Blauw Amsterdam

Blauw Amsterdam on Amstelveenseweg near Vondelpark is one of the Netherlands' most highly regarded Indonesian restaurants, celebrated for its commitment to authentic rijsttafel — the colonial-era Dutch-Indonesian tradition of presenting a feast of small dishes alongside rice. Indonesia's long presence as a Dutch colony left a permanent mark on Dutch food culture, and the rijsttafel — literally 'rice table' — developed as the format through which Dutch hosts could present the extraordinary breadth and depth of Indonesian regional cooking. At Blauw, the rijsttafel for two offers a carefully curated selection of twenty or more dishes: satays marinated in coconut and lemongrass, rendang beef slow-cooked for hours in aromatic spice paste, gado gado with its peanut-dressed salad, crispy tempeh, various sambals of escalating heat, and rice preparations both steamed and fried. The ingredients and spice pastes are made in-house using authentic aromatics. The dining room is modern and stylish without pretension, with warm lighting and enough space between tables for conversation. Service is efficient and knowledgeable about the origin and content of each dish. Unlike many Amsterdam Indonesian restaurants that cater primarily to tourists with simplified menus, Blauw maintains a serious approach to its cuisine that draws Dutch regulars and food professionals. Reservations are strongly recommended for evening dining, particularly Thursday through Sunday when the restaurant reaches capacity.