Café Belmondo

Café Belmondo on Leidseplein occupies one of Amsterdam's prime café terraces, positioning itself at the corner of the city's most active square and offering an unobstructed view of the Leidseplein's street performers, trams, and evening crowd from a well-maintained outdoor terrace that operates from spring through autumn. Inside, the café has the character of a genuine grand café: high ceilings, quality fittings, a long bar, and the kind of ambient light and noise level that makes it comfortable to sit for an extended time over food and drinks. The menu is French-inspired and covers the range of grand café classics: croque monsieur and croque madame, French onion soup, club sandwiches, tartines, and a selection of daily specials that draws on what the kitchen can source freshly. Coffee is good, beer is well-served, and the wine list is sufficient for a casual evening without aspiring to sommelier territory. Café Belmondo functions primarily as a drinks and snacks destination for many visitors — a beer on the terrace in the evening light with Leidseplein's energy around is the essential Belmondo experience. The location is excellent for visitors coming from or going to the Heineken Experience, Paradiso concert venue, the Melkweg, or the many cinemas and theater venues around Leidseplein. Service is efficient given the high volume of visitors the square generates.