I've start this simple blog post, listing a few good vegan places to eat in Amsterdam (IMO).
This is just going to be just based on my personal experience, but since reading The China Study, Whole and a few other well written modern books on good plant-based nutrition, I then started googling 'Amsterdam Vegan' and have been repeated frustrated there isn't more info about where to eat out.
1) Dophert
I am happy to recommend anywhere which does a good vegan meal and/or is making an effort to accommodate vegans. However my first recommendation is an exclusively vegan restaurant/cafe.
What do I like about the Dophert? Well here are a few highlights:
* Very reasonable: it isn't expensive and given the quality of the food, it is an absolute bargin
* Awesome smoothies: taste great and very healthy.. inspirational (ie I make better smoothies a home now)
* Black bean soup: one of the best soup you will ever taste. Although this is more like a mean dish to me than a soup.
* Peanut butter cookies: very rich and buttery (in a vegan way!)
* Decor and Atmosphere: stylish and modern decor, relax-friendly atmosphere
There are many more great dishes at the Dophert.
The only downside to the Dophert, is that it just out of the center town, slightly to the west (and I live out of the center town... slightly to the east)
http://www.dophertcatering.nl/
2) Soup En Zou
This isn't exclusively vegan or even vegetarian, but that isn't an issue for me. They typically do 6 to 8 soups on anyone day, of which roughly half are vegan, then there are a couple of vegetarian soups and a couple of soups with meat. Everything is clearly labelled vegan/vegetarian/meat so you don't have to piss about asking silly questions i.e. 'is this vegan?' then 'oh .. is that vegan?'.
What makes Soup En Zou so good, is the quality of the soups which are simply delicous. I have a soup machine at home, which isn't bad, but my soups are very bland in comparison.
Soup En Zou also publish their recipes so in theory I should be able to learn how to make their great soups. Thanks for sharing!
The main downside of Soup En Zou, is that it is a victim of it own success:
* sometimes have to queue for a while
* there isn't much seating: especially problematic in the winter and on one Amsterdam's wet and windy days
https://soupenzo.nl/
3) Betty's
If you want the 'fine dining experience' Betty's is the vegan place to go.
I reminds me of Paul Mcartney's favourite restaurant in Brighton: Terre a Terre? Only a smaller, more personal atmosphere and not quite as expensive.
Typically I'm not a 'fining dining' sort of guy, I like my food to simple, nutritious and to be served in a relaxed, friendly and informal atmosphere hence the Dophert and Soup En Zou being my number one and two favourite friendly places to eat in Amsterdam.
Still if you want to have a savory two hour dinner with elegant service and thoughtfully crafted dishes, served in small portions this is the place to go.
http://www.bettys.nl/
4) Dabka (Lebanese)
Again not vegan or vegetarian but they do have several great vegan dishes, so highly recommended!
It has the feel of a traditional family run hotel and the traditional middle eastern dishes: falafel, tahini and roast vegetables are great.
The location is great, very near central station and on a small canal behind the impressive St Nicholas church.
http://www.dabka.nl/
5) Bloem - Eten & Drinken
This cafe/restaurant is in a beautiful location on the east side of Amsterdam, in the charming Entrepotdok (18th / 19th converted warehouses, next to the Artis Zoo).
It is aim at the environmental friendly end of the market and you can taste the difference in their very fresh salads.
This isn't a vegetarian or vegan cafe, and the range of choice for vegans is pretty limited, but the food is very good and it is a very charming spot.
http://www.bloem36.nl/
