The 7 Best Pancake Restaurants in Amsterdam

This New Zealand-style brunch restaurant lies in the heart of de Pijp – the neighbourhood south of Amsterdam’s canal belt that’s renowned for its bustling culinary scene. Though there are many delicious, hearty dishes on Bakers & Roasters menu, the restaurant’s pancake stacks are beyond amazing and are served with bacon, fruit and a generous splash of organic Canadian maple syrup.

Pancakes Amsterdam’s awesome menu features many pancake-centric dishes that are inspired by international cuisine as well as traditional Dutch cooking. The restaurant divides its menu according to style, with entire sections dedicated to flat Dutch pancakes and fluffy, thicker American varieties. These pancakes are topped with many different types of ingredients, including typical savoury combinations, such as ham and cheese, or sugary delights such as chocolate sauce and stroopwafel crumble.

To enter this cosy pancake restaurant, guests must pass through an elevated entrance on Grimburgwal, then ascend an incredibly narrow staircase. This precarious passageway leads onto a small dining room decorated with charming knick-knacks, including a collection of teapots that hang from the restaurant’s ceiling. The restaurant just serves pancakes and tops its delicious creations with an impressive variety of ingredients, such as cinnamon, brie or salami. As there are only four tables available inside the restaurant, it is always advisable to book a spot in advance.

After jumping onboard this floating restaurant, patrons are taken on an extensive tour through Amsterdam’s historic docklands and presented with an unlimited supply of fluffy, Dutch-style pancakes with all the trimmings. The boat docks in NDSM-Wharf in Amsterdam-Noord and embarks on cruises several times every day. There are many types of special excursions available alongside the Pancake Boat’s regular tours, including holiday-themed trips during Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas.

As its name suggests, this charming spot in de Jordaan centres its menu around Japanese savoury pancakes, that are prepared according to time-honed techniques. For instance, Japanese Pancake World serves a crispy type of pancake from Hiroshima that’s topped with several layers of ingredients including cabbage, meat and cheese, and another regional dish commonly associated with Osaka that is eaten with potato purée. As the restaurant features an open kitchen, patrons can watch their pancakes being prepared before they arrive at their table.

This iconic pancake house looks like it was lifted straight from a Victorian-era funfair and centres around an old-time carousel with galloping wooden horses. Its menu revolves around pancakes, which are topped with sweet and savoury ingredients ranging from dollops of Nutella to ham, cheese and pineapple. The restaurant also serves some of the finest poffertjes (small fluffy pancakes) in Amsterdam, which pair wonderfully with a warm cup of Chocomel (Dutch chocolate-flavoured milk).

As one of the first openly gay cafés in Amsterdam, Lunchroom Downtown is steeped in history. The café opened in 1970 and quickly grew into a meeting place for the LGBT community. Today, Lunchroom Downtown continues to welcome thousands of guests and is known as one of the best spots in Amsterdam to enjoy freshly cooked pancakes. The café has an impressive selection of pancakes, as well as an extensive breakfast menu.