NENI Amsterdam: Eastern-Mediterranean hotspot in the former Citroën garage in South

you can taste the flavors of tel aviv at neni amsterdam

Anyone who's ever been to Tel Aviv will be just as thrilled with the opening of Neni Amsterdam as I am. This restaurant with its roots in Tel Aviv is probably familiar to anyone who travels frequently to Vienna or Germany. You'll find Neni branches there too, where you can sample Haya Molcho's delicious dishes. I recently spent an evening at Neni Amsterdam enjoying a leisurely meal, sampling as many dishes as possible. I sat at the bar overlooking the open kitchen, where the chefs were busily preparing the simple yet perfectly prepared Eastern-Mediterranean dishes. I'm a huge fan of Middle Eastern cuisine myself. At Neni Amsterdam, the Mediterranean touch is what gives the dishes that surprising flavor I first tasted in Tel Aviv a few years ago.

Starters to share

House Labneh

Breakfast and lunch at Neni's Deli Amsterdam

The location of Neni Amsterdam is worth a visit in itself. The restaurant is located in the former Citroën garage on the Stadium square, where once there was also a pop-up location, for example Baut Sat. The building has been thoroughly renovated. And when I say thoroughly, that's actually an understatement. On the ground floor, there's a deli where you can go from breakfast onwards. Order dishes like shakshuka for breakfast, and later for lunch you can go for hummus or labneh, or even a classic Rueben sandwich with pastrami. Good news for the vegetarians and vegans among us, because at Neni, you can indulge yourself.

extensive dining in the evening at neni amsterdam

As soon as the hostess leads you to your table and you climb the stairs to the former showroom, you'll probably think, just like me, WOW. It's impressive what they've created from this industrial space, and how many guests they can accommodate. When the restaurant is full, they can seat over 250. The layout of the restaurant, and especially the menu, make it very suitable for groups, whether you're dining with the whole family, a group of friends, or colleagues. You can also easily park in one of the nearby garages. Another advantage if you're meeting friends who are driving.

I have to say I found the staff incredibly well-trained. It's friendly, relaxed, and truly like stepping into the warm bath of a family restaurant, only a bit bigger. No preferential treatment, though, because the tables behind me are all sharing the same cheerful tune and story. As I scan the menu, I immediately know it's going to be a tough choice.

Hummus

Fish crudo

charcoal roasted eggplant

roasted cauliflower

The menu at Neni Amsterdam

Start the evening with some mezze to share. I found it hard to choose, as I would have loved to try them all. Reason enough to go back soon! We had the hummus (you really have to order it!), charcoal roasted eggplant, and roasted cauliflower. and fish crudo (also incredibly delicious) pre-ordered. Of course, everything was to be shared.

For our main courses, we went for the chicken shawarma and the miso harissa octopus. Both were incredibly good choices. Don't let the shawarma fool you into thinking you're ordering the kind you might eat after a night out. No, this is a completely different story, and the chicken was so tender! Truly delicious. Octopus is something you could wake me up for, and if you like octopus, this is a must-try in my opinion.

 | ALSO FUN: In the cocktail bar above the restaurant, called the "Lemonman," they make cocktails with their homemade lemon liqueur, which instantly evokes that Mediterranean vibe and has a wonderfully smooth flavor. The Lemonman is named after the great-grandfather of Citroën's founder, who owned a fruit and vegetable shop in Amsterdam and gave himself the surname "Limoenman" (Lime Man) when civil registration was introduced in 1811. A fun fact: the French brand Citroën has Dutch roots!

Have fun if you're planning a trip to Neni Amsterdam soon! PS: Reservations are recommended.

Stairs from the Deli to the restaurant

Chicken Shawarma

miso harissa octopus

Looking for a nice hotel in Amsterdam?

» The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel on the canal.
» Sir Adam: with the coolest view of Amsterdam.
» Pillows Anna van den Vondel: staying near the Vondelpark.
» Hotel Mercier: new hotel hotspot in the Jordaan.
» Hotel V: with two locations, in the at the center en East.
» Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canal on the border of Nine Streets and Jordaan.
» Hotel Dwars: small-scale and around the corner from the Utrechtsestraat.
» INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city centre.
» Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building near the Westergasterrein.
» The Volkshotel: affordable and with an awesome rooftop.
» The Student Hotel: budget proof in hip East.
» QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with cool sky bar.
» Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
» Generator Hostel: the nicest poshtel in town.

PSSSST... you can find more (travel) tips in my books!

• Feed Your Wanderlust – Travel Guide for a bohemian lifestyle
• staycation – 22 guides and shortlists for a holiday close to home
• Wanderlust – Urban Travel Style Guide
• The Amsterdam City Guide (Dutch) & The Amsterdam City Guide (English)

Great as a gift for yourself or someone who loves to travel as much as you do!

WITH LOVE,

ANNE