Restaurants in Monnickendam
For a town of its size, Monnickendam has a surprisingly varied choice of places to eat: breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, from an informal eetcafé to tapas, pizza and a long evening at the table.
In and around the historic centre you will find restaurants for every moment of the day. Several of them sit right by the harbour, where in summer you eat outside with a view over the water. If you are staying at Stay@Gouwzee, you are in the same historic centre as almost all of these restaurants. Menus and times change, so check the current opening hours before you set off and book directly with the restaurant at busy moments.
Where can you eat in Monnickendam?
Monnickendam has eleven places to eat that we have gathered on this page, all in the town itself and largely in or around the protected centre. The choice runs from a town café serving breakfast and a bistro by the harbour to a pizzeria, a tapas restaurant, a Chinese-Indonesian restaurant and two addresses for a special evening out.
There is deliberately no ranking: which address suits you depends on the time of day and what you are after. Below we group them by occasion; further down the page you will find all eleven restaurants again, each with a link to its own website.
Lunch, dinner and drinks
Breakfast and lunch
If you like to start the day in town, Hotel & Stadscafé de Dam on the Middendam serves breakfast, and De Koperen Vis on the Havenstraat also opens for the morning. For lunch there are several options: Eterij Bob&Co on the Havenstraat, Brasserie De Waegh and Eetcafé De Ouwe Blauwe are all suitable, and Restaurant JOON serves lunch as well. Most lunch spots are in the same historic centre, so a stop at the table combines easily with a walk through the town.
Dinner
For dinner the choice in Monnickendam is broad. Practically every restaurant on this page opens in the evening, with kitchens ranging from Dutch-European and international to Italian, Spanish and Chinese-Indonesian. De Koperen Vis serves international dishes made for sharing, De Ouwe Blauwe cooks European eetcafé food, and Lievito is the place for pizza.
Drinks and tapas
For a drink with something to nibble, Bob&Co and Brasserie De Waegh are the obvious addresses, and JOON is an option for an aperitif too. If you want to make a whole evening of it, head for Los del Puerto and share Spanish and South American tapas.
Eating by the harbour and on a terrace
Part of the choice in Monnickendam sits right on the harbour. Eterij Bob&Co on the Havenstraat has a terrace by the water, and De Koperen Vis — on the same street — has a large terrace on the harbour. Los del Puerto also mentions a terrace.
Eating by the harbour means a view over the water towards the Gouwzee, with boats coming and going. Do bear in mind that terraces are seasonal; check with the restaurant whether the terrace is open before you go.
For a special evening
Two addresses lend themselves to an evening where dinner itself is the outing. Restaurant JOON, in the centre of Monnickendam, cooks in a French-inspired style. Restaurant Zwarthoed on the Zuideinde is likewise an address to consider for a more elaborate dinner.
At both restaurants you book ahead and set aside a whole part of the evening — a fitting close to a day in Waterland. What is on the table at that moment is described on the restaurant's own website.
Informal meals, pizza and takeaway
Not every evening needs to be elaborate. For something simple there are several options: Eetcafé De Ouwe Blauwe is a classic eetcafé, Lievito is the town's pizzeria and De Dolfijn on the Noordeinde is a snack bar for takeaway. Jade City on De Zarken serves Chinese-Indonesian dishes, either at the table or to take away.
With an apartment that has its own kitchen and dining table, takeaway is a practical choice on an evening when you would rather not plan anything at all.
With children or dietary requirements
Specific facilities for children, such as children's menus or high chairs, are not confirmed for each restaurant; ask the restaurant of your choice in advance. In practice the informal addresses — the eetcafé, the pizzeria or a takeaway meal in the apartment — are often the easiest with children, because the pace and the menu are simple to adapt.
The same goes for dietary requirements and allergies: if you have any, check directly with the restaurant beforehand what is possible at that moment. What is on offer changes, and a short message in advance avoids surprises at the table.
Practical: booking and opening hours
Check the current opening hours before you set off: they differ per restaurant and per season, and some kitchens close between lunch and dinner. At popular moments — weekend evenings and public holidays — book directly with the restaurant, certainly at the smaller addresses and at JOON and Zwarthoed.
Menus can change with the season; the restaurant's own website always has the most up-to-date information. Several addresses do takeaway and orders to collect, among them De Dolfijn and Jade City.
Restaurants in Monnickendam at a glance
Below you will find all eleven restaurants in Monnickendam with a short description and a link to their own website. There you will find the current menu, opening hours and booking options.
More to see and do
- Sights in MonnickendamThe Speeltoren, the Grote Kerk and the old town hall
- Things to do in Monnickendam and WaterlandBoating, cycling, walking and days out with children
- Tours and excursionsZaanse Schans, Giethoorn and Pampus island fortress
- Museums in Monnickendam and WaterlandFrom the Speeltoren to the Edams Museum
- Staying in MonnickendamWhy Monnickendam is an ideal base
- The apartmentTake a look at Stay@Gouwzee itself
- Frequently asked questionsPractical answers about your stay
- Back to the surroundingsAll categories in Monnickendam and Waterland
Frequently asked questions
- Where can you eat in Monnickendam?
- Monnickendam has eleven places to eat, nearly all of them in or around the historic centre: from town café De Dam and bistro Bob&Co to tapas at Los del Puerto, pizza at Lievito and French-inspired cooking at Restaurant JOON. All eleven addresses are listed on this page with a link to their own website.
- Can you have lunch and dinner in Monnickendam?
- Yes. For lunch, De Dam, Bob&Co, De Koperen Vis and Brasserie De Waegh are among the options. For dinner practically the whole selection is open, with kitchens from Dutch-European to Chinese-Indonesian. Do check the current times in advance; some kitchens close between lunch and dinner.
- Which restaurants are by the harbour?
- Eterij Bob&Co on the Havenstraat has a terrace by the water, and De Koperen Vis — also on the Havenstraat — has a large terrace on the harbour. Tapas restaurant Los del Puerto mentions a terrace as well. Whether a terrace is open depends on the season and the weather, so check with the restaurant.
- Do you need to book a restaurant in Monnickendam?
- It is never compulsory, but booking is sensible on weekend evenings and public holidays, certainly at the smaller addresses and at JOON and Zwarthoed. Book directly through the restaurant's website or by telephone; the links are on this page.
- Are there informal or takeaway options in Monnickendam?
- Yes. De Ouwe Blauwe is a classic eetcafé, Lievito is the town's pizzeria, De Dolfijn is a snack bar with takeaway and Jade City serves Chinese-Indonesian food at the table and to take away. Collecting a meal and eating it in the apartment is a practical option during a stay.
- What should you consider with dietary requirements or allergies?
- Check directly with the restaurant beforehand what is possible at that moment — what is on offer changes and is not recorded on this page. A short message in advance avoids surprises at the table.
Bob en Co
Eterij Bob&Co on the Havenstraat serves bistro-style food and has a terrace by the water in the harbour. You can eat in the restaurant, collect your order or have it delivered.
De Dam
Hotel & Stadscafé de Dam on the Middendam is a town café with rooms and a Dutch-European kitchen. You can come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner; book directly with the restaurant.
De Dolfijn
De Dolfijn is a snack bar where you can collect your meal. There are a few seats if you prefer to eat on the spot.
Joon
Restaurant JOON, in the centre of Monnickendam, cooks in a French-inspired style. An address to consider for a special evening; see their own website for what is currently on offer.
De Koperen Vis
Restaurant de Koperen Vis has a large terrace on the harbour and an international menu with an emphasis on shared dining. It is also suitable for breakfast and lunch.
De Ouwe Blauwe
De Ouwe Blauwe is an eetcafé in Monnickendam. The modern dining room has an informal atmosphere and serves excellent European cooking.
Lievito
Pizzeria Lievito offers a wide choice of pizzas to suit every taste. In their cosy restaurant they serve thin, crispy pizzas.
Los del Puerto
Los del Puerto is a tapas restaurant. In an authentic southern setting they prepare the tastiest bites from Spain and South America with great pleasure.
De Waegh
Brasserie de Waegh serves French-Mediterranean cooking and is housed in the historic De Waegh building in Monnickendam.
Zwarthoed
Restaurant Zwarthoed on the Zuideinde is an address for a more elaborate dinner. Good food, hospitality and a warm welcome come first here.
Jade City
Jade City is a Chinese-Indonesian restaurant on De Zarken with traditional dishes and combination platters. You can eat in or order ahead and collect.