d’Vijff Vlieghen

A great intro to Modern European cuisine in an upscale setting.
On our first trip to Amsterdam as a couple, we were on the hunt for authentic European fare and a romantic ambiance, a combination we definitely found in this restaurant.
Both of us had a three-​course dinner with wine pairings and were not disappointed. The foie gras and cheese plates, main course and dessert were all rich and tasty.
Their dimly-​lit décor, quiet vibe, and professional staff made for a very romantic evening. Service could have been a little faster but overall, this place deserves props for everything that they provide.
Highly recommended if you are looking to enjoy a good meal in an upscale setting, whether for a romantic occasion or in a group setting.

This restaurant is a very lovely place!
Never mind the name (which translates to THE FIVE FLIES) — I am not too sure who had the brilliant idea of naming a restaurant with something that has to do with the most disgusting insect ever?
I read somewhere that this is one of the classic etablissement in Amsterdam and that it’s a must try if you’re into good food and all.
I must admit I would never place (modern) European food over the food of my country (read: anything Asian or particularly Indonesian) but I must admit the food here was amazing.
I was here with bunch of work colleagues for some dinner. I think we occupied one of the lesser dining rooms in this beautiful chalet-​like place. We got our set menu with beautiful starter (tuna steak with squid chips, soya jelly, wasabi sauce), later with shrimp bisque and a very nice steak with mashed potatoes as a main course. Our dessert was chocolaty-​divine as well.
If you have the time, and the money (since I heard it’s quite pricey here) and look for something modern European, do have a dinner here! Recommended.

One of the best experience dining in Amsterdam creative cuisine in an old historical building. Highly recommended.

The setting and service is impeccable. The staff are very good at making you feel like you are in a 5 star restaurant. Unfortunately that is where it ends. The food is bland and mediocre at best. Sorry to say this was a disappointment, setting was pretty and staff were attentive but food was sorely lacking in taste.

Excellent Food, $$$$/​4 price wise, loved the atmosphere, historic and hasn’t lost any of its old world charm. Prepare to just take it easy and enjoy the experience and meal because it’s Slow slow service. That’s what knocked one star off the list. Honestly, it should be 4.5 stars and for these prices really expect SERVICE
Had the Pheasant– delicious, steak– cooked to perfection so flavorful, sea bass-​one of the best I’ve had. Scallops — really cooked right delicate not over cooked, soup –was ok and dessert was superb with the crème brûlée. We were stuffed.
Really Savored this experience with those you cherish.
We liked it so much we actually went twice.
Would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND and wish we could go back

Excellent food in a wonderfully preserved very old building. The service was excellent as was the atmosphere. Lots of small rooms so very quiet. Had the merlot served by the glass which was very good forE4.95 per glass. The ox tail ragout, which is like steak tartar was wonderful as was the terrine geroosterde. Only 4 stars since a 5 star has to be a michelan class restaurant

This restaurant offers marvelous Dutch cooking in a beautiful traditional Dutch setting. This is a large restaurant with lots of small rooms. Everything was tasty. If there is one restaurant should be on the top of anyone’s list for a visit to Amsterdam.

Food was OK, but the server was the worst my wife and I have experienced in more than a year. Through the amuse, the first course and the main course, the server never cleared a single dish from the table until we flagged her down – at least 10 minutes after we finished each course – and asked her to clear. She did not give us any explanation about food she brought, although we heard other servers doing so with adjoining tables. When she brought the bill, she told me that I had to accompany her to a small cubicle with the credit card machine if I wanted to use a credit card. Fine. But when I got there, I discovered that she’d failed to charge me for the wine. I told her about her mistake, and waited 5 minutes or so (with staff lined up behind us, wanting the use the same machine) while she corrected the bill.
If you go, try to avoid being seated at the table by the steps to the upstairs. There is too little space between the table and the stairs. Because there were 40 people seated on the second and third floors, and those patrons had to come down these stairs to use the bathroom or retreat for a smoke, my wife had to endure at least 50 people passing (and often bumping) her chair during our meal.

Killed it for that special night in Amsterdam! Really fantastic place! The only reason it didn’t get my 5^th star is because I thought it was a little pricy and we were rushed so we didn’t have time for a 4 or 5 course meal which I would have preferred BUT we were very nicely warned of this rush before we arrived so I do not hold it against them. Overall good time!

A group of friends had the 4-​course with wine pairings for 80 euro each. If you break down the food and wine, that is 4 glasses of wine at $ 10 each, and 4 plates at $ 10 each, including a main course which would be valued higher.. I had mustard soup, bread and butter, a large serving of pheasant pâté with white wine, baby cod in sauce with chardonnay, beef and potatoes with red wine, and white cake with nutella and ice cream with desert wine. Overall the experience was great, we were seated in the medieval weapons room, the service was great, and the wines and the food were all very tasty. I would recommend!

For tourists and those who don’t know food. Like Carmel, California, higher prices than the food merits.

Dutch Food, cool ambiance, good for groups.
We’d already had dinner but saw this place and just had to stop in. Told our waiter (Achim from Morocco) that we were only having a cheese plate and two glasses of wine. To his credit he treated us just like we were ordering a seven course menu. Absolutely top-​notch service… so rare in NL.
The five flies occupies five different narrow Amsterdam buildings and each section has a dining room with different décor. We were in the «Ritter Saal» or Knight’s hall. Decorated with antique weapons. They have a Rembrandt Room with actual Rembrandts on the wall. All in all impressive ambiance based on old Dutch Rustic. They have tons of room so groups would work well.
Cheese plate was good, not brilliant but for € 13 I’m not complaining. Achim must have read Mrs. S pretty well. She had suggested he surprise us with a wine by the glass and he brought out a lovely South American Tannat. Afterwards we asked for an Irish Coffee, something about which I am VERY picky. They were just as good as the ones I make and dammit mine are fantastic.
Four stars on a short first visit. We’ll be sure to return.

If there was a way to add a sixth star, and if ever there was a place that deserved it, it is here.
We decided to go here on a whim, having passed it on a late night walk, and deciding it was a good back up plan if our other restaurant didn’t pan out. Well, lucky for us the other one was full and we came here. When I say lucky, I mean LUCKY.
You enter into the 300 year old building from an alleyway. The setup is unique. several stories of narrow staircases take you through a maze of rooms. The waitress had told us they can seat 200+, but you would never know because every room is small and seats only a few.
The wine list is great we went with a Bordeaux, Château Durand-​Moreau 2010.
For appetizer we split a dish that was tomatoes with a jelly made of watercress, and a fennel saffron broth. WOW. Game changer. The broth was complex, yet delicate and silky. The tomatoes fresh, and the watercress jelly beyond interesting.
My wife followed up with a dish called «Pork prepared in different ways». There were some slices of pork loin that were the best bites of pork loin I think I have ever tasted. There was a piece of pork belly confit that again, was executed with perfection, and a grilled chop. Served with a potato purée, crispy carrot chips, mushrooms with anise, and a red beet gravy. My god…
I ordered sliced beef which had some sort of smoked sauce that was just… I don’t know if the adjectives would be suitable for Unilocal.The potatoes and fresh beans served with it were perfect, and the shallot compote just topped the whole thing off.
The meal and bottle of wine was finished off with a plate of dutch cheeses, apple syrup, and nut breads.
From beginning to end, from the room to the food to the service, the experience was a show stopper, and one of the best eating experiences of my life.

I really like this place.
The ambience can be a little much — given its museumy feeling but its dark and cozy. Perfect for dinners.
It maybe a little steep but the food was delicious. The menu gets updated frequently but I loved how innovative some of the dishes were.

Je donne 5 étoiles car j’adore ce type de lieu mythique. c’est un peu comme le tour d’argent. Les entrées sont excellents. Les plats et desserts sont moyennes. Les services sont gentilles mais l’attente est ultra longue… c’est vraiment dommage. mais ce n’est pas grave… aujourd’hui on trouve moins en moins de lieu avec une histoire.

Arrive between 18 – 18:30 and leave before 20:00 to take advantage of the early-​bird special deal. For 25 € you get a choice of appetizer, entrée, dessert, two glasses of wine, still or sparkling water, coffee or tea (with little sweets) and delicious bread. Actually, everything was delicious. Staff is impeccable, ambiance is classy, and this was my most memorable meal in the old Amsterdam.

This restaurant has the best ambience for romance. The décor was beautiful with candles burning all over the place. They keep the restaurant quite comfortably warm in the winter that you won’t need a supplement accessory to keep you warm. We had a groupon for a 4-​course dinner at this restaurant with close to excellent results. The service was fantastic, the wine complemented the meals, but the food was slightly lacking in taste. Would I recommend this restaurant to anybody? Only to those needing the perfect romantic venue for a special occasion… if you are looking to awaken your taste buds with something spectacular, this might not be the best restaurant for it. I would recommend Senses Restaurant for the adventurous and have the need for something delectable. Would I come back to this restaurant? Maybe just to find out if the food got better but for satisfying a demanding tongue, no.

I ate lunch at «The Five Flies» on the 13^th of July, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was my first time there. I was with a tour group from the Sea Princess. The first thing that impressed me was the décor — both unique and beautiful. The next great experience was the food which was some of the best that I had in Europe (not just the Netherlands). The service was good as well. Definitely worth going to.

A chaque fois que j’ai eu le plaisir de me rendre à Amsterdam, j’ai fait un tour au Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen (les cinq mouches).
A chaque fois cela a été un grand moment: non seulement les plats sont d’une grande qualité (j’espère un jour pouvoir réserver pour le «7 courses menu»), mais de plus, ce restaurant est situé dans une des plus vieille enfilade de maisons d’Amsterdam (XVIIe s).
A ce propos, leur liqueur est un vraie tuerie — achetez en une bouteille avant de rentrer en France car il est interdit pour eux d’expédier ce type d’alcool à l’étranger.

If it was not for the mediocre food quality and the good wines this would be definitely classified as a tourist trap.
Surprise menu. Dutch /​French style cuisine.
First of all the ambiance, which is supposed to be old Dutch … but some of the rooms are plain old. and not very pretty… the whole restaurant is a maze of stairs and room which makes it special but a bit cramped up.
The whole place is considered high end… maybe one of the dining rooms is perfect for dining… others are not.
The Service is sloppy for the price and not so friendly… as I said… too many tourists end up here.
Beef broth as starter … mediocre
First dish of unidentified boiled fish… okish
Main course was lamb with pees and white asparagus … good meat but not my preferred choice
Dessert served in a big glass… a weird compote with fruit and ice cream and toasted nuts … not really good.
Whines were really nice… that is saving my review to get to a 1 star. Frankly, for ~ 90 Euro menu in central Amsterdam my expectations are way higher.
If someone asks me for advices… no. Do not go. There are way better places all around with lower prices, better food and way better service.

You can feel the history of this building before you even walk in the door. Its main entrance is in a little alleyway between Spuistraat and Singel. The sign looks like it may have been there since the building was built in the 17^th century.
Each of the dining rooms are decorated beautifully with historic artwork and antiquities, and it really takes you back to that time.
The service was really great, as to be expected in this nice of a restaurant. One thing that bothered me, though, is that the servers spoke so softly that I could not hear the descriptions of the dishes.
My co-​workers and I had the 5-​course chef’s «surprise» menu, which was pretty good. The first two courses were excellent (a salad and a cod), and the others (duck breast, cheese course, and almond cake for dessert) were good, but nothing mind-​blowing.
The wine list has a good selection, ranging from around 25 EUR to over 500 EUR per bottle.
This is definitely an experience you should not miss while in Amsterdam, if only for the historical factor. It would have been very romantic if I had been with my fiancé, and I would recommend it for a special night out.

We ate dinner at this restaurant twice, with the last time being two years ago last month. This is one of the «historic» restaurants of Amsterdam and we thoroughly enjoyed both visits. The ambiance is (obviously) historic and it’s very peaceful. We requested a window table when we made the more recent reservation and that greatly added to our enjoyment.
The food was very good both times and we really savored it. I don’t remember anything particular about our server from the first visit (other than the service being very good), but our server the last time was a sweet-​natured man.
We were celebrating our 25^th anniversary on the night of our last visit and it was a romantic/​delightful place for that event. (Note that the restaurant is pricey, even without the exchange rate).