Restaurants in Amsterdam-South (Amsterdam)

De Compagnon

Opened in 1992 by Bert and Sara van Buschbach (Bert had worked in some of the city's best restaurants while Sara is a wine expert), De Compagnon is considered by locals as one of the best French restaurants in town. It boasts an excellent Burgundian menu (veal sweetbreads, dates stuffed with goose liver) and a fabulous wine selection, all fairly affordable. The décor is pleasant, with attention to privacy; the tables are spread over three floors creating a feeling of intimacy. Lovely drawings of Amsterdam throughout the last few centuries adorn the walls.

Vakzuid

This late night multi-level eatery, located inside the Olympic Stadium, comprises of a bar, a lounge area and a restaurant upstairs. The restaurant has a capacity of 150 and has a great view of the sports ground. The bar features music played by the most happening DJs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Vakzuid is closed on Sundays in the summer.

Kushitei of Tokyo

Situated next to the Okura hotel, this Japanese bar and grill-house serves the famous Yakitori dishes in a very Japanese manner. The food is skewered on small sticks and grilled. For convenience, the management has created two different set menus which allow diners to sit back and taste a wide selection of dishes. Both set menus consist of 10 sticks. However, the option still remains to order à la carte. Guests must order a minimum of five sticks. There are dishes like asparagus wrapped in bacon and grilled fillet steak which is worth a try.

Cafe Restaurant De Ondeugd

Just around the corner from the old Heineken brewery and very close to the Albert Cuyp market, De Ondeugd can be found. Its name means naughtiness but actually there is nothing naughty about it. It is simply an excellent restaurant with high quality food and service. No wonder, this place is always busy. You will get good quality for the money spent. If you don't feel like meat or fish, try a large salad. Good house wines are on the menu but it also offers other high quality wines, as is clear from a study of the wine list. As this restaurant is very popular and occupied, reservations are recommended.

De Kersentuin

A restaurant highly-recommended by locals and tourists alike, Mangerie De Kersentuin is renowned throughout Amsterdam for its affordable, high quality food. Located next to the Bilderberg Garden Hotel and across the street from the Hilton, it's not only convenient for travelers, but is perfect for those who enjoy people-watching. A well-designed conservatory can host around 130 guests. You can dine à la carte, or enjoy the three-course fixed-price menu. Vegetarian options are also available.

Zuidlande

Chef Arnde Niebor oversees this restaurant's French cuisine with loving dedication. The dishes are always exquisitely prepared and include various takes on delicacies such as goose liver, caviar, truffles and duck breast. The wine list includes around 100 different vintages and a sommelier will happily assist you. For dessert there are more extraordinary choices, and of course, there is an extensive selection of cheeses. You can also dine on the sidewalk among pleasant flowers and watch the passersby.

China Grand

China Grand is one of the better average-priced Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam, and is located on one of the city's main roads that lead to the centre. Its specialties are Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine. Any of these dishes is highly recommended and are made with beef, pork, lamb, chicken, seafood or vegetables. The various dishes with Szechuan sauce, a sweet and spicy sauce with vegetables, are tangy and tasty. Apart from the original Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine, China Grand also offers many other Chinese dishes, which are mostly a little bit cheaper than the ones mentioned before, as well as a lot of different Chinese rice-tables.

Vertigo

Right in the centre of Vondelpark, lies the Dutch Film Museum. Directly underneath this museum, you'll find Vertigo named after Alfred Hitchcock's classic. The restaurant offers a wide variety of drinks and meals based on seasonal and film influences and ranging from varied daily specialties to traditional dinners. Wooden tables and the lighting create a cozy atmosphere, whilst constantly changing projections on the walls make Vertigo's decor unique. The pricing is competitive, the cuisine international. Breakfast is served from 11am and it is also possible to have lunch here. It is particularly pleasant to dine here in the summertime.

Ciel Bleu

This respected restaurant (ranked in the Dutch top 50) is to be found on the 23rd floor of the Okura Hotel, located in the immediate of the major attractions of the city. From this floor, you will have an unbelievable view over the city of Amsterdam and its surrounding area. The cuisine is cosmopolitan French, but once in a while you can discover some Oriental or seasonal influences. The service is good and formal. Prices are, rather predictably, very high but you do get dishes of a superb quality.

Kong Kha

This Thai restaurant is very busy just about all the time. A lot of people choose to call for take away instead of waiting for a table. It is busy for a reason: the food is top quality and prices are very friendly. The clientèle is diverse, although students do seem to be the most regular visitors. It is not the best-looking restaurant in Amsterdam, but who cares? Pay this place a visit if you love Thai food and don't mind a wait. The ingredients are fresh and you'll have somewhere around 90 different dishes to choose from. No alcohol or desserts are served.

Brasserie Richard

Brasserie Richard, located near the RAI Congress Center, offers outstanding French cuisine (its chef is French, after all) and also gives you the option to compose your own three-course menu. The menu is changed every three months and focuses on seasonally fresh ingredients. During the summer, you can sit on the nice terrace in the Scheldestraat. See website for current menu, virtual tour, online reservations and more.

Restaurant VandeMarkt

This restaurant, located close to Amstel Station, is known for its Mediterranean fare. A Moroccan influence is evident in the sauces with chickpeas and nuts. As the name suggests, the ingredients are freshly procured "from the market". The decor comprises brightly-colored walls with wooden floors and tables. Vande Markt offers three-course and four-course meals. The price of these meals varies slightly depending on deductions and additions of dishes.