Located on the third floor of a former warehouse overlooking the water, Bak offers a seasonally-influenced menu that changes daily. (Rather than ordering à la carte, guests choose from set menus of three or six courses at lunch and six courses at dinner.) The restaurant, housed in a minimalist, industrial-chic space in the Houthaven neighborhood, also boasts 500 wine labels from throughout France and Italy.

For incredible food and a cozy atmosphere, Balthazar’s Keuken cannot be beat. The charming restaurant, housed in a former blacksmith workshop, features an open kitchen and rotating 3-course menu that changes according to the chef’s whimsy (with a choice of fish or meat entrée). The dining room can be occasionally crowded, but it further enhances the “dining at home” experience. There is alfresco seating in the summer months.

If you have one only night in Amsterdam and want to celebrate with a delicious tasting menu in a special setting, take a taxi to De Kas, in south-eastern Amsterdam. The restaurant is in a soaring glass conservatory, making it a particularly romantic spot for lunch or dinner during the warm summer months. For dinner, the menu is prix fixe only, consisting of five surprise courses that change often and include vegetarian choices.

The chef champions local ingredients, either plucked from the adjoining hothouse, where diners can see the produce for their dinners growing, or trucked from nearby farms. There’s nothing rustic or simple, however, about the presentation and the flavors. During a recent visit, the appetizer consisted of small portions of three dishes: a light scallop-and-grapefruit salad drizzled with lobster vinaigrette, chicory wrapped in tender Ibèrico ham and two types of Arat potatoes served with a gooey soft-boiled egg and chopped walnuts. The main course, a perfectly prepared slice of duck with crispy skin, came on a spiced pumpkin pie, and dessert was a trio of bay-leaf-infused pound cake, a poached pear and bittersweet chocolate-mocha ice cream.

Although it has been in operation since 2001, De Kas remains a spot to see and be seen, but the staff is congenial and down-to-earth. Reservations are necessary. For special occasions, you can book the chef’s table, in the kitchen, or the private pavilion, in the garden. Tip: if you come for dinner, stop at the InterContinental Amstel for a drink before journeying on to De Kas, about a thirty-minute drive from the canal belt.

Hemelse Modder—meaning “heavenly mud,” a reference to its signature chocolate mousse dessert—serves Dutch fare with international influences (particularly French) in a bright dining room located on the broad Waalseilandsgracht canal. The popular eatery offers three-, four- or five-course menu options featuring vegetarian as well as meat and fish dishes, with an emphasis on seasonal vegetables.

Lauded chef Yotam Ottolenghi counts Toscanini as his favorite restaurant in Amsterdam, and indeed the cozy spot in the Jordaan neighborhood perfect for date night or a family friendly meal. Open since 1985, the hot spot proves that some things (think freshly-baked bread, handmade pasta and simple fish dishes) never go out of style.

The one-Michelin-starred Yamazato, located in the Okura hotel, serves impeccable Japanese cuisine with a high-end ambiance. The Netherlands aren’t known for sushi, but this spot is a destination in and of itself, and well worth a visit.