*Some of the meals in this review were provided on a complimentary basis but my reviews are honest and unbiased
Well, that was a DAM good trip.
From wooden clogs and colourful tulips to coffee shops and picturesque canals, whether you’ve been to Amsterdam or not, you’ve probably heard all about its beauty and culture. I have to say, this is easily one of my favourite cities in the world. I’d been to Amsterdam once before but it was a long time before I turned vegan so it was nice to see it with fresh eyes and to experience the food scene in a totally different way.
As always, there were so many things to eat and so little time but Chris and I really made the most of our time there, walking over 60,000 steps each, eating in 7 different restaurants and enjoying 2 vegan space cakes. It did not stop raining the entire time we were there but that didn’t stop us – Our umbrellas were our number one accessory for the whole trip!
Amsterdam manages to feel relaxed and vibrant at the same time. We found the majority of people to be very friendly, the transport was very easy to navigate and there were a LOT of English speakers there. Like most cities across the world, if you’d visited a few years ago, you might’ve struggled to find many vegan options but they’re easing their way onto the scene and making their mark!
Here’s the list of places we visited in the order we visited them:
🌱 Vegan Junk Food Bar
🌱 Mr & Mrs Watson
🌱 Vegabond
🌱 Mr Stacks
🌱 Meatless District
🌱 The Avocado Show
🌱 Koffie ende Koeck
🌱 The Bulldog
So, down to the nitty gritty. Here’s what we ate and what we thought:
1. Vegan Junk Food Bar
*this meal was complimentary
Where is it?
Four separate locations:
Westside, Staringplein 22, 1054 VL
De Pijp, Marie Heinekenplein 9-10, 1072 MH
Eastside, Eerste v. Swindenstraat 389, 1093 GA
Downtown, Reguliersdwarsstraat 57, 1017 BK
What’s it like?
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Some of the absolute best vegan junk food I’ve ever tasted. The restaurant we visited (Downtown) was absolutely beautiful – It was practically designed for Instagrammers. I knew from following their Instagram account that their food presentation was immaculate and a little bit of me was worried that it might be a case of style over substance but it wasn’t at all. The food is just as good as it looks. I was really impressed! The staff were also incredibly friendly. Highly recommend a visit here! One thing I will say is that it’s a little pricey but I also noticed that the prices were the same all across Amsterdam!
What did you eat?
- Banana Chips with original VJFB sauce – 4.95 Euros (£4.30)
- Crispy Lemon Shrimpz with original VJFB sauce x 5 – 9.50 Euros (£8.20)
- Daddy McChicken burger with vegan bacon on a pink and blue bun, vegan cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, onion mix, pickles & Daddy sauce – 14.95 Euros (£12.90)
- Fresh Sashimi Deluxe with ‘no tuna’ and ‘zalmon’ served with ginger, wasabi & soy sauce – 15 euros (£12.95)
- Iconic Rainbow Fries w/ crunchy McChickie, crispy vegan bacon & rainbow garlic sauces – 14.50 euros (£12.50)
- Pinky Bratwurst with a Beyond sausage, a pink sub, grated cheeze, mustard-mayo, pink garlic, onion mix – 15.50 euros (£13.40)
- Sweet potato fries and purple garlic dip – 5.50 euros (£4.75)
What did you think of the food?
- Banana Chips – These were so delicious. A very moreish snack that I could’ve kept nibbling all day!
- Crispy Lemon Shrimpz – These were so insanely realistic, it was scary. The best vegan prawns I’ve had I think. The breading was light and tasty but the lemon mayo was the standout here. It was so delicious!
- Daddy McChicken burger – This was pretty nice although the “bacon” bits were a bit tough, as was the “chicken”. Flavour-wise, this really did remind me of eating a chicken burger. It had a generous serving of mayo which I like and the bun was soft. Whilst this wasn’t bursting with flavour, I liked the little hint of pickle and overall, I enjoyed it. I’d probably order it again!
- Fresh Sashimi Deluxe – First thing’s first, this looks exactly like sashimi. Presentation wise, it’s very clever. The texture isn’t identical but it’s the best dish substitute I’ve had so far and once mixed with the soy and wasabi, it does give the same sensation as eating sashimi. The sashimi is more firm and chewy than real dish and doesn’t melt in your mouth in the same way. Still, it’s an impressive dish nonetheless. Clever!
- Iconic Rainbow Fries – LOOOOOVED these. I like that they use thicker chips rather than fries, it worked well with the dish. The “bacon” had a very realistic flavour and I liked the mixture of sauces which were sweet but not sickly. The “chicken” was fantastic and gave the dish some more substance. It’s a very generous portion, I would recommend sharing!
- Pinky Bratwurst – This was my first time trying the Beyond sausage. Before this, I’d often thought to myself a few times “I’m not sure I really remember what sausages taste like”, but as soon as I bit into this, it all came back to me, This sausage is insanely realistic. The bun works well too, it’s just the right thickness and is soft and squidgy to really soak up the sauces on top, of which there’s a very generous portion. The cheese did get a bit lost, I thought but overall, I bloody loved this – my favourite dish of the day.
- Sweet potato fries – These were delicious, especially paired with that sweet purple dip!
More information:
Check out their Instagram
2. Mr & Mrs Watson
Where is it?
Linnaeuskade 3h, 1098 BC Amsterdam
What’s it like?
This is a fully vegan restaurant with a strong passion for creating vegan cheeses, so of course we decided to have cheese for both of our meals. The decor is quite modern and there was a nice vibe. The service was friendly and attentive and it felt cosy and comfortable inside. I was really excited to try the vegan cheese as it had been hyped up a little and while I did enjoy some of them, overall I was a little disappointed. Again, we found the food here very expensive for what it was but these prices seems to be standard across Amsterdam.
What did you eat?
- Bless You Cashew fondue w/ bread and raw veggies – 19 euros (£16.40)
- Extravaganza cheese board (6 cheeses) – 21.80 euros (£18.80)
What did you think of the food?
- Bless You Cashew fondue – I was quite disappointed with this dish. I really liked the fondue in parts but not in others. It was very rich and very creamy but I didn’t love the flavour. I would’ve liked it to be cheesier! I also wanted more bread and less raw veggies to dip in.
- Extravaganza cheese board – Some of the cheeses on the board were very tasty but others were lacking any flavour at all. It was a generous portion but I wouldn’t go for this again, especially not for the price. I personally prefer stronger flavours so would like to see something with more of a tangy taste on the board.
More information:
Check out their Instagram
3. Vegabond
*this meal was complimentary
Where is it?
Two separate locations:
Cafe / Store: Leliegracht 16, 1015 CK Amsterdam
Cafe / Deli: De Clercqstraat 48, 1052 NH Amsterdam
What’s it like?
There are two separate Vegabond venues. The first, which we didn’t dine in, looked very trendy, comfortable and perhaps more of a sit down place (although we only saw from the window). The venue we visited was quite casual and was a shop / deli as well as a cafe. The furniture was quite basic and it felt like the kind of place you’d pick up a takeaway rather than dine in. Having said that, we felt very comfortable there. The lady serving us was absolutely lovely and made us feel very welcome. This is a 100% vegan venue and the shop is really impressive – with, what seemed like, every vegan food item you could ever want or need! The focus at the deli is on healthy, nutritious but filling food. I also thought that the prices here were more reasonable!
What did you eat?
- Deli Counter – You can build your own creations from the counter. It’s 16 euros (£13.90) for a large plate with five choices, 11 euros (£9.50) for a small plate with three choices. We opted for the latter with:
- Red Thai Marinated Butternut Boats – Floating in a sriracha, lime leaf, cashew and coconut sauce, garnished with tomato sesame, purple shish and China rose sprouts
- Punjabi Picnic – Hearty salad of tandoori marinated chickpeas, lime and cider vinegar pickled carrots and red onion moons, lots of lemon, cumin and olive oil
- Tower of Gems – Halved baby gem lettuces drenched in turmeric and nori infused vegan parmesan Caesar styled dressing, sprinkled with toasted almonds, hemp seeds and fried capers
- Spinach and lentil-feta roll – 3.75 euros (£3.25)
- The Queens Quiche – Charred leek tip, sun-dried tomato and butternut quiche, made with rosemary whipped tofu and a super seedy gluten free crust, served with tomato relish and leafy greens – 12 euros (£10.40)
- Dutch Apple Pie – 7 euros (£6)
What did you think of the food?
- Deli Counter Plate:
- Red Thai Marinated Butternut Boats – What stunning flavours! This might be the best butternut dish I’ve ever had, absolutely loved it! It was coked well so it was firm but still soft to bite. Beaut!
- Punjabi Picnic – The chickpeas had a lovely flavour, the pickled carrots were tasty too! The creamy , tangy sauce paired well with the chickpeas. Enjoyed this too!
- Tower of Gems – I can’t tell you how much Chris and I both enjoyed these! They had a very realistic Caesar salad flavour and the gem lettuce was thick and crunchy which meant that it absorbed all of the flavour. The fried capers really made this dish. I absolutely loved this!
- Spinach and lentil-feta roll – The pastry was super light and the flavours were lovely. Again, a realistic imitation of the original dish. The salt does a nice job of imitating that sharp feta taste. It wasn’t dry at all. Delicious!
- Quiche – Absolutely beauuuutiful. This had a very similar texture to quiche – very eggy. The chutney complemented it perfectly too! The leek flavour was the main standout but all of the veggies added some flavour and a nice chunky texture. It felt indulgent but super healthy at the same time. The crust was delightful – quite crumbly with a natural, earthy taste. The salad was nice too!
- Dutch Apple Pie – This was so great in so many ways. The crust was thick but soft, the apple pieces were chunky and cooked really well so that they weren’t tough at all. The cinnamon flavour was quite strong which I liked and it was sugary and sweet without feeling heavy or sickly. I’d love to tuck into this warm with some oatly custard. Yum!
More information:
Check out their Instagram
4. Mr Stacks
*this meal was complimentary
Where is it?
Govert Flinckstraat 122, 1072 EM Amsterdam
What’s it like?
This place was absolutely heaving on a Saturday afternoon! They specialise in pancakes, pancakes and more pancakes. This isn’t a fully vegan venue but they have a few impressive vegan options! The staff were very friendly and attentive, as was the owner who we met briefly! The food itself is very Instagrammable and the restaurant is cute too. While the prices aren’t cheap here, you certainly get your money’s worth!
What did you eat?
- Vegan Burger with 2 pancakes, vegan cheese, mixed green salad, fresh tomatoes, vegan spicy sauce, sweet potatoes and avocado salad – 14 euros (£12.10)
- Classic Stack with 3 pancakes, sesame cotton candy, seasonal fruits, banana, date syrup, pistachio nuts and a raspberry sauce – 11.50 euros (£10)
What did you think of the food?
- Vegan Burger – I’m not going to lie, I was dubious about this. I was concerned that this would look incredible but taste a bit strange. HOW WRONG I WAS. I really enjoyed this! The pancakes were very thick and worked well as a burger bun. They held together well although the bottom one did get a tiny bit soggy near the end! The contrast of sweet and savoury was heavenly. There was a little spice from the sriracha and the cheese melted well too. The patty was moist and had a nice flavour to it, the raw onions worked well too. I would get this again, for sure!
- Classic Stack – This is a huuuuge portion – three chunky pancakes which are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the outside. The candy floss was a bit heavier and more grainy than regular candy floss. I didn’t mind it but wasn’t in love with it. I would’ve liked the pancakes themselves to be a bit fluffier and less cakes / chewy and the portion size was a little too big, I thought. I loved all of the fresh fruit and the raspberry jam but by the time you get to the last pancake, the toppings had run out a little which left them a bit dry at the end.
More information:
Check out their Instagram
5. Meatless District
Where is it?
Two different locations:
Bilderdijkstraat 65-67, 1053 KM Amsterdam,
van Woustraat 189-191 hs (De Pijp) Amsterdam
What’s it like?
I really liked the vibe here. When we visited, it was a busy and buzzy Saturday night packed with people chatting and laughing. The decor is modern and gave off real Scandi vibes. The staff were friendly and it’s the kind of place you could sit for hours sipping wine. This is a fully vegan restaurant with a focus on seasonal ingredients. I’d heard really great things about the menu so perhaps I chose the wrong dishes but sadly I wasn’t blown away by the food. Again, I thought that this food was quite expensive.
What did you eat?
- Tortellini with pumpkin velour, truffle oil, sage, “bacon” and pine nuts – 9.50 euros (£8.20)
- Vadouvan Panisse with lime aioli and whoa cress – 9 euros (£7.80)
- Thai Red Curry with tofu, kohlrabi, haricot vert, baby corn and wholegrain coriander rice – 16 euros (£13.85)
- MD Cheeseburger with tomato, pickles, red onions, home-made mayo with fries – 16.50 euros (£14.30)
What did you think of the food?
- Tortellini – The pasta itself was perfectly cooked (al dente) but for me, the dish needed more flavour. I really liked how thick and salty the “bacon” was and that had some nice flavour but otherwise, it was a little bland. Shoutout to the sage though, which was delicious! I was a bit disappointed to also only receive three small pieces of tortellini. I know it’s only a starter but I think a couple more would’ve made for a fairer portion size.
- Vadouvan Panisse – Loved the Asian flavours in this and also loved the chunky, soft textures. On their own, they were a little plain but the dip was amazing and really elevated the dish.
- Thai Red Curry – I didn’t hate this but I didn’t love it. It was quite spicy but the depth of flavour was lacking a little. The tofu was quite firm, rubbery and chewy and didn’t pack much flavour. The veggies were nice but again, nothing special. I did like that it was creamy without feeling too thick. I only got one cashew in the dish so would’ve liked more. The beans were really nice and crunchy, just on the right side of cooked.
- MD Cheeseburger – The chips and mayo were really tasty. The mayo was very egg-like. The burger patty was quite dry and lacking in flavour. I liked the cheese and thought that it melted very well and added a nice taste which is rare with vegan cheese!
More information:
Check out their Instagram
6. The Avocado Show
*this meal was complimentary
Where is it?
Four different locations:
Daniël Stalpertstraat 61 HS, 1072 XB Amsterdam
Keizersgracht 449, 1017 DK Amsterdam
Willemsparkweg 152-H, 1071 HS Amsterdam
What’s it like?
This is an omni restaurant serving a few vegan options. The presentation is absolutely flawless and the restaurant itself is pretty Instagram friendly – think neon signs, plant walls, pink seats. This is a perfect spot for brunch! There was a little confusion when we first arrived at the venue but after that, the staff were friendly. The prices here are not extortionate considering the ingreidnets but they are quite pricey considering the they’re quite light portions.
What did you eat?
- Mama Mango poke bowl with avocado, mango, edamame, pickled cucumber, wakame, sesame seeds, sushi rice, soy dressing with vegan mango mayo – 15.75 euros (£13.70)
- Mango Tango toast with curry hummus and mango, an avocado rose and black sesame – 10 euros (£8.70)
What did you think of the food?
- Poke Bowl – This is the kind of super healthy bowl which is right up my street. first of all, wakame seaweed is one of my favourite things in the world, although I realise that it’s one of those ‘love it or hate it’ type things. Chris only liked it once it was mixed together with everything else. It was a salty dish (but not overly) and the big, juicy mango chunks as well as the mango mayo really made the dish for me. I wouldn’t say it was bursting with flavour but I didn’t mind that, I loved the combination of textures and thought that everything worked together really well.
- Toast – The topping was beautifully creamy and was mildly spiced with a touch of heat. I loved the chunky pieces of mango which added sweetness and also loved that the toast was nice and thick but still soft.
More information:
Check out their Instagram
7. Koffie ende Koeck
Where is it?
Haarlemmerweg 175, 1051 LA Amsterdam
What’s it like?
WHAT a cute little venue. This 100% vegan spot is a little bit further out of the city but is worth the trip. The venue itself is small and cosy, the staff are just incredibly lovely. The decor is adorable and the displays are fully stocked with a range of different vegan cakes and pastries. I recommend grabbing a chai latte and a slice of quiche and cosying up on the sofa. The prices here are much more reasonable!
What did you eat?
- Spinach Quiche – 7.50 euros (£6.50)
- Special of the day – Mushroom, cheese and pickled veg toastie – 7 euros (£6)
- Carrot Cake – 5 euros (£4.30)
What did you think of the food?
- Quiche – This was super moist and had a beautiful flavour. The layer of cheese adding a nice tangy flavour too, although it was quite tough and squeaky. Still, overall I absolutely loved it!
- Toastie – This was really tasty, the pickled veg was the standout!
- Carrot Cake – Absolutely delicious and this is coming from two carrot cake lovers!
More information:
Check out their Instagram
8. The Bulldog Palace – Ex Policestation
Where is it?
Leidseplein 15, 1017 PS Amsterdam, Netherlands
What’s it like?
This is most definitely a tourist trap and not the kind of place I’d normally visit on a trip away but they serve vegan space cakes and Chris and I really wanted to try them! The staff aren’t overly friendly and the bar itself is a little grungey and run down but it’s fine if you just want to pop in and buy the cakes! They have a few different venues around the city so not sure what the others are like.
What did you eat?
- Space Cake – 7 euros (£6)
What did you think of the food?
- Space Cake – Well, I don’t think that there’s a very high percentage of people purchasing space cakes for their flavour but actually, these tasted ok. Not amazing, not horrendous. They also worked a treat and had Chris and I giggling at absolutely nothing for a good few hours.
More information:
Check out their Instagram
I should also mention that we visited the Moco art gallery where there was a Banksy exhibition on which was brilliant. It’s a small, intimate gallery spread across several floors. I highly recommend it! You’re spoilt for choice with museums in Amsterdam though so choose the one which appeals to you the most!
I hope that this blog post has helped you understand the vegan scene in Amsterdam a little better.
These are just some of the places we visited. Obviously there are lots of other places offering vegan options. We’d also have loved to visit Terrazen, Golden Temple and The Dutch Weed Burger Joint to name a few.
If you want any tips or just want to have a chat about any of the places we visited, head over to my Instagram page: @thelittlelondonvegan.
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