Chapter 05 · Oost & Plantage · Dapperbuurt

Bar Botanique

7.4 /10

A rainforest-green corner bar off the Dappermarkt that cooks better than it needs to.

Steps from the Dappermarkt stalls, Bar Botanique is the Dapperbuurt's living room: a corner café drenched floor-to-ceiling in green, ferns, velvet, palm-print everything, that would be worth a drink for the room alone. The pleasant surprise is that the kitchen tries. The format is Mediterranean shared dining, a table filling up with small seasonal plates that punch above what a bar this photogenic is obliged to serve, with a menu that keeps vegetarians as busy as everyone else. Come Saturday morning for a slow breakfast after raiding the market, or Friday night when it runs until two and the cocktail list takes over from the food. It's not chasing Michelin and neither are you; it's chasing a loud, easy, green-lit evening with six friends and no one checking the bill too closely. Reliably full of locals, which around here is the review that counts.

Do the full shared-dining spread and let the kitchen send it out.

What to order

Full menu

Single Smashed Hamburguesa€12.50
'Nduja, romesco mayo and manchego on a 100g patty, the burger reviewers rave about.
Pizzetta 'nduja€11.50
Salsiccia, fennel, honey, the pick of the little pizzas built for sharing.
Croque madame€13
Sourdough, beenham, oude Beemster, fried egg, the daytime staple under the palms.
Ribeye van de BBQ (250g)€30
With herb butter; the anchor when the table of small plates isn't enough.