Sjefietshe Amsterdam: finally a real ceviche bar in De Pijp

This is the place to be for all your ceviche cravings in Amsterdam

With the opening of Sjefietshe Amsterdam, De Pijp now has the city's very first real ceviche bar. You at Your Little Black Book probably know the name Sjefietshe from the pop-up restaurants they organize in Amsterdam. If you are just as much of a ceviche lover as I am, I have very good news. Sjefietshe stands for ceviche the Amsterdam way. What started as a pop-up by Seger Abels is now becoming a real restaurant in the quiet part of De Pijp , which he is opening together with Rick Swinkels (known from Jacobsz ), Bas Lammersen (whom you might know from Fishbar Monk and Chickenbar Roast in Haarlem), and Jordy Wentink (the new hero of the hospitality industry, in their own words). What can we expect at Sjefietshe Amsterdam? Seger tells me all about it during a pleasant lunch.

From drinks to dinner and another drink on the heated terrace

Sjefietshe Amsterdam is open Wednesday through Monday from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM. It's a bar-restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere where you can pop in for drinks and easily stay until late, enjoying delicious food one after another. Enjoy a leisurely meal with friends or a cozy bite at the bar during date night with your lover (or lover to be). The bar is a real eye-catcher! It seats thirteen guests and is as deep as a table, making it a very comfortable place to sit and eat. Personally, I always enjoy eating at the bar the most, as it allows for extra interaction with the team. Another great spot is the large table by the kitchen, where you have a view of the chefs. The interior of Sjefietshe Amsterdam is warm. It's in my favorite Amsterdam color, blue (you'll understand when you dine there yourself!), with plenty of warm wood and a nod to South America here and there. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside on the terrace with its facade, which has ten tables for two and patio heaters, so you can stay nice and warm until late under the awning on the corner of Van Ostadestraat and Ruysdaelkade.

All about the menu of Sjefietshe Amsterdam

Anyone familiar with Rick Swinkels's culinary skills knows that Sjefietshe Amsterdam is a culinary gem. They offer two menus: aperitifs from 4:00 PM and dinner from 6:00 PM. This week I'm going to do a thorough tasting myself, and discussing the menus only makes me want to go even more. Let's start with the "drinks menu," a name that doesn't quite do it justice. Definitely start with the sourdough bread with Sjefietshe butter. Rick reveals that the butter is made with seaweed, umeboshi (dried pink plum from Japan), wasabi, and nori, among other things. I'm particularly curious about the oyster fritters. Oysters are fried in fritter dough and served with carrot pickle and Mapuche mayonnaise. They also offer North Sea croquettes made with a variety of fish, because at Sjefietshe, the fish is cooked from head to tail. The drinks menu also includes haddock ceviche and scallop ceviche. Sjefietshe is not a place for true carnivores, but for a change, you can order fermented radishes with chili, burrata with pink tomatoes, and dried ham. All of the above is just the menu, which is available from 4:00 PM until late. Good to know: they use sustainably caught fish and are part of Jan van As's fish & season program.

The dinner menu (from 6:00 PM) features five different ceviches, three main courses, three side dishes, and three desserts, each of which sounds delicious. The first menu includes ceviches of mackerel, octopus, haddock, scallop, and a spicy yellowfin tuna ceviche. Perfect for sharing! I also appreciate that the main courses are very reasonably priced. The haddock fillet with tartar sauce and wild herbs costs €15, and a cod tail for two costs €32. For sides, you can order a lettuce heart, fermented fries, or a waffle with crème fraîche and trout caviar. If you still have room for dessert afterward, there are dishes like lemon tart and bread pudding. The wine list starts at €5 by the glass and changes regularly.

no reservations, so always spontaneous eating and drinks

And perhaps one of the best facts about this new Amsterdam hotspot: they don't take reservations. This makes Sjefietshe Amsterdam the perfect spot for all those last-minute dining decisions. Personally, I'm completely done planning weeks in advance and I enjoy spontaneous dinners the most. Especially now that we have a 1-year-old. Needless to say, as a tip for all other "new" parents... 4:00 PM is a great starting time for drinks with truly delicious food, and you can still manage to have the kids in bed by 7:00 PM. More soon, after a comprehensive tasting!

Do you have any tips for great hotspots that are opening soon or just opened? Let us know via the button below and TIP THE EDITORS!

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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