Jansz.: the gem in Amsterdam (with a courtyard!) you really want to know about

Restaurant Jansz., right in the middle of the Nine Streets in Amsterdam, is one of my favorite hideaways in Amsterdam. In summer, I love coming here because of the Jansz. courtyard, where it is such a pleasure to spend time. But the interior is also a wonderful place to sit, especially now that top chef Arnout van der Kolk has joined the team. 

Jansz. opened its doors in 2016 and, although it is a hotel restaurant—Jansz. is part of the Pulitzer Hotel—locals also love coming here. This really is a lovely place where the food is delicious. Especially with chef Arnout at the helm. Arnout has worked at Envy, Oud Sluis, Restaurant C and Ciel Bleu, among others, so you know what that means: it is a real treat!

A collection of canal houses

The Pulitzer Hotel is made up of a collection of canal houses overlooking the Keizersgracht and the Nine Streets. The interior is truly beautiful. Modern, but with references here and there to its rich past. For example, the copper details in the open kitchen refer to the seventeenth-century copper merchant Volkert Jansz., who owned the building that houses Jansz. during the Dutch Golden Age.

Former pharmacy

The entrance on Reestraat is beautiful; through the former pharmacy next to Jansz.’s terrace, you walk straight into the restaurant.

The menu: deliciously local

The menu is colorful, fresh, light and elegant, with plenty of seasonal vegetables. And wherever possible, they cook exclusively with local ingredients. Oerbiet beetroot, polder chicken, fish from the North Sea, Dutch dairy beef, and also the wonderful sourdough bread from Fort Negen.

Menu highlights

Believe me, it is difficult to pick a favorite from the menu—everything here is simply fantastic! From the pak choi salad with oyster leaves and a buttermilk dressing (!) to the ravioli with peas and crispy morels; everything is so fresh and vibrant. You can taste that the cooking here is done with an incredible amount of love and enthusiasm.

A glass of rosé

In addition to the menu, Jansz. has an excellent wine list—from exclusive to very accessible—with something for everyone. A favorite with the fresh summer menu? A lovely ‘bottle’ of MiP rosé.

The menu changes with the seasons, but true Jansz. classics, such as the grilled half lobster, remain.

P.S. A little Jansz. at home? Then make the bimi with salmon and black rice or the iconic Marinara Meatballs from restaurant Jansz.

Jansz.
Reestraat 8, Amsterdam

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