When I first moved to Amsterdam as a student in 2001, French restaurants were the height of fashion. In fact, going out for dinner pretty much meant Dutch eetcafes, Italian pasta or French fine dining. Things have moved on since then, and all for the better, but there’s still some fantastic French food to be found if you know where to look. From old-school classics to contemporary cuisine, these are all top-quality French restaurants in Amsterdam.
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10 of the Best French Restaurants in Amsterdam
Bistrot Neuf
Bistrot Neuf (or simply Neuf, as it’s now known for short) first opened in 2009, and has been offering its guests a touch of Paris in Amsterdam ever since. There’s a monthly changing chef’s menu of three, four or five courses that showcase the restaurant’s modern French flair – think scallops and blood sausage with pickled cauliflower and noisette sauce. Or you can opt for the à la carte menu, which offers French classics like steak tartare, moules marinières, escargots and homemade pâté. Whichever direction you choose, be sure to add the chef’s signature “Brioche Neuf” to your order: a richly decadent dish of duck liver, lobster, truffle mayo and red onion compote stacked onto pillowy brioche.
Bistrot Neuf’s wine list is also impressive, featuring a whopping 40 wines by the glass. But if that’s not enough to choose from (or if you have more money than I do), there’s a huge selection of rare and expensive bottles they’ll bring up from the cellar. It might have something to do with the fact that Neuf shares an owner with Chabrol Wines next door…
Badcuyp
A last-minute change of plans led us to de Pijp on a Saturday night with no reservation – and by some miracle Badcuyp had space for six of us. The restaurant occupies a spacious former bathhouse that’s been stylishly revamped, with mezzanine seating, candlelight and chandeliers. We began with some excellent sourdough and whipped butter (with possibly more butter than bread!), plus a small but flavour-packed plate of charcuterie. For mains, the Gasconne ribeye arrived rare, served with jus and Béarnaise – no one asked how we wanted it cooked, but no one complained either. Sides were classic and well-executed: crispy potatoes with mayo, a sharp green salad and grilled seasonal veg.
Badcuyp’s wine list leans French, with a nicely curated selection available by the glass – we sampled a crisp Crémant de Loire, a southern Rhône white blend (Roussanne and Viognier), and a smooth, well-balanced Bordeaux from Moulis-en-Médoc. Unpretentious, very French, and very satisfying.
Rijsel
Housed in a converted schoolhouse close to the Amstel river, restaurant Rijsel is all about top-notch comfort food. When I visited, the kitchen’s much-touted rotisserie chicken came with cubes of roasted root veg, dressed butter lettuce, and seasoned roast potatoes with mayo. Meanwhile, my dining partner tried the onglet steak and reported it to be tender and tasty as well. For the less carnivorous, there are also fish and vegetarian options – but most people come for the chicken. Rijsel is ludicrously popular (it now has a Bib Gourmand) so it’s advisable to book weeks, if not months, in advance.
Bistrot des Alpes
When the long Dutch winter comes around, one of the few solaces of knowing I’m going to be wearing a coat for the next six months is the thought of Bistrot des Alpes‘ Savoie-style comfort food that transports you straight to the mountains. Think raclette, fondue, tartiflette, charcuterie, and as many calories as you can shake a ski pole at – all wrapped up in a cosy, chalet-style interior.
Mont Blanc
Inside, restaurant Mont Blanc is like an Alpine lodge (albeit a very fancy one): everything smells of pine wood, there’s a roaring log fire, leather sofa, sheepskins on the lounge chairs by the entrance… It’s the perfect spot to decompress with a glass of bubbles and some amuse-bouches before making your way to your table. We plumped for the five-course fixed menu, the first of which involved the humble leek – elevated to new heights with trout roe and smoked hay. Next up came a take on the French classic, oeuf en meurette: a rich bowl of slow-cooked egg yolk with an onion purée and a decadent reduction of Persan – a Savoie red wine that paired perfectly with the Pinot Noir we drank with it. But perhaps my favourite course was the fish: a medley of crisp-skinned perch, tiny sweet crayfish, creamy bisque and Swiss chard. The French cheese trolley was also a huge hit. Dinner at Mont Blanc comes at fine dining prices, but every detail is taken care of – from the crockery to the wine pairings.
Cantine de Caron
Occupying one of the huge brick buildings of the Westergasfabriek, Cantine de Caron has the feel of a bustling French grand café – complete with white tablecloths, proper silverware and flowing wine. The restaurant’s size makes it somewhat easier to score a table, too. The evening I visited was autumnal, so we started with some charcuterie and bread to share, followed by a comforting dish of slow-cooked beef cheek with stewed cannellini beans. Pure wintry warmth. Note that Alain Caron runs a small group of restaurants in Amsterdam, including Café Caron and Petit Caron – both in de Pijp.
Café de Klepel
Café de Klepel is a cosy, unassuming little Burgundian restaurant in the picturesque Jordaan neighbourhood. It serves classic French bistro dishes, great cheeses and organic wines (with 25 available by the glass), and the service is professional, too. Take your parents, take a date, take a colleague – it’s a versatile spot that works well for many an occasion.
Belhamel*
The Belhamel is one of those restaurants that’s truly stood the test of time (it’s been going strong since 1998) but I’d lived in Amsterdam for 13 years before I finally made it there for the first time. Now, having witnessed Belhamel’s art-deco charm, canal views, romantic ambiance, and of course its traditional but excellent French-led food, that seems somewhat unforgivable. During my lunchtime visit, I tried the scallop and prawns with puff pastry and beurre blanc (like a vol au vent, but less 80s). Pair it with a glass of oaky Chardonnay and you’re in French heaven. Be sure to try Belhamel’s signature “petit grand dessert”, too.
Brasserie Ambassade*
Up one of the leaf-lined stone stairways on the Herengracht is Brasserie Ambassade – part of the boutique, canal-side Ambassade Hotel. The interior pairs starched white tablecloths and ornate chandeliers on the ceilings with modern art on the walls. Here again you’ll find classic French cuisine: escargots gratinated in properly garlicky butter, rich foie gras with tart coulis and sweet brioche, tenderloin steak cooked to a perfect medium-rare, crispy confit de canard with gamey duck jus, and crème brûlée for dessert… Champagne is optional but advisable.
*Editor’s note: I was invited to eat at Belhamel and Brasserie Ambassade as part of a press trip, which meant I didn’t pay for my meals. Obviously I try to be as objective as possible, but I always disclose when I’ve had a freebie.
Le French Café
Surely the queen of breakfast sandwiches, the croque madame is a thing of great French beauty: two thick, crusty slices of bread filled with ham, gruyere and mornay sauce, topped with a fried egg. So simple and yet remarkably hard to find in Amsterdam. Well, search no more: Le French Café is here to help! They also do a range of other French-inspired lunch dishes plus aperitif hour and dinner in the evening. The interior and terrace are pure French bistro – you can’t help but feel a bit like Emily in Paris.
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