My list of saved places in Amsterdam had bars on Zeedijk, a café on Spuistraat and the MOAK pancake house, but no herring, no apple pie, no breweries and no old brown cafés. So I added eight places recommended by 34travel and other travel and food guides, and checked every one on Google: still open, rated 4.2 or higher. I haven't written my own notes yet, so all the descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, tickets are from reviews; valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- Street classics under 10 € (≈$11): herring with onions at Stubbe's Haring and fries in a paper cone at Vleminckx.
- Apple pie: Winkel 43 in the Jordaan; on Saturdays the Noordermarkt market is next door and seats are scarce.
- A bit of everything: the Albert Cuyp Markt in De Pijp and Foodhallen in an old tram depot.
- Beer: more than 250 beers at In The Wildeman, and organic house brews at Brouwerij 't IJ by a windmill.
- A brown café: 't Smalle on a Jordaan canal — beer, jenever and bitterballen on a terrace by the water.
- Late nights: on Zeedijk, 'Skek stays open until 3 a.m. at weekends and Bar San Francisco until 5.
Where to eat
Stubbe's Haring
Centrum · herring stand · under 10 € (≈$11) · Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00, closed Sun–Mon
Google Maps · Singel 8n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,200+): a street stall on the Singel that many call a city institution. Order a broodje haring — a soft roll with lightly cured herring (Hollandse Nieuwe in season), chopped onion and pickles. Even people nervous about raw fish are surprised by how mild and un-fishy it is. Downsides: the roll is a bit small for the fish, and it's an acquired taste all the same.
Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx
Spui · fries · under 10 € (≈$11) · daily 11:00–19:00, Thu until 20:00
Google Maps · website · Voetboogstraat 33
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 5,900+): a hatch selling thick Flemish fries in a paper cone, with a long list of sauces — reviewers rate the cheddar, the cocktail sauce and patatje oorlog: mayo, satay and raw onion. There's nearly always a queue, but it moves fast. No seating, takeaway only. Some say it's just good fries, nothing magical, and a few found them bland.
Winkel 43
Jordaan · café-bar · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon 7:00–1:00, Tue–Thu 8:00–1:00, Fri 8:00–2:00, Sat 7:00–2:00, Sun 9:00–1:00
Google Maps · website · Noordermarkt 43
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 16,000+): a corner café on the Noordermarkt famous across the city for its apple pie — crunchy pastry, sweet-and-sour apples with cinnamon, a warm slice with a cloud of whipped cream. On Saturdays the market is right outside and the place is packed; in good weather everyone sits outside. Downsides: some say the pie is hit or miss, and your coffee might come in a plain water glass. Beyond the pie, the club sandwich gets praise.
MOAK Pancakes City Center
Jodenbuurt · pancakes and brunch · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · daily 8:30–15:30
Google Maps · website · Jodenbreestraat 144
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 8,400+): a brunch spot with hip-hop decor and a record player spinning vinyl. A big pancake menu and portions many people can't finish; reviewers single out the Blue Magic Deluxe, the sourdough toast with hummus and the coffee. Downsides: service can be slow, and once you've ordered the staff sometimes forget about you.
Albert Cuyp Markt
De Pijp · street market · Mon–Sat 9:30–17:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · Albert Cuypstraat
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,700+): a loud, colourful market running the length of the street, where Dutch stroopwafels sell one stall away from Indonesian spices. Graze as you go: fresh caramel-filled waffles, oysters and seafood, tacos, cheese crêpes and grilled cheese sandwiches — and pick up clothes, leather goods and souvenirs on the way. At the popular stalls you can wait up to half an hour. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Foodhallen
Oud-West · food hall · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · daily 12:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · Hannie Dankbaarpassage 16
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 23,000+): a food hall in the former De Hallen tram depot, with dozens of stalls cooking food from around the world. Reviewers love the bitterballen tasting (truffle, bouillabaisse, spinach and aged cheese), the tacos, Indonesian chicken, ramen and bao, plus bars pouring cocktails and cider. There are DJs on Friday nights. Downside: some dishes are pricey.
Cultureel Eetcafé 'Skek
Zeedijk · café-bar · 20–30 € (≈$23–34) · Tue–Thu & Sun 17:00–1:00, Fri–Sat until 3:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · Zeedijk 4–8
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 960+): a student-style café-bar on Zeedijk with gigs and art shows — half restaurant, half bar. Burgers and a few vegan dishes: the house burger, the jackfruit burger and the bread with hummus all get praise. Prices are fair for the very centre. Downsides: it's short-staffed, you sometimes have to order at the till, and some found the sandwiches small.
Where to drink
Beer Tasting Room In The Wildeman
Centrum · beer bar · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon–Thu 12:00–0:00, Fri–Sat until 1:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Kolksteeg 3
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 2,400+): a beer bar in a former distillery, with more than 250 beers on tap and in bottles from across Europe. Beer lovers come specifically for the Cantillon lambics, sours and tripels, and the bar staff help you choose. There's plenty of room, with tables outside too. No kitchen — just snacks like a cheese plate — so eat dinner elsewhere.
Brouwerij 't IJ
Oost · brewery and taproom · daily 14:00–22:00, Sat–Sun from 12:00
Google Maps · website · Funenkade 7
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 8,600+): an organic brewery next to a windmill, ten minutes by tram from the centre. Get the flight of five small glasses — the IJwit and the tripel come recommended — with bitterballen, a burger or fried chicken on the side. In summer people grab tables by the canal. Downside: one visitor found a noisy pub full of young people, with average beer at high prices, and liked the windmill more than the drinks.
Cafe Schuim
Centrum · bar-café · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon–Thu & Sun 12:00–1:00, Fri–Sat until 3:00
Google Maps · website · Spuistraat 189
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 1,300+): a neighbourhood bar on Spuistraat with quirky art on the walls and tables outside — lots of beers and cheap food; reviewers praise the fries, the ravioli, the burger and the big nachos for sharing. By day it's slow Amsterdam life; in the evening it gets loud. Downsides: it's self-service with a queue at the bar, and once the card reader was down, so carry some cash.
Café 't Smalle
Jordaan · brown café · 10–20 € (≈$11–22) · Mon–Thu 14:00–0:00, Fri 13:00–1:00, Sat 12:00–1:00, Sun 12:00–22:00
Google Maps · website · Egelantiersgracht 12
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 1,500+): the textbook brown café — an old wood-panelled pub with a terrace right on the water of the Egelantiersgracht. Drink Dutch and Belgian beers or jenever, and snack on bitterballen, cheese soufflés with hot honey, a smoked-sausage sandwich or a toastie; reviewers also praise the owner, who remembers his guests. Downside: it's small and fills up fast.
Bar San Francisco
Zeedijk · late-night bar · 10–40 € (≈$11–45) · Wed–Thu 20:00–4:00, Fri–Sat until 5:00, Sun 20:00–3:00, closed Mon–Tue
Google Maps · website · Zeedijk 40
According to Google Maps reviews (4.0 from 420+): a late bar on Zeedijk open until 4 or 5 a.m. — good music, cocktails (the spicy margarita gets praise) with olives on the side, and a bouncer on the door. It's where you go once everything else has closed. Downside: one review complains of rude, dismissive staff.
One last thing
On Sundays the Albert Cuyp Markt, Stubbe's Haring and In The Wildeman are closed, and on Mondays Stubbe's and 'Skek. Keep the herring and the market for a weekday, and spend Sunday over beer at Brouwerij 't IJ or at Foodhallen.
More on Amsterdam: what to see and buy, coffee and breakfast