Already one of the world’s most sustainable cities, Amsterdam’s farm-to-table restaurants are leading a quiet food revolution, with local ingredients, unexpected flavours, seasonal menus and environmental responsibility now firmly in the spotlight. From in-house aquaponic gardens to Michelin-starred restaurants, these six farm-to-table restaurants are redefining what it means to eat well.
Kaagman & Kortekaas
Founded by Giel Kaagman and Bram Kortekass, this Michelin-starred restaurant is unpretentious and a favourite spot of most locals. The ever-evolving menu is inspired by nature, locally sourced and seasonal. You’ll often find chef Kaagman milling around the local nature reserve in search of fresh aromas and innovative ideas for new dishes.
Game, fish and vegetables take centre stage, with each dish bravely exploring contrasting flavours. Try the thinly sliced halibut and young heifer beef paired with satsuma mandarin and finger lime, finished with a fermented fig dressing if you really want to give your taste buds a treat. And don’t forget to ask Bram to help you pick a wine to accompany your meal; K&K is well known for its legendary wine pairings.
Sint Nicolaasstraat 43, 1012 NJ Amsterdam; kaagmanenkortekaas.nl
Café de Ceuvel
Café de Ceuvel is more than just a café; it’s a full-on sustainable experience that’s part urban farm, part laboratory. Fresh ingredients are grown in their very own aquaponic greenhouse, creating a true farm-to-table experience with a low carbon footprint. The vegan menu is filled with vibrant salads with crispy homegrown greens, hearty plant-based bowls packed with flavour, and seasonal dishes that make use of whatever’s ripe and ready. You’ll spend half the night wondering how the vegetables tasted so good. Plus, the whole place is run on sustainable energy, of course.
Korte Papaverweg 4, 1032 KB Amsterdam; deceuvel.nl
De Kas
Set inside a former greenhouse, De Kas takes farm-to-table dining to a whole new level by growing its own veg, herbs and edible flowers right on site. The menu changes with the seasons: bright greens in spring and hearty root vegetables in winter. No dish is ever the same. Inside, the vibe is equally delicious. It feels like you’re dining in a secret garden under the starry sky, as you watch the homegrown produce being prepared into edible artworks.
On top of all that, De Kas supports local farmers and has minimal food waste, ensuring sustainable practices run through every part of the restaurant. Make sure to book well in advance: this Michelin-starred restaurant is the talk of the town and fills up fast.
Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE Amsterdam; restaurantdekas.com
Flore
Just through the lobby of Hotel De L’Europe you’ll find Flore, a one-of-a-kind, conscious fine-dining experience, helmed by acclaimed chef Ban Van Kranen. The seasonal menu evolves monthly and has a focus on Dutch micro-seasonality and sustainability, revolving around meticulously sourced ingredients – including local vegetables, sustainably caught fish and foraged elements that reflect the rhythm of nature. You’ll be blown away by the unexpected flavours and mix of ingredients.
No dishes are ever repeated, and the interior is as natural and refined as the menu, with stunning views over the Amstel River. You’ll leave with a smile knowing you’re among the fortunate few who have tasted the future of fine dining – Michelin stars and all.
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 2-14, 1012 CP Amsterdam; restaurantflore.com
Amsterdam City Farm
What started as a fun little home experiment in Devinder and Tim’s kitchen is now a fully-fledged vegetable-forward fine-dining restaurant. Every dish is prepared with a focus on fresh, sustainable and local ingredients, inspired by India and based on simple and soulful recipes from Devinder’s childhood. Each dish brings that same warmth and family bond to the table, making the whole experience feel intimate and cosy – like you’re hanging out with an old friend in their living room. Dishes like truffle-infused dal makhani with oyster mushrooms will nourish your soul.
171e Czaar Peterstraat, Amsterdam, NH, 1018 PJ, Netherlands; amsterdamcityfarm.com
TestTafel
A weekly, multi-course, plant-based menu will have you coming back again and again to this future-forward restaurant, which fuses globally inspired cuisine with seasonal local ingredients. The in-house aquaponic garden provides most of the herbs and vegetables for each uniquely crafted dish, while circular practices and age-old fermentation techniques allow them to produce next to no food waste. Unexpected flavours and textures like cabbage rendang, strawberry-sambal ice cream and tapioca cracker put in regular appearances as young chefs experiment to their hearts’ content.
Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam; testtafel.nl
Tia Grazette is a creative director and content director that has worked for Levi’s, Soho House, SHOW Media, the BBC, Tatler and Vogue. She is also the founder of Le Good Society, an initiative that creates awareness of environmental and social issues through art, culture and technology
