Oost is one of the more undiscovered areas of Amsterdam. This neighborhood is a bustling melting pot with many terrific hidden gems.

NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM OOST

Let’s explore Amsterdam Oost!

Amsterdam Oost Neighborhood Facts

Oost has that great mix of cultures and economic levels which makes it a vibrant neighborhood. The Indische Buurt and Dapperbuurt are chock full of awesome ethic grocers and shops, the fancy Plantage area has lovely leafy streets with stately homes and Java-eiland’s modern buildings provide housing with water views.

Technically Oost is the area bordered by the Mauritskade to the north and the A10 ring to the south, and includes the Oostelijke Eilanden. For the purpose of this article we include the Plantagebuurt and eastern part of the Centrum, as there are many undiscovered hotspots hiding there.

Oost is a large area, and there are many different shopping streets and neighborhoods. Some of the busiest include the Linnaeusstraat/Middenweg and the Javastraat with the Dappermarkt that takes place nearby.

EATING + DRINKING IN OOST

Oost is full of excellent restaurants, cafes and bars and new ones seem to pop up weekly. Here are some of our current favorites.

Coffee, Breakfast & Lunch in Oost

Coffee Bru: chill out with terrific coffee and food too
Rum Baba: the coffee & tea is fantastic but the baked goods take the cake
G’s Oost: tasty brunch all day long, cocktails too!
Drovers Dog: super yummy Aussie style brunch, lunch and dinner
Bedford Stuyvesant: great coffee in a cool location
Vergulden Eenhoorn: retreat to this hidden garden for lunch under the trees
REIN: a great place for a healthy lunch or smoothie
Beter & Leuk: vegetarian and vegan delights
Thuis aan de Amstel: dine in a peaceful garden or charming old house along the water
Bakers & Roasters: everyone’s favorite cafe in the Pijp now has a second location at Kadijksplein

BEST BURGER IN AMSTERDAM - Smokin Barrels

Restaurants

Vergulden Eenhoorn: retreat to this garden or the refurbished barn for a delicious dinner
Walter’s: a tropical colonial themed spot for dinner & drinks
Restaurant De Kas: fresh gourmet dining in a remodeled greenhouse
De Biertuin: hang out in this relaxed beer garden with some grilled chicken
Gallizia: the tastiest Italian food on the east side
Mercat: modeled after the markets in Spain, come for paella, serrano ham or sangria
Smokin Barrels: BBQ lobsters and burgers, plus beer and cocktails
Restaurant C has just opened on the Wibautstraat
Nelis
Eddy Spaghetti
Instock: fight food waste and have a tasty meal at the same time
Cafe Restaurant Plantage: brasserie style dining next to the zoo
Gebr. Hartering
Wilde Zwijnen
Thirty5ive Wine & Food
Pompstation: steaks, just how you like them
Boi Boi: a cool new Thai food hotspot
Pata Negra: Spanish tapas to share for a gezellig time
Vijfnulvijf: new Asian eatery
Eastside: opening soon
Odessa Pizza & Grill: wood oven pizza on a boat
De Ysbreeker: lovely cafe along the waterside
De Tropen: the new restaurant by the Tropenmuseum

Bars & Cafes in Oost

De Biertuin: lots of local and international beers to choose from
Brouwerij ‘t IJ: local brewery under a windmill
‘t Nieuwe Diep Proeflokaal: our favorite secret place
Amsterdam Roest: the coolest spot to chill out by the water
Bar Wisse: friendly neighborhood cafe with great cocktails and food
Bar Bukowski: great laid-back bar with weekend cocktail bar next door
Hiding in Plain Sight: probably the best cocktails in Amsterdam
Canvas at Volkshotel: rooftop bar and club with amazing views
Bar Joost: awesome local bar with local beers
Langedijk: when the brewery closes down, hop next door for more great beer

Here are a few more of our favorite foodie businesses in Oost:

Worscht: gourmet sausage and cheese
Thull’s: homemade pickles and condiments
Frank’s Smokehouse: amazing smoked fish and meats
Stooker Roasting Co: coffee roaster & barista academy, open to the public on Saturdays

THINGS TO DO IN OOST

Oost might not have the sheer number of hotspots as other areas like Oud-West or de Pijp. But some of Amsterdam’s best parks and festivals are in Oost.

Oost is full of beautiful parks. Check out Flevopark, Oosterpark, Amstelpark and my favorite: Frankendaelpark – home to Merkelbach and De Kas. Don’t miss the Pure Markt that takes place in the parks a few times a month.

In addition to plenty of parks, there are also quite a few places to visit and things to do. Have you been to Artis Zoo yet? In the summer Artis also hosts weekly concerts. be sure to also visit the world’s first microbe museum: Micropia. Or check out Amsterdam’s beautiful Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.

The Tropenmuseum is worth a visit, especially on a rainy day when you can be transported to the tropics. The museum has recently been renovated and updated. They also just opened an elegant new restaurant with a big terrace overlooking the park too.

For something unique, wander around the eastern docklands including Zeeburg and Java-eiland, and check out the architecture there. Don’t miss the car-free Funenpark development. If you are looking for some indoor activities, check out a movie at Kriterion or Studio K.

GETTING AROUND IN OOST

Of course in Amsterdam the preferred mode of transport is always the bicycle but it is easy to reach Oost by tram or on foot. Check out 9292.nl for tram routes to and from the area.

If you need the Metro there are several stations in the neighborhood including Wibautstraat, Weesperplein and Amstel stations. The area is also accessible by NS train at Muiderpoortstation and by ferry to Noord from Java-Eiland.

Come visit Amsterdam Oost and enjoy all the things this fantastic neighborhood has to offer!

Be sure to check out the handy map to find locations of our favorite places. Take a look at out our other Neighborhood Guides:
NINE STREETS, RED LIGHT DISTRICT, OUD-ZUID & DE PIJP, NOORD, HAARLEMMERBUURT and OUD-WEST

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NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE: AMSTERDAM OOST