9 great restaurants near Ziggo Dome and ArenA

Ahoy, AFAS Live, GelreDome, Johan Cruijff ArenA and Ziggo Dome. Those are currently the most well-known venues where many concerts are held. If I go to a concert, it is mainly in Ziggo Dome and the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Nobody wants to be late for a concert, but a nice dinner beforehand makes your evening out complete. That’s why I usually combine a concert evening in Amsterdam with a good and cozy restaurant. Since I’ve already tried quite a few, here are 10 tips of nice restaurants near the Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

1. Pavilion on the lake
2. Ode aan de Amstel
3. BAUT Backstage
4. Grandma Ietje
5. Villa Borghese
6. Miss Scarlett
7. Loetje on the Amstel
8. Ichi-E
9. Burger Bitch

Rating of the restaurants

We made this review based on atmosphere and quality of the food, travel distance from the restaurant to Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and ArenA as well as the speed of the kitchen to finish eating on time and not having to run too late into one of Amsterdam’s event venues.

Pavilion on the lake

Less than 3.5 kilometers and only 7 minutes drive from Ziggo Dome and Arena you will find Strandpaviljoen a/d PLAS in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. An atmospheric beach pavilion right on the beach of the Ouderkerkerplas, where you can not only have a quick and tasty meal to get to your concert or soccer game on time, but where you can also chill out or relax after a nice walk in the surrounding nature. When the weather is nice you can enjoy yourself on a beach bed or on the terrace or if you want to give a party, this is the right place. a/d PLAS is open daily from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 am and parking is free.

Ode to the Amstel

A quiet dinner before a concert in Ziggo Dome or Arena? At Ode aan de Amstel you’ve come to the right place! The all-day dining formula ensures that you can dine on time and get on the subway to your concert without stress. The daily changing Chef’s menu features delicious classics with a surprising Asian twist. Whether you opt for an extensive 3-course menu or a quick burger: Ode aan de Amstel is the place to be.

The restaurant-café also has a beautiful quiet terrace on the waterfront so you can leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind you. During your dinner you can enjoy the boats on the Amstel. It doesn’t get much more relaxing than this!

BAUT Backstage

BAUT Backstage is BAUT’s “pop-up restaurant” located above the main entrance of the Ziggo Dome. BAUT Backstage is selectively open during the finest concerts. Are you visiting the Ziggo Dome and want to dine beforehand in a setting that takes you “behind the scenes”? Then book a table at BAUT Backstage!

Depending on the time of the concert, BAUT is open for lunch, drinks or dinner. Per concert, BAUT puts together a themed menu entirely in the style of the artist or show. For example, at “De Avond van de Filmmuziek” there was a beautiful three-course menu with wine pairing by film director and winemaker F.F. Coppola, an over the top colorful “Like A Virgin” menu at Madonna and there was a toast at “Holland Zingt Hazes” with a can of Heineken as a welcome drink.

Oma Ietje

At only 2 stops by metro (metro station Holendrecht), 5 minutes by car and less than 2 kilometers walking you will find the coziest living room near Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and ArenA: Oma Ietje. They serve tasty, no nonsense dishes like burgers, stew, tenderloin, fish and various vegetables. But all with a special twist. Delicious bites to share with each other and kick off a cozy evening. The kitchen is open for dinner as early as 4:30 p.m., so be sure to get to your event on time without rushing.

Miss Scarlett

Just 2 stops by metro (metro station Holendrecht) diagonally opposite the AMC, a 5-minute drive and less than 2 kilometers walk away is the recently opened restaurant miss Scarlett. Miss Scarlett is a large cozy brasserie with international cuisine, and has a large terrace. Perfect for a snack and a drink before a concert, highly recommended!

Villa Borghese in Amstelveen and Amsterdam

Where you might not expect to end up at all is the Italian restaurant Villa Borghese on Laan Nieuwer-Amstel in Amstelveen. They are in a residential area, but the atmosphere inside is pleasant and beautiful. And the antipasti is finger food! And from this location you are also within 15 minutes to the parking garages around Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and ArenA. Nowadays Villa Borghese also has a branch in Amsterdam itself. You can find them on the David Ricardostraat at the Amsterdam-Sloten exit. Also from this location you can reach the parking lots around the Arenaboulevard within fifteen minutes.

Asian restaurant Mchi

You can findAsian restaurant Mchi on the IJburglaan in Zeeburg. Sounds a bit further away, but in practice it’s only a 15-minute drive to Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and ArenA. And definitely worth it to enjoy the most delicious food here before your concert! I myself love sushi and oriental food and I have never eaten such delicious sushi and peking duck pancakes as here! And then when you get the bill, you are not even much more expensive than the average eatery. ABSOLUTELY highly recommended!!!

Loetje on the Amstel

Loetje aan de Amstel can be found on the Amstelzijde in Amstelveen and is like all Loetje locations a top Grand Café known for its delicious meat. And because Loetje is very popular, it is wise to make reservations in advance. The restaurant consists of different parts separated by the large bar in the middle. It is cozy and pleasant and in the summer you can also sit on their own terrace. Besides the meat they are known for, they also have delicious sashimi, sole and much more. Great value for money because the plates you get served are well filled. They have their own parking lot and it is only an 8-minute drive to the parking lots of Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and ArenA.

Ichi-E on the Arenaboulevard

Now if you don’t want to drive at all to get from the restaurant to the event venue, Ichi-E is definitely recommended. This is a sushi restaurant where I’ve had the opportunity to have lunch with work meetings several times before, so I already knew the food is very good. When I made a reservation on the night of a concert, I was told right away that because of the concert, they were serving a special event menu to make sure everyone got back in time for the performance. Absolutely well organized and good thinking-work from the restaurant owner! We ate super, but the restaurant was really packed! Reservations can be made here.

Burger Bitch at the Johan Cruijff Boulevard

Ideal if you have standing room at the Ziggo Dome and therefore want to get in line on time, but still want something to eat is Burger Bitch. Right by the ArenA and less than a 5-minute walk from the Ziggo Dome, you will find this cool burger joint where you can not only eat in a cozy atmosphere, but also get a quick bite. So it’s ideal if you’re already in the rice queue and just want to grab a quick burger to eat while waiting. They have as many as 10 different burgers on the menu, as well as a Tasty Mermaid, hot dog and fingerlicking club sandwiches.

Don’t forget to make a reservation

During one of our last concert visits, we made a bit of a mistake. This time we had thought that we would drop by a tent somewhere on the Johan Cruijff Boulevard. And so to go to Amsterdam without a reservation for dinner.

But unfortunately we found out that on the Johan Cruijff Boulevard on these event nights it is extremely crowded at the Febo restaurant…! We did end up eating our fries but inside Ziggo Dome. There’s plenty to get there too, so it didn’t pose a problem. But we did decide to just find a nice restaurant again next time!

Eating out at other event venues

Are you going to a concert and looking for a restaurant at one of the other event venues in our country? We have also listed the 5 best restaurants near Ahoy and restaurants near GelreDome.

Credits photos: www.canva.com, OpstapmetLisa and partners