Amsterdam abounds with fantastic Spanish restaurants where the food is unpretentious but with complex, rich flavour. Whether it’s a simple bocadillo de calamares or a rustic paella, the secret to great Spanish food is fresh, quality ingredients.
However, not all restaurants are created equal, so we’ve created a quick guide for you on where you can find quality Spanish food in the city and savour the deliciousness of amazing Mediterranean cuisine.
1. Barceloneta
📍Kinkerstraat 228, 1053 EN
If you’re craving tasty Catalan food then you can count on Barceloneta to deliver. They source their line-caught fish from the Mediterranean and their beef, cream and butter from the Pyrenees.
Here you can order from an a la carte menu or try one of two tasting menus. One contains meat and the other is completely vegan, which as we all know, is not very common in Spanish restaurants. Visit the website to view the menu and reserve a table.
2. Ibericus
📍Haarlemmerstraat 93, 1013 EM
Fancy a glass of wine with some delicious Iberican jamon? Ibericus Deli ain’t cheap but it’s the place to go if you want to feel like you’re in Madrid, eating the finest ham around.
You can opt for the creme de la creme – Iberico Bellota, which is only fed acorns for the last months of its life, but you can also opt for something cheaper and it’ll still taste great.
3. Sagardi
📍Spuistraat 304, 1012 VX
Eating at Sagardi is like a real-life trip to the Basque country. Whether you’re after a txuleton steak or favour the flavours of Basque seafood, this place will leave you feeling satisfied and planning your next visit. Check out the website to read the full menu and book a table.
4. Duende
📍Lindengracht 62, 1015 KJ
Duende claims to be the oldest tapas bar in the Netherlands, and it’s certainly very busy because people love the food here. On a sunny day, you can take advantage of the large terrace and the food is delicious.
Here they have huge a tapas menu including Spanish classics like calamares, croquetas de bacalao alongside plenty of vegetarian dishes like tortilla de patatas and berenjena frita. You can’t book a table after 7 pm but you can read the full menu on the website and also enjoy some flamenco here too!
5. Tia Rosa
📍Reguliersgracht 11, 1017 LJ
Like most good restaurants, Tia Rosa can get very busy, and the food is not necessarily styled in the most traditional Spanish manner. However, the flavours of Spain are most definitely there and it’s a great place to enjoy some Spanish dishes in a very central location with friends. You can read the menu and book a table via the website.
6. Pata Negra
📍Utrechtsestraat 124, 1017 VT
From the tiled signage above the door to the legs of jamon hanging from the bar this place feels very Spanish from the moment you see it. The food is pretty traditional Spanish comfort food, from across the country.
You can order traditional cocido, octopus gallega, sepia plancha and plenty of other dishes that instantly evoke memories of being in Spain. The full menu is on the website, where you can also book a table.
7. Mamas & Tapas
📍Hugo de Grootplein 6, 1052 KW
Mamas & Tapas is a really friendly, comfortable place to enjoy some tasty Spanish food. It’s not 100% traditional, but then neither is a lot of the food you’ll find in Spain. The chef has put their own spin on traditional dishes and the result is really delicious.
It’s a fantastic place for vegetarian food because the veggie menu is so vast, including dishes like croquetas de setas and espinacas con garbazons. Check out the website to read the full menu.
8. Pacomer
📍Gerard Doustraat 66, 1072 VV
This lovely little deli isn’t technically a restaurant but it does serve some amazing Spanish food. It literally smells of Spain as soon as you walk through the door, and you can even order tapas for delivery or take-out.
From Spanish cheeses and meats to olive oil, this place stocks food that is an absolute treat for the senses, and you can read more about it on the website.
9. La Paella
This place serves much more besides paella though, although you definitely have to order one while you’re there. There you’ll find classics from across the Iberian peninsula like pulpo a la gallega, gulas, gambas al ajillo and juicy entrecote. You can make a reservation on the website or give them a quick call.
10. Tapas Bar Catala
📍Spuistraat 299, 1012 VS
At Tapas Bar Catala, you can enjoy tapas and platos para compartir (to share). Plus, on the weekend they have fresh fish and shellfish on ice, which is just too tempting to resist.
During the week, you’ll find a typical Catalan menu with some dishes from outside the region. The ensalada rusa and pimientos de padron come highly recommended if you’re looking for a bit of tapas. If you want to share something a bit more substantial, seafood lovers should try the mixto de marisco, with grilled prawns, razor clams and langostines.
Of course, the menu is seafood heavy, but you can also order a tasty pincho de solomillo a la plancha. which is sirloin steak and here it comes with allioli and grilled peppers. Check out the website to book a table and read the full menu.