6 Top Tapas Bars in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

I should better re-name this post “first-date restaurants” because when I was single, tapas places seemed to be my first port of call for a casual drink and a bite to eat on pretty much every first date I had in Amsterdam. But, of course, tapas-style food can work on many occasions – which is why I still seek them out 14 years later. Amsterdam is not exactly awash with good tapas, but here are a few places that are generally reliable.

Tucked away on Prinseneiland, Tasca Bellota is the definition of a hidden gem – although I shy away from that term given its overuse. This tapas restaurant’s cosy atmosphere will transport you straight to sunny Spain on even the rainiest of Amsterdam evenings, especially if you order a bottle of well-priced Spanish red wine. Tasca Bellota’s tortilla de patatas (always my first test in a tapas bar) is fresh and soft and comforting – just as it should be. Other highlights included their sunshine-flavoured pan con tomate, their Iberian pork skewers (with deliciously moppable sauce), and their garlicky prawn and potato gratin. But you also can’t go wrong with classics like jamón Iberico and Manchego cheese. A delightful dinner at any time of year. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).