Gluten-Free Restaurants in Amsterdam

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During my six-week stay in London, I had the privilege of taking a weekend trip to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is only 3.5 hours, by train, from London, and I must say, the train is a very pleasant and relaxing experience (minus the waiting in a VERY LONG queue at customs on the way back).

Here is what I found to be gluten-free in Amsterdam along the way.

Gluten-Free Breakfast in Amsterdam

We stayed at the Westcord Fashion Hotel in Amsterdam. It was a 10-minute train ride from the city center, so we were initially a bit upset that we had booked a hotel so far away. But then we realized how accessible the city is by train, and we were okay with the short commute.

We loved our hotel too. It was comfortable, clean, and a little bit on the fancier side. Besides loving the pillows (oh, those super soft and cozy pillows), I loved the free breakfast in the morning. The Westcord Fashion Hotel offers a substantial breakfast with everything you can imagine. My kids and family loved it. Of course, it’s always hard to find something gluten-free and safe to eat on a breakfast buffet.

I told the manager I had a gluten allergy (celiac disease), and he offered to make me some baguettes the first day and told me that the eggs, hash browns, and fruits and vegetables were all safe for me to eat. He warmed up two delicious sweet brioche rolls (he said he wrapped them to warm them up so they didn’t touch any gluten). I enjoyed them dipped in Nutella. Delicious!! I also enjoyed an espresso from the espresso machine.

On the second day, the manager prepared for me. He must have gone to the store because the second morning, he had warm gluten-free croissants, gluten-free brioche rolls, gluten-free toast, and gluten-free muffins awaiting me. Holy cow – look at this spread!

I was in gluten-free bread heaven!

I think all – or at least some – of these products are by Schar (although I’m not certain). Schar makes so many delicious gluten-free products and is very popular in Europe. Schar is to Europe what Udi’s is to the U.S. – Schar products taste quite good, though!

I had heard that Pancakes Amsterdam offered delicious and safe gluten-free pancakes. It was on my list of gluten-free restaurants in Amsterdam to try – but I did not get there because I enjoyed this wonderful free breakfast at my hotel each morning instead. However, if you are in Amsterdam, do check out the gluten-free options at Pancakes Amsterdam. (I noticed a line out the door on Sunday morning when we passed by the restaurant.)

Gluten-Free Lunch in Amsterdam

For lunch, I enjoyed a fast meal at Bagels & Beans. There are many Bagels & Beans locations – so wherever you go, you are probably near one of these gluten-free restaurants in Amsterdam.

Bagels & Beans serves up so many fun sandwiches, all topped on a bagel. They have a generous gluten-free menu, with processes in place to prevent cross-contact with gluten, so I felt safe eating her.

Of course, I had my Nima Sensor with me, so I let Nima take the first bite. Nima was all smiles, so I went ahead and ate my bagel sandwich. This was the perfect quick lunch before we headed over to the Anne Frank House for our 2:00 pm reserved time slot. (The Anne Frank tour was a MAJOR highlight for me – make sure you book your tickets months in advance!)

I had heard from other gluten-free bloggers that McDonald’s offered gluten-free French Fries and burgers in Amsterdam. I think I drove my family crazy because I was insistent on going to McDonald’s for lunch despite the fact I wouldn’t be caught dead in one here in the U.S.

I told the order taker I had a “gluten allergy / celiac” and asked for the gluten-free hamburger and fries.

Unfortunately, however, my Nima Sensor said the burger was not gluten-free (the fries tested gluten-free, though). I passed on eating the burger. Too risky. Maybe I caught McDonald’s on a bad day because other gluten-free bloggers have had better experiences here, but alas, I did not. We were on the go, so there was no time to waste. I ended up eating emergency food and snacks in my purse.

Please note McDonald’s fries contain gluten in the U.S.

Gluten-Free Dinner in Amsterdam

We enjoyed two wonderful gluten-free dinners during our visit – and I highly recommend you visit these gluten-free restaurants in Amsterdam when you visit.

On the first night we enjoyed a delicious and hearty meal at Restaurant La Vina. This is an adorable cafe that was fairly central to where we had been touring that day.

I met the restaurant owner and learned she has celiac disease, too. Most of the menu is totally gluten-free (minus a few items), and she takes many precautions to ensure no cross-contact with gluten. I felt safe eating there and was happy to have had the opportunity to meet her!

I enjoyed this wonderful gluten-free seeded bread, which was warm and doughy, and is served alongside olives, crushed tomatoes, and butter.

I also ate this gorgeous caprese salad:

And this well-seasoned steak – yum!

On the second night, we ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant called Cafe Piazza – it was very central to everything touristy in Amsterdam. This restaurant was top-rated in the Find Me Gluten-Free app, and it boasts a generous gluten-free menu.

I LOVED everything about my meal (except when it was all gone). This lasagna is so delicious and seriously the BEST item on the menu. It’s a personal-sized lasagna, and I would order this same dish repeatedly if this restaurant were near my house. The olive in the center tells the waiter that this lasagna is gluten-free (without the olive means, it contains gluten).

I also enjoyed this gluten-free pasta dish with chicken. It was a bit on the small side, but the sauce, oh my goodness, was so good! Of course, I let my Nima Sensor take the first bite, and Nima was all smiles!

On the last day, before we left for the train station, we found ourselves at the Museum Market just outside the Rijksmuseum. We had no idea this existed; we just stumbled upon it. According to the website, the market is only on the third Sunday of the month, so we got lucky because that’s when we were there.

There were so many street food vendors at the Market, many serving up totally GF food. My husband shared an Indian dish, a fresh-pressed fruit and vegetable juice, and these chips (French fries) by Dapp. There were so many exciting options – I’m so happy we found this market!

I know there are so many fun gluten-free restaurants in Amsterdam. I only got to scratch the surface of what the city offers. I hope, however, that when you travel to Amsterdam, you’ll at least know a handful of gluten-free restaurants in Amsterdam you can safely enjoy. If you find others, leave a comment so we can help others safely navigate this city.

Read about gluten-free restaurants in London, and gluten-free restaurants in Paris!

Struggling to eat out gluten-free safely? Download my book, Eating Out Gluten-Free, for all my tips and trips to safely navigating restaurants when you cannot eat gluten!