These are the best new restaurants and bars in the Netherlands
Last night (November 27, 2023), the annual Entree Awards were presented once again. They are the leading industry awards for the best new bars, restaurants and hotels in the Netherlands. An independent professional jury including trend watchers and hospitality entrepreneurs visited 55 nominated hospitality businesses over the past few months. Here are our favorites and all the winners at a glance.
The winners were announced in no fewer than 12 different categories. We’ll start with our favorite categories.
Best New Restobar: Troef
In the Best New Restobar category, Troef in Amsterdam was named the winner. A restobar is a hospitality venue with a real bar vibe, but where the dishes go far beyond traditional bitterballen and cheese sticks. The jury was impressed by Troef’s unparalleled atmosphere: “The energy is high, people are happy and the place is packed. And those dishes: explosions of flavor!” We couldn’t agree more—I’ve been there myself a few times and, like the jury, am incredibly enthusiastic about this restobar. Read FavorFlav’s review of Troef here.
Best New Dine & Drink Concept > 150 Guests: KITA
In the Best New Dine & Drink Concept category for venues with room for more than 150 guests, KITA in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht was named the winner. All five nominated restaurants in this category (alongside KITA, these are NEXT and Secret Garden in Amsterdam, Grace in Rotterdam and Flor Fina in Arnhem) stand out for their remarkably energetic vibe and the cohesive combination of design, atmosphere and food-and-beverage offering. Restaurant Kita, which opened in February this year, took home the prestigious award. The excellent cuisine, metropolitan atmosphere and combination of comfort and luxury made a strong impression on the Entree Awards jury. The menu at Kita, the Japanese translation of ‘north’, mainly features international dishes, partly inspired by Japanese cuisine. Great attention is paid to both flavor and presentation.
In the Best New Dine & Drink Concept category for venues with fewer than 150 guests, Bar Bellini in Amsterdam took the top prize. In March, Bar Bellini opened on Ferdinand Bolstraat in the heart of Amsterdam’s De Pijp: a lively place where dining and drinks flow seamlessly into one another and where there is a line outside on weekends. “Anyone who ends up here never wants to go home again,” said the jury. Other nominees in this category are Café Verlan and La Nostra Gigi in Amsterdam, Dolle Diva in Amersfoort and The Church in Arnhem.
Best New Cocktailbar: Fitz’s Bar
In the Best New Cocktailbar category, Fitz’s Bar in Amsterdam was named the winner. Fitz’s Bar is the new cocktail bar at Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park in Amsterdam. The luxurious and sumptuous bar is inspired by the ‘roaring twenties’ and has 33 seats and 7 bar stools. The style of the bar is classic, and the bartenders are dressed in white jackets with black ties. Even the glassware evokes that atmosphere. The cocktails are classic in style but modern in execution—with new ingredients, techniques and preparations. “Everything is right down to the smallest details,” said the jury, which was highly impressed. “This bar is world-class. The combination of quality, originality and the bar team makes it the well-deserved winner!” Other nominated cocktail bars are Founders Bar in the renovated Hotel Beaumont in Maastricht, La Soirée in the Marinekwartier in Rotterdam, ‘hidden bar’ The Peacock in Zwolle above café The Dublin House, and The Hague speakeasy cocktail bar Dorian.
The award for Best Bartender went to Alina Lucia Cichozki
Hospitality Entrepreneur of the Year: Herman Hell
During the Entree Awards, Herman Hell was named Hospitality Entrepreneur of the Year. His Hell’s Kitchen Hospitality Group—a nod to the famous New York neighborhood—includes twelve leading venues in and around Rotterdam, including Loos, Het Zalmhuis and café Sijf, as well as the Sugo franchise concept (more than ten locations). Herman’s focus is on growth, as he once explained, and so he opened several more venues this year. In Rotterdam, because that’s his home turf. Restaurant Grace opened opposite City Hall, where guests can enjoy a Parisian breakfast, relaxed lunch, Arabic tea, an extensive dinner with champagne, cocktails and dancing until you drop. The latter proved popular, so a mini club is also on the way—also in Rotterdam, of course. Herman’s 14th venue is the smallest club in the Netherlands, complete with disco ball and smoke machine. Count us in!
All Entree Awards 2023 winners
Here are all the winners at a glance: venues you really want to visit for their beautiful design, service and culinary offerings.
Best New Hotel < 20 rooms: Cousins, Maastricht
Best New Hotel 60 > rooms: Safari Hotel, Hilvarenbeek
Best New Restaurant Design: Odille, Sint-Oedenrode
Best New Restaurant & Bar < 150 guests: Bar Bellini, Amsterdam Best New Restaurant & Bar > 150 guests: Kita, Hendrik Ido Ambacht
Best New Restobar: Troef, Amsterdam
Best New Cocktailbar: Fitz’s Bar, Amsterdam
Best New Beachclub: Club Cabo, Zandvoort
Best New Scale Up Concept: SOJU Bar (4 locations)
Best All Day Classic (at the top for years): Café-Restaurant Amsterdam
Also read:
- 5 reasons why you’ll want to rush to The White Room
- Restaurant On Cru is the gem in Rotterdam you’ll want to know
- Hemel & Aarde in Utrecht is a beautiful venue with memorable dishes
Source: Entree Magazine, image: Pim Ras
