Mata Hari

Our group of eight visited Mata Hari to celebrate three birthdays, drawn in by the restaurant's stylish reputation. While the ambiance was undeniably beautiful—moody lighting, elegant decor, and a lively atmosphere—the dining experience itself left much to be desired, especially for the price. The bread was excellent—warm, fresh, and delicious. The location itself is stunning, making it a great spot for a special occasion or drinks. Service was attentive, which we appreciated for a larger group. The portions were shockingly small for the cost. A single lamb skewer (€26) came with just one small croquette, and the meat itself was overcooked and underseasoned—it lacked any distinct flavor. The fries (€7) were also overpriced for what felt like half a normal portion. Flavor balance was inconsistent. The cuttlefish was overpowered by nduja, making it hard to appreciate the seafood itself. Other dishes felt like they were trying too hard to be refined but missed the mark in execution. Value for Money? Given the high prices, we expected far better quality and more generous portions. For a group of eight, the meal felt like poor value—we left still hungry and disappointed. Mata Hari is a beautiful restaurant with great ambiance, making it ideal for drinks or a light bite. But for a full dinner, especially with a larger group, the food doesn’t justify the cost. We wouldn’t recommend it for a celebratory meal unless you’re prepared for tiny portions and hit-or-miss flavors.

Got recommended by a Dutch friend of mine. Food was OK, nothing special but the atmosphere good! All staff young and well prepared ! Good position if you also want to spend the night at the centre of Amsterdam, by the Red Light area.

We booked a table for my birthday and had a fabulous time. We're locals and dine here often. We adore the aesthetics and the unpretentious, chic ambiance. We religiously bring international guests here, as the Red Light District location is constantly buzzing and something to behold... but ideally from the distance and comfort of the Mata Hari restaurant. With guidance from our well informed and charismatic waitress, we order a variety of dishes to share amongst six. The food was good (especially the butterfly Sea Bass) but there wasn't enough of it... the men were still hungry! So we finished off our meal with a round of delicious cocktails, beautifully presented with a touch of birthday sparkle ✨ Thanks Mata Hari, we'll be back xxx

This place is truly a hit! A truly unique location. Open kitchen, delicious flavors. The beef tartare was one of the best I've had in Amsterdam so far. I can't wait to come back to try more!

Great restaurant in the center of Amsterdam, right in the red light district. But with the advantage of being away from the crowded streets. The place is beautiful, with a lounge and chill atmosphere. The bar is on the first floor and the restaurant on the first. You can see the kitchen and the staff, and the waiters are professional and helpful. The meal was delicious, especially the Pappardelle. Make sure you make a reservation before coming. Prices are rather high, so expect to pay at least 100 euros per two.

Unfortunately, my experience at this restaurant was disappointing. The service was below expectations — I felt ignored for most of the evening, and the staff seemed uninterested and inattentive. I ended up canceling my main course due to how I was treated. For a place with such a reputation, I expected much better hospitality. I won’t be coming back.

Absolutely loved the place and the food! The staff is very friendly and the dishes were delicious. Would definitely recommend for dinner or just to have drinks at the bar. They have great cocktails as well!!

After asking for the drink menu we waited 15 minutes, but the waitress still didn’t show up and the place was not full. We decided to leave and upon leaving we mentioned the long waiting time to the waitress. Her response: “Sir, I don’t care”. This is very unprofessional from someone working in hospitality.. unfortunately, I can’t give zero rating to this review.

This restaurant really earns its spot as one of top restaurants in Amsterdam. The food was delicious and the ambiance is very chill and welcoming. Servers are very kind, but for a New Yorker a bit slow, but that's pretty standard for most European restaurants. The menu is slightly smaller than what we would've liked, but the dishes we ordered were spot on. We shared a burrata for an appetizer, which was so so good! It was the perfect texture and had great flavor. I got the ravioli and my boyfriend got the fish of the day, which was cod. We both really enjoyed our meals. I liked that my ravioli has asparagus in it, really added to the flavor of the pasta. The butter sauce it was cooked in was very tasty! Will definitely be back when I visit Amsterdam again!

The restaurant is located at the beginning of the red light district. The staff here are very friendly. For appetizer we had the baked burrata which was absolutely delicious. For our entree we had the entrecote steak. We asked for Medium and it came out very raw. I was turned off from the meal and couldn't eat it. We had to send it back to be cooked further.

Very lovely place right on the canal with great view of people watching. It was a very warm evening, and having a table outside was very pleasant. The service was great and the food was excellent. I had the ravioli and the dish was a little salt for my taste but still good.

What a great restaurant! Wonderful atmosphere, delicious food, beautiful presentation, fresh options, and polite staff. We arrived with a party of 6, we were asked to wait a short bit while they prepared the table upstairs. We expected to have a leisurely dinner with good conversation. I never felt like we were waiting too long or being ignored. The minor things we needed to ask for (a missing spoon, another bottle of water, a forgotten salad) were all addressed promptly and politely. I enjoyed the catch of the day (Sea Bass), while others enjoyed the Butcher's Cut (Duck Breast). The Beetroot and Goat Cheese salad was fresh and tasty. The Grilled Seasonal Vegetables were a very nice companion to the entrees. I thoroughly enjoyed every part of my meal and would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a nice evening out.

3.5 Stars We came here for dinner as it was recommended by my friend's friend. Mata Hari is located in the Red Light District and has an eclectic menu of Mediterranean and European eats. It was packed on a Saturday night; but fortunately, we were able to grab the last table on the upper level. When we arrived we were told that the kitchen was closing in 10 minutes and could only order entrees, which was too bad because the mezze plates for starters looked really appetizing. Most of the dinner items on the menu didn't appeal to me and were expensive, but I ended up ordering a large size of the Tagliatelle with Rabbit and a Manhattan. The Manhattan drink was disappointing, as the glass was mostly filled with ice, so it really watered down the booze. But most importantly, have you ever drank a Manhattan with ice? Very strange. I would not recommend it at all; I could hardly taste the whiskey. Fortunately, my dinner was better. The tagliatelle with rabbit had a really nice olive oil and lemon base with it and there were some veggies and herbs. But I wished there had been more rabbit, since it was very tender and flavorful. However, the tagliatelle pasta was cooked perfectly. I'm glad I ordered a large size of it, too, because the portion was smaller than expected. Service was iffy. We asked for water twice before getting any and not sure if the place was so busy that our server kept forgetting about us, but we had to keep waving her down to get any kind of service. Mata Hari is a fine restaurant, especially in such a tourist-y area. I have a feeling this place would've been better had we visited earlier, to take advantage of the full menu. But, I did like my pasta and hardly ever eat rabbit, which is a nice change of pace.

A nice late night bar in Amsterdam. The interior is nice and the bar is well stocked. They make all sorts of cocktails to order and offer a range of drinks to choose from. Service was ok and the place was not too busy when we went there.

Perfect gin and tonic with copper head. Bartender added cilantro along with the lemon peel which is a nice touch. Wife commented that the g&t tastes like the ones at home since I use lemon instead of lime and fever tree as well. The draft beer lacks carbonation and distinct flavor but that's to be expected as this bar is mainly a wine and cocktail bar.

Great find in central Amsterdam on a quiet street. Shared a yummy lamb burger with my hubby. Normally don't like thick fries but they were perfectly crisp and hot. Buns were thin but held good flavor with pickled onions, tomato and like chili mayonnaise. Lamb was delightful, flavorful and mixed well with the extras. Good service and very helpful. Forgot to take pictures because we were so hungry!

This was a perfect place to eat on a hot summer evening. We sat outside near the canal. We ordered a delicious bottle of wine and between the three of us shared a vegetarian mezze and meat mezze. They were amazing! First of all, they are HUGE! They are definitely for two people and there were so many delicious options. A frittata, fresh mozzarella, pakora type fritters, polenta in a yummy sauce, beet salad, guacamole, eggplant dip, and a few more things I don't remember. The wine we ordered was really tasty!!! The second bottle of red on the menu. It's Italian. The whole experience was great. Hopefully I'll be back.

This review is only based on drinks during the morning . Well around 11 am . During a layover in Amsterdam. My husband and I walked around the RLD and cheese shops ( what a combo) . It was such a beautiful crispy day we decided to have a drink and enjoy the view. I didn't yelp or google this place . We were just waking around and saw this bar and walked in. We asked the waitress if we could sit outside so we can enjoy the beautiful weather and view . They have amazing outdoor seating. Long benches right next to the Canal. The friendly waitress brought out menus. They had variety of drinks, I only remember the wines. Good choices all around. My husband ordered a whiskey and I ordered one of favorite wines . The Portugal wine , verde wine . Amazing !!! It was perfect crispy and chilled to perfection. I believe the price was $6-8 Euros. I don't remember how much the whiskey costed. Then we were joined by the another group of travelers and shared amazing stories . The waitress didn't mind . She had such an amazing and friendly way about her . That only elevated the moment. We ordered another around and pay the tab and left. She was very accommodating and the wine was amazing. And of course the atmosphere or the environment was so beautiful. My only regret was not asking what was name of the wine .

Came in for a drink (we'd had a couple of drinks previous and were sober). Was a large group in front of us who were served and when it came for us to be served we were refused as we were told we were part of the group in front (we weren't!) and they had had enough?! Bar staff on a power trip, obnoxious and wouldn't go to again as there are better bars in the area that are not nearly as pretentious. Note - this review is actually zero...

SO good. Service was wonderful, absolutely need a reservation. Everything was cooked perfectly, and had a nice variety of choices also.

Very nice location right next to the canal. Nicely lit for a romantic night out. Very quiet and laid back. I had a Gin & Tonic and it was delicious. I got the catch of the day which was red snapper. It was cooked perfectly and everything was very tasty. The service was excellent as well. My wife is vegan and the sever asked the chef what he/she could make into a vegan dish and they did it with no complaints. That's always a plus for us. Had a great time!

Mata Hari is hidden in the Red Light District and all the other touristic bars in that neighborhood.... Once you have entered this spot, you directly feel the great atmosphere! They have even in total 2 floors with the bar on the first floor. The lightning is great which gives a good vibe. I remembered that the salad with Rib Eye strip which I had was sooooo good! They also have cozy couches where unfortunately we had no chance to take a seat there, because it was already taken.... The 2 times I have been to this place, it was actually very busy - which is of course a good sign. The service was great. One thing what happened was the following: There was a group of 6 persons who were waiting for a table. We were sitting on the first floor and were asked friendly whether we can move to the 2nd floor for another table. In this way the 6 persons could take place on the big table we were actually sitting. And we even got some free drinks because of that :) so after all it was not a real problem and we were asked very friendly!

We went here last night with 7 co-workers. The ribeye steaks were awful. The guys that ordered the duck also complained. And to top it all off one of my coworkers had food poisoning all night.

Decent drinks and a good price, the staff were very friendly and offered a great counter balance between the modern and the old imagine if the red light district. Try the mojito and the whiskey sour both were really good!

Just eh. Had some drinks and food and wasn't impressed by either really. The place is cute though but I dont want to spend money just because it's cute. We tried several different dishes and none were noteworthy. That's pretty sad. It's located in the heart of the red light district, right near Casa Rosso and Moulin Rouge. The service was good, and I enjoyed the company (we were here with the Amsterdam CM Flippie!), but it just didn't cut it for me. We were hungry a few times after eating here, and decided to pass since we weren't impressed the first time. There is WAY too many good places to eat in this town to come back to a place that just didn't WOW me.

This is an amazing, romantic, delicious, food adventure spot. Thanks to coming here, I tasted the best gin and tonic I've ever had! Their flavors are new, exciting, and hip - but not necessarily in a hipster/trendy way. They take quality, appearance, and food seriously, but without a sense of trying too hard or pretentiousness. The food presentation is exquisite as well, and does not distract from the equally exquisite flavor combinations. I highly recommend this restaurant for all occasions, but is especially sweet for a special treat with someone special.

This is a comfortable place to sit outside next to a canal, have a beer and watch the hustle, bustle and wanderings in the Red Light District. They have a small menu with salads, some sandwiches and snacks which I think is the bar menu.There is table service and seating inside as well as a more extensive restaurant with a full bar. I didn't make it inside as I was mostly looking for places to sit outside and have a beer. I'll go back later and check it out.

Had a great birthday dinner at Mata Hari. Atmosphere upstairs was cozy and more suited for dinner than the downstairs. Food was excellent. The fish special was delicious! Recommended wine paired well with our meal.

This hidden gem is located on the edge of the red light district. The view of the canal at nighttime is quite lovely. We made a reservation. for 630 on a Wednesday night. it was SUPER busy but we were seated right away. The wines by a glass list was fairly small but those items on the list were both tasty and inexpensive. We shared 2 antipasti appetizers among the four of us. Each of the meat and cheese items on the platter were very good. Two of my co-workers had the steaks while another co-worker and I each had the duck. I have very high standards when it comes to duck. This was absolutely outstanding. It was super fresh and had a lovely pomegranate compote accompanying it. My co-workers said their steaks were really good also. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Amsterdam!

First night in town and this place exceeded my expectations. They accommodated our large group and were very attentive. We tried most dishes and the standouts were their seafood, super fresh and tender. Also that watermelon martini, HOLY S**T! One of the best cocktails that has ever crossed my path.. had about five and was left wanting more. Located right in the middle the craziness of the red light district surprisingly, made a fun and delicious dinner, of course had to indulge in some wonderful herb after this splendid meal. Outstanding indeed.

Mata Hari provided me with what is undoubtedly one of the best meals I've had in Amsterdam, both in terms of the quality of the food and the dining experience. We walked in on a Friday night and were able to grab a table downstairs (the upstairs was fully committed). Our waitress was very nice and worked the rather large section she was responsible for impressibly. Throughout the service, she was attentive and cheerful. The food was pretty fantastic. We ordered the dumplings as an appetizer and while the portion was a little too small to share, they tasted wonderful. I ordered the catch of the day (Cod that day) and it was cooked perfectly and really delicious; the side dishes it was served with were also great and I left nothing on the plate. They have a bar menu also and serve it at the seating outside, so I will definitely come when the weather permits sitting by the canal to have a drink and a snack. I'll make a reservation the next time I come for dinner too, because the room upstairs is very charming.

Super cool and laid back vibe, wonderful Gin and Tonics and the chicken liver papardelle (if memory serves me correctly?) was one of the most sumptuous and rewarding bowls of pasta I have ever had. Friendly service sat us last minute on a Friday night, even though they were fully booked. Recommending to all my traveling friends!

We loved our meal here! Local brews, great vegetarian Mediterranean options (what we were after) and in the heart of the red light district. I could not say enough good things about this place or my Gin + Tonic with basil and cucumber. Wish it was a bit closer....

Went here together with a larger group (total 16 persons) from my work. The place is located at the end of the red-light district in Amsterdam, next to one of the canals. The interior of the place looks quite nice and the I have to say that the staff was very friendly and attentive! The food was really nice, especially the starter looked amazing (all kinds of small dishes: bit of fish, bit of meat, bit of vegetables). For the main course, we had the choice of either fish, vegetarian, or rib-eye steak. I opted for the rib-eye steak and was not disappointed: the meat was very nicely cooked!

I'm so pleased with this find. My boyfriend went here first with work - "you won't believe this place, just on the end of the red light district but so good!" and then without realizing it I booked it for some friends and I. I have to agree - great central location just steps away from the craziness. The downstairs bar area with some comfy couches and tables is perfect for a drink or dinner, whereas the upstairs is cozy and classy. The service was unpretentious and attentive. The food was top-notch. I really cannot recommend this place enough. Why not five stars? Hmm, they didn't do anything to truly blow me out of the water. Maybe next time? For now go book yourself a table, enjoy and thank me later!! FYI booking is indeed recommended as I went on a Thursday night and there were only two small tables free upstairs and downstairs was completely packed.

One of my favorite place for an afternoon lunch or late night drinks. Lunch sandwiches are always satisfying and served on cute wooden boards. Interior feels like an old Amsterdam living room , staffs are friendly. Hidden in the red light district, very beautiful at night with the lights reflected on the canals.

Geat food, classy decoration, good service. Pretty alive downstairs bar. Good for dinner and lunch.

Very nice staff with good service and the food was pretty good too. The location is right on the border of the RLD so easy to find a good spot for a night cap afterwords.

Sweet little cafe with over stuffed chairs and couches. Staff is amazing and sympathetic to rough mornings!

I met some friends here for dinner last week. I was pleasantly surprised at how reasonably priced and yummy it was. I ordered the daily seafood special and it was really good. I liked the ambience and atmosphere there as well. Their bar area downstairs was so filled with people when we were finished that we could barely get through to leave, it must be pretty popular too. Recommended.

I had an amazing meal here. This bar has a somewhat classy atmosphere, and is quite expansive, as it has 2 stories. I got a half dozen oysters, which were nothing special, followed by Dutch ricotta tart with tomato sauce that was unique and excellent. I followed it with a "chocolate salami" for dessert, which is something my grandma (who is not Dutch) makes. It's basically a thick chocolate roll with biscuits, nuts, and fruits embedded inside. It comes with a liquor that goes along quite well.

We ate here our last night in Amsterdam. The setting was beautiful, unfortunately the food was not very good. The steak was very tough and chewy, everything else was only okay at best.

Food was delicious, staff are great at making drinks. Service is a little slow but I think it adds to the laid back atmosphere

Good food, rude service. I live in Amsterdam and have visited Mata Hari a few times over the past year. The food is always pretty good, lovely interior but the service is so-so. I came here once on a Friday for dinner with friends and the server told us to be quiet because apparently we were making too much noise. The thing was.. Friday's are probably the busiest day for dinner, the restaurant was already full with people, it was extremely noisy to begin with and we could barely even hear each other! I thought it was pretty inexcusable to treat a paying customer in such a rude manner. I hate to say it but whenever I would go there with my dutch friends, I would get much nicer treatment than with my expat friends. In hindsight, I can't say I've returned since that incident.

Came here for a work dinner, great atmosphere. Food was delicious, I have to say the fresh oysters were great. Great music selection and I noticed a cool bar upstairs. I'd come back for sure next time I'm in town.

I recommend this place if you are in Amsterdam and want to get some drinks while you have late lunch. The atmosphere is very nice, the music is cool and the food is delicious. I recommend the mozzarella sticks with chili sauce and the hamburger!

A former gambling hall, I expected it to embrace it's former self and be more sexy and intriguing. Where the decor - a mix of a English and Chinese tea parlor with a dash of gastropub and splashes of modern Ikea-ish design elements - fell just a step short, the attractive crowd, surprisingly friendly and attentive service, scrumptious food and overall energetic vibe more than made up for it. The place was designed for groups in mind with several menu items perfect for sharing. The hot and cold apps medley was very popular - I saw each group ordered one. The chicken thigh salad was also good although the small portion was definitely a small. If you have any sort of appetite get a large and something else. One peculiar thing that my friend and I noted was how many large groups of attractive women were in the restaurant - the ratio was about 8:1. I don't know if we stumbled into a girls night safe zone but something to definitely be aware of.