I should better re-name this post “first-date restaurants” because when I was single, tapas places seemed to be my first port of call for a casual drink and a bite to eat on pretty much every first date I had in Amsterdam. But, of course, tapas-style food can work on many occasions – which is why I still seek them out 14 years later. Amsterdam is not exactly awash with good tapas, but here are a few places that are generally reliable.
Spanish tapas in Amsterdam
Tasca Bellota
Tucked away on Prinseneiland, Tasca Bellota is the definition of a hidden gem – although I shy away from that term given its overuse. This tapas restaurant’s cosy atmosphere will transport you straight to sunny Spain on even the rainiest of Amsterdam evenings, especially if you order a bottle of well-priced Spanish red wine. Tasca Bellota’s tortilla de patatas (always my first test in a tapas bar) is fresh and soft and comforting – just as it should be. Other highlights included their sunshine-flavoured pan con tomate, their Iberian pork skewers (with deliciously moppable sauce), and their garlicky prawn and potato gratin. But you also can’t go wrong with classics like jamón Iberico and Manchego cheese. A delightful dinner at any time of year.
Pata Negra
A long-standing Amsterdam tapas institution, Pata Negra has been going strong on the Utrechtsestraat since 1997. With enormous legs of pork everywhere and freely flowing wine, you can’t go wrong. Try the flavoursome manchego cheese, the grainy melt-in-your-mouth jamón Iberico, and the tasty patatas bravas.
Pepito
An atmospheric little tapas bar on a convivial square in Amsterdam West, Pepito certainly looks the part: white tiles on the walls, rickety wooden chairs and tables, and legs of jamón hanging from the ceiling. We tried much of the menu, and particularly enjoyed the pan con tomate (bread with tomatoes), sardinas a la plancha (grilled sardines) and pulpo a la gallega (grilled octopus with potato and paprika). Our only complaints were that the tortilla was rather dry – like it had been sitting out, pre-sliced, under a heat lamp for a while – and the restaurant’s eponymous steak sandwich (pepito de ternera) took a staggering two hours to make its way out of the kitchen. Luckily, we weren’t in a hurry, and had plenty of the house red wine and conversation to keep us going.
Taparia
Occupying a large space with an even larger terrace, Taparia is a useful spot for a night out with a big group. I’m not going to pretend it’s authentically Spanish, but there’s generally good music, flowing drinks and a reliable menu of tapas classics like patatas bravas, calamari, Padrón peppers and meatballs. I’m also a big fan of their dates stuffed with cream cheese and bacon, which are exceedingly moreish – especially when washed down with a cocktail or a glass of sangria.
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Basque pintxos in Amsterdam
Sagardi
A Basque addition to Amsterdam’s dining scene, Sagardi is both a restaurant and a pintxos bar For those unfamiliar with the concept, pintxos are bite-sized snacks that often (but not always) come on top of the piece of bread. They’re held down with a stick that’s later used to count how many pintxos you’ve had and charge you accordingly. I particularly enjoyed their lardina: prawn wrapped in cheese and bacon, breaded and deep-fried. Diet food this is not. All the sausage-based pintxos were pretty good too – from the ubiquitous chorizo to the regional txistorra – pairing perfectly with a glass of full-bodied Basque red wine. My only warning would be that when the restaurant is busy, those of us at the bar tended to get a little neglected on the wine and pintxos front. When the service came, it was very friendly – there just wasn’t much of it.
La Oliva
I discovered La Oliva way back in 2009: a Basque bar/restaurant that also specialises in pintxos. Ordering works by pointing at what you like the look of: try a selection of these bread-based concoctions, which (the last time I went) included figs stuffed with blue cheese, classic tortilla, aubergine with tomato sauce and rocket, asparagus and tuna wrapped in ham, jamón iberico, and roasted vegetables with goat’s cheese. La Oliva’s Rioja Crianza was excellent, too. The terrace might not be huge, but its Jordanian location makes pavement dining seem almost Mediterranean.