1985 and originally was a bathhouse! They have over 50 of their own beers available and some small tasty beer snacks (some really delicious poking meats and cheeses). If you like craft beers this is definitely a place to visit.
One tip for any coeliac or gluten-free humans out there: there are some gluten-free beer options but when we were there, there were only one or two. Prices on the beer vary but start around €2,20 which is ridiculously reasonable. They also have a really nice patio on the side of the brewery so if it’s a nice day definitely suggest sitting outside! They also do tours of the brewery and it’s only €7,50 a person. We didn’t have time for it as we were on a bit of a crawl, but the option is there for you! Please make sure you add Brouqerij’tij Amsterdam to your list of what to eat and drink in Amsterdam!
Cocktails at Hiding in Plain Sight
A bougie cocktail bar that’s ‘hidden in plain sight haha. Their slogan is a “cocktail bar and occasional creators of memorable evenings”. They open at 6 pm every day and are open late, either 1 am or 3 am. It’s a 13-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal and a beautiful view along the Prins Hendrikka road. They have a decent-sized menu but will make anything you desire.
The prices of the cocktails range from €9,00 – €25,00. Not the cheapest drinks for sure but they are high test and delicious making them one of our top choices of what to eat and drink in Amsterdam. The cocktail bar has a beautiful and relaxing ambiance and is filled with lounge chairs and extremely comfortable couches with an upstairs looking over the bar. The service was fantastic, they were very attentive. You also get popcorn and olives to snack on at no charge!
Breakfast at Cafe de Schreierstoren
This cafe is right across the street from Amsterdam Centraal. It’s in an old defence tower that used to be part of the city walls and was built in 1487! (Wow). They are open at 9:30 am every day and closed between 7 pm and 9 pm depending on the day. There are so many different areas to sit in when you’re here.
There’s the Upper Floor (which is a part of the cafe area), the Gentlemen’s room (which used to be for the gentlemen smoking cigars), the Upper Terrace (which is outside and gives you a view of the city center), the Terrace Room (with a view of the canal), the Lower Terrace (which is where we sat – at the back of the building), and they have a new room coming soon, The Bookroom.
The inside of the building is all old brick and dark wood and has ornate hanging chandeliers. The toilet is at the very bottom of the building and gives you a cute eye view of the canal (even if you don’t have to go, go have a look!).
The menu is a decent size and has lots of good healthy options, but also has some really sweet and savoury choices. I had a smoked salmon sandwich for €9,75 (they have gluten-free bread!!) and Trevor had Pannenkoek Kaas & spek (pancake with cheese & bacon) – €10,50. It was like a crepe! He loved it. The prices are on the higher side but that’s to be expected based on location. If you’re looking for a quick breakfast with a view before you head to the station, we would definitely suggest Cafe de Schreierstoren.
Late-night snacks in Febo
This is a chain of Dutch walk-up fast food restaurants. It’s an automatic format though, so you walk into the restaurant and there is a wall that is basically a huge vending machine, where you can pick up hot items. You can buy hamburgers, croquettes, frikandel (which is a minced-meat hotdog), kaassouffle (melted cheese inside a thin dough-based wrap that is breaded and deep fried), ice cream, French fries, and more.
Did I say this was a healthy option? No, I most certainly did not. However, they also have a fast food counter where they will make you fresh hamburgers, etc and I was able to get a roasted quarter chicken. What a fun way to have a late-night snack. They are open until 3 am on weeknights and 4 am on weekends). The pricing is cheap too, ranging from €1,20 – 3,00. There are 22 Febo’s in Amsterdam, so I’m sure you will stumble past one at some point.