Art deco, sharing boards and craft beer at the new Café Kuyl on Rembrandtplein

At Amsterdam’s revamped Rembrandtplein, Café Kuyl has opened in the iconic NH Schiller. Lots of Art Deco, combined with modern art and the feel of a traditional Dutch brown café. What’s it like? We went to check it out for you.

Art Deco in a listed monument

Just over two years ago, I walked into this exact location. It was for the opening of Restaurant The Gaia. The restaurant, with its slightly complicated Eastern twist, didn’t last long. But fortunately, many Art Deco elements have remained, because this cultural heritage should of course not be lost.

The listed monument that houses Café Kuyl, where tout artistic Amsterdam was more than happy to spend its days almost a century ago, is steeped in history.

Eye-catcher: the special bar

The building that houses Café Kuyl was purchased by the Schiller family in 1921. Many historic elements are still in pristine condition, from the beautiful stained glass to the many distinctive Art Deco features, but contemporary art has now been added as well. Café Kuyl’s unmistakable eye-catcher is the gorgeous bar (you might recognize it: RTL Late Night was recorded here). The Spreukenzaal is also still completely intact and covered in sayings – including quotes by Shakespeare – in all kinds of languages. What a beauty!

15 gold-coloured brass taps

Café Kuyl is named after the German beer house ‘De Kuil’ on Damrak, which was opened in 1886 by George Schiller, who also founded the hotel. At the time, De Kuil was known for its beer culture, and today you’ll find 15 gold-coloured brass taps here, offering a wide range of different (specialty) beers. And if the Café Kuyl team has its way, a house-brewed specialty beer will soon be added to the selection.

Sharing boards

Beer pairs perfectly with drinks and snacks, so Café Kuyl naturally has several generously filled sharing boards on the menu, for groups or lovebirds, featuring snacks, charcuterie, flammküchen, ossenworst, sourdough bread with dips and various cheeses, among other things.

We come for dinner and take a seat in the conservatory with its bistro seating, looking out over the inviting terrace where, under the watchful eye of Rembrandt himself, people-watching is a delight. There aren’t many tourists yet; it feels a little like the calm before the storm.

Meat and vegetarian dishes on the menu

The menu includes both meat dishes, such as the Kuyl burger on a brioche bun, slow-cooked spareribs and rib-eye steak, as well as salads and vegetarian dishes, such as polenta, a halloumi salad, tomato tartelette and vegan empanadas. There’s something for everyone, but fortunately the choice isn’t overwhelming—it’s pleasantly straightforward.

We order the Catch of the Day, which today is sea bream with roasted cauliflower (€18.50), and the Steak Frites (rib eye with fries and béarnaise sauce (€24.50)). It comes with a sweet-and-sour salad with pickles. The latter is somewhat undefined and quite overpowering in flavour, but both the rib eye and the sea bream taste great. The fries even get a solid ten out of ten.

Pastries from Holtkamp

Do we still have room for dessert? Always! The menu features various pastries from Holtkamp—who could say no to that? The delicious mango and passion fruit tart is a wonderful way to finish. And a quick shout-out to the lovely service, too! With Café Kuyl, Rembrandtplein has gained another delightful historic venue.

Café Kuyl is open Sunday through Thursday from 12:00 to 01:00 and Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 02:00. 

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