Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. In years past, this elegant venue was the waiting room for first-class train passengers. Nowadays, the Art Nouveau-styled space invites travelers and other folks into a haven of beauty, where they can indulge in a variety of terrific fare throughout the day. Whether your appetite is large or small, you can get a full, three-course meal or simply have a sandwich and a drink. Regular, gourmet specials provide an upscale note and ensure that no one goes away hungry. Ideal for on-the-run professionals. Rather unusually, the restaurant keeps a pet cockatoo which hops the length of the bar much to diners' amusement.

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Contemporary in style and boasting a wonderful location on the Amstel River, this large, popular café invites leisurely dining. Amid its spacious environs, patrons nurse cups of coffee, bask in the warmth of the waterside terrace, and sample lasagne, salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas, snack foods and desserts. A favorite of creative types, the café also attracts folks who want to relax with a glass of wine or browse the selection of available periodicals. There's also a restaurant with a huge salad bar – and terrace – upstairs. Great for day or evening. Kitchen closes at 11pm.

 

Description: WESTERN CANAL RING / JORDAAN. If you're lucky enough to be in Amsterdam when the weather's mild, De Prins' outdoor terrace makes for wonderful dining along the canal. If not, the comfortable canal house will more than satisfy with its relaxed 'brown café' ambience. A variety of folks frequent this popular place, which offers everything from light fare to full dinners. Representative dishes feature pork, steak, fondue, pastas and duck, and you'll also want to keep an eye out for daily specials. Wonderful, leisurely dining.

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Gleaming with coppery tones and polished woods, this warm, inviting cafe is a welcome sight in the city. Its delightful, well-portioned cuisine runs the gamut, from croquettes to salmon, sandwiches to spring rolls. You'll also find salads, soups, steaks, seafood, and a host of snacks and sweets. Many folks come in for a quick bite and end up lazing for hours in the comfortable atmosphere, or checking out the well-stocked international reading table. Outdoor dining is particularly nice when the weather's warm. From central station: tram 1, 2, or 5 and stop at Spui.

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. This famous hotel was named after Jan Janszoon Vijff Vlijghen (whose surname translates as 'Five Flies'), the original owner of the premises which spreads across five 17th-century canal houses. It was opened in 1939 by the eccentric art and antiques dealer Nicolaas Kroese. Thanks to his bizarre PR style, it drew numerous celebrities over the decades, including John Wayne, Walt Disney, Elvis Presley, Goldie Hawn and Versace (note the small copper plates on each of the chairs bearing the names of its famous visitors). With its various rooms and spacious, the candlelit venue is suitable for both romantic dinners and business occasions and features dark woods, regional antiques, and even Rembrandt etchings. The menu shakes up traditional Dutch cuisine, offering roast duck fillet, veal sirloin, lamb, suckling pig, grilled fish, and a host of dishes that capitalize on fresh, local ingredients. Seasonal, chef's, and vegetarian menus are available as well. It's only drawback perhaps is that it attracts tourists in droves.

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Mention of this delightful establishment is enough to make mouths water, thanks to its repertoire of incredible baked goods. Fresh scones (served with clotted cream), wonderful pain au chocolat, and big, crusty loaves of bread tempt with their aromas alone, as do fragrant coffees and teas. Other options throughout the day include quiche, soups, tarts, light sandwiches, breakfast fare, salads and the like. Service is attentive and helpful, and everything you order is certain to be fresh and well-prepared. Additional locations can be found at Roelofhartstraat 68 (+31 20 662 3594) and on the grounds of the Westergasfabriek at Regulateurshuis 1 (+31 20 688 0632).

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. In 2002, this former soup kitchen – set up in 1870 with the purpose of providing cheap meals to the impoverished – closed for two years. After a huge outcry from locals, some rapid fundraising and a major revamp, this veritable treasure reopened. To this day its mission statement is 'a lot for a little,' and office workers, students and pensioners alike can be found in this convivial space enjoying the homely Dutch fare from its enticing à  la carte options.

 

Description: MUSEUM QUARTER / VONDELPARK. Subtle lighting gleams on dark, polished woods at this cozy, charming restaurant near Amsterdam's concert hall. The menu features Dutch cuisine, albeit with a continental influence, and everything you'll encounter is beautifully prepared. Whether you choose a tilapia filet, a well-composed salad, steak, or some other treat, you'll be suitably impressed by the kitchen's capable hand. The restaurant is ideal for intimate suppers, and since it's open late, it's perfect for post-show meals as well.

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. This estimable restaurant, affiliated with the Hotel Die Port van Cleve, surrounds patrons with a worldly, yet comfortable atmosphere. The restaurant has been around for more than a century – proof of its appeal – and is renowned for fantastic steaks, served tender and sizzling hot. Of course, you may want to try their Dutch specialties or other dinner fare, and make sure not to neglect the dessert menu, which includes tiramisu, cheesecake, and a decadent chocolate temptation.

 

Description: OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Eminently romantic, this elegant restaurant (whose name translates as the "Silver Mirror") occupies two canal houses dating from 1614. Beautifully decorated rooms welcome diners to relax amid candlelight and history and partake of innovative Dutch cuisine. The menu features fillet of venison, filled duck's breast with morels, lamb, grilled beef, and a variety of fish entrees. Impeccable wines and fixed-price menus add to the experience. Outdoor dining is available when the weather's mild.