The starting point: the Anne Frank House
The entrance to the Anne Frank House is at Westermarkt 20, at the corner of the Prinsengracht. Tickets are sold only online, on the official website, for a specific time slot. Allow about an hour and a half for the visit, plus arriving early: your slot therefore decides when you eat.
There is no restaurant in the house. Eat before or after, not during: arriving hungry at noon for a visit that lasts until 1:30 pm is the surest way to give in to the first restaurant you see.
The streets to eat in on foot
Everything below is 2 to 10 minutes' walk from the Anne Frank House.
| Street or area | Distance | What you find | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westermarkt and Prinsengracht | 1 to 3 min | Cafés and waterside terraces | Pleasant setting, menus often generic |
| Rozengracht | 3 min | Big street of restaurants, supermarkets, cafés | Very practical, roadworks under way |
| Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes) | 5 to 8 min | Cafés, light lunches, pastries | Shops and small rooms |
| Jordaan (Bloemgracht, Egelantiersgracht, Westerstraat) | 5 to 10 min | Brown cafés, neighbourhood restaurants | Book in the evening |
| Haarlemmerstraat | 10 min | Varied restaurants, delicatessens | Long street, local feel |
Distances are walking estimates.
- Westermarkt and Prinsengracht: the closest, so the most tempting. You find cafés with terraces facing the canals. The location sets the price, and the menu is often the same as elsewhere. For a simple coffee it is fine; for a real meal, walk five minutes.
- Rozengracht: a stone's throw from the Westermarkt, a big avenue with all kinds of restaurants. It is noisy, but the choice is wide, which helps in a group. Roadworks affect the area: see the Westerkerk page for access.
- Nine Streets: the Nine Streets are the best choice for a light lunch: sandwiches, salads, coffee and pastries on pedestrian-friendly streets. The rooms are small and fill up fast between noon and 2 pm.
- Jordaan: for a relaxed meal, head up into the Jordaan. The "brown cafés", traditional pubs with dark wood, serve beer, coffee and simple dishes; our guide to brown cafés describes several. Café Winkel 43, at the corner of the Noordermarkt, is known for its apple pie.
- Haarlemmerstraat: further north, a long shopping street with varied restaurants, calmer than the immediate surroundings of the house.
The traps to avoid
- Picture menus and touts. A laminated menu with photos, a person calling you in from the doorway: walk on, especially on the Westermarkt and near the Dam.
- The price of the location. A table with a view of the house or the Westerkerk costs more. Look at the menu in the window, and at drink prices.
- Extra charges. Bread, water and cover are sometimes charged: read the menu and the bill. Our guide to payment and tipping explains local custom.
- The forgotten booking. In the evening, especially at weekends, many small Jordaan rooms are full without a reservation.
- Lunch at 1:30 pm. When the visit ends, everyone looks for a table at the same time: move a few streets away or a few minutes later.
Timing your meal around your slot
- Morning slot: have a coffee or breakfast beforehand, in a café in the Nine Streets or the Jordaan, then lunch afterwards on a quieter street.
- Midday slot: eat light beforehand (sandwich, soup) or lunch after 2 pm, when the rooms empty out.
- Late-day slot: book your dinner in the Jordaan for just after the visit, and plan your way back.
If you are combining it with the Westerkerk, remember that the church is only open from 11 am to 3 pm on weekdays.
Going further
For an overview of the city, read our guide where to eat in Amsterdam. And to carry on sightseeing after your meal, our article around the Westerkerk offers a 10-minute walking route.
