Best Restaurants in Amsterdam Centrum
Centrum carries the densest cluster of serious kitchens in the city, and a genuine Michelin concentration: Choux's warehouse fine dining on the IJ is repeatedly called perhaps the best restaurant in Amsterdam, and Zoldering holds its star inside a room that still feels like an old Amsterdam café. Toscanini has run its open kitchen on the Lindengracht since 1985 — chef-owner Leonardo Pacenti since 1999 — and Domenica, from two of his former staff, picked up its own Michelin selection within a couple of years of opening. Around them sit Peperstraat neighbours Restaurant 21 and Gebroeders Hartering, both rated above 4.9 by regulars. Expect to book weeks out for the best tables, not walk in on a whim.
Best for a vegetarian-forward menuChoux
A Michelin-starred kitchen in an industrial-meets-vintage warehouse on the IJ, with vegan tasting menus given equal billing to the meat-forward classics.
Best booked aheadZoldering
A Michelin-starred neighborhood bistro on the Utrechtsestraat with the feel of an old Amsterdam café, serving exuberant, revamped French dishes.
Best booked aheadToscanini
A Jordaan institution since 1985, still run by chef-owner Leonardo Pacenti — home-made pasta and bread from an open kitchen, and a table worth booking weeks out.
THE ORDER — Ravioli con patate, pecorino e menta, or the lasagna
Best for a tasting menuDomenica
A Noordermarkt bistro from Toscanini's former chef and sommelier — seasonal Italian classics, a Michelin Guide selection, and a deep wine list.
THE ORDER — Octopus with bell pepper and broccoletti, or pappardelle al ragù genovese
Best for a tasting menuKaagman & Kortekaas
Giel Kaagman and Bram Kortekaas run a Paris-bistro-inspired kitchen around vegetables, game and fish, with an open kitchen at its heart.
Best booked aheadGebroeders Hartering
Two brothers run this heartfelt neighborhood restaurant on the Peperstraat, blending French bistro technique with Dutch warmth in a family-style, multi-course format.
Best booked aheadRestaurant 21
A refined, elegant dining room on the Peperstraat with a 2025 Michelin Guide selection and a cozy, warm-service atmosphere.
Best booked aheadVeneur
A wood-fire French kitchen on the Weteringschans from two former De Juwelier chefs — à la carte, built around an open grill: rabbit with morels, pigeon with cherry glaze.
THE ORDER — Grilled rabbit with morels and cognac gravy
Best booked aheadKen Sushi
An intimate Centrum sushi bar where chef Ken and his brother Tom prepare each piece to order, explaining every choice of product.
Best for walking in without a reservationBar Parry
A cozy Jordaan wine bar serving small dishes like padron peppers, polpo with potatoes, and gnudi alongside an excellent wine selection.
THE ORDER — Polpo with potatoes, or the gnudi
Best for a natural wine listWeinlokal Stern
Chef Luke de Jong brings serious German cuisine and wine to the Singel — schweinshaxe, spätzle, and bratwurst next to a full German wine and sekt list.
THE ORDER — Schweinshaxe or Saumagen
Best booked aheadScheepskameel
A Bib Gourmand restaurant in a repurposed Marineterrein warehouse, pairing vegetable-forward, ingredient-driven cooking with an all-German wine list.
Best booked aheadEntrepot
A monumental former warehouse on the Entrepotdok serving a daily-changing four- to six-course menu built on live-fire cooking and vegetables.
Selected by Atlas Amsterdam
Last checked: August 2026
Part of the independently curated Atlas Amsterdam guide