While the Dutch were mostly eating bread with hagelslag for breakfast until fairly recently, the last decade has seen a trend in international brunch culture. Spearheaded by the Australian and New Zealand immigrants, there are now a plethora of great places offering breakfast and brunch dishes from the world over. These are my top picks of the places serving the best brunch in Amsterdam.
Little Collins: De Pijp and West
I first discovered Little Collins’ excellent line in international brunch dishes, from kedgeree to waffles, at their original location in de Pijp. But I later discovered they do dinner as well – and they now have a location in West, too. The menu is very international, which I would usually avoid, but they do so many things well. The chef is Australian, and of course Australian cuisine is a melting pot of influences from Europe, Asia, America… you name it. I usually order a rhubarb bellini and/or a coffee while I’m waiting for brunch. You can’t go wrong with one of their Asian dishes, like smoked tofu or pork belly with kimchi, or one of their Middle Eastern brunch classics like cilbir or shakshuka. Little Collins was the first to bring Antipodean brunch culture to Amsterdam, and a few other copycats have sprung up since – but none are as good as the original!
Dignita
As well as serving up an excellent brunch, Dignita is excellently set up for families with kids. I love Dignita’s chickpea and courgette fritters with fried halloumi, poached egg, avocado, dukkah and a mint-yoghurt dressing. The fritters are moist, the egg perfectly poached, the textures well balanced – all in all, a lovely dish. Their coffees and breakfast cocktails are good too, and even the service is quick. If you are child-free, escape to the stroller-inaccessible mezzanine level at the Vondelpark location. There’s also now a location near the Hermitage Museum.
Gartine
Despite the fact that Gartine is sandwiched between the Kalverstraat and the Rokin in the centre of town, it has its own moestuin (allotment) in which they grow much of the produce you’ll eat at the restaurant. I should more properly call it a “tearoom”, as it’s open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, but not dinner. The location is delicate and classy, but in an old-fashioned way – as if your grandma had taken a degree in interior design. The food is likewise: eggs benedict with salmon for breakfast, crayfish rillettes for lunch, and a plethora of tarts and cupcakes at tea time.
Box Sociaal
Run by Antipodeans, Box Sociaal is known for its brunch but (much like Little Collins, above) is worth visiting for dinner as well. They do a good line in the usual brunch suspects from eggs Benedict (pictured) to breakfast sandwiches, but they also had some more creative-looking menu items when I went, like the yum cha waffle or what looks like a pimped-up PBJ sandwich. Their coffee and juices are very good, and their service impeccable.
Greenwoods: Keizersgracht and Singel
Greenwoods is the quintessential English tearoom, and with two very central locations they’re perfect for taking visitors. Their soda bread is to die for – moist and cakey, slathered with butter. You also can’t go wrong with either of their takes on eggs Benedict: the classic comes with ham on English muffins, but the “Emperor’s Eggs Royale” comes with salmon on hash browns with beetroot Hollandaise. Don’t let the strawberry-sauce visual effect put you off – the flavour is pure Hollandaise!
Theatercafe Mozaiek
One of the things I enjoyed most about my trip to Istanbul was the incredible Turkish breakfasts. So, if you’re looking to get your fix in Amsterdam, you’ll be happy to stumble upon Mozaiek. The Turkish brunch I had there included everything from filo-cheese cigars and chorizo skewers to fried halloumi and dozens of dips and toppings for bread. The individual portions weren’t huge, but there were enough of them that you certainly didn’t go hungry and the prices were very reasonable.
Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs
You can’t come to Amsterdam without experiencing the gluttony that is Dutch pancakes – especially if you have a hangover. These bad boys are the size of dinner plates and as thick as pizzas, with both sweet and savoury toppings. My favourite pancake house is Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs, which is (unsurprisingly) up an extraordinarily steep and narrow flights of stairs – even by Dutch standards. It’s a tiny place, and easy to miss, but worth it once you get inside. Teapots hang from the ceiling in every size and shape, and the pancakes are buttery and satisfying.
Omelegg
It’s one of my biggest pet peeves, not being able to get a decent omelette in Amsterdam. I frequently seem to be served up thin, dry egg pancakes rolled up with cold stuff in the middle. Omelegg is one of the rare exceptions: whether you’re hungover or just hungry, a huge mound of eggs stuffed with everything from sausage to cheese to veggies is sure to set you right. Their original branch is in de Pijp, but they’ve since opened up a second location near Centraal Station too.
Looking for more must-eats? Download my comprehensive Amsterdam restaurant guidebook here.
And don’t forget to watch the battle of the brunches with my friend and fellow blogger Jessica, from A Wanderlust for Life!