Bridges Amsterdam

Bridges sits on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, a five-minute walk from De Oude Kerk. The restaurant holds a Wine Spectator Excellence Award and serves an international seafood menu.

Most visitors to this part of the city chase the chaotic energy of the nearby canals, but Bridges offers a retreat from that clamour. It is dressier than its neighbours and treats its modern menu with more rigour than the tourist-heavy spots bordering Dam Square. While others lean on their proximity to the Royal Palace for foot traffic, Bridges uses its wine list to pull in a local audience. If you are tired of the frantic pace of the city centre, the room runs smart enough to provide a calm, deliberate pause.