July 15, 2025, by Maud Bos

Restaurant & Bar Rear Admiral, Jordaan

Out and about, Eat & Drink, Restaurant
July 15, 2025, by Maud Bos

Restaurant & Bar Rear Admiral, Jordaan

In the heart of the Jordaan, there is now Rear AdmiralAnd we can already tell you: this is one you'll be coming back for more. The kind of place where everything works perfectly without being complicated. Two spaces: a restaurant and a bar, and the same pleasant atmosphere everywhere. Homely, cozy, good food, good wines. Whether you sit down for a leisurely dinner or just grab a drink at the bar, you'll easily linger longer than you intended.

Restaurant & bar with atmosphere

Restaurant & bar with atmosphere

Rear Admiral occupies a beautiful building with two distinct sides: the restaurant and the bar. A passageway connects the two, which is precisely what makes it so inviting. The bar has the atmosphere of a traditional Dutch pub, but its aesthetic is a bit more modern and streamlined, with beautiful candles and a refreshing drink in front of you. The restaurant feels a bit more upscale thanks to the beautiful lighting and modern stained-glass details incorporated into the bar, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere. No overdone design, just plenty of candlelight, beautiful (modern) art on the walls, and a pleasant atmosphere, even if you arrive early and it's not crowded yet.

Chef's menu & à la carte

Chef's menu & à la carte

Dishes on the chef's menu change daily or weekly, and you can taste it right away. Benjamin (the owner, who's incredibly friendly, by the way) told us that they deliberately never serve the same menu for months and that they love to experiment with new dishes. We started with some bar bites, a deviled egg with truffle, bread with whipped beurre noisette, and oysters. Then we were surprised by the chef's menu, and that was a good choice: it included a few more beautiful and, above all, incredibly tasty dishes (but we won't spoil everything). A la carte is also an option, and in that case, we recommend the variation on the traditional Dutch deviled egg. So simple, so good. Everything perfectly prepared. Hats off to them for creating such a tight yet relaxed menu with Chef Hessel, Benjamin, and their team.

To linger

To linger

You can also linger at the bar for a drink and some smaller snacks. The wine list is a delight: a mix of funky natural wines and classic bottles, and everything is poured with pleasure and expertise.

Besides food and drinks, there's also great music playing from the vintage sound system. There's a DJ/selector on Fridays and Saturdays, so there's plenty to do. house beaters, but really good music for that little bit of extra experience.

Conclusion? Rear Admiral is exactly what you're looking for if you don't feel like a fuss-free evening but still want to enjoy good food, drinks, and just hang out. The Jordaan as it should be: warm, cozy, and authentic.

Rear Admiral

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