Amsterdam is one of the most liberal and multi-cultural cities on the planet, and with that comes some of the most diverse cuisine possible. But when you’re visiting the Dutch capital, choosing which restaurant to visit can cause a headache, so why not follow Elite Traveler’s guide?

With the UK only a stones throw away and the Netherlands sitting next to Germany, it’s no surprise the Dutch capital has become a powerhouse in the European culinary scene. While the Dutch may be more well known for their pancakes, stroopwafels, cheese and herring, the fine dining on offer in the Netherlands is second to none.

As Amsterdam has grown culturally, becoming a hotspot for the art and fashion world, so too has the city’s selection of fine dining. With the increase in ‘trendy’ events, shops and art galleries, there has also come an increase in the number of pop-up restaurants and experimental cuisine. This recent explosion of groundbreaking eateries has caused a big shake up in the more traditional dining venues in the city, with the more old-fashioned European restaurants receiving something of a modern makeover, while many of the city’s brightest new chefs taking on unconventional dining spaces in order to make them more experiential for the customers.

While Amsterdam still heavily relies on traditional Dutch dishes, with a lot of restaurants offering a variety of fish dishes, the influence of the surrounding countries is obvious, with many of the Dutch restaurants now offering more French and Scandinavian-inspired forms of cooking.

Many of the city’s most exclusive restaurants will still have a somewhat relaxed feeling to them, truly showing how the Dutch do it. So whether you’re looking for something very formal or an unusual evening out then look no further as Elite Traveler has kindly rounded up the best restaurants in Amsterdam.

LA RIVE

Cuisine: Mediterranean / French

Style / Ambiance: Housed within one of the city’s swankiest hotels, La Rive’s clientele is similar to that of InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam: rock stars, royalty and dignitaries.

Getting a table at the Michelin-starred restaurant may not be the easiest task in the world but your patience will be rewarded at this prestigious Amsterdam restaurant. Chef De Cuisine Rogér Rassin, Maitre d’ Ronald Opten and Sommelier Ted Bunnik work together to create a perfect dining experience for elite travelers; expect a delectable menu of Mediterranean and French cuisine, a wine list that includes generous vintages to complement any dish, and impeccable service from staff that understand the meaning of attentive yet discrete service.

CIEL BLEU

Cuisine: French

Style / Ambiance: The only two-starred Michelin restaurant in Amsterdam, Ciel Bleu mixes stunning views with delicious dishes to create one of Amsterdam’s finest eateries.

Located on the 23rd floor of the delightful Hotel Okura, the restaurant offers sumptuous fare among elegant surroundings. Chefs Onno Kokmeijer and Arjan Speelman use fresh, locally produced ingredients to create gastronomic masterpieces. Combined with impeccable service, the food on offer is likely to be one of the highlights of your holiday, but remember to book ahead; the restaurant’s popularity means that reservations need to be made well in advance.

VINKELES

Cuisine: French

Style / Ambiance: Another Amsterdam restaurant named in honor of a Dutch painter, the Michelin-starred Vinkeles is located in ultra chic The Dylan hotel in a building that was once a Catholic bakery.

Indeed, the interior design still has touches of the restaurant’s former life, including the original ovens. Head Chef Dennis Kuipers has created a delightful menu of delicate French cuisine that flirts between classic and contemporary. Many of the city’s elite head to Vinkeles to enjoy the fabulous views over the Keizersgracht, while sampling the fine food on offer.

RESTAURANT VERMEER

Cuisine: Northern European and regional

Style / Ambiance: Located in four 17th century buildings within the historic NH Barbizon Palace, Restaurant Vermeer is bursting with history and character.

The elegantly lavish interior combines perfectly with the cuisine to offer a superb dining experience that has ensured the elite of the Dutch capital return again and again. Head Chef Christopher Naylor has created a menu that has delighted critics and led to the restaurant being awarded a Michelin star. Stylish and graceful, the restaurant would have appealed to its namesake, Johannes Vermeer, who, much like the restaurant, was well known for his skill and precision in his craft.

DE KAS

Cuisine: International

Style / Ambiance: Located in a greenhouse dating back to 1926 that once belonged to Amsterdam’s Municipal Nursery, De Kas has been wowing critics and guests for more than fifteen years.

The unique setting and sleek interior design give the restaurant a wonderfully natural ambiance, enhanced by the light that pours through the glass ceiling. Fresh greens and herbs are grown in the restaurant’s own surrounding farm, and the ever-changing menu consists of five courses, created by chefs Jos Timmer and Wim de Beer. One of the places to see and be seen in Amsterdam, De Kas is located next to the beautiful Park Frankendael, a former 17th century country estate.

YAMAZATO

Cuisine: Japanese

Style / Ambiance: Hotel Okura doesn’t just boast one Michelin-starred restaurant, it has two, and Yamazato is very much the premier Japanese eatery in the Dutch capital.

Designed to represent a 16th century Japanese tea house, the staff are suitable attired in kimonos and the Sukiya architectural style encourages diners to focus on the food on offer. The restaurant has a traditional Japanese Tatami Room for a more classical approach to eating, and there are a number of private rooms for hire, as well as a Japanese garden. The food is Japanese Haute Cuisine, and as is often the case with Japanese restaurants, the wine and saki lists are extensive.

&SAMHOUD PLACES

Cuisine: Fusion

Style / Ambiance: With the aim of inspiring and connecting people service specialist Salem Samhoud joined forces with chef Moshik Roth to open the fine dining restaurant &Samhoud Places.

The restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars just three months after opening, making it quickly become one of the city’s most talked-about dining venues for its creative fine dining plates; try the Inspiration Menu, which encompasses dishes like Butterfly Inspired by Damien Hirst combining goose liver, blackberries, almond and hibiscus, and From the North Sea combining turbot, radish, dashi, kombu, tanaisie and hibiscus.

BORD’EAU

Cuisine: French

Style / Ambiance: Two Michelin Stars awarded Bord’Eau offers a culinary adventure with exceptional ingredients blended to create symphonies of flavor.

Directed by Executive Chef Richard van Oostenbrugge, the food at Bord’Eau is modern and showcases the core flavors of every ingredient. Chef van Oostenbrugge uses the best products and composes true, pure and natural tastes, all complemented by the finest wines from around the globe.

Located in the Europa Hotel, the restaurant had a meteoric rise up the Michelin activity, receiving its first Michelin star almost immediately after opening and another a year after.