Lunchcafé Waterloo — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Lunchcafé Waterloo – A Heartwarming Gem in Amsterdam

Some places serve great food. Others serve delightful drinks. But Lunchcafé Waterloo goes one step further—they serve pure joy.

From the moment you step inside, you’re not just a customer. You’re greeted with natural contentment, as though your arrival made their day a little brighter. It’s a place where hospitality feels like second nature, not a scripted routine.

The apple pie? Yes, it’s delicious. But when the staff licked their fingers with unapologetic delight and asked, "It's really good, isn't it?" - eyes twinkling with pride - you knew it was more than just a dessert. It was a moment of shared joy, the kind that makes you feel part of something sincere and special.

And the iced cappuccino? The perfect companion. Not just expertly made, but served with the kind of enthusiasm that says: We’re so glad you’re here.

What struck us most was their contagious happiness. They didn’t just toss out a few sentences in Portuguese - they welcomed us with genuine excitement, as if seeing old friends again. And that feeling spreads. You leave with a full heart, not just a full stomach.

Lunchcafé Waterloo isn’t just a café. It’s a celebration of connection, kindness, and culinary comfort. A must-visit in Amsterdam - not just for what you’ll taste, but for what you’ll feel.

“We tend to forget what people said, what they did for us, but we will never forget how they...

My family visited in December during the rainy season (was corrected by the locals thereafter that it is rainy the whole year round) and stumbled upon this charming cafe near our hotel.

The atmosphere was relaxed, the staff were friendly, and importantly, it is a stone throw away from the usual tourist crowds. English speakers will find no language barrier here, as is typical of Amsterdam, where people are warm and welcoming.

Although we stopped by for a casual lunch, it turned out to be one of the better dining experiences we have had in Europe. The food exceeded our expectations with its flavor, portions, and variety.

Special mention goes to the sambal steak. Initially, we were skeptical as it seemed odd to see “sambal” in the midst of Europe, where chilli comes in the form of chilli packets, and was more sweet than spicy. On top of that, it was paired with steak? Unsure of what to expect, we ordered one sambal and one non-sambal steak to play it safe. To our surprise, the sambal was authentic, possibly with Indonesian roots, delivering a bold, spicy kick that reminded us of home (lots of Indonesian food back home in Singapore) but better! We enjoyed it so much that we returned another day just to have it again, despite our short stay.

Bravo to the team, keep up the...

We were outside during the storm Poli because we had some governmental appointments. We broke an umbrella, gripped some lampposts at the last minute, had something like a nervous breakdown and laughed crazily... Still, we found the strength and energy to continue our adventure and go to gemeente appointment thanks to the Waterloo! 😅

I had a hummus/avocado sandwich. All the ingredients were tasty and fresh, loved it 😍 I don't like sourdough so it was nice to have a white-bread option.

Fresh mint tea was nice. Wiped out the storms inside me with a bunch of leaves 😋 I also loved the kookjes with coffee.

The atmosphere was cozy. Looks like there are so many regulars and it's nice to see people coming inside as if they enter their living room 😇 The service was fast and the staff was kind.

After almost 1 hour, we were outside again. My feet is still wet but I am happier because I'm full with...