Grub: Amsterdam
Hangry? We've got you covered.
If you’re wandering the streets of Amsterdam at night, you might be quick to notice that late night food is… lacking. Sure, you can get a kebab anywhere, and if you’re got some munchies, it’s fairly easy to pick up a slice of pizza or a waffle to go, but if you’re out and about and want a full meal before you go out or on your way home, the struggle to find around-the-clock meals is real. Luckily for you, we’ve scoured the streets of Amsterdam to find the best late-night restaurants where you can chow down until morning. Here’s our list:
Burger Bar
Burger Bar has four locations throughout Amsterdam, but don’t let its chain status make you think that this place skimps on quality. When you buy a burger from Burger Bar, you’re got some options: you can either have one of their amazing fully-decked out burgers, like the Blue Irish, which features blue cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes, and crispy onions, or get a burger custom-made to your liking. When we say custom, we mean custom – you can choose between Irish, Angus, or Wagyu beef, four different kinds of buns, and a hell of a lot of toppings. The restaurant also has milkshakes, a rare treat in Amsterdam. Prices are moderate (their burgers come with fries and cost around 12 Euros), and Burger Bar’s two main locations are open until 3 AM on weeknights and 4 AM on weekends.
Foodhallen
Not sure exactly what you want? Foodhallen is your stop. Open until 11:30 PM on weeknights and 1 AM on weekends, Foodhallen is a giant hall filled with, you guessed it, food. Stands from around the world line every area of the hall; in one meal, you can sample tacos, bao buns, pizza, and more, giving you a diverse food experience that’s a little hard to find in Amsterdam. This is a popular stop, but it tends to slow down at night. Secure a table when you get in, then head out to see what’s on offer today (shops constantly change out with the changing trends and seasons). Prices can be a little high given its popularity with tourists, but it’s not crazy. Your main costs will come from wanting a bite of everything they offer.
Harlem Soul Food
I know what you’re thinking. Harlem-style soul food… in Amsterdam. Yeah, we couldn’t believe it either, and we definitely couldn’t believe that it would be good. We’re happy to be proven wrong on both points. Harlem Soul Food, also known as Cafe Harlem, is just so, so good. It’s got all of the classic American treats you love, but available in the heart of Amsterdam. We’re talking jerk chicken. We’re talking soul food-style nachos. We’re talking slow-cooked lamb shank marinated in a custom-designed spice blend served on peanut couscous and fuji apple slaw. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it. Prices range from 13-18 Euro for a good, filling meal, and the place is open until 1 AM on weeknights and 3 AM on weekends.
Nam Kee
Nam Kee is easily the best Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam, and lucky for you, their Nieuwmarkt location is open until midnight every day (except Sunday, when it’s open until 11:30 PM). Walking in, the place looks and feels simple enough: plain walls, wood tables with matching chairs, and not much in the way of decor. However, every item on their menu is an explosion of flavor. The restaurant has become a sort of icon around Amsterdam; a famous book features the name in its title, and the book was later adapted to a movie. Local celebrities are often spotted eating the restaurant’s offerings at all hours of the day and night. But don’t let this esteem make you think that this place will break the bank – prices are reasonable and portions are generous. The oysters are famous, but pretty much everything on the menu is a delight to be remembered.
Cannibale Royale
We hope you haven’t had your fill of meaty treats yet, because the food at Cannibale Royale is certainly hard to beat. As the name would suggest, everything on offer at Cannibale Royale is meat-centric. Start your meal off with some bar snacks, including chicken wings, nachos, and bitterbal, which are traditional Dutch fried meatballs. When it comes time to dig in to some actual full-fledged food, you’ve got a few options. You can go for one of their many burgers, or if you’re looking to treat yourself, you can get ribs, a rack of lamb, or a top-quality steak. Prices range considerably – burgers are a reasonable 9-14 Euro, with steaks ranging from 16-35 Euro depending on the cut and weight. As is the theme with this list, this place is open late late late. The restaurant is open until 3 AM most nights (kitchen closes at 2 AM), and on weekends, it stays open all the way until 4 AM (with the kitchen closing at 3 AM).
Vegan Junk Food Bar
We realize we haven’t been exactly fair to the non-meat eaters among us, so to make up for that, we say head over to Vegan Junk Food Bar for a late dinner – the Marie Heinekenplein location closes at midnight. This place has some rockin’ vegan food for meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike. There are a whole bunch of veggie burgers, but our favorites are the “Loaded Freak Fries.” Try the Flashy Fries, sweet potato fries with guacamole, carrots, red pepper, corn, garlic sauce, pomegranate, spicy tomato salsa, and more.
Other chains
Luckily, as Amsterdam continues to attract more and more tourists annually, a growing number of chain restaurants are seeing fit to offer food until late at night. Because of this, not only can you now get döner kebab throughout Amsterdam in the early morning, but you can also treat yourself to the customizable Asian delight that is Wok to Walk. Maoz, a falafel chain, also has locations in Amsterdam that are open until near sunrise. FEBO is the local standard fast food chain and tends to be open pretty late. Lots of places deliver past their opening hours, which you can find on the meal delivery site https://www.thuisbezorgd.nl. And hey, if you’re just craving McDonald’s, we’re not judging.