Amsterdam has five Spanish listings in our directory. This weekend plan uses four of them, and two of the four focus on the Basque Country and the north of Spain, so the route leans towards pintxos and grilled meat. The fifth listing is left out because its record currently describes a different restaurant, and we would rather not send you somewhere on the strength of text that doesn't match.
Everything below comes from each restaurant's own record. Our records don't include opening days or kitchen hours, so treat the lunch and dinner slots as a suggested order, not a timetable, and check each listing (or call ahead) to confirm the venue is serving at the time you plan to go. The full list is on the Amsterdam city page.
Saturday evening: pintxos at La Oliva
Start in the Jordaan at La Oliva (Egelantiersstraat 122-124). Its record describes a Cantabrian and Basque restaurant with a wide range of pintxos and dishes from northern Spain. A few pintxos at the bar make a good opening to the weekend, and you can decide from there whether to stay for plates from the kitchen.
Pintxos are the Basque version of tapas, usually a small bite on a slice of bread, often held together with a toothpick. The usual way to eat them is standing, a couple at a time, with a small drink.
Saturday late: the grill at Sagardi
If you want a proper dinner after the pintxos, go to Sagardi Amsterdam at Spuistraat 304. Its record describes three parts: a pintxo bar whose selection changes with the seasons, a meat cellar where the restaurant dry-ages its own txuleton steaks, and a Basque grill.
Txuleton is the Basque name for a thick bone-in rib steak, the cut that the rest of Spain calls chuletón. It is normally grilled over high heat, seasoned with salt and served sliced for the table. One steak is usually shared between two or more people, so book as a group if you can.
Sunday lunch: Patio by the park
For Sunday, go to Patio at Orteliuskade 5. Its record describes authentic Spanish dishes with careful presentation and warm service, and it notes the location next to a park. The record suggests it for a long, relaxed lunch or an early dinner, which is the pace a Sunday calls for.
The record doesn't name specific dishes, so look at the menu when you arrive.
Sunday dinner: Hasta La Vista
Finish at Hasta La Vista Baby (Eduard van Beinumstraat 40). Its record says the cooking is Iberian-inspired, using recipes from all over Spain and some from Portugal. The room is decorated with Spanish touches such as red tiles and olive trees. The record also names the owner, Sven Sallaerts, and the executive chef, Thomas d'Hooghe.
Because the menu takes in Portugal as well as Spain, this is a broader Iberian meal than the Basque focus of Saturday. That makes it a good contrast.
The plan at a glance
- Saturday evening: La Oliva, Egelantiersstraat 122-124, for northern Spanish pintxos.
- Saturday dinner: Sagardi, Spuistraat 304, for the Basque grill and dry-aged txuleton.
- Sunday lunch: Patio, Orteliuskade 5, next to the park.
- Sunday dinner: Hasta La Vista Baby, Eduard van Beinumstraat 40, for Iberian cooking.
If you only have one night, the Saturday pair is the easiest to combine, since both focus on the Basque Country and the north. For more on the Basque drinking-and-snacking habit, see our guide to pintxos.
