Flore

Mere steps away from the riotous collection of bars, coffeeshops, and clothing stores where several major canals meet the river Amstel, Flore is an oasis you’ll want to dress up for. Plan to nab an aperitif at Freddy’s Bar, since you’ll pass through it (they’re both located in the De L’Europe hotel) and try to book table #1 or #4 (of 11) by the windows overlooking the canals.

Lunch and dinner tasting menus are hyper-seasonal. The springtime Botanic menu, for example, focused solely on plants: an entire kohlrabi stalk with local wasabi and a side of gazpacho to start, followed by small bites of pumpkin chawanmushi, white asparagus, bee pollen-dusted mochi, negroni gummy bears, and herbs and flowers like dune foot and nasturtium. Service goes above and beyond the typically straightforward Dutch sentiment, and you might even get taken into the kitchen for one of the courses.