Restaurant 212 is a two-Michelin-starred creative restaurant at Amstel 212, led by chefs Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot. Its redesigned main dining room seats 16 guests at six tables arranged around a central open kitchen. The currently posted chef’s menu costs €268, while the three- and four-course à la carte menus cost €258 and €328.
This is a destination meal for diners who value close interaction with the kitchen, technically precise cooking and a serious wine programme. It is less suitable for a casual dinner, a tightly controlled budget or anyone who would prefer a conventional, private dining room. Prices and service hours were last checked on 14 August 2026.
Restaurant 212 at a glance
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| MICHELIN status | Two MICHELIN Stars; creative cuisine |
| Chefs | Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot |
| Main dining room | 16 seats at six tables around a central open kitchen |
| Chef’s menu | €268 |
| À la carte | Three courses €258; four courses €328 |
| Lunch | Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00–13:30 |
| Dinner | Tuesday to Saturday, 18:30–21:00 |
| Address | Amstel 212, 1017 AH Amsterdam |
| Reservations | Book directly through the official Restaurant 212 website |
Is Restaurant 212 worth booking?
Restaurant 212 is worth considering when the dining format is part of the appeal. Guests sit close to the central kitchen, the chefs remain visible throughout service and the room is designed to make the cooking feel immediate rather than distant. The value therefore depends on how much you care about access, interaction and culinary detail—not only the number of courses.
Best suited to
- Special occasions and food-focused trips to Amsterdam
- Diners who enjoy open kitchens and seeing dishes assembled
- Guests interested in creative cooking built on classical technique
- Wine enthusiasts who want a broad, carefully selected cellar
Less suitable for
- Travelers looking for a quick or inexpensive meal
- Diners who prefer a large, quiet room with more physical separation from the kitchen
- Guests who need confirmed dietary or accessibility arrangements but have not contacted the restaurant in advance
What the dining experience is like
Many older descriptions still call 212 a 30-seat, no-table restaurant with a U-shaped counter. That information describes the original room. After the 2022 renovation, the redesigned interior reduced the main dining room to 16 seats at six intimate tables, all positioned close to the open kitchen.
The kitchen remains the visual centre of the room. MICHELIN highlights the chefs’ inventiveness, classical know-how, sauces, premium ingredients and use of local produce. The current format preserves the theatrical quality of the original concept while giving guests more comfort and a little more separation than the former counter arrangement.
Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot lead the restaurant together. Their cooking is often technically complex, but the menu is not built around novelty alone: seafood, fish, meat, Dutch cheese and the restaurant’s apple dessert appear in carefully structured combinations that change with the available menu.
Menu and current prices
The current English menu lists a chef’s menu at €268. The à la carte option costs €258 for three courses or €328 for four courses. The published menu does not state that beverage pairings are included, so confirm current drink options and prices separately.
The posted menu currently moves through seafood, fish and meat before cheese and dessert, with dishes built around ingredients such as oyster, turbot, caviar, pike-perch, langoustine, sea bass and lamb. These examples are a snapshot rather than a promise; the menu can change with seasonality, sourcing and the chefs’ revisions.
For parties larger than four, the current menu states that the five-course chef’s menu is served. Confirm the exact format, supplement policy and dietary possibilities during booking, especially when the group has several different requirements.
Reservations and private dining
Reserve through the restaurant’s own booking system. With only 16 seats in the main room, desirable dates can disappear quickly, but there is no reliable universal rule that reservations must be made exactly one month ahead. Use the live calendar rather than an older article’s booking window.
Groups can also consider the private dining room in the wine cellar, which accommodates up to 10 people and serves a five-course chef’s menu. The restaurant directs last-minute private-room enquiries to its events team.
Disclose allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements before finalizing the reservation. The public website does not publish a detailed accommodation matrix, so do not assume that every restriction can be handled. Guests who need step-free access, adapted seating or an accessible restroom should also contact the restaurant before paying.
Opening hours and practical details
- Lunch: Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00–13:30
- Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 18:30–21:00
- Closed: Monday and Sunday; no Tuesday lunch is listed
- Phone: +31 20 334 86 85
- Email: [email protected]
- Animals: The restaurant’s current policy says animals are not accepted because the dining area is small
- Dress: No formal dress code is published on the current visitor page; polished smart-casual clothing is a practical choice
The listed times are service or reservation windows, not an estimate of when a meal will finish. Confirm the live schedule when booking because private events, holidays and operational changes can affect availability.
How to get to Restaurant 212
By metro
Waterlooplein is the most convenient metro stop and is roughly a seven-minute walk from the restaurant. Service patterns and construction diversions change, so check the GVB journey planner on the day rather than relying on fixed line numbers in an evergreen article.
On foot
The restaurant is on the Amstel near Waterlooplein and Dutch National Opera & Ballet. From Rembrandtplein, walk east toward the river and continue to Amstel 212. The entrance is discreet, so use the street number rather than expecting a large sign.
By bicycle
Cycling is convenient from most central neighborhoods. Use a designated public bicycle rack nearby and allow time to find a legal space. The sources reviewed did not confirm dedicated or secured restaurant bicycle parking.
By taxi or car
Give the driver the full address—Amstel 212, 1017 AH Amsterdam. Central parking is limited and can be expensive. Drivers staying outside the centre may find an official Amsterdam P+R more practical than searching for a nearby street space.
A brief history of Restaurant 212
Van Oostenbrugge and Groot opened 212 in 2018 after working together at Bord’Eau. The restaurant gained its first MICHELIN Star in the 2019 selection and a second star in 2021.
A fire during the night of 4–5 March 2022 forced the restaurant to close. It reopened on 9 November 2022 with a substantially different interior and a reduction from 30 to 16 seats. That change is why many older reviews, directory listings and social posts no longer describe the current dining room accurately.
Frequently asked questions
How many MICHELIN Stars does Restaurant 212 have?
Restaurant 212 currently has two MICHELIN Stars. The MICHELIN Guide classifies its cooking as creative and lists the restaurant in its highest price band.
How much does Restaurant 212 cost?
The currently posted chef’s menu is €268. The à la carte menu is €258 for three courses or €328 for four courses. The published menu does not state that drinks are included.
When is Restaurant 212 open for lunch and dinner?
The official site lists lunch Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 13:30 and dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 18:30 to 21:00. Recheck before visiting because hours can change.
How far ahead should I reserve Restaurant 212?
Book as soon as your date appears in the official calendar. The main room has only 16 seats, and the restaurant does not publish a fixed one-month booking rule.
Does Restaurant 212 have a dress code?
No formal dress code is published on the current official visitor page. Polished smart-casual clothing is a sensible choice for the setting.
Can Restaurant 212 accommodate allergies or dietary requirements?
The public site does not list a detailed accommodation policy. Share every allergy and dietary requirement before booking and wait for direct confirmation from the restaurant.
Are dogs allowed at Restaurant 212?
No. The restaurant’s current policy states that animals are not accepted because the dining area is small.
The bottom line
Restaurant 212 is best understood as a small, highly interactive fine-dining experience rather than a conventional luxury restaurant. Its strongest reasons to book are the 16-seat setting, direct view of the kitchen, two-star cooking and the option to choose between a chef’s menu and à la carte courses. Check the live menu, disclose any requirements early and reserve directly with the restaurant.
