Amsterdam's Top Cafes
Discover the Best Three Places for Brunch or Lunch
Amsterdam’s cuisine is often eclipsed by its southern neighbors, Brussels and Paris. This is rather unfair as the city has, particularly in recent years, paid increasing attention to high-quality ingredients, wider choice and better presentation. Here is a list of the top three places for brunch or lunch in Amsterdam. As the Dutch say, eet smakelijk (enjoy your food).
Latei, Zeedijk 143
Situated on Amsterdam’s main Chinese street, very close to Central Station, Latei can only be described as unique.
The menu is simple and Dutch in orientation, but the ingredients are of a high quality and, where possible, organic. Choose from a selection of coffees, freshly squeezed orange juice, croissants, soup and enormous slices of homemade Dutch apple pie and chocolate cake. Sandwiches from homemade bread are served with organic olive oil instead of butter and come with Dutch farmer’s cheese, salami or hummus with grilled aubergine. A Dutch specialty, uitsmijter (fried eggs covered with melted cheese and/or sliced ham and served with bread) is also worth a try.
What makes Latei really different is the fact that (almost) everything in it is for sale. From the 1970s lamps that hang from the ceiling, to the knick knacks on the wall, to the retro chair customers sit on.
Open daily. Call +31 (0)20 625 7485 for exact opening times.
Small World, Binnenoranjestraat 14
Small by name, small by nature. Set up in 1999 on a narrow street just on the edge of the beautiful Jordaan area, Small World only has room in it for two or three tables. If the weather is good, there are also a couple of tables outside. Even if one ends up taking food away, the delights that come out of this tiny kitchen are worth the trip.
Small World is run by an Australian, so the menu is very international: delicious fresh muffins and carrot cake, substantial slices of quiche, lasagna, thick sandwiches with a range of fillings, salads, juices and good coffee. There is also a choice of specials that changes daily.
Visit the website for more details or call +31 (0)20 420 2774. Closed on Mondays.
De Ijsbreker, Weesperzijde 23
De Ijsbreker (The Icebreaker) is housed in a beautiful old building right on the river Amstel. In good weather, it has one of the best – and most relaxing - terraces in Amsterdam.
The day menu consists of a range of sandwiches made from different breads and with a variety of fillings. Choose between white, brown or focaccia bread, for example; cold fillings such as goat’s cheese with honey, ham, eggs and tomato, filet americain and hummus with grilled vegetables; or warm fillings such as BLT and grana padano. Uitsmijters and tosti’s (toasted sandwiches, usually filled with cheese and/or ham) also feature prominently. The coffee and juices, particularly the apple juice, are also good.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Call +31 (0)20 468 1808 for more information.
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