Balthazar's keuken

Balthazar's Keuken occupies a converted blacksmith's workshop on the Elandsgracht in Amsterdam's Jordaan, where roughly 30 guests sit among scrubbed wooden floors and an open kitchen. The format is distinctive: a fixed three-course meal beginning with a shared platter of five starters, followed by a choice of meat or fish, then dessert. Under chef Wanne de Vries, the menu changes weekly, guided by what the market and the seasons bring.

Founded in 1995, the kitchen is now led by the next generation: Beau, his wife Zwaan and chef Wanne. The atmosphere leans closer to a dinner party than a formal restaurant, with personal interaction between kitchen and table. A small terrace opens in fine weather.