From Mezze to Masterpiece
I’ve never been the biggest fan of fine dining. I can appreciate the art of it, but most of the time, I’d rather have something simple. Still, every once in a while, it’s nice to sit somewhere elegant and let the meal unfold like a story.
Nela Restaurant
Beethovenstraat 515, 1083 HK Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 22, 2025
Our second night in Amsterdam called for something a little different, a proper fine dining experience. We ended up at Nela, a sleek, modern restaurant known for its open-fire kitchen and beautifully plated dishes. The restaurant was both high-end and approachable. Located in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, Nela combines an open-fire kitchen with beautifully presented dishes. It was high-end without feeling overly formal, which made it a good fit for a different kind of night out.
Nela Restaurant Amsterdam offers a different take on the city’s dining scene, with live-fire cooking and a menu that brings together seafood, vegetables, and meat.
We started with what turned out to be my favorite dish of the night: charred Padrón peppers. Simple, and smoky, they came with a zesty lime aioli that could be paired with anything. I’m not sure what kind of magic they put in that sauce, but it was good enough to make us order another round.
Next came the tempura shrimp, crispy and light, and yes — it came with that same incredible sauce. If Nela sold it by the bottle, I’d have left with a case, airplane liquid limit be damned.
Then came the mains, ranked strictly by personal preference. First up, octopus with butter beans, cooked to perfection; tender, not chewy, and paired with a rich, tomato-based sauce. You know me, if octopus is on the menu, I’m getting it. Interestingly enough, I would have octopus again a few days later in Lugano.
Next was the open-flame sea bream, coated in a green rub that reminded me of pesto. The flavor was bold yet balanced, and it complemented the fish perfectly. Ever since my trip to Japan, I’ve had a soft spot for sea bream, so I couldn’t pass it up.
The sea bass followed, simply dressed with olive oil and sea salt to let the natural flavor speak for itself. It was clean, straightforward, and delicious in its own understated way.
What stood out to me about Nela Restaurant Amsterdam was the attention to detail shown in every dish. It was perfect and didn’t make every dish feel unnecessarily complicated.
Like most fine dining experiences, though, it wasn’t exactly filling. My boss, still hungry, confessed he was craving ramyun of all things. So we wandered into a nearby grocery store and grabbed some Shin Red instant noodles. I skipped the ramyun and went for something more my speed — a late-night döner kebab from a shop near my hotel.
There’s something I love about nights like that. Nights where fine dining and street food coexist in the same story. I’d happily return to Nela Restaurant Amsterdam, although I’d probably leave room for that late-night kebab again.
