Bas van Kranen probably knows more about Dutch food than any other chef. Because he doesn’t just cook amazing dishes at his double Michelin-starred place, Restaurant Flore in hotel De L’Europe. He’s also invested years into meticulously researching every ingredient that passes through his kitchen – and working out how he can create a better, more interesting version from things found in the Netherlands.
He’s also really into pasta (‘I have it every week’), is a big fan of Japanese food and knows where to find Amsterdam’s greatest pizzas. Here’s where he eats when he’s not cooking.
Roest
This is a spot that re-opened in March – its name means “rusty” in Dutch. It’s in the city centre near the canals in a very old house that has a long history. It’s a huge space, about 700 square metres, and has been renovated to look fresh and exciting. It’s a French kitchen with a funky Amsterdam style and has a good selection of natural wines.
Jacob Bontiusplaats 1, 1018 LL Amsterdam; roest-amsterdam.nl
Choux
I really like Choux. It’s a natural kitchen, and it uses a lot of foraged ingredients and does a lot of fermentation. Most of the menu is plant-based, but it still uses a bit of fish, and it has got a long list of natural wines. It’s a super chill vibe – very casual – and you can sit outside in the summer, which I like.
De Ruijterkade 128, 1011 AC Amsterdam; choux.nl
Fuku Ramen
This is the best bowl of ramen you can eat in Amsterdam. It’s run by a guy from Eastern Europe who is just obsessed with ramen, and he makes these incredible bowls as well as amazing side dishes. He uses local Japanese ingredients – the quality of tuna, for example, is so good. Definitely get a couple of sashimi slices. He also does an amazing monkfish tempura and a lot of different snacks – and the sake is also incredible. The menu is not huge, so you just need to order everything.
Ingogostraat 14A, 1092 HZ Amsterdam; fukuramenamsterdam.com
Restaurant Europa
Europa is in Amsterdam-Noord, so you get there by punting on a small boat. It’s a very hip, very funky place; it has a fun shaped bar and serves a four- or five-course tasting menu. The kitchen is a bit Nordic in style – a couple of simple ingredients, like scallops with two sauces, and things like that. It also has a sister restaurant next door called Europizza – and it does f*cking good pizzas.
Gedempt Hamerkanaal 81, 1021 KP Amsterdam; europa.rest
Coba
I think Coba is one of the best taco bars in Amsterdam. It’s quite a small place – I think it has something like 40 covers – and the menu changes every couple of weeks. You can get tortillas filled with things like soft shell crab, grilled octopus, grilled mushrooms. There’s lots of variety. The salsas are incredibly hot, but very nice, and there’s a huge selection of mezcals and mezcal cocktails.
Schaafstraat 4, 1021 KE Amsterdam; coba-taqueria.com
Friedhats Coffee
The best coffee. It is actually a coffee roaster, and there are a couple of small places where you can buy its coffee. It has a crazy range of Geisha coffees, all different types of speciality coffees, and is just super knowledgeable. We use its coffee in the restaurant, actually.
Nieuwe Hemweg 36, 1013 CX Amsterdam; friedhats.com
Bakkerij Louf
This one is very exciting. It has raisin rolls, which it calls escargot, and does one with pistachio and orange blossom. It’s to die for. It’s a super nice place and also serves Friedhats coffee – and there are several of them all around the city.
Multiple locations; bakkerijlouf.nl
Words by Georgie Young
