Who doesn't love Italian food? We're lucky, as there are some world-class Italian restaurants scattered around Amsterdam, well worth trying.
Katherine Notman - Staff Writer•
Where it’s pasta, pizza, a delicious ball of burrata or a simple negroni you’re looking for, Amsterdam has some of the best Italian restaurants anywhere and there’s something to suit everybody. But it can be hard to choose from the vast number of Italian restaurants in Amsterdam so we’ve put together this list of our favourite, fail safe spots where you can bring family and friends or just chow down on some tasty pasta by yourself.
Here are our favourite italian restaurants in Amsterdam!
1. Truffle Boutique
Even the name of this tasty spot sounds delicious and if you, like I, are addicted to truffles (not the hallucinogenic ones), you’ll love it at Truffle Boutique. Everything, aside from most of the desserts, contains truffle in one way or another.
However, it’s not always the same kind of truffle because different truffle grow at different times. So, the produce is very seasonal and you can expect a slighly different experience every time you go. Expect indulgent desserts and Italian classics alongside delicious tosties, including one topped with fried onions, minced meat, duck rilletes, crispy serrano and fried egg.
📍Overtoom 255H, 1054 HW
2. Momenti
At Momenti you’ll find incredibly creative Italian food because the brilliant chefs use flavours you would never think to combine. Think, for example, of pumpkin semifreddo, cardamom crumble, salted caramel sauce, chilli flakes and chocolate. It’s divine!
Not only do they serve inventive desserts but their mains are rich and delicious, elegantly plated and paired with a huge selection of wines. The restaurant imports seasonal products from Italy so you can expect a different menu every two months and it’s a great way to discover new and exciting dishes in one of the best Italian restaurants in Amsterdam.
📍Herenstraat 25, 1015 BZ
3. TOZI
Shall I even bother writing words or are you sold on TOZI just from the photo below? This is, in fact, a whole wheel of cheese that’s used to coat delicious pasta.
What could be more perfect than that? They also serve delicious pizzas and other pasta dishes that aren’t coated in a cheese wheel (unfortunately) but are very tasty indeed. Plus, a fantastic range of cocktails and wines to wash all of that deliciousness down with.
📍Koninginneweg 34, 1075 CZ
4. Dal Pagliaccio
The menu at Dal Pagliaccio features dishes from all over Italy, from meatballs to carpaccio and plenty of vegetarian options. If you’re looking for traditional Italian food cooked to perfection, you’ll find it here.
It’s not a small restaurant but it’s cosy somehow, with beautiful dark, wooden tables and chairs and a warm and inviting atmosphere. The smell of freshly baked bread wafts through the air and it’s a must try. The kind of soft bread that you can tear and share.
📍Oudebrugsteeg 8, 1012 JP
5. nNea
Recently, nNea was named amongst the best pizza places in all of Europe and we know exactly why. The Neapolitan-style pizzas have the most incredible, crispy bases with just a kiss of charring on the top.
NNea has already been named top pizzeria in the Netherlands for two consecutive years and it’s featured in the list of best pizzas in Europe for four consecutive years. If you’re a pizza fan they you need to visit nNea, for sure.
📍Bilderdijkstraat 92, 1053 KX
6. Dope
Dope serves the most fantastic pizza. It’s proper, homemade, tasty fare and if you’re vegan or vegetarian then you’re going to love the selection of plant-based pizzas they serve. Yummy.
📍Eerste van der Helststraat 66, 1072 NZ
7. Cecconi’s
Cecconi’s a super glamorous restaurant with locations in London, Miami, West Hollywood, Istanbul, Berlin and, of course, Amsterdam! They serve a variety of meat, including veal and steak cooked on a wood or charcoal fire and you can feel the luxury in every bite. Plus, there are wood oven fired pizzas and all manner of other, delicious dishes.
There is an extensive wine menu, ranging from bottles costing €26 to €195 a bottle. It’s definitely pretty high end, so if you’re looking to impress then Cecconi’s is always a safe bet, and there are even comfy seats!
📍Spuistraat 210, 1012 VT
8. Pastai
The menu at Pastai isn’t very big, but that’s often the sign of a good restaurant and that assumption certainly rings true when it comes to this restaurant. You’ll find quality dishes, including tons of delicious, home made pasta.
Just thinking of their raviolis is making me more hungry than I have a right to be. Pasta is definitely Pastai’s speciality and they don’t do anything by halves here. Everything is cooked to perfection, tender and delicious.
📍Jan Pieter Heijestraat 118, 1054 MH
9. Le Due Sicilie
Le Due Sicilie is, unsurprisingly, a Sicilian restaurant and so you can expect to eat outstanding seafood, from octopus to swordfish, but the meat is also divine here. It’s also a place where you can enjoy over 30 wines by the glass, which is great if you’d like a bit of variety.
Despite the fairly central location and delicious food, Le Due Sicilie isn’t always booked up. You actually have a chance here of being welcomed into this warm and inviting restaurant without a booking sometimes so check it out if you walk by.
📍President Steynstraat 7, 1091 NB
10. Bussia
Not only is Bussia an excellent restaurant but it has its own in house bakery where you can buy tasty bread, pastries and coffee. All of the bread is 100% sourdough and the wheat comes from sustainable sources, which is great!
Then there’s the restaurant itself. From Wednesday through to Sunday you can enjoy a 5-course degustation menu from €65, featuring the freshest, most flavourful dishes they have to offer. Expect delicious plates like lamb ravioli and barbecued quail, which you will also find on the a la carte menu.
📍Reestraat 28-32, 1016 DN
So there you have it – our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Amsterdam. If you want somewhere where the food is almost guaranteed to be great every time you visit then take your pick from this list. There’s something to suit every budget, so enjoy!
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