Dispatch from Amsterdam

Where to eat and drink in the picturesque Dutch city with an assist from my sister (who lives there)!

I’ve visited Amsterdam twice in the last two years while my sister has been living there as an artist-in-residence. It’s a charming and beautiful city with an excellent sense of design and fantastic museums. It can also be a tough town for food. For whatever reason, many of its restaurants are obsessed with foam and require you to order a prix fixe menu. Unlike Paris (duh — updates coming soon), London (obviously), and other European cities like Copenhagen, Lisbon, San Sebastián, Athens, and Marseille, the food scene in Amsterdam has yet to evolve to the point where it can be considered a culinary destination.

That said, there are, of course, some gems to be found. In this dispatch, I’m passing along a few favorites from my time spent in the Netherlands’ capital, plus more recommendations from my sister, Jess.

The view from a mid (but pretty!) restaurant.