Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam Set-Menu Lunch or Dinner

Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam by the Singelgracht

Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam occupies a large canal-side building on Max Euweplein, a small square with a giant outdoor chessboard, right on the Singelgracht, the outer canal that once marked the edge of the seventeenth-century city. Inside, the walls are hung with electric guitars, signed instruments, stage costumes and gold records, part of the chain's famous collection of rock music memorabilia, and the sound system keeps the soundtrack loud and lively.

In good weather the canal terrace is one of the nicest places to eat in this part of Amsterdam, with tour boats gliding past and tall trees lining the opposite bank. Your voucher gives you priority seating at the time you book, which matters in the evening and on weekends when the restaurant is busy. The Rock Shop next to the dining room sells the well-known T-shirts and pins, paid separately.

The Electric set menu

The Electric menu is the fuller of the two set menus: a starter, a main course and a dessert, served with one soft drink, coffee or tea. The kitchen focuses on classic American dishes, so expect choices such as sharing-style starters, generous burgers, grilled chicken or salads, and indulgent desserts. The exact dishes on the set menu are chosen by the restaurant and can change with the season, and staff will show you the options at the table.

Allow about 75 minutes for three courses at a comfortable pace. If you prefer a lighter meal, the Acoustic menu offers two courses with the same drink choice in about an hour. Tell the staff about allergies or dietary needs when you sit down; vegetarian choices are usually available. Additional food, further drinks, shop purchases and tips are not included in the voucher.

Leidseplein and the surrounding streets

The restaurant sits just around the corner from Leidseplein, one of the liveliest squares in Amsterdam. Built where the old road to Leiden left the city through a gate, the square is now lined with theatres, cafes and street performers, and the grand city theatre, the Stadsschouwburg, has stood here since 1894. In winter part of the square often hosts an ice rink, and in summer the terraces are full until late.

How to get to Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam: several tram lines stop at Leidseplein, about two minutes on foot, and the walk from the canal ring along the Leidsestraat takes around ten minutes. Combine your meal with an evening stroll along the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, where the canal houses and bridges are softly lit after dark.

Museumplein and Vondelpark nearby

The location makes this set-menu meal easy to fit into a museum day. The Rijksmuseum is about ten minutes on foot to the south-east, and the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum line Museumplein just beyond it, so a lunch slot between two visits works well. Book your table for after your museum time slot and walk over across the bridges of the Singelgracht.

To the south-west lies Vondelpark, Amsterdam's largest and most loved park, opened in 1865, with ponds, lawns, rose gardens and a pavilion. A walk through the park after a three-course meal is the perfect way to unwind, especially on a sunny afternoon when residents gather on the grass. In the evening, the late seatings at 21:00 and 21:30 suit travellers returning from a day trip outside the city.