Café Vertigo Amsterdam: new hotspot in the Vondelpark pavilion
In the iconic Vondelpark Pavilion, one of the most beautiful places in the city, Café Vertigo opened. Because although several operators have tried it here before, it's not an easy place: you have to appeal to a wide audience. Well, you go Vertigo! This time as a grand café, designed to welcome Amsterdammers and visitors at any time of day.
Café Vertigo is going way-back. Between 1989 and 2012, there was already a café named Vertigo here, named after the Alfred Hitchcock film. At that time, it also housed the Film Museum, which relocated to Noord. Today, it's back in the spotlight, this time with the ambition to recreate that atmosphere. And it's succeeding quite well.
Inside, there's room for around 120 guests, but the real treat is the large, sunny terrace with space for a whopping 480. Perfect for long afternoons with friends, first dates that run long, or drinks that culminate in dinner. And speaking of dinner: the kitchen serves all day, with a menu full of classic dishes with a French twist. Think steak tartare with cress and crostini, a gazpacho with cucumber, bell pepper, and green olives, or ravioli alla Fiorentina filled with spinach, ricotta, and hazelnuts. There's fish, and there's BBQ sea bass with cannellini beans and basil. Looking for something sweet? Order the burnt cheesecake with red fruit, the chocolate mousse with salted caramel and peanuts, or the sorbet sundae with homemade sorbet.
For the interior, you'll want to head inside. Studio Modijefsky gave the pavilion a makeover with warm materials, details, and cozy nooks. In the basement, you'll find cozy booth seats and an intimate red-and-pink interior, a nod to Au Caveau, the nightclub that opened here in 1925. With Art Deco accents, mosaics, and nostalgic lighting.
And behind it all is a team of true Amsterdammers with a passion for the place. Thomas Anderiesen, Matan, and Tamir Schabracq (who first enjoyed their beers there), Pim Evers (a regular for years), and Teun Vermaas, responsible for events and programming. Together with chef Casper Moolhuizen and managers Jima Claassen and Floor Botter, they are ensuring this historic venue is given new life.