Restaurant in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Canal-side dining, easy to book now.
Restaurant Olivar occupies a prime canal-side address in Amsterdam's Old Centre, making it a reasonable pick for an explorer-minded diner seeking a tasting menu experience in a atmospheric setting. Booking is easy by Amsterdam fine dining standards. Verify current pricing and menu format directly before committing — public data is limited.
Restaurant Olivar sits on Oudezijds Voorburgwal 10, right in the heart of Amsterdam's Old Centre. If you've been before, the canal-side address alone may draw you back — but the real question on a return visit is whether the kitchen still justifies the trip. With limited public data on current menus, pricing, and awards, Olivar is one to approach with curiosity rather than certainty. Book it as a discovery, not a guarantee.
The address places Olivar steps from some of the city's most visited canals, which means foot traffic and atmosphere come built in. For the explorer-minded diner who wants tasting menu progression and a sense of place, Amsterdam's Old Centre is a credible stage. A well-constructed tasting menu in this neighbourhood should move through distinct chapters — arrival snacks that orient the palate, a mid-sequence that builds, and a closing course that lands with intent rather than trailing off. Whether Olivar delivers that arc is something the restaurant's current team controls, and without verified menu data it would be misleading to describe specific dishes or aromas from the kitchen. What the address suggests is a setting that rewards the kind of diner who wants to be somewhere, not just somewhere convenient.
For context on what the Amsterdam fine dining tier looks like: Ciel Bleu (€€€€ · Creative) and Vinkeles (€€€€ · Creative) represent the leading of the city's tasting menu offering, with strong credentials and higher price points. Spectrum (€€€€ · Creative) and Flore (€€€€ · Contemporary) are also worth comparing before you commit. If you're building a broader Amsterdam dining itinerary, Bistro de la Mer (€€€ · Classic Cuisine) offers a lower-commitment option in the same city.
For Dutch fine dining outside Amsterdam, De Librije in Zwolle, Aan de Poel in Amstelveen, and Inter Scaldes in Kruiningen are the benchmarks worth knowing. Internationally, Le Bernardin in New York City and Lazy Bear in San Francisco show what a tasting menu with clear editorial ambition looks like at its leading.
Reservations: Booking is currently rated Easy , you shouldn't need to plan weeks ahead, but call ahead rather than walking in. Booking window: A few days to a week out should be sufficient given current availability. Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 10, 1012 GP Amsterdam. Getting there: Central Amsterdam is well served by tram; the Old Centre is walkable from Amsterdam Centraal in under 15 minutes. Dress: No confirmed dress code , smart casual is a safe default for a canal-side address at this level. Budget: Price range is unconfirmed; check directly with the restaurant before booking if budget is a deciding factor.
For more Amsterdam dining options, see our full Amsterdam restaurants guide. Planning a longer stay? Browse our Amsterdam hotels guide, our Amsterdam bars guide, and our Amsterdam experiences guide.
The canal-side Old Centre address suggests a relaxed but presentable standard. Amsterdam dining culture generally skews informal, so neat casual clothes should fit here without issue. There is no documented dress code requirement for Olivar.
The location on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, one of Amsterdam's most atmospheric canal streets, works in its favour for a celebratory dinner. Booking is currently rated Easy, so you are not fighting for a table months out the way you would for Ciel Bleu or De Kas. That accessibility makes it a lower-friction choice for occasions where reliability matters more than exclusivity.
No group-booking policy or private dining details are documented for Olivar. Given the canal-side Old Centre location, space constraints may apply, so check the venue's official channels before planning a party larger than four. For confirmed private dining options in Amsterdam, Bolenius and De Kas both have documented event space.
Specific menu items and dishes are not documented in available venue data, so any recommendation here would be speculation. Your best move is to check directly with the restaurant before visiting. If the menu format is a key factor in your decision, confirm it when you book.
For a step up in ambition and credential, Ciel Bleu carries Michelin recognition and a higher price point. De Kas suits diners who want a garden-kitchen setting with a sustainability focus, while Bolenius offers a quieter, produce-led experience in the South. BAK in Amsterdam-Noord is worth considering if you prefer a stripped-back, chef-driven format with canal views. Wils is the option for an explicitly plant-forward menu.
The address at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 10 puts you in the Old Centre, so arriving by foot or bike is easier than by car. Booking is rated Easy, meaning you do not need to plan weeks ahead, but a reservation is still worth making rather than relying on walk-in availability. Cuisine type and price range are not publicly confirmed, so check the current menu before setting expectations.
The Easy booking rating makes solo visits low-friction since you are not competing for a scarce table. Canal-side Amsterdam restaurants in the Old Centre tend to have counter or small-table formats that work well for one. Without confirmed seating layout details, it is worth mentioning a solo preference when reserving.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
