Dining solo in Amsterdam
 

I will be in Amsterdam tout seul this weekend (9.18-9.19). Anybody have any suggestions about where to dine on Saturday night? I'm looking for something that's not too expensive and where I won't be treated like a pariah for eating alone.

Many thanks!

RevvedUp

I ate in AMS alone several times and never felt like a pariah. Just walk down the street and find a place you like :)

It's like Epcot Center when it comes to dining. Argentine next to Greek next to Japanese next to Indonesian. If all else fails, you can eat in the Hard Rock Cafe!

What Missy said... 1000's of choices...

If you really don't like the idea of sitting alone then there are plenty of options for food-to-go. Try Shoarma or Falafel, visit one of the "Snackbars" and get real dutch french fries covered in mayo with a kroket or frikandel, try and find a "poffertjes huis or pannekoeken huis" (small pancakes or regular pancakes resp.). Many of the department stores like "Vroom en Dreesmann" or "De Bijkenkorf" have restaurants that will serve the more affordable yet satisfying food.

Try and stay clear of any resaurant that has people on the street trying to get you to come in, or those offering a "tourist meal".

If you want some specific places let me know what kind of food you like...

Most important, try and stay away from Burger King, McD's or the HARD ROCK CAFE for the entire trip, you don't want to become the typical tourist do you? :D

There isn't anywhere you will be treated like a pariah for eating alone. Pretty much every restaurant is friendly and I'm sure you will find something you like.

Great, thanks! I'll just play it by ear.

use search and check the Europe Forum below, you'll find good threads like this one: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ight=amsterdam

Thanks, I know about the search function. I did search Europe (and DiningBuzz, and Trip Reports) and saw that thread (and your helpful threads as well). I guess I was looking for advice specifically about eating alone.

then I second what the above people have said, should not be a problem, never has been for me in AMS

I was in AMS last Saturday night. One restaurant I went into told me they were booked full for the evening, and I ended up eating at the bar in another place. I'm sure this was only because the city was so mobbed with people last weekend, and not because I was by myself. In previous visits, I have not had any problems dining alone.

I do this a lot. The only problem I have is that my favourite Indonesian restaurant (Tempo Doeloe on Utrechtsestraat) is so heavily booked, getting any table is often an issue...

A good option, if you're into your meat, is to sit at the bar in Café de Klos on Kerkstraat. Excellent T-Bone, and chatty staff (with a very sarcastic sense of humour).

Otherwise, if you feel a little self-conscious dining alone, I enjoy two hotel restaurants (often visited by locals - not your standard hotel fare) in the Oud Zuid, where you will be far from the only one. One is the Mangerie de Kersentuin in the Bilderberg Garden Hotel (on Dijsselhofplantsoen), the other (especially good for fish) is in the Le Méridien Apollo hotel (on Apollolaan). Tram 5 to Apollolaan will see you right for both of these. Neither are especially cheap, but the food is very nice.

If you do want to try Indonesian food (again, this is relatively expensive, but very good), Indrapura on Rembrandtplein is very good at accommodating you on your own. For the snack bar places, my favourite is an Israeli one called Baba, on Halvemansteeg, just off Rembrandtplein.

Completely unrelated to the topic, but don't forget Sampurna for a great Rijsttafel :)

Rijstaffel for 1
 

If you're interested in a rijstaffel, Puri Mas (just off the Leidseplein) is one of the few places around that offer it for 1 person.

Where's that, ScottC? I'm always keen to try new Indonesian places (especially when Tempo Doeloe are full...)

Try http://www.timeout.com/amsterdam/
Stut's right about Utrechtestraat. Several places there, and I generally eat alone. I think Tujuh Maret is next door to Tempo Doeloe,
Utrechtsestraat 75 , down U'straat near Fredericksplein, all walking distance. Kerkstraat crosses U'straat.
Leidseplein has many tourist menus (avoid), though Puri Mas is good. Also Bojos, Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 51 (622 7434), is open late, and right across from it is a good Tibetan place.

If you are looking for fine dining, NY Times has a recent article about Amsterdam. I don't have the precise link, but go to www.nytimes.com and click on the Travel section and you should be able to find it easily.

Also, one of my favorite bars anywhere is in Amsterdam, http://www.xs4all.nl/~phj/ -- definitely worth a visit!

Have fun!

I only know this place from staying at the Pulitzer, but Zomers, (Prinsengracht 411) serves truly superb seafood and appetizers, coupled with a reasonable wine selection. The atmosphere is a little funky and off-beat, but the staff is friendly and will certainly not make you feel unwelcome if you're by yourself.

Also, further away on Prinsengracht (no. 999 - right off of Vijzelstraat) there's a very cute French placed called Le Zinc, where you can customize a daily tasting menu by choosing from 3 to 5 courses, and add wine paired with each course. You can then sit in the corner and watch people make a$$es out of themselves thanks to the over-abundant wine. (That would be me. :o )

Sampurna is next to the flower market ...right next to a mushroom store IIRC.

I have been to Amsterdam many times alone, and dining solo has never been a problem. Here is an old post of mine from the other bulletin board from 2001! :eek:

Amsterdam city tips

Hope you find it useful.

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

For anyone who's interested, based on a recommendation from Time Out, I started with lunch at Halver, 7 Taksteeg just off Kalverstraat in the Dam area. Had a fantastic Caprese sandwich (basil, tomatoes and buffalo mozarella) on fresh brown country bread. Friendly service and good prices.

After some more sightseeing, stopped in for a couple of glasses of beer at Toussaint, Bosboomtoussainstraat 26, about a 10 minute walk southwest of Leidseplein.

By the time I was ready for dinner, I found myself in the middle of the Red Light District and was ready to flee for less seedy surroundings, and thought that Jordaan would be perfect. I headed up Damrak to Radhuisstraat and over to Prinsengracht, where I stumbled across the Jordaan Festival with a band performing on a free stage. I wandered for a while and ended up at Burger's Patio, 2e Tuindwaarsstraat 12. Menu was a bit French and a bit Italian. It was fairly empty at first (just before 7:00 p.m., but filled up quickly. Seemed like a good mix of locals and tourists, with a very lively atmosphere. My only mistake was sitting right under the specials board, so I felt like I was being stared at everytime someone wanted to check out the specials! The service was very friendly and the food was fine. I had a grilled pumpkin and goat's cheese salad, tagliatelle with hare sauce, and the cheese plate. With a couple of glasses of wine, and port with the cheese, came to EUR42.

Cheers.

Sounds like you had a nice stroll. What luck to find a local festival !
Glad to know http://www.timeout.com/amsterdam/ was a help. They do an updated format for every month, so October should be popping up soon: events, specials, etc. They also do most major world cities.

Cafe de Jaren
 

http://www.diningcity.com/ams/dejaren/en/index.html

Great bar, relaxed atmoshphere, interesting menu.

It's in the center of the city. Their website has directions.

www.supperclub.com I loved this place when we were there! It was a fun experience. ^

Not really a good place to eat on your own though. Better with a group.

Ah yes I see your point. But it is a very friendly place. It is easy to meet people in that club quickly. The food is fabulous there!