Being Vegan in Amsterdam: Guide
What I ate, what I loved, and what I’d skip — plus the bakery I’d actually stand in line for.
It’s nearly July.
The air in New York is heavy and sun-scorched and all I can think about is the lightness of Amsterdam. A breeze off the canal, the clink of bikes over cobblestone, and the intimacy of being cooked for by the person who owns the place as if you’ve wandered into someone’s home by accident and been asked to stay.
New York does have a generous spread of vegan restaurants — no question. But unfortunately, for every new spot that opens, it seems another one quietly disappears. Some have bowed out gracefully with parting meals, others left me with the cruel discovery of “Permanently Closed” on Google Maps. And then the ultimate betrayal: when a beloved vegan place switches to an omnivore menu.
But let’s turn our attention to brighter things: being vegan in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam may be small, but its vegan scene is mighty.
Here’s the low-down on what I loved, what I’d skip, and where I’m heading next time:
Best for Budget + On-the-Go
Maoz
📍 Multiple locations
Build your own pita or bowl — falafel, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, tahini, lettuce. It came to just 7 euros and somehow managed to feel both filling and fresh. I took mine to go and ate it by the canal, and honestly, I could’ve done that every day.
Getting real: There’s nowhere to really sit and stay. It’s more grab-and-go, which actually worked perfectly for a city that’s best wandered through.
Best Bakery
SAINT-JEAN
📍 Lindengracht 158h, 1015 KK
Modern Dutch minimalism done just right — all clean lines and soft light. Through the kitchen window, trays of pistachio-almond croissants are pulled from the oven as the pastry team works calmly behind the scenes. It’s the kind of vegan bakery you dream about, and then dream about again.
Getting real: We lucked out with no queue (probably because we arrived right at open on a Thursday), but I’ve heard it can get long, and honestly? Worth it. This is coming from someone who doesn’t wait in New York lines. The bakery’s a little outside the center — not hard to reach via tram, but if you’re staying near Vondelpark like we were, it’s a bit of a “hike.”
Best Italian
Trevi’s
📍 Pijnackerstraat 6, 1072 JT
Tucked away and quietly inviting, Trevi’s was run entirely by one woman: owner, chef, and server. She had just opened for dinner when we arrived, so we had the place to ourselves. The pesto pasta was bright and fresh, the pomodoro with vegan meatballs was deeply comforting. Her pasta was made from scratch and served in an open kitchen that felt like a dining room at home — comforting, unfussy, full of care. It felt like being cooked for by a friend who really knows what she’s doing.
Getting real: If it had been a busy night, I imagine the pace would’ve slowed quite a bit. But that’s part of the charm. It’s hers. Her place, her food, her pace.
Best Sushi
Vegan Sushi Bar
📍 Kinkerstraat 83, 1053 DH
Vegan sushi is a gamble. It can be incredible, or it can taste like fridge rice with cucumber. But this place got it right. We tried a crispy “California” roll, a shrimp-style tempura roll, plus bao buns (one tofu, one faux chik’n) and gyoza. The bao — especially the chik’n — was the star of the meal.
Getting real: It wasn’t cheap, and the service was sluggish. We were one of only three occupied tables and still waited twenty minutes for gyoza. If I went back, I’d order more selectively: one roll (shrimp-style tempura) and two chik’n bao.
Best Mexican
Madre
📍 Westerstraat 186, 1015 MR
We only went once, and I thought about it for days after. The room had this gorgeous glow to it — warm lighting, modern interiors, and a buzz that made the food taste even better.
We shared guac to start (table-side… not my favorite, but maybe it’s yours) and split the artichoke barbacoa tacos and the ceviche of the day. Only two tacos, but each one felt considered. The whole thing leaned California in energy — fresh, creative, sunny.
Getting real: It was one of our pricier stops — nearly 19 euros for two tacos — but the quality was there, and the service was lovely. I just wish we had more time to go back.
Best Overall Experience
Little Plant Pantry
📍 Bosboom Toussaintstraat 45-H, 1054 AN
If I could bottle the feeling of this place and carry it with me, I would. This place stole my heart. Part sustainable shop, part kitchen, Little Plant Pantry serves hearty, thoughtful vegan food in a quiet corner of the city.
The owner made our meals — lasagna and a warming stew with quinoa — while we chatted from our seat near the front window. A greying cat from next door wandered in and out like he was on the payroll. The whole thing felt like a whisper — slow, warm, handmade. A deep breath in restaurant form.
Would Pass…
SOIL Vegan Café – West
This one felt more like a miss. It’s Asian fusion with a twist of American BBQ — creative in concept, but a little muddled in practice. We ordered vegan bitterballen (a traditional Dutch snack) and shared the Ben Ben noodles, which were coated in a creamy sesame sauce with udon noodles, faux meatballs, crispy chili oil, and pickles.
It wasn’t bad, just… a lot of flavors competing on one plate.
Getting real: It was also one of the more expensive meals, and at about 20 euros for the main, we chose to share. I left feeling fine. But compared to everywhere else we tried, it didn’t hold up.
Places we didn’t make it to (but next time!)
Kitchen Impossible (for ramen)
📍 Van der Helstplein 2, 1072 PH
Vegan Junk Food Bar (for “comfort” food)
📍 Marie Heinekenplein 9, 1072 MH
Bonboon (for date night elegance)
📍 Rozenstraat 12, 1016 NX
Meatless District (for “classics”)
📍 Bilderdijkstraat 65-67, 1053 KM
Amsterdam has a growing collection of special vegan spots, and while many offer the expected experience, so many feel more intimate, more human. You meet the people behind the food. You feel like an invited guest, not just a customer. There’s magic in that.
I’m so grateful for the meals we had, the stories we shared over bites, and the quiet, beautiful moments in small kitchens and bakeries across the city.
Can’t wait to return! 🌷
💌 xx Raye
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