9x the best of the Red Light District

For those who don’t look closely, it may seem as though there’s nothing to eat in the Red Light District besides fries and American pizza. Yet there are quite a few restaurants that we’re happy to make the trip for. And if you’ve ended up there by accident, we don’t judge; you can replenish the necessary calories at these places. And enjoy them, too.

Xampanyeria Centra

In our eyes, the guys from HotMamaHot can do little wrong. As sad as we were when their Dum Dum Palace (also in the Red Light District) closed, we were just as happy when Xampanyeria Centra opened. In the spot where the famous Centra was located before it closed in 2016, there’s now a lively Spanish restaurant with incredibly delicious food. Not tapas, but beautiful Spanish dishes to share. You can order cava from just €2.50 per glass, so a fun evening is guaranteed here.

Bridges

This Michelin-starred restaurant focuses mainly on fish, and each course is even more beautiful than the last. The chef’s menu consists of four to six courses, ranging from €69 to €89. For those who don’t want to spend quite so much—or have just left some money behind with a scantily clad lady—there’s also a daily changing three-course lunch menu. You can order that from just €31.50.

Mata Hari

If you want to escape the crowds of the Red Light District for a while, you can do so on the benches and comfy chairs at Mata Hari, with a delicious platter full of mezze. Upstairs, you can also have lunch or dinner at tables. The menu goes in all directions, but everything here is good. From bulgur with eggplant salad to fresh linguine with Zeeland mussels or a grilled rib-eye. You can also just have a drink, in which case you can relax at the large bar.

ANNA

For a slightly more upscale dinner, head to restaurant ANNA. For €37, chef Ben van Geelen prepares a delicious changing three-course menu. Perfect for when you don’t feel like concept-driven food service with vegan bowls and avocados, but simply want to eat exceptionally well for an evening without any fuss.

De Zeedijk

For Asian food in the Red Light District, you naturally head to Zeedijk. A street with so many delicious options that it deserves an article of its own. Luckily for you, I’ve already written one: you can find it here. Whether you’re in the mood for dumplings, roast duck or wonton soup, you’ll find it all on Zeedijk—and at a very reasonable price, too.

Oriental City

Not on Zeedijk, but very good Chinese food. You come here around lunchtime to fill up completely on dim sum. Dumplings, turnip cake, scallops fried in noodles, sticky rice steamed in lotus leaf and, for the real daredevils, chicken feet. The service is terrible and on weekends there’s a good chance you’ll first have to queue to get inside, but as soon as you take that first bite, it’s all worth it.

Ramen-Ya

Sticking with the Asian theme for a little longer: at Ramen-Ya, they make their own noodles every day. No wonder the Japanese noodle soup here is incredibly delicious. The favorite is the karaka-men, a spicy pork-based tonkotsu. So filling, yet so delicious. If you’re a really big eater or order a lighter soup, you might even be able to add a portion of kara-age (fried chicken) as a starter.

The Lobby

This is one of my favorite places for an elaborate breakfast or lunch. Classics such as eggs Benedict or a bagel with salmon are executed perfectly here, and you sit so comfortably that you sometimes accidentally stay all afternoon. With or without a glass of wine. For those with a sweet tooth, the blueberry pancakes are highly recommended, but the sugar-bread French toast is also incredibly delicious. If you simply stay long enough, you’ll surely get hungry again and order both.

Cannibale Royal

This is where you go for meat, meat and more meat until late into the night. During the week, you can eat until midnight, and on weekends even until 2:00 a.m. What do you eat? Steaks in all shapes and sizes and juicy burgers. From a classic one with fried onions and crispy bacon to La Cannibale Royale with pulled pork, cheddar, sauerkraut and bourbon barbecue sauce.