Amsterdam’s hotel restaurants have come a long way. Once the preserve of weary business travellers and jet-lagged tourists who couldn’t face venturing outside, the city’s top hotel kitchens now attract locals just as much as guests. Whether you’re looking for Michelin-starred fine dining, a theatrical steak dinner or a leisurely afternoon tea, some of Amsterdam’s most memorable restaurant experiences happen to come with bedrooms attached (handy if you feel like making a big night of it).
What follows is my pick of the best hotel restaurants in Amsterdam: by category, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
Fine dining at Amsterdam’s finest hotels
Perhaps it’s unsurprising that some of Amsterdam’s poshest restaurants are to be found in its most upscale hotels – presumably because these are the establishments that can pay the calibre of chef needed to attain those precious Michelin stars.
The White Room at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky
Located in the grand dining room of the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky on Dam Square, The White Room looks every inch the special-occasion restaurant: gold accents, ornate chandeliers, a setting that feels simultaneously historic and theatrical. Chef Tristan de Boer’s Michelin-starred menu plays a duet between Dutch ingredients and global influences. Think Zeeland kingfish with white strawberries and Japanese wasabi, or langoustine with pickled pumpkin, masala spices and Surinamese passionflower. Thai influences make a couple of appearances too – most memorably in a spicy lamb dish with fresh mint, coriander and what I can only describe as the platonic ideal of fried rice. The wine pairings are equally adventurous, ranging from an Apostelhoeve Riesling from Limburg to a Georgian qvevri white aged underground in clay vessels. This is seriously accomplished cooking in a setting that would make any occasion feel special.
Vermeer at Barbizon Palace
I’d been an Amsterdammer for a whopping 17 years before I finally made it to restaurant Vermeer – next door to, and part of, the luxurious Amsterdam Barbizon Palace hotel – which turned out to be quite the omission. The standout of the evening was the opening course: a mackerel-stuffed courgette flower in a grapefruit broth, a tricky proposition for any sommelier, but ours rose to the challenge with an aged Sancerre that was skunky, oily and herbaceous in all the right ways. I’m not usually a dessert person, but the Jerusalem artichoke and sesame finale won me over – possibly because neither ingredient has any business being on a dessert menu. The skate wing and duck courses in between were more straightforward, though no less enjoyable. The sommelier was exceptional throughout. Elegant and sophisticated in every sense.
Bonus tip: if you’re not ready to call it a night after dinner at Vermeer, the hotel also has its own wine bar – Vermeers Wijnkamer – a low-lit, loungey space that would make an excellent pre- or post-dinner stop. The concept is clever: each small dish on the menu comes with two by-the-glass pairing options, one under €10 and one higher-end alternative, making it an accessible way to explore wine and food together without any pressure. A lovely way to extend the evening.
Looking for more fine dining in Amsterdam? Read my guide to the best fine dining restaurants in Amsterdam.
Hotel restaurants for meat lovers and for vegetarians
I have the feeling hotel restaurants have generally always served a good steak – but of course not all steaks are created equal, and it’s become so expensive these days that you want to know you’re getting what you pay for. Equally, plant-based dining is becoming more and more popular in Amsterdam, and hotels have never been better at catering to a flexitarian crowd.
Carstens Steakhouse at Park Plaza Victoria
Carstens occupies an elegant space inside the Park Plaza Victoria, right by Centraal Station, which makes it one of the more convenient fine dining options in the city. The menu covers all the carnivore bases: beef tartare, dry-aged rib-eye, bavette, tomahawk and wagyu, plus a few fish and vegetarian options for mixed groups. On my visit, both the beef and tuna tartares were excellent – tangy with pickles and mustard seeds – followed by perfectly cooked steaks (medium-rare) with sauces that complemented rather than overpowered the meat. The chocolate trio dessert is worth saving room for.
Midtown Grill at Amsterdam Marriott Hotel
Widely reputed to serve the best steak in Amsterdam, the Midtown Grill at the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel is conveniently close to both Leidseplein and Vondelpark. I tried the dry-aged corn-fed ribeye from the US and the MRIJ filet mignon from the Netherlands: both cut like butter and were perfectly seasoned. A fun touch: the kitchen will serve steaks already sliced and kept warm on a sharing plate, and you get to choose your knife from an impressive selection that runs from a delicate French Sabatier to a Japanese KAI that resembles a miniature samurai sword.
Looking for more steak in Amsterdam? Read my carnivore’s guide to Amsterdam steakhouses, burger bars and BBQ.
Bonboon at Hotel Mercier
Bonboon, housed in the Jordaan’s Hotel Mercier, elevates plant-based dishes to fine-dining level through a seasonally changing chef’s menu (with optional wine or tea pairings) that makes you forget you’re not eating meat. On my visit, highlights included fried courgette flowers with labneh, apricots and chilli jam matched with a peachy Albariño; smoky, herb-laden dolmades with walnut aioli paired with a nutty Pecorino from Abruzzo; and Italian dumplings (malfatti) of Swiss chard with chickpeas, artichokes and gremolata butter. The wine pairings – no small feat without the protein structures of meat and fish – were exquisitely judged throughout. An elegant evening that will convert even the most committed omnivore.
Looking for more plant-based dining? Read my guide to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Amsterdam.
Afternoon tea at three Amsterdam hotel classics
Amsterdam isn’t London, but it has slowly built up a strong afternoon tea scene over the past two decades – and the city’s grand hotels are largely responsible. Here are a handful worth knowing about.
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria is the most theatrical of Amsterdam’s hotel afternoon teas, with bronze chandeliers, sweeping curtains and a themed menu that changes regularly. On my visit, savoury highlights included posh hot dogs and gingerbread “horses” filled with foie gras cream; on the sweet side, a mini bundt cake with pineapple and mango and a surprising “toffee apple” cake pop with popping candy filling. The teas are extraordinary: the Waldorf’s China Supreme Rose tea actually changed character as I moved from savoury to sweet, becoming first spicy, then floral. I drank six cups despite being decidedly indifferent to tea in normal life.
Amstel Lounge at the Amstel Hotel
Overlooking the Amstel River, high tea at the Amstel Hotel is as much about the setting as the food. Score a window table and you’ll spend the afternoon watching boats drift past while working your way through pistachio financiers, gooey butterscotch chocolate sponges and delicate frangipane tartlets with raspberry and passionfruit mousse. The teas are excellent quality, and the whole experience has an old-school glamour that makes it well suited to a special occasion.
College Bar & Lounge at the College Hotel
The College Hotel‘s afternoon tea is served in a bright, airy lounge on generously stacked brass platters. The savoury selection includes warm cheese pastries, cucumber pinwheels and kletzenbrood with brie and fig jam, while the sweet layer features eclairs, macarons and tompouce. Given the hotel’s cachet, the price – €39 per person at the time of writing – is surprisingly reasonable.
Looking for more afternoon tea options? Read my guide to high tea in Amsterdam.
Planning your visit to Amsterdam
Before you can score a table at one of Amsterdam’s hotel restaurants, you’ll need to get here. Below are some trip essentials:
- Getting to Amsterdam: Schiphol airport is well-connected, and Expedia and Omio are good starting points for comparing flights and rail options. If you’re coming from London, Paris or Brussels, the Eurostar is a relaxed alternative to flying, though Dutch national carrier KLM has direct flights to most major cities in Europe and beyond.
- Getting around: Amsterdam is compact enough to walk, and public transport covers everything else. Skip the rental car – use GVB to plan your route, or do as the locals do and rent a bike!
- Where to stay: How about one of the hotels featured in this restaurant guide? I’ve included the direct links above, but you can also find them all on Booking.com.
- Tours and experiences: A canal boat trip is a must – find options on Viator or GetYourGuide. For food tours, I recommend both Eating Europe and Devour Tours.
- Further reading: For restaurant and wine bar recommendations, grab a copy of my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide or Amsterdam Wine Lover’s Guide.
Looking for other recommendations in Amsterdam? Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide:
