Vintage Bar & Restaurant Mata Hari is Amsterdam’s Hidden Gem

Vintage Bar & Restaurant Mata Hari is Amsterdam’s Hidden Gem

Situated at the northern edge of Amsterdam’s red light district lies an absolutely sensational restaurant bar pegged Mata Hari. Featuring a cozy beer garden in its front patio, it exudes the prototypical European watering hole located at a prime spot right along the city’s picturesque canals. I walked through the red light district Saturday evening and this place was packed with people! It definitely looked like a grand time. I came to Mata Hari for lunch on Sunday and it was actually quite peaceful and cozy – a big surprise, really. Once a famous gambling house, Mata Hari was named after an exotic dancer and courtesan who later became a spy for France. The building has been revived and now serves ingenuous yet delicious Dutch food. The menu is seasonal so expect the list of options to change every three months. Mata Hari unexpectedly big, consuming two levels. I decided to sit next to the window at the front of the restaurant since I enjoy people watching in Europe after all.

I started off with a delightfully warm Dutch cocktail meat-based croquettes for appetizer with a side of mustard, also known as Dutch Bitterballen. The exterior was crispy hence it produced a fun combination of hot, creamy and crunchy consistency in my palate. I enjoyed it with a local brew called Zatte from the Brouwerij’tij brewery. It was quite a strong beer, in terms of alcohol. The appetizer was also somewhat heavy since it contains potatoes. Additionally, I had the soup of the day featuring broccoli, feta cheese, and olive oil soup glazed with melted cheese on top. This was an enjoyably creamy soup. It had a very natural flavor to it and the ingredients used are exactly what it tastes like. It was simple and impactful to the appetizer experience.

For the mains I was able to enjoy two dishes: A fresh and satisfying smoked trout and a wonderful Black Angus burger. The smoked trout came from the waters of Norway served with juicy Dutch shrimps, avocado and sherry mayonnaise. It was quite a nourishing dish. I was pleasantly surprised that this restaurant bar serves such a healthful plate. They truly cater to a wide selection of customers. This dish also had various cucumber, arugula, and lemon. Moreover, the mayonnaise was homemade. Another clever feature is that this dish was served on top of scrumptious spelt bread. Overall the plate felt very light and nutritious.

The other platter, a traditional burger, is certainly a restaurant bar classic. Of course Mata Hari introduces its own wonderful version. The burger has some neat perks. It showcased a sustaining Black Angus beef, cheddar, spicy ketchup, pickles, roasted peppers and onions. The bread was precisely well toasted where the outside of the bun was crunchy while the inside remained soft and tender. The burger patty itself was homemade. It practically tasted like a steak burger. The burger, in its entirety, had a good balance in flavor and texture – overall a suitable well-rounded burger.

For dessert I enjoyed their homemade tiramisu. Everyone does tiramisu in their own way and this place exploits particular key ingredients: strawberries and rhubarb cello. The root barb introduces a vegetable base. There were also some flavors of mint that contributed a nice surprise. It was truly quite lovely.

For a restaurant bar, Mata Hari proposes perfectly cooked food paired with a striking historic and vintage vibe. It is a marvelous and splendid bistro to sit back and relax in while indulging in delicious fares. Everyone should also enjoy a beer or two or many more! I recommend making reservations or coming early in the evenings in order to get a good table as it certainly gets bustling!