A guide to the best restaurants in De Pijp, Amsterdam

While many tourists to Amsterdam make a pit stop in De Pijp to visit the Heineken Museum and the Albert Cuyp market, this neighbourhood has so much more to offer. De Pijp has gone through many transitions throughout its history, from a working-class neighbourhood to the city’s designated Quartier Latin, attracting students, artists and immigrants alike.

This mix of influences lives on in the neighbourhood’s wide variety of restaurants: in this small swath of territory between the Rijksmuseum and the Amstel River, you can eat your way around the world from Peru to South Africa and Japan. Here you’ll find Michelin-starred restaurants tucked between traditional brown bars and innovative new pop-up concepts.

NAZKA

Best for: A modern take on traditional Peruvian recipes
Location: Van Ostadestraat 352-354, 1073 TZ Amsterdam
Price: four-course menu from 65 EUR

If you decide to splash out on one fine dining experience in De Pijp, NAZKA is worth it. Chef Koosh Kothari worked at three of the best restaurants in Lima before bringing his twist on traditional Peruvian cuisine to Amsterdam. Choose from a four-course or six-course chef’s menu that takes you on a journey through Peru’s history and regions, peppered with nods to Japanese and Indian influences. The salmon tiradito bathed in leche de tigre is excellent (and rumoured to be a hangover cure), while the mille-feuille Vinicunca features an earthy potato species from the colourful mountain region. Don’t miss the pisco sours.

Cabrón

Best for: Delicious tacos and a selection of mezcal and tequilas
Location: Albert Cuyp 166, 1073BK AMSTERDAM
Price: Small dishes from 7-17 EUR

Located on Albert Cuypstraat (famous for its bustling marketplace during the day), Cabrón is a great spot to head when the sun goes down. The menu boasts a selection of tacos, quesadillas, and other snacks with plenty of vegetarian options. Try the tacos barbacoa de berenjenas, a veggie twist with classic barbacoa flavour. Dishes are small, so it’s best to choose two or three for a full dinner – the tacos barbacoa berejenas and tacos birria are excellent. The bar is stocked with a range of specialty tequila and mezcal, and the team pour quality cocktails, making it a great place to start a night out in Amsterdam.

De Japanner

Best for: Small Japanese dishes to satisfy everyone
Location: Albert Cuypstraat 228, 1073 BN Amsterdam
Price: Dishes between 5-10 EUR; chef’s menu for 39.50 EUR pp

Just down the road, De Japanner is modelled after Japanese izakaya – small bars where people unwind after work over snacks, beer and saké. If you go for individual dishes, don’t miss the Nasu Dengaku (a flash-fried aubergine with a miso glaze), or the Ika (squid) french fries with spicy mayo. The chef’s menu offers a sample of the best dishes, but keep in mind it is served for a minimum of two people. For drinks, there’s a long list of potent sakés and Japanese whiskeys to choose from, or try one of their signature cocktails like “The Gingerbread Man from Japan” or “Lychee Hikari Club soda.”

Cafe Caron

Best for: French fine dining in an elegant but cosy atmosphere
Location: Frans Halsstraat 28 H, 1072 BS
Price: Main dishes start at 25.50 EUR

This French bistro was opened by Dutch TV personality chef Alain Caron and is run as a family business with his two sons. The interior strikes a balance between elegant and cosy, with warm lighting, wooden furniture, and a glass-covered terrace. The menu changes seasonally with a fresh take on bistro favourites and a long list of excellent wines and digestifs. Save room for dessert and try their twist on the classic eclair which includes mandarine, white chocolate and pistachio.

Brouwerij Troost

Best for: Craft beers and gourmet burgers
Location: Cornelis Troostplein 21, 1072 JJ Amsterdam
Price: Beers between 3.95-7.50 EUR; burgers from 16.50 EUR

This brewery, located in a former monastery, brews its own award-winning organic beers as well as gin and jenever (a juniper-flavoured traditional liquor from the Netherlands). Try the New England, a sweet IPA with hints of lychee, peach, orange and melon, which won a medal in the 2021 Brussels Beer Challenge. For those who prefer a stronger beer, the Barleywine is a potent 9% brew with a pleasingly nutty aftertaste. The menu features pub food favourites with a gourmet feel, each with a recommended beer pairing. The burgers are the main attraction with a new special each month.

‘t Heemelrijck

Best for: Traditional Dutch cuisine with a twist
Location: Van Woustraat 23, 1074 AA
Price: Main courses from 14 EUR

While De Pijp’s restaurants have been heavily influenced by global flavours, ‘t Heemelrijck proves Dutch cuisine is still thriving in the neighbourhood. Interiors are old-school with stained glass windows, wood panels, Delft blue dishes on the walls, and carpet tablecloths. It’s a family-owned joint that dates back three generations, serving traditional Dutch recipes with a modern twist. Menu highlights include three different versions of stamppot (a traditional dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables with sausages), as well as classic beef stews and fish dishes. Ingredients are sourced directly from the Albert Cuyp market, just a biterballen’s throw away.

Cafe Carbon

Best for: Meat lovers
Location: Van Woustraat 174, 1073 LX Amsterdam
Price: Main dish and side from 15 EUR

This is the spot if you’re in the mood for tender, juicy meat. The original Van Woustraat location is housed in one of Amsertdam’s classic brown bars – old dive pubs so called for their wood panelling (and deep tobacco stains). Although the new owners gave it a facelift, they retained the original feel, providing a relaxed atmosphere. The menu features a selection of cuts including tenderloin, T-bone and ribs, accompanied by a variety of sides and sauces, as well as prawn and chicken dishes. As the name alludes, everything is cooked over a charcoal grill. If you’re with a bigger party, opt for a sharing board so you can sample the different cuts.

Restaurant JA

Best for: Sampling the North Sea catch of the day
Location: Tweede Jan Steenstraat 3, 1073 VK Amsterdam
Price: Set tasting menu for 67.50 EUR

Just around the corner from Sarphatipark, this small cosy restaurant is run by Amy Delorme and her partner Julius Busscher. The couple work with fishermen in Den Helder and Den Oever, meaning all seafood served here comes directly from the North Sea. The set tasting menu changes seasonally and draws inspiration from French and Japanese cuisine. There is no staff here aside from Delorme and Busscher, who prefer to offer a personalised experience to each guest. The wooden furniture and warm lighting lend the feeling of a personal living room to the restaurant.

Paskamer

Best for: Flavour-filled wines for every taste
Location: Lutmastraat 132, 1073 HB Amsterdam
Price: High wine from 36.50 EUR

Named the best wine bar of the year in the Netherlands in 2023 at the Horeca Trade Fair, this is the place for people who prefer to pair food with their wine. Paskamer is tucked deep in a residential part of De Pijp, but it is certainly worth the journey. They have a long list of specialty wines to choose from, and the knowledgeable staff are always at hand should you need a tip in the right direction. You can book a wine tasting here, or a three or four-course high wine service, which includes a selection of wine accompanied by tapas-style small plate pairings.

Restaurant Zaza’s

Best for: When you don’t want to decide (treat yourself to a bit of everything)
Location: A. Daniël Stalperstraat 103, 1072 XD Amsterdam
Price: Mains from 23.50 EUR

If you aren’t sure what you’re in the mood for, Restaurant Zaza draws influence from Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, offering a variety of flavours across their menu. Start with a tuna tempura, then take a half portion of homemade ravioli before finishing off strong with a fillet of cod. Don’t forget dessert: the chocolate, pear and almond tart and the Baileys panna cotta are not to be missed. With just twelve tables, the atmosphere is intimate and well suited for a date night or a small gathering of friends.