Amsterdam

If you’re planning to eat out in Amsterdam, the one problem you'll be faced with is making a decision as restaurants are abundant in the city. The cultural diversity which typifies the city is best reflected in all its dining options.

From elegant 17th-century dining rooms to cozy canalside bistros, to boisterous taverns with exuberant Greek waitstaff to exotic Indonesian rooms attended by turbaned waiters, to the bruine kroegjes (brown cafes) with smoke-stained walls and friendly table conversations, Amsterdam's eateries confront the tourist with the exquisite agony of being able to choose only one or two from their vast numbers (in all price ranges) each day. Dutch cooking, of course, is part of all this, but you won't be stuck with biefstuk (beefsteak) and kip (chicken) every night.

A relatively recent and popular trend is the grand cafe scene. These are cafes in the, well, grand tradition of Paris, Vienna, and Rome, with lots of style, ambience, and balconies or terraces – see-and-be-seen places. Grand cafes are distinguished by their emphasis on food and drink, architecture, production values, and style. The definition is an elusive one: The grand cafes listed truly are grand, but be aware that others use the name even though they may not be particularly impressive.

Top quality restaurants such as Dynasty make for a great if slightly expensive evening, but what makes eating out in Amsterdam all the more enjoyable is the large range of inexpensive restaurants serving great food. Walking along the Zeedijk, you’ll find thrifty local favourites. These restaurants aren’t famed for their looks or even their service, but if you want a good meal you really can’t go wrong.

Around the centre, you'll find a lot of restaurants targeted mainly to tourists. However, for a true culinary experience you must take the initiative to branch out and explore. Neighbourhoods like Pijp and Jordaan are stuffed to the brim with restaurants and cafes. Pijp is a favourite among Amsterdam’s large student population. So expect to find a young, trendy crowd in the bars and restaurants.

Jordaan was originally a real working-class neighbourhood, but has evolved into an absolute centre of trendy activity. Restaurants like Bordewijk show the city at it's most natural; laid-back, with not a care in the world, and shying away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city centre.

If you do find yourself in the centre of Amsterdam and are looking for a good meal, try D'antica, one of the best Italian restaurants in Amsterdam, the bustling l'Opera in Rembrandtplein, or the centrally located D'Vijff Vlieghen.

Every Amsterdammer has his or her own favourite place for that "traditional" Dutch dinner treat: Indonesian food. With so many Indonesian restaurants in the city, it's hard to pick just one. Still, Kantjil & de Tijger (Spuistraat 291-293), has a restrained, refined character and consistently good food.

Royalty eats at La Rive, in the Amstel InterContinental Amstel Hotel (Professor Tulpplein 1), as do movie stars, rockers, opera divas, tennis standouts and even ordinary folks with well-padded pocketbooks. It's highly opulent, the location is great and the food is outstanding.

Amsterdam is blessed with a great selection of Irish pubs from the pure brilliance of The Tara and the musical accompaniment that can be found at Mulligans to traditional British breakfasts served at Molly Malones. The Irish pubs are a favourite among locals and tourists alike. A day spent pub hopping is therefore a more than worthy exercise.