It’s not easy to find a good spot for brunch in Amsterdam. Other than New Yorkers who will happily wait in line for 30 minutes for the best mimosas, eggs and bagels, or Berliners who flock to small cafes all over town for all sorts of pastry with whipped cream, Amsterdammers don’t tend to go out much for breakfast. So many bakeries are closed on Sunday, cafes open late and only have a lunch menu, and hotel restaurants are expensive.
But don’t worry. There are some great options for a lazy late Sunday morning with friends rejoicing the Saturday night fun and refueling your hungover body.
Gartine
Gartine is a small and romantic breakfast and lunch room in one of Amsterdam’s typical side alleys. While somewhat tucked away, it’s recently become quite popular and gone from well kept secret to one of the places to be. The decor is old school, with quality furniture and antique cutlery and china. The food is organic, slow food style, with lots of interesting flavors and textures and heavy use of fresh herbs. There are dishes from different local cuisines with a focus on some Dutch staples such as sugar bread (suikerbrood), farmer’s cheese (boerenkaas) or apple syrup from Limburg (stroop).
www.gartine.nl
Taksteeg 7 BG
1012 PB Amsterdam
Tel: +31 (0)20 3204132
Open Wednesday to Sunday 8:00 to 18:00
Greenwood’s
Greenwood’s serves English style breakfast in a small souterrain on the Singel canal. The atmosphere is friendly chaos. The place is usually packed, the tables are small and stacked high with food and all dishes are freshly prepared. Greenwood’s is great at serving a full English breakfast with eggs and beans. People also love all the home baked cakes and scones and most of all the almost famous soda bread that is otherwise hard to find in Amsterdam. The decor is distinctly worn which goes well with the unpretentious attitude. When the weather allows, there is a small makeshift terrace on the side walk right by the water.
No website
Singel 103
1012 VG Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)20 6237071
Open daily 9:30 to 19:00
Lovefood
Lovefood isn’t a cafe or restaurant, it’s a monthly brunch juggernaut that has taken Amsterdam by storm. Lovefood is put together by an English ad agency professional with a passion for food. What started as a crazy idea back in 2009 at Cafe Finch, has in the meantime become one of the hottest food tickets in town. Lovefood is all about good, hearty food and healthy portions. The signature dishes are The Beast and its American cousin, The Full Mikey, a cooked English breakfast on a large plate. Otherwise, the menu features all the usual breakfast favorites like eggs Benedict, American style pancakes or breakfast burritos.
www.jasonslovefood.com
Open one Sunday per month from 11:00 to 15:00. Check out their Facebook page for details.
Currently taking place at Brasserie Vlaming, Prinsengracht 193 1015 DS Amsterdam
Public Transport: Trams 1, 2, 5, 13, or 17 to Nieuwezijds Kolk, or trams 3 or 10 to Marnixplein
Cuisine: Brunch
Neighborhood: Canals
Vibe: Trendy
Price: €25 per person
View dutchgrub.com – Best Amsterdam Brunch in a larger map
Good Amsterdam food from a trusted source - not a vending machine.
went to Greenwood’s this morning, and it was no disappointment. great burgers, tasty english breakfast, delicious sandwiches, marvelous cake. definitely recommendable! thanks a lot for this great tip!
May 1st, 2010 at 16:31
Hi Hans,
Glad you liked Greenwood’s! Sounds like you had quite a full breakfast. Nice!
Too bad Lovefood is currently closed. Hope they will re-open.
Are there any other brunch places you have been to and would recommend?
–dutchgrub
May 2nd, 2010 at 21:54
I dont know if qualifies under brunch but De Bakkerswinkel is a real find. Great high tea especially at the Westergasfabriek location. Scones and jams with clotted cream are amazing.
http://www.debakkerswinkel.nl/
May 13th, 2010 at 19:32
Hi Mr Arandia,
De Bakkerswinkel definitely has great bread and home made jams. And as long as you like it, it certainly qualifies!
My picks have a broader menu with all sorts of eggs, sausages and more. Guess I like some hearty fare for brunch.
–dutchgrub
May 14th, 2010 at 11:18
Just wanted to thank you for all your tips, especially for the Greenwood’s address. That was an amazing brunch !
(I put a link to your blog on my post about Amsterdam, tell me if that bother you, and I’ll erase it).
May 17th, 2010 at 14:44
Hi Thildema,
I’m naturally very happy about you telling people about dutchgrub and linking to my blog. Merci beaucoup! Aren’t all bloggers?
Also went over to check out http://theflyingmuffininparis.blogspot.com/. Looks great. Will definitely come back when I need food suggestions for Paris!
Glad you loved Greenwood’s so much! Anything else you really liked in the ‘Dam?
–dutchgrub
May 19th, 2010 at 11:50
Buffet van Odette is one of the few places I know that serves good eggs every morning of the week. They’re part of the €15 complete breakfast and well worth it on a lazy morning.
June 13th, 2010 at 23:03
Hi there!
Firstly let me say what a great website, I have spent the last two hours on it! We are coming to Amsterdam on Wednesday and have been advised to visit Beems Brasserie, any thoughts?
Kind regards,
Amy
November 5th, 2010 at 21:40
Hi Amy,
Glad you like our site!
I have never been to Beems as it’s located smack in the tourist zone that I tend to avoid. Did you end up going? How did you like it?
–dutchgrub
November 24th, 2010 at 13:14
My favourite places for brunch: Stientjes on the Bilderdijkstraat, Villa Zeezicht at the corner of Singel/Multatuli bridge, Singel 404 on Singel, Toussaint on Bosboom Toussaintstraat, Pacific Parc in Westerpark, Wilhelmina on the Eerste Helmerstraat and when I’m with a large group, de Ysbreker on the Weesperzijde. Three others that I love are Festina Lente, Vredespijp and Latei, although their decor surpasses the lunch menu. Haven’t been to Yvette and Odette or Greenwood’s in years but they never disappointed. Franchise bakeries like de Bakkerswinkel and Vlaams Broodhuysch did. They’re kind of like Starbuck’s to me but with pastry and sandwiches. Nothing I ordered was good, from the coffee to the quiche. But the decor is nice.
Can’t wait to try Gartine, Gebroeders Niemeijer and Love Food. Thanks for the tips!
February 9th, 2011 at 23:39
And how could I forget Sugarless? (http://www.sugarless.nl). It’s organic, has charming decor, doesn’t use any refined sugar and has wifi. Their food is really tasty.
February 10th, 2011 at 00:54
Hi Nihal,
Thanks for the suggestions! Sounds like you are out for brunch frequently
I hadn’t heard of Sugarless before. Sounds really nice. Will have to try it out soon.
–dutchgrub
February 11th, 2011 at 18:46
Dear Dutchgrub,
I have stumbled across your fantastic website and let me say: Thank you for the good tips!
I am looking for a hearty breakfast/brunch place that serves the mother of all hangover cures: Bloody Mary Cocktails (Tomato juice , salt, pepper, tabsaco and a little vodka)
do you have any suggestions for me and my click of bachelor friends from the US (all non vegetarians) for a hearty sunday breakfast with a bloody mary at our side?
Looking forward to hear from you!
Cheers,
Lars
February 14th, 2011 at 23:50
Soon we will start at Opera Prima (patisserie/traiteur) at the kinkerstraat doing nice private sunday brunches combined with a Italian wine tasting….
It will start this sunday it will be a 5/6 course meal served with lovely wines…..
For more information check it out on facebook or give us a call at 020-6832383.
Looking forward to see you there,
Greetings,
Opera Prima.
http://www.facebook.com/OperaPrimaAmsterdam
November 22nd, 2011 at 17:52