Amsterdam is so vegan-friendly that there are almost too many restaurants to choose from, as we discover in our vegan guide to Amsterdam…
Along with its well publicised risqué attributes, Amsterdam also has bags of charm, a rich culture and a vibrant vegan scene. At under an hour from London by air, it’s easy to visit for a short break.
Amsterdam is an ideal destination for vegan travellers. The Vegan Amsterdam group on Facebook has over 5,000 members and people regularly post events and restaurant reviews.
When it comes to hunting out places to eat, Happy Cow works well in Amsterdam but locals also use Vegan Compass, which marks vegan places on Google Maps in The Netherlands and Belgium.
But for an even easier way to find the best places to eat, read on for our vegan guide to Amsterdam!
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1. Vegan Junk Food Bar
The first branch of Vegan Junk Food Bar opened in 2017, and they have grown to four restaurants in Amsterdam and more throughout Europe.
Aside from VJFB’s signature brightly coloured burgers, they also offer a vegan ‘Kapsalon’, meaning hair-dresser, a dish supposedly first served to a local hairdresser.
The lower layer is regular or sweet potato fries, covered with vegan shawarma and cheese cooked together, topped with salad, jalapeños and dressing. The multi-coloured unicorn bread is also popular.
City Centre branch at Reguliersdwarsstraat 57 | Open daily 11 am – midnight | veganjunkfoodbar.com
2. Maoz
Vegetarian falafel chain Maoz originated in Amsterdam where they opened their first store in 1991 and are now a worldwide franchise.
In 2018, all their Amsterdam branches became 100% vegan. In addition to falafel, they also sell fries, mushroom shawarma or fried aubergine. With three outlets in the city centre plus another in the Pijp, Maoz offers fast food at a low price.
The city centre branches stay open until 1 am/2 am. The most commonly ordered dish is falafel in pitta bread with refillable salad, served with or without houmous. Maoz is a basic snackbar with no toilet in some stores and only a few stools, so customers stand or eat on the street.
Muntplein 1 – open daily 11 am – 1 am | Damrak 40 – open 11 am – 2 am | Leidsestraat 85 – open 11 am-1 am | maozusa.com
3. Terrazen Centre
TerraZen is a Japanese/Caribbean fusion restaurant located on a quiet side street between Centraal Station and Magna Plaza. If this seems a strange mix, these are the nationalities of the married-to-each-other owners.
Dishes include a vegan BLT, tempeh and vegetable sushi rolls, savoury Japanese pancakes, noodle dishes and mixed vegetable plates.
Because of the former Dutch colony of Suriname, roti with mild or medium curry is very popular in The Netherlands. TerraZen is one of the few places serving this where you can guarantee it’s 100% vegan.
Sint Jacobsstraat 19HS | Open daily 10 am – 10 pm | instagram.com/terrazencentre
4. Mediamatic Eten
Mediamatic is an art centre located east of central station, which also serves vegan food. Mediamatic ETEN is the restaurant and bar part and is located in a greenhouse on the waterfront attached to the arts centre.
Between Sunday and Tuesday it’s very much worth a visit since they serve some of the best vegan pizza in Amsterdam.
Unlike most places, Mediamatic does not go for any substitutes resembling cheese, yet they still manage toppings which stay on the pizza. The end result is a tasty but often very un-Italian pizza, such as green curry sauce with roasted pepper, onion, black beans and coco-cream.
They also offer a sweet option topped with organic dark chocolate and cinnamon sauce, very popular to share as dessert.
Dijksgracht 6 | Open daily from 11 am. Kitchen opens for menu/pizza from 4 pm, restaurant closes 10 pm Sun-Wed, midnight Thur-Sat | mediamatic.net
5. Spirit
Spirit is a vegetarian buffet-style restaurant located east of Centraal Station close to the windmill and tasting room of the Ij Brewery. Everything is 100% organic, and a large proportion of the dishes are vegan.
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Photo © @spiritrestaurants via Instagram
Dishes are clearly labelled so it’s easy to see which are vegetarian rather than vegan. Spirit is a comparatively large restaurant so it’s rarely necessary to book in advance and is suited to large groups.
Czaar Peterstraat 2a | Open daily 8 am – 11 pm | spiritrestaurants.nl/amsterdam
6. Juice Brothers
Juice Brothers is a chain of juice stores, several serving Van Leeuwen vegan ice cream, including the city centre branch on Raamsteeg, behind Leidseplein.
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Photo © @juicebrothers via Instagram
Flavours can be unusual – black sesame or spirulina alongside honeycomb and pistachio. They also sell acai and matcha bowls, cakes and cookies.
Raamsteeg 2 | Open Mon-Fri 7:30 am – 6 pm, Sat 8 am – 8 pm, Sun 10 am -10 pm | juicebro.com
7. Men Impossible
Men Impossible is a vegan ramen restaurant located close to the houseboat museum in the Jordaan where you can only eat by reservation. Booking can be done online for two people or less, but by phone only for larger groups.
Photo © @menimpossible via Instagram
For just a ramen bowl with complimentary tea you pay EUR 14, but they also offer course meals with starters for EUR 25.70. This is a very small restaurant and the opening hours do change. They also close when the owner takes a holiday, so it may not always be possible to eat here.
Hazenstraat 19H | Open Thu-Sat 5:30 pm – 9 pm, Sun midday – 2 pm and 5:30 pm – 9 pm | men-impossible.business.site
8. Meatless District
Meatless District is a fully vegan eatery serving brunch and dinner.
Diners can enjoy curries, mac and cheese and a delicious vegan crème brûlée.
Image © @meatless_district via Instagram
The restaurant is also dog-friendly, so it’s ideal for those visiting Amsterdam with their furry friends.
Bilderdijkstraat 65-67 | Open midday to 10 pm Sunday-Thursday, midday to 11 pm Friday and Saturday | meatlessdistrict.com
9. Hearth
Hearth, or ‘H/eart.h’, is a contemporary plant-based restaurant which serves up colourful, global food with a side of music.
Photo © @hearthamsterdam via Instagram
The restaurant serves lots of sushi options, ravioli and cauliflower ceviche.
Camperstraat 24-26 | Open 5 pm-midnight Monday to Saturday, midday-midnight on Sunday | hearthamsterdam.com
10. Soil
Soil is a casual-style vegan cafe where they focus on fermentation, smoking and curing their own dishes.
Both Soil locations in Amsterdam serve up a variety of ‘fusion’ meals, combining the fresh, elegant dishes of East Asia with the smoky, rich flavours of the Americas.
Photo © @soil.vegancafe via Instagram
Diners can indulge in exciting options like kimchi burgers, peanut butter curry and a variety of artisanal beers.
WEST: Bilderdijkstraat 141, EAST: Javastraat 40h | Open 7 days a week | soilvegancafe.com
11. Yerba
Photo © @yerbarestaurant via Instagram
Located close to the Museum Quarter, and serving creative, seasonal ‘plant forward’ dishes, Yerba is an ideal space to stop for a spot of fine dining during a sightseeing trip.
It’s not fully vegan but offers a wide range of plant-based small plates such as cauliflower charcoal ravioli, seasonal gnocchi with vegan chorizo crumb and fennel ice cream.
Ruysdaelstraat 48 | Open 5 pm – 11 pm Thursday to Monday, with lunch served midday-3 pm on Sundays | yerbabar.com
12. Lotti’s
Located inside the Hoxton Hotel Amsterdam, buzzy, sleek restaurant Lotti’s does a failsafe brunch menu with many vegan options and they have DJs until late at weekends.
Photo © @lottisamsterdam via Instagram
In the evening, diners can enjoy dishes including cauliflower steak, portobello burger, and even a coconut panna cotta for dessert.
Herengracht 255 | Open 7am until late 7 days a week | thehoxton.com/amsterdam/lottis-restaurant
13. MADRE
Nestled in the heart of Amsterdam’s enchanting cityscape, MADRE is a culinary gem that beckons to all food enthusiasts.
With a passion for good food and the planet, MADRE’s carefully crafted menu of modern Mexican cuisine is a testament to taste and innovation.
Sustainability takes centre stage at MADRE, and the restaurant has an unwavering commitment to ethical sourcing and eco-conscious practices.
Photo © MADRE
As a result, diners experience a symphony of flavours as international influences melded seamlessly with locally sourced ingredients.
Each dish is a work of art, a captivating blend of visual appeal and delectable taste. Plus, they even offer an extensive range of exquisite cocktails that are as vibrant and delicious as the food.
Westerstraat 186, 1015 MR Amsterdam | Open Tuesday – Friday 4 pm – 1 am, Saturday 1:30 pm – 1 am | madre.amsterdam
14. Margo’s
No trip to Amsterdam should be complete without taking a trip to Margo’s vegan bakery to try one (or three!) of their incredible plant-based pastries.
These impressive vegan bakes are so beautifully crafted they wouldn’t look out of place in the finest patisserie in Paris, and they’re all entirely vegan, mostly organic, and always fair-trade and sustainably sourced.
Margo's offers an ever-changing menu of freshly baked pastries like this decadent Danish with fig jam, vanilla cream and a caramel crumble. Photo © Margo's
From perfectly light, crispy croissants, delicate Madeleines and their famous pistachio rose Danish to American-style cookies and freshly made sandwiches, the menu is an absolute treat for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Eerste Tuindwarsstraat 2A 1015 RV | Open Wednesday – Friday 8 am – 3 pm, Saturday – Sunday 9 am – 4 pm |margosamsterdam.com
Handy Dutch phrases for vegans
- I am vegan – Ik ben een veganist
- I don’t eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy – Ik eet geen vlees, vis, eieren of zuivel
- With soya milk please – Met sojamelk alstublieft
- Without shrimp sauce – Zonder garnalensaus
- Please use olive oil and not butter – Gebruik olijfolie en niet boter
- Without milk – Zonder melk
Top 6 things to do in Amsterdam
1. Explore Amsterdam’s Museums
Amsterdam has a designated Museum Quarter where you can visit one treasure trove after another, starting with The Van Gogh and The Rijksmuseum.
Outside of the Museum Quarter, Kattenkabinet is a beautiful old building brimming with cat-themed antiques and paintings.
The Cat Cabinet collection offers a wide look at the role of the cat in art and culture through the centuries. See Le Chat Noir original posters up close, along with several original sketches by Toulouse Lautrec.
Amsterdam has several well-known museums. All charge an entry fee, though from 2020 some will be free of charge one day per month.
The Anne Frank House can get fully booked weeks in advance, so plan ahead. Others including the Hermitage, Stedelijk and the Nemo Science Museum do not usually need advance bookings.
The I-Amsterdam city card gives you unlimited access to more than 70 museums, as well as free travel on public transport.
2. Take A Ferry
Ferries leave from behind Centraal Station to the north of the city and are free of charge. The most frequent ferry goes to the Eye Film Museum, which sits alongside Adam Lookout, a skyscraper with a swing at the top.
Formerly offices of Shell, there is a viewing platform and restaurants at the top. Entry is expensive, but combi tickets with other attractions are available.
A different ferry takes you from central station to NDSM Wharf. This former shipyard is now a cultural centre. There is a monthly market here, and other events such as food festivals or live music throughout the year.
Even if there is nothing on, you can enjoy a walk around the area. Vegan food is available both at Noorderlicht Café and container restaurant, Pllek. In the summer there are film screenings and an urban beach area in front of Pllek.
3. Enjoy Dutch Beer
Amsterdam is of course famous for Heineken, and the Heineken Experience is a major tourist attraction on Stadhoudeskade. Recently there has been an expansion of small Dutch breweries and many of these are vegan friendly and brewed in Amsterdam.
One of the most famous is Brouwerij het Ij. Ij beers contain no animal-based ingredients. They have a tasting room next to a windmill at Funenkade 7 and another in the Vondelpark (brouwerijhetij.nl).
Most beers produced by Oedipus are also vegan, though they recommend to check the label in case seasonal or speciality beers contain an animal ingredient. Oedipus beer is sold in many restaurants and bars. There is a tasting room north of the Ij.oedipus.com.
4. The Vondelpark
The Vondelpark is the largest and most famous of Amsterdam’s city parks. Both Café de Roos and Vondel 3 inside the park have good vegan options.
5. Explore the Canals by Boat
There are several operators offering city tours by boat. The hop-on-hop-off boats allow you to cruise the canals, jumping and on and off at different attractions. Stromma give a discount with the I-amsterdam card.
6. Enjoy ‘green’ Amsterdam
Photo © jhorrocks via Getty Images
Amsterdam is a surprisingly green city, with lots of parks and open spaces.
It’s also home to ‘Green’ coffeeshops, where you can freely buy cannabis and smoke it (however, they do not serve alcohol). ‘Brown’ coffeeshops are traditional Dutch bars with cosy, woodpanelled interiors.
If you are interested in visiting the Amsterdam Cannabis College, you can learn how plants grow and take part in workshops.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
There is no fully vegan hotel in Amsterdam, but there are more sustainable options, and almost all that provide breakfast can provide plant-based milks, especially if you request it in advance.
The Conscious Hotel group – offers great value, a high standard buffet breakfast with great coffee and eco credentials. Not just conscious by name, this hotel group uses cruelty-free bedding (which is unbelievably comfortable) and the linen is 100% biological cotton. The pillows and sheets are from Yumeko, a down recycling project. All bathroom products are vegan and all on-site restaurants are vegetarian. Rooms start from around EUR 104 for a small double room in Westerpark.
The Craftsmen Hotel – If you dream of staying in a renovated iconic 1600s Dutch canalside property and budget isn’t an issue, then you won’t find a more stylish spot than The Craftsmen Hotel, or its sister hotel The Noblemen. These boutique hotels are owned by two Dutch siblings who have designed each bedroom uniquely and named them after famous Dutch craftsmen and noblemen. Each lavish room hosts decadent features like free-standing copper bathtubs, bespoke beds and vintage chandeliers. As these are listed 16th century buildings, there are quite a few creaky steps to climb!
Sweets Hotels – This is a new chain of small individual hotel rooms, converted from former bridge houses, some of which are iconic national monuments. These are not for budget travellers – expect to pay at least EUR 120 per night or up to EUR 950 if you want to stay right in the middle of the Amstel River.
StayOkay – A Dutch hostel chain aimed at backpackers and families. Private rooms and dorms are available. Breakfast can be arranged for an extra price, but inform them in advance so that vegan milks are available.
NH Hotels – The NH chain has several hotels in the city centre. Vegan breakfast items can be available on request, but they recommend to check each hotel when booking.
Hotel Westerpark in Amsterdam. Photo © @conscioushotels via Instagram
Getting to Amsterdam
There are daily flights between Schiphol and airports across the UK and the rest of Europe. The Eurostar goes direct from London to Amsterdam in just under 4 hours. Amsterdam has a good public transport system with buses, trams, train and metro.
Schiphol airport is just one stop from the city and trains are frequent. You can’t go wrong with a travel card like the IAmsterdam City Card, which offers prepaid transport on trams, cruises, tours and also entry to lots of museums.
It takes the faff out of buying multiple tickets and you can buy them online and then collect from their shop in Amsterdam Central station.
Most residents get around the city by bike. There are extensive cycle paths and bikes are available to hire from most shops.
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Featured photo © Noppasinw via Adobe Stock
