Best breakfast and brunch spots in Amsterdam | I amsterdam (2024)

Greenwoods

Image from Ashkan Mortezapour Photography

The immensely popular Greenwoods at Keizersgracht and Singel is one of Amsterdam's best English breakfast and brunch spots. In fact, there is almost always a line of hungry breakfasters waiting at the door. Not only because of their generous portions of eggs benedict, pancakes and banana bread but also because of the fantastic flavours and service. Add some bacon, and Greenwoods is the perfect place to kickstart your day strolling through Amsterdam.

The Breakfast Club

With several locations across Amsterdam, this hipstery hotspot is the place to go for late, lazy brunches that last all day long (or until 5pm, at least).The menu boasts various city-themed dishes, so you get a wide selection of breakfast styles, from flapjacks to eggs on toast and fresh croissants to buttermilk pancakes. Green, orange, brown and pink smoothies are also on the menu.

Staring at Jacob

This excellent brunch spot in Oud-West serves American-inspired comfort food and killer cocktails all day, with one of the most creative brunch menus in Amsterdam and a wonderfully convivial atmosphere to match. It's possible to snag a table without booking, though to be guaranteed a spot it's best to book ahead – this place is deservedly popular.

Rum Baba

Image from Rum Baba

Sweet-toothed brunchers should head to this friendly cafe in Amsterdam's Oosterparkneighbourhood for a delectable range of freshly baked pastries and delicious hot coffee at any time of the day. Pull up a seat and stay as long as you like. And if you become particularly attached to your chair you could even take it home with you -the furniture, books, plants, other home accessories here are all for sale.

Bakers & Roasters

This cute breakfast and brunch spot in the bohemian neighbourhood of De Pijp describes itself as a ‘New-Zealand-style café served with a heavy dose of Brazil’. It's an unusual mix but we like it; and the colourful breakfasts, baked delicacies and fresh fruit salads will certainly put a spring in your Samba ahead of a day exploring Amsterdam.

The Pancake Bakery

Beloved by visitors, international students and locals alike, this cosy pancake house inside a 17thcentury warehouse on Prinsengracht is something of an Amsterdam institution – which explains the queues frequently seen snaking out of the door and along the canal. Visitors can tuck into a choice of more than 100 (huge) sweet and savoury pancakes, and help themselves from generous pots of syrup on the tables. Can't get enough of the sweet stuff? Check out our round-up of the bestpancake spots in Amsterdam.

Scandinavian Embassy

On a leafy block a stone’s throw from Sarphatipark, this understated De Pijp breakfast spot is definitely one for the coffee purists; thanks to its Swedish owners’ unfaltering commitment to the perfect cup. Head there for award-winning, freshly-brewed coffee and a healthy, Scandinavian influenced breakfast in stylish, Nordic inspired surroundings.

Anne & Max

Image from Anne&Max

Anne and Max are the fictional characters behind this eponymous Amsterdam café, open every day for breakfast, a quick coffee, lunch, high tea and savoury snacks. Every day, you can read the menu boards to see which specials Anne and Max recommend, including the baguette with hummus and avocado and the revitalising fruit shake made with pomegranate, blackberry, apple, strawberry and ginger. The ingredients are, wherever possible, sustainable and homemade.

De Bakkerswinkel

Image from Koen Smilde

If you stumble across it by accident, you may not even realise that this stylish, but humble eatery is actually a much-loved national bakery chain. It has three Amsterdam branches to its name and, more often than not, queues out of the door. Select from tea, coffee or juices to perk you up while you decide whether you fancy a basic breakfast bun with a tasty filling, a slim-line yoghurt-muesli combo or a more elaborate mix of croissant, breads and eggs.

Omelegg

Omelegg pride themselves on being the Netherlands’ first “omeletterie”. And they’re not joking around when it comes to egg cravings, providing their first customers’ fix from 7 in the morning. As you would expect from such a specialised place, the menu boasts some rather experimental items – think omelette with dates, currywurst or banana and peanut butter – but purists won’t need to abstain from the standard variations, either. While you wait, watch the eggs sizzling with all sorts of fresh ingredients in the open kitchen.

Conservatorium Brasserie

Image from Amit Geron

If you’re looking to push the breakfast boat out, the bright and airy brasserie at the luxurious Conservatorium Hotel in the Museum Quarter makes the ideal spot for an elegant breakfast or brunch in Amsterdam. Located in an internal courtyard with a spectacular glass ceiling and floor to ceiling windows, the brasserie offers a choice of exquisite a la carte breakfast or a modern buffet-style ‘ice table’. If you really want to start your day off in style/a bit drunk, the breakfast menu also includes Louis Roederer Champagne by the glass.

The Cottage

This cosy little place in Amsterdam Oost serves delicious British comfort food all day long. Start your day (they open at 8:30) with great coffee, fresh scones, homemade jam or a full English – part of their all-day brunch menu. The lunch menu includes delicious pies, sausage rolls and a Sunday roast, plus they have an excellent range of drinks and cocktails, served from a beautiful old bar.

CT Coffee & Coconuts

Like coffee? Like coconuts? Then you’ll love this airy De Pijp eatery. Accommodated inside a former 1920s cinema, the art deco building has been lovingly converted into a hip hangout with stripped back décor and a laid back atmosphere ideal for long, lazy brunches. As well as a regularly updated selection of coffee to accompany your breakfast, visitors can enjoy an entire fresh coconut with a squeeze of lime (and a dash of rum if you like). Breakfast is served until 1pm and includes a healthy range of overnight buckwheat porridge, avocado on toast and delicious coconut pancakes.

Yoghurt Barn

Get your day off to a healthy start by creating your own perfect yoghurt at this trendy breakfast spot. Choose organic, soy or goat milk yoghurt and then add a variety of delicious toppings to it. You can also select one of the fixed yoghurt combinations on the menu, such as the crazy cookie or brownie bango. Feel like having something else? Yoghurt Barn offers frozen yoghurt, yoghurt smoothies and coffee as well.