Program: Neighbourhood bistro and restobar with a central open kitchen, wraparound chef’s bar, spacious dining room and walk-in wine room.
Client: Raymond Plat, Niels Leijssenaar, and Willem Alberts and Roderick Kunst.
Seats: ca. 60 covers on the main floor, up to ±76 including private dining
Cuisine: Classic French foundations with Dutch and Mediterranean flashes.
Location: Schollenbrugstraat 8, in the Weesperzijdebuurt in Amsterdam Oost.
An open kitchen that sits at the heart of the floorplan.
The open kitchen sits at the heart of the floor plan, wrapped on three sides by a bar so guests can eat in the glow of the pans, alone or shoulder-to-shoulder.
Kitchen + wine at the center.
Put kitchen at the literal center of the room so guests always see, hear and feel the vibe of the kitchen
High-level French cooking.
Serve high-level French cooking without fine-dining stiffness, a place where you can order langoustines with vin jaune butter but still feel comfortable in a sweater.
A neighbourhood hangout.
Make the space feel like a grown-up neighbourhood hangout: you come for a glass at the bar, stay for dinner, maybe end with one more bottle chosen directly from the extensive wine room.
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Classic bistro + contemporary Amsterdam.
The concept balances two clear energies. One is classic bistro – tactile materials, generous plates, a link to European dining; the other is contemporary Amsterdam – easygoing, unselfconscious & attuned to regulars and destination guests.
Challenge
Troef sits in a former pizzeria on a quiet side street off the Amstel, in a neighbourhood better known for cafés along the waterfront than for high-end restobars.
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The design had to reconcile two apparent opposites: nostalgic bistro charm and a crisp, contemporary Amsterdam restobar.
Concept
Troef is conceived as a one-room bistro wrapped around its own heartbeat as the open kitchen and chef’s bar form the core.
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Rich in detail, it feels like a classic bistro that has been dialed forward a few decades rather than staged as a replica of the past.
Guest Experience
Entry is intentionally informal. From Schollenbrugstraat you step straight into the room and immediately meet the light, sound and movement of the open kitchen and bar.
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Bar, kitchen, tables and wine room sit close enough that guests drift between them, reinforcing the feeling of one connected space.
Layout
Troef is conceived as a one-room bistro wrapped around its own heartbeat as the open kitchen and chef’s bar form the core.
Materiality & Colour
Troef’s palette is warm, tactile and deliberately simple:
- Timber anchors floors, tables and much of the joinery, giving immediate warmth and familiarity. ([Unbookables][2])
- Marble and stone define the bar and key surfaces, adding weight and craft.
- Tiles at bar and kitchen fronts provide a robust, slightly nostalgic skin, nodding to classic cafés.
- Color leans on soft neutrals and muted pinks/reds, picked up in bar curtains and details, keeping the room warm even on grey evenings.
FF&E
Furniture negotiates comfort, durability and relaxed elegance:
- Wooden tables inlaid with brass and marble bring fine detail to where hands and eyes rest.
- Rattan–oak chairs and benches keep the look light.
- The bar with its small curtains is the key character piece: a bit old-fashioned, a bit theatrical, instantly recognisable.
- Custom wine-room shelving underlining wine as a central part of the Troef story.
FF&E mirrors the food philosophy: unfussy at first glance, but deeply considered.
“Paris meets Cheers”
Gault&Millau describes it as “Paris meets Cheers” and awards the national title of Bistronomy of the Year 2024.
Brand & business
Troef has quickly become shorthand in Amsterdam for the sweet spot between serious cooking and relaxed going-out. Gault&Millau describes it as “Paris meets Cheers” in warm tones where very serious food is cooked and served at fair prices, and awards 14.5 points plus the national title of Bistronomy of the Year 2024.
The combination of bar seats, tables and the wine room allows the restaurant to work as both neighbourhood regular and special-occasion address, with strong demand throughout the week.
Demand & guest response
Press & professional reception
Testimonials
"What a fantastic experience! Kudos to the owners for this fantastic opening. With their proven track record at Troef in Amsterdam, we naturally wanted to try this new restaurant, and it turned out to be absolutely worth it."
"Wow, what a place! The moment you step inside, you're in for a real treat: a beautiful space, welcoming service, and a cozy atmosphere."
Friendly service, a beautiful decor, and good food with a wonderful wine list—in short, all the ingredients for a new success!
We had a wonderful meal at this beautifully decorated restaurant. Everything was perfect! We were pampered by all the lovely staff! Highly recommended! We will definitely be back...
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