Updated: June 2026
Amsterdam has no shortage of good restaurants, but when you’re looking for seriously fresh seafood in a setting that feels effortless rather than fussy, The Seafood Bar is the answer. With four locations across the city, it has become something of an institution and for good reason.
The Background
The Seafood Bar was founded by Fons de Visscher, a fishmonger with 27 years of experience in the Netherlands who decided the next logical step was to open a fish restaurant. He opened the first location on Van Baerlestraat in the Museum Quarter in 2012. Three years later, a second larger location followed on Spui in the heart of the city. That’s the one we visited.
The Vibe
The Spui location has a crisp, contemporary feel that somehow still manages to be relaxed. Exposed brick walls, white subway tiles, and hanging light fixtures give the long, narrow interior an ocean-adjacent energy without trying too hard. It’s bustling from the moment you walk in. The bar greets you on the right as you enter, and a staircase leads up to two quieter rear spaces on the second level, where you can settle in alongside the seafood displays and actually hear your dining companion.
It’s stylish without being precious. Casual without being an afterthought. The kind of place that works for a solo lunch or a long dinner with friends.
The Service
Excellent. The staff are friendly, efficient, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu. They’re happy to make recommendations based on what you’re in the mood for, which matters when the options are this good.
The Menu
This is where it gets serious. The menu runs from oysters sourced from different locations to giant King Crab legs, prawns, sardines, mussels, clams, lobster rolls, and a full seafood tower that justifies the occasion. Pair any of it with a crisp glass of white wine and you’re doing Amsterdam right. For the full menu and reservations, visit The Seafood Bar menu.
The Prices
On the higher end, but the value is there. The prices reflect what’s on the plate: fresh, high-quality seafood sourced with care. It doesn’t feel like a splurge so much as a fair exchange.
When To Go
The restaurant opens daily at noon and stays open until 11 PM. Reservations are recommended since the place fills up fast and queues form in the street during peak times. That said, they keep 40% of tables for walk-ins, so it’s worth trying your luck if you’re in the neighborhood.
The Locations
- Spui 15 · Centrum · +31 20 2337452
- Van Baerlestraat 5H · Zuid · +31 20 6708355
- Ferdinand Bolstraat 32 · Zuid · +31 20 2614864 · opens at 5 PM
- Damrak 213 · Centrum · +31 20 2611563
Nearby
If you’re based at the Spui location, you’re well placed for an afternoon of exploring. The Begijnhof, Kalverstraat, and Amsterdam Museum are all within easy walking distance, along with the city’s Art Market, Book Market, and Flower Market.
Canal Close
If you’re wondering where to eat seafood in Amsterdam, The Seafood Bar makes the decision easy. Fresh ingredients, a relaxed atmosphere, and staff who know their fish. Whether you’re pulling up a stool at the bar or settling into a corner on the second floor, it delivers every time.
Keep Exploring Amsterdam
The Seafood Bar is part of my nine-part Explore Amsterdam series. If you’re planning a trip or just love the city as much as I do, here’s the full collection:
- Introduction to the Series
- Facts about Amsterdam
- Dutch for Travelers
- Blooms on Wheels: Amsterdam’s Famous Flower Bikes
- DENHAM: Shopping in Amsterdam
- The Amsterdam Duck Store
- Hiding in Plain Sight: A Bar Worth Finding
- Box Sociāal: Restaurant
- Balthazar’s Keuken: Restaurant
Until next time…
· izzy