How to choose a vegetarian or vegan restaurant in Amsterdam
Not every listing above is a dedicated plant-based kitchen. Some are sandwich shops, juice bars, and delis that carry a handful of vegetarian and vegan items alongside a wider menu, so it is worth checking whether a place is fully plant-based or only partly so before you go.
Amsterdam's plant-based scene runs from casual bowl-and-sandwich counters to Asian streetfood-style kitchens to multi-course tasting menus, and the right pick depends on whether you want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal. For a broader base of options that includes kitchens outside the vegetarian and vegan category, the Amsterdam Restaurants directory is the place to start.
Vegetarian cooking in Amsterdam is not confined to restaurants labeled vegetarian or vegan: Indian kitchens have built entire menus around pulses, paneer, and vegetables for generations, and where to eat Indian food in Amsterdam is worth a look for variety beyond a plant-based-labeled menu. A handful of the listings above are delis or specialty grocers rather than sit-down restaurants, and the guide to delis and gourmet groceries in Amsterdam covers that separate ground if you are stocking a kitchen rather than booking a table.
Questions people ask
What does "vegetarian" and "vegan" mean on an Amsterdam menu?
Dutch menus distinguish "vegetarisch" (vegetarian: no meat or fish, but eggs and dairy are allowed) from "vegan" or "veganistisch" (no animal products at all). The two are not the same thing on the same menu, so a vegetarian dish is not automatically vegan and it is worth checking before you order.
Are dedicated vegan restaurants in Amsterdam more expensive than an average restaurant?
Price depends on the format rather than on the fact that a menu is plant-based. A casual bowl-and-sandwich counter or streetfood-style kitchen sits toward the lower end, while a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings is priced like any other fine-dining restaurant in the city, so check the specific menu rather than assume plant-based food costs more.
Which parts of Amsterdam have the most vegetarian and vegan restaurants?
Plant-based dining is spread across the city rather than clustered in one district, with established options in Oost, the Jordaan, Oud-West, and the center. Check the address on a specific listing rather than assuming a neighborhood is the only option, since a strong vegan kitchen can turn up on an otherwise ordinary residential street.
Can I get vegan food at an ordinary Amsterdam cafe or chain, not just a specialist restaurant?
Yes. Several mainstream sandwich shops, juice bars, and lunch chains in the city carry vegetarian and vegan items on a menu that is not exclusively plant-based, so look for a note next to a dish or ask staff directly, since not every vegan option on a mixed menu is marked the same way.
What is an eetcafe, and does it serve vegetarian food?
An eetcafe is a Dutch cafe-restaurant hybrid, typically an informal, pub-like room that serves a full kitchen menu alongside drinks. Whether a specific eetcafe offers vegetarian or vegan dishes depends entirely on its own kitchen, so check the menu rather than assume the format itself signals plant-based food.