Exquisitely captured in a period building with river-facing terrace along the Amstel, Café Ysbreeker is one of Amsterdam’s hottest meeting points that manages to avoid being singularly dubbed a café, restaurant, pool hall or bar. In fact, it’s a bit of all four located within a former seaman’s pub reconfigured by designer Ronald Hooft into a bright and airy space of mosaic stone floors, portico ceiling and façade of large glass panels with entryway wrapped in a geometrical glass cocoon. Original wood floors line the main dining room with its bentwood bistro chairs and oversize iron columns with nouveau-art detailing. Past the main bar, a vintage Wilhelmina billiards table doubles as a mixing point for edgier student spirits and occasional flannel-clad hustler working the scene of one of Amsterdam’s best bistros.
The Food
An all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner menu features an evolved presentation of local raw bar specialties including a pricey Grand Plateau, half-dozen oysters and chilled whole lobster. Appetizers of fish soup or homemade pate or pasta course of pumpkin risotto or cod gnocchi follows Caesar or lobster salad. Meaty main courses of burger with chips and steak tartar offer a brasserie feel to more traditional fried Halibut fillet or vegetarian cassoulet.
Last Word
Part restaurant and part bar, Café Ysbreeker offer top notch cuisine on the Amstel waterfront with professional singles and arty elite. The spot is especially popular on summer nights along the outdoor terrace. Photos: Courtesy of De Ysbreeker.
