Vinkeles — Restaurant in Amsterdam

WARNING: Foodborne illness

Dining at Vinkeles was supposed to be one of the highlights of my trip to Europe. Unfortunately, I had a highly disappointing experience that I feel compelled to share. While the ambiance and service were commendable, I contracted a foodborne illness after consuming a meal at this establishment. It pains me to recount my unfortunate experience, but I believe it is crucial to warn others about the potential risks involved.

After about 3 hours of my 4-hour experience at Vinkeles, I began to feel intense nausea and abdominal discomfort. Unfortunately, these symptoms escalated quickly, leading to a distressing bout of vomiting upon returning to my hotel.

To be fair, I cannot definitively attribute my illness to Vinkeles. However, given the timing of my symptoms and the fact that I had not eaten lunch that day, I find it difficult to believe that the restaurant was not the source of my illness.

Perhaps more distressing than the illness itself was Vinkeles’ response. Even after alerting them to my symptoms, Vinkeles staff insisted that my illness must have been contracted elsewhere. To support this claim, they said that nobody else on this date reported a foodborne illness. I am sure that they will respond to this review with this same argument.

However, this explanation does not account for the fact that my meal had a meat substitution for dietary reasons, which no other guest had. Given the onset of my symptoms (~2 hours after the substituted meat), I believe that this meat may have been the source of the illness.

As a patron, I trusted Vinkeles to provide a safe and enjoyable dining experience. Unfortunately, they did not provide either and refused to accept responsibility for the incident afterwards. Please be aware of my experience and exercise caution when deciding to dine at Vinkeles.

I want to stress that this review is not intended to discredit the entire establishment or its staff. I acknowledge that unfortunate incidents can occur even in the most reputable of places, and I hope that this was merely an isolated incident. It is my hope that my unfortunate encounter was an anomaly and that the necessary measures will be implemented to prevent similar incidents from happening...

Nestled within the historic walls of the Dylan Hotel, Vinkeles is a sanctuary of refined luxury, where gastronomy, ambiance, and service unite to create a dining experience unlike any other in Amsterdam. It’s an intimate escape for those who appreciate the finer things in life—a destination for true connoisseurs, privacy seekers, and lovers of culinary artistry.

The location itself is a masterpiece, steeped in history yet effortlessly contemporary. Housed in a former 18th-century bakery, the restaurant’s exposed brick walls, soft candlelight, and plush furnishings exude an understated elegance. The atmosphere is hushed and exclusive, perfect for those who value discretion and intimacy in their dining experience.

But the true magic happens on the plate. The Michelin-starred menu is a symphony of flavors, where every dish is a revelation. Ingredients are sourced with precision, technique is impeccable, and presentation is nothing short of artistic perfection. Each course unfolds like a carefully curated story—elevated yet unpretentious, luxurious yet deeply satisfying. Every bite is a celebration of haute cuisine at its finest.

The service? Flawless. Attentive without intrusion, knowledgeable without pretension, the staff at Vinkeles operates with the grace and precision of a royal court. Whether offering expert wine pairings or intuitively anticipating your needs, they make you feel not just served, but genuinely cared for.

For those who seek discretion, sophistication, and world-class dining, Vinkeles is an unparalleled experience. It’s not just a meal—it’s a moment in time, an indulgence, a memory to savor long after the last bite. I have dined here multiple times, and each visit is as exceptional as the last. I'm already looking forward to my...

We dined at Vinkeles in Amsterdam on a Friday night with high expectations befitting a two-Michelin-star establishment. While the setting is undeniably charming (intimate tables, pristine tablecloths, and a unique ambiance housed in a former theatre bakery) the experience fell short on nearly every other count.

The evening began with confusion. Three amuse-bouches were served before the menu was even presented. After querying the absence of the fourth, the waiter seemed unaware and only delivered it later, rebranded oddly as an “extra bite” before starting with the dinner, despite its inclusion on the menu.

The food itself was consistently overpowering. Flavours leaned heavily on bisques and aggressive sauces, masking rather than showcasing the core ingredients.

As a pescatarian, I had informed the restaurant in advance. While others received a rich pigeon dish, my substitution — a sparse mushroom — felt like an afterthought, both nutritionally and creatively, with no compensation for the imbalance.

Service throughout was far from what one expects at this level. Waitstaff lacked attentiveness, forgetting my tea and failing to convey the level of polish typically associated with a fine-dining experience.

Most disturbing of all, a wine service table was placed a mere 20 cm from ours, where staff spat wine from their mouth into a bucket right beside us throughout the whole dinner! Astonishingly inappropriate in any restaurant, let alone one with two stars!

While the setting promised an experience of refinement and intimacy, the execution -from service missteps to culinary imbalance- felt more like an ordinary restaurant clinging to accolades it no longer earns. One is left wondering not just how it holds two stars, but why it...