Located on the 23rd floor atop the Okura Hotel, home to two Michelin-rated restaurant including 1-star Michelin Yamazato, Ciel is the fancier and more heralded of the two located on the 23rd floor of a property we probably wouldn’t visit if not for its star chef and 2-star Michelin rating. A mannered entrance with rounded hostess podium and wall of sheer curtains under a chandelier that looks like an inverted flower bouquet leads to a space that’s surrounded in walls of glass and city views. Comfy, plush chairs offer a matching tufting of velvet-upholstery on the ceiling with pendant lighting in a main dining room with zig-zag printed carpeting. Two private banquet rooms and a chef’s table offer even more eccentric design details from sculptural artwork to artistic lounge furnishings that are thoroughly Dutch design.
The Food
Ciel Bleu is one of Amsterdam’s most prized eateries with two Michelin stars 16 Gault Millau points. Two inspired chefs, Onno Kokmeijer and Arjan Speelman, work their culinary magic on local ingredients in surprising combination of flavor and visual artistry. An intricate menu of ala carte and prix fixe specialties include 3-way lobster with ravioli, tempura and raw presentations; foie gras du jour, back of Scottish salmon served with horseradish cream and grilled scallops with black truffle. Main course is a mastery of halibut covered in lobster, foie gras and black truffle, sea bass with saffron, Irish lamb with garlic froth and traditional pigeon with foie gras and gnocchi.
Last Word
2-star Michelin eatery by Onno Kokmeijer located atop Okura Hotel offer gourmand experience unrivaled in Amsterdam.
