What Monkey Temple is
Monkey Temple is a Nepalese restaurant in Amsterdam Centrum, a short walk from Leidseplein on Lange Leidsedwarsstraat. The name references Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa west of Kathmandu that international visitors call the Monkey Temple, and the dining room leans on that theme with panorama photographs of the Himalaya and Nepalese cultural scenes rather than generic curry-house decor.
According to the restaurant’s own description, the kitchen is built around Nepalese recipes and staffed largely by chefs and employees from Nepal. The positioning is street food rather than fine dining: momo, thali, spiced curries, and fresh fruit shakes. Reviewers consistently flag two things — the momo and the heat level. Several note the food is genuinely spicy by Dutch standards and that staff will guide you through the menu if you ask for milder dishes.
Ratings diverge sharply by platform, which is worth knowing before you set expectations. The Google-derived aggregate sits at 3.9 from roughly 433 reviews, while Tripadvisor shows 4.8 from 96 reviews. Tripadvisor also ranked it #328 of 4,127 Amsterdam restaurants and prices it in the mid range. A gap that wide usually reflects a mix of takeaway and delivery experiences pulling one average down while dine-in reviews stay high.
More on the kitchen and current offering is on the official Monkey Temple website.
Open or closed? What each listing says
This is the single most useful thing to resolve before visiting. Directory data for this address is inconsistent, partly because the business has appeared under two names — “Monkey Temple (Nepalese Street Food) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner” and “Monkey Temple Indian & Nepalese Restaurant” — and across house numbers 106, 114, and 106–114.
| Source | Listed name and address | Status shown | Phone listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google-sourced profile (via Wanderlog) | Monkey Temple (Nepalese Street Food) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 114 | Permanently closed | +31 6 85763481 |
| Tripadvisor | Monkey Temple Indian & Nepalese Restaurant, Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 106–114 | Open, closed Wednesdays, roughly 12:00/12:30 to 22:45 | +31 6 27431488 |
| Restaurant Guru (page updated August 2026) | Monkey Temple, Amsterdam Centrum | Operating, opens 15:00 | +31 6 84320166 |
| OpenTable | Monkey Temple, Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 106 | Listing live, availability not guaranteed | Not listed |
Three different mobile numbers across four directories is a strong signal that at least some of this data is stale. The practical sequence: try the most recently updated number first, then the official website, then check whether a booking platform will actually confirm a table for your date. Note that Quandoo, which carried a Monkey Temple listing, is shutting its platform down at the end of September 2026, so any reservation link pointing there will break.
What to order and how to plan the meal
- Momo. The steamed Nepalese dumplings are the most frequently praised item in reviews, including one review titled simply “Best momo’s in town.”
- Nepalese thali. A composed platter is the efficient way to sample several preparations in one order, and it is named directly in the restaurant’s aggregated review summaries.
- Mango shake. Also called out in summaries, and a useful counterweight if you misjudge the chilli level.
- Ask about heat. Multiple reviewers warn the spicing is assertive. Specify your tolerance when ordering rather than after the plate arrives.
Despite the “Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner” in the business name, no current listing shows a morning opening time. Tripadvisor’s earliest listed opening is 12:00, and Restaurant Guru shows 15:00. If you specifically want a Nepalese breakfast, confirm by phone rather than assuming the name still reflects the schedule.
Best time to visit
Lange Leidsedwarsstraat is one of the densest restaurant strips in the city, tucked behind Leidseplein, so timing is mostly about avoiding the pre-theatre and weekend surge along the whole street rather than anything specific to one kitchen.
- Early evening on a weekday is the calmest window that still has atmosphere, since the street fills from roughly 19:00 onward.
- Avoid Wednesday if you rely on the Tripadvisor schedule, which lists the restaurant as closed that day.
- Weekend nights collide with Leidseplein’s nightlife crowd, and trams through the square stop around 12:30 AM, after which you are on N-line night buses.
- Late lunch is the quietest realistic option if the 12:00 opening is accurate on the day you go.
Plan to eat indoors. The Quandoo listing for this restaurant states explicitly that there is no outdoor seating, so a sunny-day terrace plan needs a different venue on the same street.
How to get there
Lange Leidsedwarsstraat sits directly behind Leidseplein, which is one of Amsterdam’s best-served tram interchanges. Recent GVB departure boards for the Leidseplein stop show lines 1, 2, 5, 7, 17, 19, and 24 calling there, and trams 2 and 12 also stop on nearby Leidsestraat. From the Leidseplein platforms the street is a walk of a couple of minutes.
- By tram from Centraal Station: line 2 runs the direct route via Leidsestraat to Leidseplein. A one-hour GVB ticket is €3.40 in 2026, a day ticket is €10, and contactless OVpay is capped at €10.50 per day.
- On foot from Dam Square: about 1 km, roughly 17 to 18 minutes. By tram the same trip is 7 to 11 minutes, so walking is genuinely competitive.
- By bike: practical, but Leidseplein racks fill fast on weekend evenings and bike theft is a real risk in the area, so use two locks and a fixed rack rather than a railing.
- By car: not recommended. Central Amsterdam parking is expensive and the surrounding streets are largely restricted; a garage near Prinsengracht or Leidseplein is the only sensible option.
- Late night: trams stop around 12:30 AM, so check N-line night bus routes if you are eating at the end of service.
Nepalese alternatives near Leidseplein
Because the operating status is unresolved, it is worth walking in with a backup. All three of these are verifiably trading and are Nepalese or Nepalese-Tibetan kitchens.
| Restaurant | Address | Why it works as a substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Sherpa Restaurant Amsterdam | Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 58–62 | Nepali, Tibetan and Indian menu one street over, with a bookable shared-dining vegetarian menu at €36.95 |
| Namche Amsterdam | Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 91 | Same street, a few doors away, and currently bookable online |
| Nepalees restaurant Mt. Everest | Spreeuwenpark 3, Amsterdam Noord | Curries, tandoori and momo; opens 15:00 and runs to 22:00, useful for a later meal outside the centre |
Frequently asked questions
Is Monkey Temple in Amsterdam still open?
It is unclear. The Google-sourced profile for Monkey Temple (Nepalese Street Food) at Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 114 is marked permanently closed, while Tripadvisor and Restaurant Guru still list an operating Monkey Temple Indian & Nepalese Restaurant at 106–114. Phone the restaurant or check its official website before visiting.
Where exactly is Monkey Temple located?
On Lange Leidsedwarsstraat in Amsterdam Centrum, just behind Leidseplein. Listings show house numbers 106, 114, and 106–114 for the same business, with postcode 1017 NN.
Does Monkey Temple actually serve breakfast?
The business name says breakfast, lunch and dinner, but no current listing shows a morning opening time. Tripadvisor’s earliest listed opening is 12:00 and Restaurant Guru shows 15:00, so confirm directly if you want a morning meal.
What should I order at a Nepalese restaurant like this?
Momo, the steamed Nepalese dumplings, are the most praised dish in reviews, followed by Nepalese thali and mango shake. Reviewers repeatedly note the food is spicy, so state your heat preference when ordering.
Which tram goes to Monkey Temple?
Take any tram to Leidseplein, then walk two minutes. Departure boards for Leidseplein show GVB lines 1, 2, 5, 7, 17, 19 and 24, and trams 2 and 12 also stop on nearby Leidsestraat. A one-hour GVB ticket costs €3.40 in 2026.
Verification note: directory data for this address was checked in September 2026 against the restaurant’s official website, Google-sourced listing data, Tripadvisor, Restaurant Guru, OpenTable and Quandoo. Operating status, hours and phone numbers conflict between sources; confirm by phone before travelling.
