Culinary Stadionplein

After the metamorphosis of Stadionplein and the area around the Olympic Stadium, the renovation of the two monumental Citroën buildings and the opening of a large number of restaurants, bars and shops, The Olympic, as the Stadionbuurt is now unofficially called, has become a bustling neighbourhood where various cultural and sports events are organized throughout the year.

An important asset of The Olympic is the abundance of culinary options in the area. Well-known chefs such as Joris Bijdendijk and Michiel van der Eerde opened their restaurants Wils and Bar Baut there, the first of which was awarded a Michelin star not long after its opening. You can also eat the best sushi in Amsterdam in the Stadionbuurt. Restaurant Umeno has been known for years for its excellent sushi. The most popular restaurant in Mokum is without a doubt NENI in the former Citroën garage. Renowned for its Mediterranean cuisine and beautiful interior, there are people clamouring for a table here every day of the week. And anyone looking for an Instagram-worthy restaurant on Instagram will quickly come across Mama Kelly. In the restaurant styled entirely in pink, you can enjoy chicken or lobster and look out over the field on which Ajax experienced so much international success.

NENI Amsterdam

NENI Amsterdam is a sensation when it comes to Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. It offers mezze, hummus, flatbread pizzas, kibbeh, falafel, shawarma, babaganoush, various richly topped focaccias from the oven and lots of charcoal-grilled vegetables and fish. The restaurant in the former Citroën garage is part of an international chain boasting restaurants in Tel Aviv, Berlin, Zurich, Mallorca and many other cities. NENI occupies several floors and is divided into a restaurant, bakery, cocktail bar and terrace. In The Lemonman, the cocktail bar on the second floor of the former automobile bastion, you can enjoy a drink until the late hours along with the view of the Stadionplein. – Stadionplein 8

MaMa Kelly

MaMa Kelly belongs on the list of ‘Most Instagrammable Restaurants in Amsterdam’. Everything in the restaurant is pink. But don’t think that the menu must be full of light, sweet snacks. Here you can eat juicy chicken and delicious lobster prepared in several ways. Whether you like a little garlic, spices or something with an Asian twist, MaMa Kelly ensures that you get your favourite flavour on your plate. MaMa Kelly is the perfect place to spice up your Instagram feed. – Olympisch Stadion 35

Wils

Joris Bijdendijk, who doesn’t know him? The well-known chef of Bridges and Rijks, among others, seems to make a habit of being awarded a Michelin star everywhere he cooks. For his new restaurant, Wils on the top floor of the former Citroën garage, Bijdendijk and colleagues Erwin Oudijk and Friso van Amerongen were awarded a Michelin star within a year. Restaurant Wils has a large fire pit where all dishes are prepared according to the pillars of purity, uniqueness, quality and simplicity. The chefs cook refined, seasonal dishes in the open kitchen. – Stadionplein 26

Bar Baut

Michiel van der Eerde is one of the most striking hospitality entrepreneurs in Amsterdam. The well-known chef owns Baut, the itinerant pop-up restaurant. After a culinary tour of 6 locations in Amsterdam, from Wibautstraat to Stadionplein, Prinses Irenestraat, Rokin, Paradijsplein and Spaarndammerstraat, Michiel van der Eerde settled in a permanent place on Stadionweg last year. “Amsterdam Zuid needed a good bar where you can enjoy a drink combined with small tasty bar snacks. We are responding to this with Bar Baut. The menu is a collection of the best dishes from 6 editions of Baut,” says Van der Eerde. – Stadionweg 320

Two Chefs Brewing FoodBar

After the success of Two Chefs FoodBar on Hugo de Grootplein, the brewery Two Chefs Brewing recently opened a second location on Stadionplein. On the site where Bar Alt used to be, you will now find a restaurant, bar and tasting room in one, where you can enjoy freshly tapped beers from Two Chefs Brewing every day in combination with delicious dishes made with ingredients from local artisans. Two Chefs FoodBar has a huge sunny terrace that is heated in bad weather, so that you can always enjoy it with friends. – Stadionplein 103

Vlaamsch Broodhuys

Vlaamsch Broodhuys bakes like top chefs cook: with high-quality ingredients, culinary inspiration and years of experience. Since 1996, Dimitri Roels and his bakers have been baking nutritious and tasty sourdough bread – with much success, because anyone who tries this special bread really can’t go back. On Stadionplein you will find a branch of Vlaamsch Broodhuys, a cosy place to relax in Amsterdam Zuid. – Stadionplein 113

Mr. Sam Asian Bistro

The surprise of the Stadionbuurt is without a doubt Mr. Sam Asian Bistro. What a treat it is to dine here in style. The menu is all about fusion, featuring seared tuna tartare with cassava chips, king prawn tempura rolls with kimchi mayo, grilled miso lobster and a variety of the tastiest sushi. At Mr. Sam, you really feel like you’re out on the town. In addition to the great Asian dishes, they also shake and stir the best cocktail classics here. – Amstelveenseweg 344

Umeno

Amsterdam Zuid’s best-kept secret is Umeno. There is no place in Amsterdam where you can eat better than in this small restaurant on Agamemnonstraat. Opening its doors in 1978, Umeno was the first Japanese restaurant in the Netherlands. In the authentic interior, sushi is made in a traditional and artisanal way and guests can easily imagine themselves in Japan. Gourmets can enjoy the best that Japanese cuisine has to offer at Umeno. – Agamemnonstraat 27

Cucina Casalinga

Cucina Casalinga is the culinary centrepiece of the Stadionbuurt. Everything in this intimate restaurant breathes the atmosphere of Italy. The Italian restaurant is known for its great hospitality and fine Italian dishes. The chefs here cook with fresh ingredients from the Mezzogiorno, the culinary rich south of Italy. The vegetables, herbs and fruits come from Sicily, the olive oils and pastas from Benedetto Cavalieri and the sausages, hams and cheeses from the island of Lipari. Seafood and meat are purchased locally from Jan van As and Lindenhoff. – Stadionweg 271

Vascobelo

Just a stone’s throw away from the Olympic Stadium, you’ll find Vascobelo, a great coffee bar and restaurant in one. It’s famous for its coffee, breakfast and lunch, and the perfect place for an aperitif or drink. Unique to this V-bar are its high ceilings and beautiful open kitchen. The location has an intimate and warm atmosphere, where you can relax and enjoy a drink with friends. Vascobelo also has a lovely south-facing terrace, on which you can enjoy all their delicious dishes in the sun. – Stadionplein 100

Saturday Market on Stadionplein

The weekly market on Stadionplein is the Saturday outing for many residents of Amsterdam Zuid. This lively market with its cosy stalls and bustling terraces is the ideal place to shop for fresh products and enjoy a drink afterwards. At the Saturday market you’ll find everything from fresh bakery stands to cheese stalls, fishmongers, fruit and vegetable sellers, poultry vendors, patisserie stalls, a hummus specialist, flower stands and sellers of Italian and French delicacies. – Every Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00.