Where to eat near Amsterdam Centraal: streets and traps to avoid
Centraal Station is where most visitors arrive, and the streets right outside it are where you eat worst for the price. Damrak and Nieuwendijk, the two big streets leaving the station, are lined with tourist-menu restaurants, snack bars and souvenir shops. It is better to walk five to ten minutes: east towards Zeedijk and Chinatown, west towards Spuistraat, or behind the station to Oosterdokskade. This guide describes the streets, the types of places and the traps, without ranking restaurants. It complements our general guide to where to eat in Amsterdam. ## What to know when you leave the station  Centraal Station opens onto Stationsplein on the city side, with Damrak straight ahead and Prins Hendrikkade on either side. The terraces on Stationsplein and Damrak live off the flow of arriving travellers, in a hurry and with no bearings: that is where quality is lowest and prices highest. A few simple habits avoid disappointment: - **Read the menu before you sit down**: the price of a drink or a dish can be compared in seconds from one door to the next. - **Be wary of menus with photos** and of touts who approach you at the door. - **Check the bill**: any cover charge, service charge or extra must appear on it. In Dutch restaurants service is in principle included and tipping is optional; see our guide to money, payment and tipping. - **Don't rush a quick bite** if you have a train to catch: queues are long at rush hour. ## Damrak and Nieuwendijk: for a snack, not a meal  Damrak leads to the Dam square in ten minutes on foot. It is mostly snack bars, fries, waffles and cheese or souvenir shops; the Sex Museum and Body Worlds are here too. Nieuwendijk, the parallel pedestrian street, is mainly a shopping street. For a nibble it is convenient; for dinner, walk elsewhere. For places near the Dam, see our guide to where to eat near the Dam. ## The streets worth the walk - **Zeedijk and Chinatown (5 to 7 minutes, east)**: Zeedijk is one of the oldest streets in the area, with Asian restaurants (Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese), brown cafés and bakeries. It borders the Red Light District: read its rules before strolling there in the evening. The Schreierstoren, a medieval tower from the old city wall, marks the harbour end of the street. - **Spuistraat and its side streets (7 to 10 minutes, west)**: the street is quieter and used more by locals, with cafés, restaurants of various cuisines and vegetarian places. This is the right direction for a relaxed meal. - **Oosterdokskade (3 to 5 minutes, behind the station)**: along the dock, the OBA library houses a restaurant and a terrace with views of the harbour; several restaurants in the neighbouring hotels also face the water. It is an area of offices and hotels, quiet at weekends. - **Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk (10 to 15 minutes, west)**: two streets forming one axis, lined with bakeries, cafés and small restaurants, where you can have lunch at neighbourhood prices. ## Crossing the IJ for dinner in Noord The free ferry to Buiksloterweg leaves from behind the station and crosses the IJ in a few minutes. On the other bank, the A'DAM Lookout tower and the EYE museum have cafés and restaurants overlooking the water, and the Amsterdam-Noord district offers more creative cooking. Check the ferry and restaurant hours before going in the evening. ## Three typical situations | Situation | What to do | What to avoid | |---|---|---| | A train in an hour | A bakery or kiosk in the station, or a snack on Stationsplein | Sitting at a terrace without reading the prices | | Lunch before sightseeing | Walk towards Spuistraat, Zeedijk or Oosterdokskade | The menus with photos on Damrak | | Dinner on arrival | Book near your hotel or cross the IJ to Noord | Following a tout or a stranger who suggests a place | ## Going further To know what to try, our guide to what to eat in Amsterdam presents local dishes. To extend the evening, see Amsterdam at night, and to get home after midnight, getting home at night in Amsterdam. Arrival traps are detailed in scams and safety in Amsterdam.
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