Turbo is an all-day coffee spot, lunchroom and restaurant at Reinwardtstraat 1 in Amsterdam-Oost, just off Linnaeusstraat near Oosterpark. It serves Friedhats specialty coffee and house-made pastries in the morning, waffles, bagels and a much-praised broodje kroket at lunch, and Asian- and French-leaning small plates with natural wine in the evening. It takes both reservations and walk-ins.
Correction: An earlier version of this guide placed Turbo in De Pijp and pointed readers to the Ferdinand Bolstraat tram stop. Turbo is in Amsterdam-Oost, and the directions below have been rewritten.
Turbo at a glance
| Address | Reinwardtstraat 1, 1093 GT Amsterdam |
| Area | Amsterdam-Oost, just off Linnaeusstraat, between Oosterpark and Muiderpoort station |
| What it is | Coffee spot, lunchroom and restaurant serving brunch and dinner |
| Coffee | Beans from Friedhats, an Amsterdam roastery |
| Drinks | Natural wine, cocktails, beer and homemade kombucha |
| Booking | Reservations and walk-ins |
| Phone | +31 20 227 9804 |
| Sister venue | Buurtcafé De Tros, Linnaeusstraat 63 |
| Nearest transit | Linnaeusstraat and Dapperstraat tram stops, Amsterdam Muiderpoort station |
What Turbo is like
Turbo is the younger, more low-key sibling of Buurtcafé De Tros, the neighborhood café on Linnaeusstraat run by the same owners. The name comes from the owners’ favorite car, the Saab Turbo, and they have said it also reflects what they wanted the place to be: fast, innovative and easy to drop into.
Inside, expect a light room with a lot of wood: teak furniture, midcentury touches, soft lighting and wall shelves filled with books, art objects and the odd lava lamp. It feels closer to a neighborhood hangout than a formal restaurant, which suits the way it works. You can come for a coffee and a bun, stay for lunch, or book a table for dinner and wine.
Turbo also has outdoor seating, so on a mild day you can eat on the terrace rather than inside.
What to order at Turbo
The menu changes with the seasons, so treat the dishes below as examples from Turbo’s published menus rather than a guarantee. Check the current lunch, dinner and wine menus on Turbo’s website before you go.
Coffee and pastries
The baristas work with beans from Friedhats, and the coffee list covers espresso, cortado, flat white, latte and batch brew, plus matcha latte and barista cacao. Pastries are made in-house. Look for the cinnamon bun with hazelnut, the lemon-and-lime Turbo bun and a pecan chocolate chip cookie.
Brunch and lunch
Daytime plates center on homemade waffles and bagels from Breadwinner. Recent options have included a chicken waffle with nduja mayo, a poached-egg waffle with avocado and maple hollandaise, a salmon bagel and a pastrami reuben bagel.
If you order one thing, make it the broodje kroket. Turbo’s version of the Dutch croquette sandwich uses an oxtail croquette with remoulade on a brioche bun, and it is the dish most often singled out in local coverage.
Snacks and dinner
In the evening, the menu shifts to small plates built for sharing, many with an Asian accent: kimchi fritters, shrimp wontons with fermented garlic sweet chili, salmon trout crudo with shrimp XO, and a rice pancake with pulled pork. Larger mains have included chicken leg with chickpeas and chorizo, and lamb with peas and labneh. For dessert, the house soft serve gets strong reviews, and the menu has also featured Paris-Brest and a caramel semifreddo.
Natural wine and other drinks
Natural wine is a big part of the evening. Wines by the glass have started at around €6.50, and the orange wine Little Fluffy Clouds, served on tap, is a regular recommendation. There are also cocktails such as the Turbo Negroni, beer, homemade kombucha and lemonade, and an alcohol-free sparkling pear juice. At lunch, the printed menu lists only a few wines, so ask staff for the full list.
| Item | Menu | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Lunch | €3 |
| Flat white | Lunch | €4.50 |
| Cinnamon bun | Lunch | €4 |
| Broodje kroket | Lunch and dinner | €12 |
| Salmon bagel | Lunch | €17 |
| Kimchi fritters | Dinner | €10 |
| Chicken leg with chickpeas and chorizo | Dinner | €26 |
| Little Fluffy Clouds orange wine (glass) | Wine | €8 |
Prices from Turbo’s published menus. Dishes and prices change seasonally.
Best time to visit Turbo
Turbo is open every day. Its website lists the current opening times, and the kitchen takes last orders at 20:00 on Sundays, so check before planning a late dinner.
- Morning: the easiest time to get a seat for coffee and a fresh bun.
- Lunch: come for the waffles, bagels and croquette sandwich before the menu switches to evening plates.
- Late afternoon: a good window for a snack and a glass of wine before dinner service fills up.
- Friday evening: local guides list Turbo as an after-work drinks spot, so expect a busier room.
- Weekend brunch and dinner: book ahead if you want an indoor table.
Around busy city events such as King’s Day or Amsterdam Dance Event, reserve in advance rather than relying on a walk-in table.
How to get to Turbo
Turbo is at Reinwardtstraat 1, a side street off Linnaeusstraat in Amsterdam-Oost, across from Buurtcafé De Tros. It is outside the canal ring but well connected.
- By tram: the Linnaeusstraat and Dapperstraat stops are both a short walk away. Tram 3 serves both stops and also runs through De Pijp, which makes it a handy option if you’re staying there.
- By train: Amsterdam Muiderpoort station is within walking distance. Direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal take about five to six minutes.
- From Schiphol: take the train to Amsterdam Centraal, which takes about 17 minutes, then continue by train to Muiderpoort or by tram. Allow roughly 30 to 45 minutes door to door, including changes.
- On foot: from Oosterpark, walk north along Linnaeusstraat and turn onto Reinwardtstraat.
- By bike: Linnaeusstraat is a busy tram and traffic street, so lock your bike on a side street and keep it clear of doorways.
Tram routes in this part of Oost have been diverted during roadworks, so check the GVB journey planner or the NS planner on the day you travel.
Tips for visiting
- Book dinner: Turbo accepts walk-ins, but reserving is safer in the evening and on weekends. Call +31 20 227 9804, or email [email protected] for special requests.
- Share plates: the evening menu works best when you order several snacks for the table and one or two mains.
- Ask about wine: if natural wine is new to you, tell the staff what you usually drink and let them suggest a glass.
- Save room: the soft serve is one of the most talked-about things on the menu.
- Vegetarians: there are meat-free options, such as the cream cheese bagel and vegetable small plates, but choice varies by season, so check the current menu.
Make an afternoon of it in Oost
Turbo fits easily into a day in the east. Walk through Oosterpark, browse Dappermarkt a few streets away (Monday to Saturday), then come back for coffee or an early dinner. If you want another café nearby, Café Maxwell is on Beukenplein at the park’s edge. Staying locally? Hotel Arena is in Oosterpark itself.
For a later drink, Buurtcafé De Tros across the street stays open later in the evening. Its wine shop, De Kaaf, is on Reinwardtstraat too, if you want to take a bottle home. For more ideas in the area, see our guide to Amsterdam-Oost.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turbo connected to De Tros?
Yes. Turbo is the sister venue of Buurtcafé De Tros, which is run by the same owners and sits on Linnaeusstraat across the street.
Can you walk in at Turbo without a reservation?
Yes, Turbo takes walk-ins as well as reservations. For dinner, weekend brunch or Friday evenings, booking ahead by phone is the safer choice.
What coffee does Turbo serve?
Turbo uses beans from Friedhats, an Amsterdam specialty roastery, for espresso drinks and batch brew.
