Oresti's taverna in Vondelbuurt

Not recommended. Mediocre restaurant. Ordered 3 simple tapas meals that took around 40 mins to arrive when the place was half full. Food was average at best. Staff not polite. Location central and good!

Fantastic restaurant! Now a regular😁 The food is deliciously varied and of superb quality. The Sangria is a favorite and the service is top-notch!

We had another delicious meal and enjoyed the good company!

Very delicious food! Various small dishes you could share. Absolutely amazing sweet and helpful staff who created the coziest atmosphere. Definitely recommended!

Last night, we thoroughly enjoyed the 3-course surprise menu again. It is always a pleasure to eat and stay here.

Super delicious food, the staff is friendly and pleasant. I feel very welcome as a guest. The air conditioning was great during the hot weather. And no time pressure because the next guests are already waiting. In short, highly recommended.

Delicious food and excellent service!

This place seriously mistreats its staff. And very bad and rude service. Owner is not paying their staff before they fire them. And when someone asks for their money they send them negative payslips. As if the staff has to pay them. What a disgrace!

Everything was amazing! I would eat here every day! :)

What a fantastic find! Just around the corner from Leidseplein and yet not a tourist trap. Ate there twice recently. The food is fantastic, the wine delicious, and the staff enthusiastic. Also not unimportant: they have air conditioning!

Great experience with tapas, really enjoyed

Just returned again as was impressed to find the food quality was just as good.. service excellent

Very lively and wonderful food. We got really lucky that there was a table available just as we got there, because it was packed. It was also a holiday weekend, so that might have impacted why it was so busy. And because it was so busy we did have some difficulty speaking and getting our servers attention, but the service was still very good. We ordered the « surprise us »on the menu, 2 courses, and its a lot of food. We struggled to finish it. So definitely be prepared because the portions are generous for tapas and its very filling food. Definitely will recommend.

Excellent food and friendly staff

Nice restaurant with a friendly hostess, the food is really perfect!

5 stars for food, service, and the owner being flexible enough to open on a Sunday for our large group celebrating a special occasion. We chose the tapas-style set menu and were not disappointed - everything was delicious, with so many interesting dishes to try. Alexia was absolutely hustling all night and somehow managed to serve our group and keep the drinks flowing without missing a beat. Hardworking people like this deserve your business, and the meal was fantastic.

What a fantastic place this is!! Tasty wine, good food, and above all, incredibly good service. The staff really made sure we had a wonderful evening. Alexia, you're amazing!

We had a delicious meal and the service was good. They are happy to think along about the possibilities and get to work on them.

We had a delicious meal in a charming atmosphere with friendly staff! However, they didn't pay very good attention to the empty glasses (intended as constructive criticism). Otherwise, it was simply top-notch! We will definitely be back!

We made a reservation here because we thought it would be something different. We ordered the patatas de mayo, meatballs, calamari, tzatziki, and pita. The calamari was very rubbery, and the meatballs weren't exactly delicious. We were full, but we had hoped for more. However, we can explain why some of the waitresses don't speak Dutch, which is a complaint in the reviews: they themselves only speak English, as they aren't from the Netherlands. In a global city like Amsterdam, though, that's perfectly normal, in my opinion.

Food here is great. We got the 3 gang menu, cold mezes, main course for share and desert. Food was so good and chef also took our request into consideration. I can say (as Turkish person) Greek Cacık was one of the best I have ever had together with pita. We will definitely come back here. Since this place is mediterranean fusion, they can try some Turkish and Lebanese food as well. Some aubergine and tomato based foods can elevate.

Horrible Experience: We were 4 people sharing the plates. We ordered meatballs, but the waitress did not bother to say that there are only 3 meatballs and it did not even say in the menu. We ordered potatoes and it was 7.5 euros. The plate included 6 thin slices of potatoes, what a joke. After 50 minutes, our remaining 2 dishes never arrived, as well as 1 glass of beer. Not worth the price or service.

Went here with my family last week and immediately liked the warm atmosphere and decor. The staff were friendly and very helpful with navigating my allergies. We were served by Alexia, who was very smiley and great at her job 😊 The food was incredible! I'd recommend the beef stew which was absolutely insane. So rich and tasty. My brother was excited by the octopus tentacle and immediately ordered it. We also ordered some good safe options like the lemony potatoes 😋 Overall a great experience!

Fabulous place, small menu, but very delicious. We went back two nights in a row and had different dishes. Amazing red wine from Puglia. Friendly and homely ambiance.

The service here is genuinely friendly and welcoming. There is nothing perfunctory about it. The tapas are varied and flavorful. You would happily eat more of everything. But then it might get a bit pricey.

Super delicious food, nice atmosphere, and friendly service. Highly recommended!!!

Highly recommended if you want something different! Very approachable! We had a delicious meal with super enthusiastic staff who provide interesting background information if you ask! We will definitely be back!

Mese’s are limited. No music is hearable, too noisy.

A really nice restaurant! I've eaten here a few times now, and it never disappoints. The tapas are delicious, fresh, and reasonably priced. The staff is incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere and acoustics are fantastic. I love coming here!

The entire place was empty and you get NO service. They forgot my menu, they forgot my drink and then KEPT forcing an English convo with my table even though we only spoke Dutch to them all night. It felt like a speedrun on how to get rid of customers. Utterly disgusting. I guess they only reserved Dutch for the blue eyed blondes😂🤷🏽‍♂️ So here's the English you wanted to hear that badly, even if you all had the classic Dutch accent when forcing it :) Also this is a very echoing establishment, a little bit of bass in your voice and everyone will be able to hear what you're saying. The same goes for the tables around you, if the restaurant was full I'm sure it'd be worse than a quinceñera. Beware to all people of color you will be treated differently here!!

Great value for money, very pleasant and friendly service. Highly recommended for a fun evening!

Oresti's Taverna in Amsterdam is a must-visit for lovers of Spanish and Greek cuisine. We enjoyed various tapas and mezze: everything was delicious, fresh, and carefully prepared. The hospitality made the evening complete; we felt truly welcome and well cared for. In short, a lovely, warm atmosphere and fantastic food. We will definitely be back!

A hidden gem in Amsterdam. The team are absolutely fantastic, attentive and very friendly - feels like a home away from home! The food speaks for itself - blown away by the flavour and generous portions. Would highly recommend, in my opinion the best spot in Amsterdam for food and drinks!

Fantastic food, people and atmosphere. Easily one of the best places to eat in Amsterdam, recommend trying the meatballs or really anything of the menu - the sisters that own it are the most welcoming and lovely people with great knowledge. Very affordable too which for this quality in Amsterdam is unbeatable!

What a wonderful evening we had yesterday. We had a delicious meal; we had the chef create a mix of their best dishes. We definitely don't regret it; the food was delicious. The hostess is a breath of fresh air; she's fantastic. If you're in Amsterdam, you absolutely have to eat here. Thank you for the fantastic evening. Regards, Marcel

The waitress was really polite and nice. But this place is not a taverna! They only have small appetisers and the problem is they brought everything one by one. So basically we left the place hungry. The food was really mid and nothing special. The octopus was really good but the lemon baked potatoes was a disaster. Everything else from the food was mid. If you want a place to enjoy a glass of wine with some tapas it is a cute place but that's all.

A unique experience, excellent tapas, impeccable service—very professional and friendly, they advise you every step of the way—good coffee and delicious desserts, a very welcoming place…!! Highly recommended…!!🤙

Nice atmosphere and good food, very friendly staff

Our family enjoyed a wonderful dinner on our first day in Amsterdam. The berenjenas fritas and gambas al ajillo were excellent, and the pan con alioli truly stood out. My wife, who cooks regularly at home, was particularly impressed by the bread — soft and airy on the inside, yet perfectly crusty on the outside. We finished with the chocolatina and portokalopita, both of which were a fitting end to the meal. The service was attentive, and the live music added a warm and memorable atmosphere to the evening.

Food was good! The staff was also very welcoming! Just the virgin sangria was quite pricy (25€ for 1L)

Overall it was a great experience. Super helpful and friendly staff and delicious food. However the portions were too small without a standart. For example 2 pastries in one portion but 3 meatballs… Also the wait time between orders was a bit too long in my opinion.

Once again, we enjoyed a delicious meal and drinks in this always charming setting and the enthusiastic service from the owner. We'll be back soon!

We had a wonderful evening and a delicious meal. The owner is truly passionate about her work! P.S. Delicious wine 😍

Tasty tapas for sharing though a tad on the salty side especially for the yummy chicken stew which I would still highly recommend. The servers were cheerful and friendly though the food took quite a long time (>30mins) to come after the order was placed. The tenderloin came more than 20mins after all the other food items had been consumed so if you don’t have the time to wait, don’t order the tenderloin. The spices added to the Greek meatballs were quite strong so if you’re not a fan of spices, skip that. The place was bustling with diners and the noise level can be a little overwhelming if you prefer a more cosy setting.

We loved it! Amazing food and great atmosphere

We loved everything. Especially the octopus. A great find.

Fantastic hostess and service! Delicious food, and the sangria...fantastic! We'll definitely be back.

Five gold stars are actually not enough!! We've been coming here for years with great pleasure; the food is fantastic! The staff is great! It's run by three fantastic owners! Oresti's is in our hearts, and we'll be coming back for generations to come, haha, because even the kids love it!

Super fun Spanish evening with live music

Had a fantastic Spanish evening yesterday with live music and a table full of tapas! Highly recommended! Olé 💃

What a fantastic restaurant! We had another delicious meal and enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of the team!

We booked a menu in advance in conjunction with a "ranking the stars" evening as an outing. The service was, as you might expect from many Amsterdam restaurants these days, slow and inattentive. On to the food. The tapas that were supposed to be appetizers were very small and plain. They were also precisely measured per person, for example, one tiny dolmades per person. Tapas, Dutch style, so to speak. The main course turned out to be nothing much, a salad and one meatball for each. After repeatedly insisting that the group was still incredibly hungry, patatas bravas were reluctantly served. The next day, we checked again what we had actually booked and compared that to what was actually served. It turned out that all the main courses that should have been somewhat filling and, of course, also valuable, were not served. It clearly stated that it was a sample menu, but the fact that we didn't see any of the meat and fish dishes is, of course, rather coincidental. A meatball instead is truly far too meager. Everyone can make mistakes; it's how you handle them afterward that counts. And that's where Oresti's really showed its true colors; after all, we had been given patatas bravas. And someone in the group had even refilled the tap with water. Oh dear, don't even take that as a sign that your service is truly too slow.

The four of us dined at Oresti's Taverna on Saturday evening. It's a lovely place with a warm and cozy atmosphere! It's a bit noisy inside, but we were able to hear each other and have a conversation. We opted for the surprise menu, which we didn't regret. There were several delicious mezze dishes to share. The bruschetta, tenderloin, and tzatziki were delicious! There really wasn't anything we didn't like, especially because they were always willing to consider any special requests. The sangria is incredibly delicious, and the mocktails were good too! Halfway through the evening, the place was quite full, and we were politely told it might take a little longer because the kitchen was busy. It's nice to know what to expect. The two sisters who run the place even stopped by our table for a chat. All in all, we had a pleasant evening with delicious food.

This is such a fantastic restaurant, with friendly and welcoming service. The food was delicious and varied. The sangria is also highly recommended. We'll definitely be back.

We received a very warm welcome. The staff was super friendly, we had a delicious meal, and the sangria was truly the best we've ever had. A very successful evening!

Underwhelming Food and Tiny Servings We were very disappointed with our visit to this tapas restaurant. The menu promised a variety of dishes including meat, fish, and chicken, but we only received vegetarian options. The food itself was bland, uninspired, and served in tiny portions — hardly enough for a proper meal. Some dishes even arrived cold, making the experience feel careless. While the staff were friendly and tried their best, they seemed unsure about the menu and the order of the courses, adding to the overall disorganization. On top of that, it was extremely difficult to reach the restaurant , which made communication frustrating. Considering the poor quality, misleading menu, and lack of professionalism, I would strongly recommend choosing another place for tapas

We booked a special menu, paid in advance… the kind of customers you would like to have coming back. Food was not great and less than expected, even when complaining response was not at the expected level. Not worth the price

Had a wonderful meal at Oresti's last night, delicious tapas and friendly staff who gave you a warm welcome. See you next time.

Very bad experience. We paid upfront for a large tapas menu, and we did not get many (meat) dishes. When we complained we received some patatas bravas instead. Totally unacceptable. Also afterwards they don't want to compensate, instead they blame us for tapping water from the toilet sink and someone pouring some of his own liquor in his coke (though we had a 400+ euro bill for only the drinks). Shame on you...

We came in quite late, we were warmly welcomed, the atmosphere is amazing, good music and the food - home! delicious, love the small portions, the wine is excellent and the service is great, we enjoyed it.

Amazing food and service! So good we came in twice during our trip

What a wonderful place, you immediately feel at home. It's a family restaurant, and you can feel that in the atmosphere, the food, and the service. A real treat.

On Saturday, October 19, 2025, I dined at Orestis Taverna again. A friend had recommended this venue for an informal birthday dinner for 10 people. It was a hit. The food was plentiful and delicious. The service was extremely friendly and helpful. There was a somewhat long wait at one point, but it was handled quickly and professionally. The owner is always present and very hospitable. It was a fitting and successful evening. And despite being seated in the middle of the restaurant, we didn't feel like we were disturbing other guests, which can sometimes happen unintentionally with groups. We would love to return, either as a couple or with more people.

It was our first time at Oresti's Taverna, but what a wonderful place it is! We started with some background information about the restaurant, followed by a warm welcome. The staff is incredibly friendly, and the owner frequently came to our table to check on us. This gave us a good, positive feeling! We were very pleased with the food, so compliments to the kitchen as well!

Very good meal, we really enjoyed ourselves. The grilled eggplant was excellent as were the cumin meatballs in sauce. The staff is very pleasant. The atmosphere is pleasant, we can hear ourselves talking without being in complete silence. Highly recommended +++

Went to Oresti's multiple times already, service is always on point, food quality is amazing and I would recommend their esma's (espresso martini). Thank me later ;)

Nice atmospheric tapas/mezzes with a focus on greek small plates. Flamenco music in the background. Dark woody interior. Food was a little uneven. The stars of our order were the gigantes spanaki which were garlicky white beans with spinach. The portion was on the small side for four to share so we got a second order. Another fantastic dish were the fried aubergine. Very tasty without being greasy despite being deep fried. Most dishes were just standard. Meatballs, bread with ajioli, patata bravas, grilled octopus. Only the skordalia was really yuck and in the category of things I would not order again. Gambas ajillo were made from frozen prawns but still tasty. Dessert of greek orange cake was good but the accompaniment of earthy cinnamon ice cream was an imbalanced choice. Ginger ice cream or even vanilla drizzled with a rosemary syrup would have been my preference, though that’s not traditionally greek. Service could be very slow. The gluten free bread arrived 20 minutes after the other breads. They had to ask us if we had gotten the patata bravas (no) and it finally got to the table after we finished everything else. We waited 10 minutes for dessert menus and another 10 minutes for dessert despite cakes being made in advance. A bottle of house red was EUR 30. A light dinner for four with an additional 12% tip as there was no service charge on the bill cane to EUR 200.

We had another delicious and enjoyable meal at Alexia and Litsa's. We've been coming here for many years and have been completely satisfied with the food and the excellent service. We also occasionally visit other restaurants with Mediterranean menus, but Oresti remains simply the best!

We had a wonderful evening and arrived at the DeLaMar theater on time. The snacks themselves were very tasty, and the service made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in.

We had a great time! Amazing food, great atmosphere. And the service was perfect, special shoutout Alexia! Highly recommend!

Fantastic family run pub/restaurant with exceptional food and great service. It's fun when you find a place like this by just walking by and stopping in. They welcomed our group of six hungry travelers and we had a fantastic meal of Greek & Spanish tapas style dishes. Try the Kokinisto beef & the grape leaves. You'll love it.

Great place with great family vibe. The staff was amazingly attentive. The Spanish chorizo was one of the best I’ve tried. I was pleasantly surprised to find this small hidden gem.

Wow! The food, the service, I mean they know what good food means. Always a pleasure to dine here. See you soon!! 💎

Fantastic service! Attentive, high-quality food, beautiful flavors, flexible, and above all, very warm. Thank you for the wonderful evening you gave me and my guests. I'll be back soon, highly recommended 😁

What a terrible experience here. I had to ask multiple times for food that didn't arrive or was forgotten. The staff happily joined friends at a table but didn't check if the food arrived. It was so unprofessional to join guests at a table you knew were staff; it was a bit unacceptable. Clearly, there was no communication between the order and the kitchen, and everything took a very long time. So, in the end, I only received part of the order; the order from 30 minutes earlier still had to be made... So, I paid for what I did receive and left. The food was tasty, but I wouldn't go back.

We've been coming here for years and it's high time to finally pay a compliment, because the food and drinks have been delicious for years in the cozy restaurant (which is also affordable) with very nice service 🤗

Nice and cosy restaurant with a combination of Greek/Spanish tapas. Tasteful. Bit noisy.

Lovely experience! Theres a wide variety in the tapas offered, wait staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is very gezellig! We were a party of 5 and we really enjoyed our dinner!

We have eaten in this tapas restaurant twice when we stayed in Amsterdam. It was amazing it didn’t disappoint second time round. The portion sizes are perfect the melody of flavours in every bite of food was just a joy. It has a very relaxed atmosphere and makes you feel good being there. The staff were wonderful and very welcoming and friendly. I couldn’t recommend it more. Loved it. Thank you Oresti’s ❤️

A delicious meal on all the dishes we tried. The staff was lovely and very professional. Our only regret is that we can't come back tomorrow, they're closed on Sundays 😭

Food is OK. Service is polite but slow. Atmosphere is nice. Overpriced portions.

Very cosy atmosphere and delicious food! The beans and the beef were so tasty and the white sangria went so well with the food.

Cozy place with delicious food!

I came to this place a few times over the years and in my most recent visit, I saw a dip in quality. The food was merely OK in taste, the portions increadibly small. My friends and I joked that we need to go to a kebap shop after this. The waitresses were very nice but the service was slow even though there were only 4 tables occupied. Sad to see

Over rated, over priced and small portions.

Best night I've had in a long time! Delicious white sangria, and that beef brisket dish was divine. The service was also very friendly. Thank you! 🔥

What could be more wonderful than treating yourself and your loved ones to a fantastic experience at one of Oresti's taverna's tables a few times a year? Especially when the menu is updated and features other delicious tapas and mezzes. Oresti's does it well! A change of pace is the spice of life! It's always a pleasant atmosphere. The service is excellent, and the owners always make time for you at your table several times a night. For a good conversation, just to socialize, or to ask if everything is to your liking. And it always is. The atmosphere is simply fantastic, and you leave satisfied every time. And eager to return soon. This taverna is and remains a winner!

I've been here several times, and it's a fantastic restaurant! Last time, we went with a group of 16, and we got a private area at the back of the restaurant, which was great! The service is good, they have tasty drinks, and the food is good. My only complaint is that the menu has recently changed, and some of my favorite dishes are no longer on it. Absolutely recommended, whether for an intimate dinner or with a group in the private room.

We had dinner as a party of six at Oresti’s Traverna while visiting Amsterdam. We did make a reservation online ahead of time and had no wait for our table. The food was delicious, fresh and pleasingly presented. I particularly enjoyed the very fresh vegetables used in preparation of the dishes. We sampled a wide variety of tapas and they were all very delicious. They also have a nice if small selection of quite good wines. Our server was excellent and I would definitely return here again.

Great spot that was open late enough to eat at when our flight got delayed. The staff was very friendly and nice. This place has a cute charm to it!

The service was ok, but we came late, so food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Portions are VERY SMALL for the price and not Spain tapas like portions at all!!! The waitress rolled her eyes when I mentioned I forgot to order the padron peppers like she was the one making them. Disappointed but this was the only place open late so it had to do.

Really bad service m, waited for the food OVER an hour when they said it would be 20 minutes, DO NOT RECOMMEND

A lovely place with very good tapas. We ordered: tzatziki with pita, patatas bravas, calamares a la Romana (super fresh and light), chorizo frito, gambas al ajillo, patates lemonates (biggest surprise, loved them!) and then we came for a quick bite also the next day. We also loved the service, everything was smooth, fast and with a smile. I would definitely come back.

The light spicy sauce was brilliant even though the fries were a little tasteless themselves. The servive and atmosphere was... I'm losing the words. Wonderfull. Everyone of the staff was kind and taught me Dutch phrases. Dankejewel!

Tapas place, a bit expensive but food is 😊

Best place in Amsterdam 🥰 just came for a beer and ended up eating and spening all evening here.

Very tasty food and very attentive service! Octopus is recommended!

Positive: good food, sangria was tasty, staff was friendly, nice atmosphere in the restaurant Less positive: portions were small and expensive, staff was not very attentive (we had to actively beckon the staff to be served), it took quite a while for the ordered dishes to be served, had to be paid for tap water (unexpectedly).

Short-staffed and pretty busy but definitely worth it.

I can’t really provide feedback on the food since it s been an hour and still haven’t received any…