Rainarai Westerpark in Spaarndammer- en Zeeheldenbuurt

Always incredibly authentic and tasty. A place to keep coming back to

A charming, cozy, and beautiful place with a wonderful aroma the moment you walk in, just as you'd expect from an African restaurant; with all the rich flavors of the North African region—and all in a historic building. Why wasn't I here earlier?!

Food was good, chef was awesome, very good spot.

Great atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service. Three options on the menu: menu 1, 2, or 3. Deliciously delicious. Menu 1 was more than enough for me. I'll definitely be back. Patrick

We had a fantastic meal and it was an inspiring evening. We especially enjoyed the food and the experience, the restaurant was friendly and welcoming.

I’ve celebrated several occasions here, and it has always been such a wonderful experience. The food is absolutely amazing and never gets boring and every visit feels special. I absolutely love the atmosphere, and the service is consistently friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended!!! Thanks Rainarai

had a very intimate and cozy experience at Rainarai! the food was incredible and the service was amazing - very personal touch (shoutout to Laurent!) Will be back again soon

Delicious food, fantastic flavors. Good service.

Delicious food, nice atmosphere, very friendly service. Highly recommended!

We made a reservation here on a Sunday evening around 18:00 with seven adults and two young children under 4 years old. I booked based on the à la carte menu because it looked good, but upon arrival, the owner only recommended the chef's surprise menu at €32.00 per person, so we couldn't choose anything ourselves. It wasn't too busy in the restaurant at that time at all. We told him beforehand that the children would be joining our plates for dinner. Then the owner said, "Because it's so cold outside, "I've made this vegetarian dish extra spicy with harissa!" Well, that was even too spicy for us. And the chicken had skewers in it. They could have warn us for that beforehand. We even left a lot of food behind. In conclusion, I found the service unpleasant and overpriced for what you get.

We had a super delicious meal with surprising dishes. The chef came to the table to explain the dishes with humor. The service was also great, highly recommended.

Fun place to go, varied food with surprise. Overall a good experience

Everything delicious. Cool atmosphere. Will repeat for sure

We would like to sincerely thank you for the wonderful experience we had at your restaurant last night. It was our first time there, as we don't live in Amsterdam, and the warm welcome we received was truly special. We immediately felt at ease and very welcome. The hostess was truly fantastic—friendly, attentive, genuine, and with a wonderful energy. Such people are the heart and soul of a restaurant. We were also amazed by the delicious blend of flavors and the care that was palpable in every dish. Our compliments to the chef and the entire team. The love, kindness, and attention you give your guests make all the difference. You create more than just a meal, but a true experience. We enjoyed every dish and the atmosphere. Congratulations again to the chef and to the wonderful hostess—a gem.

A very warm welcome and delicious cuisine!!!

We went in because of the delicious smell. The service was super friendly and the food delicious. However, the owner was unfriendly. We wanted to order dessert and went to the counter. He then said he'd come to our table right away. Ten minutes later, he came back and yelled at us for sitting too long. That left a bad taste in our mouths. It was a shame.

Not been there, but they do not pick up the phone, nor do they have an email or whatsapp. Surprising they manage to have a google location. Still keen to try and have food there.

A lovely, delicious lunch outside. A super friendly host/chef. Good food. Will definitely be back!

Overpriced and not tasty, what a disappointment. We had three and a half salmon steaks to share among four people. I really enjoyed the chicken, but it was a shame that only two pieces of chicken breast were available per person.

We had a wonderful meal. We opted for the two-course menu. An explosion of flavors. The octopus was incredibly delicious.

What a disastrous downfall. This place used to be a gem, but now it feels like a parody of itself. The menu has been stripped down to a rigid fixed selection: fish, beef, lamb, or a token vegetarian option. Sounds simple enough—except they were out of both beef and lamb. Strike one. When it came to sides, the choice was rice or couscous. We picked couscous. Guess what? They were out of that too. Strike two. The so-called “first course” was nothing more than a few pitiful dips with flatbread. One was a baffling green aioli, the others were dull, lifeless smears of eggplant and beet. Calling this half of a €40 meal is almost insulting—the portions were meager, the flavors flat, the effort nonexistent. Strike three. It honestly hurts to write this, because this used to be one of the neighborhood’s best spots. Now it’s a hollow shell of what it once was. A restaurant that can’t keep its most basic offerings in stock and charges premium prices for scraps has lost all credibility. Do better!

Very good North African food. The vegetable appetizers were excellent. Then chicken tajin and salmon -- perfectly made.

We had a lovely meal outside, overlooking the cooking area. A lovely place for a cozy and delicious meal. Highly recommended!

Love the outdoor area! Owner cooking on the fireplace. Their location on prinsengracht is also amazing!

Delicious food, great atmosphere. Highly recommended! The couscous and fish tagine the chef prepared were delicious!

Delicious food! I opted for the one-course menu because a la carte wasn't available. In hindsight, it was a good thing, otherwise I wouldn't have chosen or tasted it! The most delicious vegetables ever, too.

We had a delicious meal at this nomadic restaurant. We opted for a two-course menu. Both the appetizer and main course consisted of various appetizers. The wine was from Algeria, deliciously fruity. Finally, Rimrim's service was excellent. Definitely worth a return visit, and also great for extended dining with larger groups.

Heerlijk gekruid eten! Lekker menu van de chef gehad het was super veel maar echt heerlijk. De bediening doet het op z’n eigen manier en maakt er een show van

Voor onze teamdag wilden we eens iets “anders” proberen. Nou, dat kregen we ook… Vanaf het moment dat we aankwamen, werden we op bijzonder onvriendelijke en respectloze wijze ontvangen door de eigenaar. Geen greintje gastvrijheid, waardoor we besloten meteen te vertrekken. Gelukkig kwamen we even verderop terecht bij een gezellige pizzeria, waar we wél met open armen werden ontvangen en heerlijk hebben gegeten. Zo kan het dus ook! Dit restaurant? Absoluut geen aanrader.

For our team day, we wanted to try something "different." And well, that's exactly what we got... From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the owner in a particularly unfriendly and disrespectful manner. There was no hospitality whatsoever, so we decided to leave immediately. Luckily, we found a cozy pizzeria a little further down the road, where we were welcomed with open arms and had a delicious meal. That's how it can be done! This restaurant? Absolutely not recommended!

Not great / special. Looks nice at first sight. Fresh vegetables etc. Single set menu and the food really has no taste. Waste of time and money. Service is slow and food is warmed up.

Masha'Allah, a beautiful restaurant. I ordered chicken and couscous from them. I recommend you try it, but the order takes about 35 minutes. My order hasn't arrived yet. There were people before me who had their order delivered, but it might be because it was crowded, but it's beautiful.

He viajado mucho y he probado comidas increíbles, y la comida que acabamos de probar en Raïnaraï está sin duda en la lista de las mejores. Los sabores eran simplemente excepcionales. El servicio fue genial. Era una atmósfera realmente única. Fue una experiencia perfecta. Ojalá hubiera venido con más hambre para poder comer más.

Amazing food, great service and beautiful setting. We went for a 2 course set mezze meal where the chef surprised us with a selection of North African dishes. We sat at tables in the grass of westerpark making a perfect scene for a date night on a hot summers evening.

Excellent food!!! The three-course meal, including dessert, was absolutely amazing! All the ingredients were carefully selected and perfectly combined. I've never tasted such delicious chicken in curry sauce! Very pleasant ambiance right on the water. The staff was very friendly and reliable!

we had made a reservation on June 12 for that same evening. Everyone was sitting outside. There was a large table with about 30 people already present. Apparently that was too much for the chef and service. We waited an hour for a first course. The service was very stressed and kept coming by to apologize for the long wait and incorrectly delivered orders, also at other tables. Only the large table was served well. The owner behaved rudely towards the guests, and we heard shouting from the kitchen several times. The food was completely uninspired and very mediocre. On the website and even on the displayed menu you could still order a variety of mezze. That was no longer possible. An example of what we were served; sticky couscous, on top of which some chicken was slapped with a mixture of herbs that everyone can buy at Jumbo. The vegetables included eggplant with blackened bitter skin, some half-cooked carrots and pieces of zucchini. The food at every cafe is better; the price too.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, we stumbled upon a beautiful spot in Westerpark: Rainarai. We enjoyed some drinks in the sun and decided to have dinner there as well. The menu is simple: you choose either a 1, 2, or 3-course meal with fish, meat, or vegetarian options. Beyond that, it’s a daily changing menu — nothing to choose from, which means no stress and no food envy. Perfect! The food was a very flavourful nomadic, Algerian–North African fusion. Great value for money. We have quite a bit of experience living and dining out in Amsterdam. 😂

What a gem! Surprisingly fresh food. Today as a starter artichoke with beet salad. Fantastic.

Both the food, the service and the atmosphere are worth a big 10 🏆

This is a delightful restaurant! very good food, and vegetarian friendly. Chef was accommodating and welcoming although service a bit slow. Can accommodate both large groups and small groups relatively easily (big tables available). Both outdoor & indoor seating available. Most of all, the food was delicious. Really a gem!

Had a wonderful meal at Rainarai. The atmosphere is warm and authentic, with dishes full of flavour and character. Everything was well coordinated and beautifully presented. A special thanks to manager Karim, who guided us in a relaxed and hospitable manner. You can feel that they work here with attention and love. Definitely a place to come back to.

Ranarai is truly a gem! The ambiance is super cozy, with nice music and a warm atmosphere. The food is fantastic - surprising, tasty and beautifully presented. The service is friendly and attentive, which makes you feel welcome right away. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to eat well in a relaxed setting!

One year later and a perfect day , 32 C, to eat on the terrace under the trees with most of the rest of Amsterdam on the ring for 750yrs anniversary. Chefs menu, 1,2 or 3 courses we took 2 with Starter was artichoke with beetroot , vinegrett dressing and hummus and babaganousch. Then mains - eggplant, rice, chicken tajine and pastilla with cod all delicious. Rainy Friday lunch time, and very quiet hence the low rating for the atmosphere .BUT delicious food. We took the mixed Mezze lunch, mix of vegetables , rice, couscous, chicken and gambas for 2 with their bread, everything was delicious and right quantities for us.

We had a great dinner for my sister’s 30th birthday with the family, the location and vibe are amazing and the food was maybe even better! We had the perfect birthday dinner, thank you very much <3

Beautiful relaxed setting with friendly interactive staff and delicious food! Something unique in Amsterdam

Fantastic. I don't understand what the low score is about. Food, staff, outdoor seating (in summer), the whole atmosphere, it was just brilliant.

Excellent service, great atmosphere, would highly recommend

Excellent food. Very nice ambiance between the trees. Great service.

Magical setting; slightly disorganized but hospitable service; deep, balanced and healthy food.

The new manager Karim has done a remarkable job. So enjoyed a lovely evening on the patio with exotic flavors 💚

Great service. Was an outstanding experience! Literally everything they served was fantastic and tasteful! Can highly recommend Rainarai!

a beautiful spot to enjoy beautiful food!

Joyful experience and easy friendships in this Algerian restaurant full of people who know how to cook and serve

have wanted to come here for aaaages and it did not disappoint! was so flavourful, fresh, fulling and a little bit fancy (but not too fancy at all) also so vegan friendly which i love! staff are lovely, setting is stunning and music is spot on

Great food with a bitter ending. I’ve ordered one 2 course meal for me and my friend to share. Afterwards I needed to pay nearly the double amount because it ‘was not custom’. Which would be okay if you’d tell us beforehand. Doei.

Perfecta cocina auténtica y ambiente. Relájate y disfruta. El menú vegetariano y vegano es rico en sabor. Deliciosa comida. Sin duda volveremos. Recomendable

Super tasty food and very generous portions. I dont get the rating of 3.9 honestly, its very misleading. The food is super tasty and satisfying. Its nothing fancy, but definitely very hearty food. They have nice big terrace, super nice on a hot day. The service is a bit slow, but everyone is super kind and friendly. We reallly enjoyed it.

I love this place so much. We ordered the mezze lunch for two and got stuffed. Got a take away container to have for dinner, it was insanely good!! I will be back for sure :)

Amazing food, need to let the chef invite you into his home, food cooked that catered to 3 different tastes, chef can be a bit brash but seriously let him surprise you.

Poor service, the food quite deceiving (dry fish, overcooked meat). Don’t go there! When we arrived we were told tables were reserved although none clients came after us, so we were forced to seat next to an occupied table. We mentioned that we wanted to eat a light dinner (my friend had food before and I was not extremely hungry), the waiter acknowledged without telling us what will come (a surprise). In the end he said the Chef did not listen to him, they brought us 8 dishes in total, and charged us 85€ for 2 people. Really not what we came for neither what we asked to the waiter. This place seems to not care about their clients.

The owner is extremely rude and disrespectful not just to his employees, but to customers as well. Such a shame, because the food is actually really good.

Probablement l'un des meilleurs plats orientaux que nous ayons mangé ces 10 dernières années. Pour avoir parcouru le Maghreb, le Proche et Moyen Orient à de très nombreuses occasions, nous sommes restés scotchés par la qualité de ce couscous revisité. Félicitations aux cuisines.

My husband and I came here 5 years ago and I've been thinking about my meal ever since. I brought my parents here this past trip. They were very apprehensive about the prix fixe menu but they were blown away! They said it's the best meal they've ever had. My mom immediately looked for an Algerian restaurant back home. I can't wait for my next trip to the Netherlands to eat here again!

The food was quite okay. But nothing extraordinary. The service is friendly but poor. We were given a menu that only allowed the selection of courses. Nobody explained this until I asked. A la carte was possible, but only upon request, they said. When we remarked that one person at the table was vegetarian, the waitress simply said 'that's fine'. We didn't know exactly what was coming until the dish was at the table. The beer glasses were only half filled. They were then refilled upon request. Every now and then we were forgotten and had to draw attention to ourselves. When billing, all items were incorrect. At least all in our favor. Since the staff was quite friendly and the food was okay, it's not really bad. But at prices of EUR 40 for two courses, the restaurant really doesn't deserve a recommendation.

When you get there, they only give you the set menu. There is an a la carte one but they do not show you unless you ask for it. We ended up ordering the chefs menu for 4 people. The amount of food was small, little variation, and not impressive. Left the restaurant still hungry. Expensive prices for what it offers. I do not recommend and I won’t be coming back.

Wanted to eat something but incredibly bad service. The best gentleman (older guy) who was working better do something that he enjoys!

This was my favorite meal while visiting Amsterdam. Fantastic food, and I will make an effort to return if I'm ever in the city again.

Horribles vibraciones. Mala comida. Me preocupa la salud mental del personal. Pero por otro lado, ellos también fueron groseros. Nunca más.

We had to wait two hours for our food and were then scolded by the waiter when we asked why it took so long. Very very expensive too! The food bad.

Only in the restaurant itself is it announced that you are not allowed to choose anything from the menu, but that they serve set dishes. There is no information about this online, while the dishes on the menu really lure you in. Not for me again

We had to wait more than an hour for our food. Other people came later, but got their food earlier. Bizarre. No one came to ask if we wanted something to drink in the meantime (on the house, for example). As an example for dinner, we pointed to the food from the table next to us, but in the end we were served something completely different. And when the food arrived it was quite tasty, albeit on the greasy side and the salmon was dry. The vegetarian dinner cost the same as that of the meat eaters, but simply omitted the meat or fish. No good replacement or some extra: nothing. The portions were small. An ordered drink was forgotten twice. The desserts were not all the same, part of 3 plates was missing. Or there was something extra on 1 plate, which is also possible. A bit random. We were also not told what we were getting to eat: we had to guess. I have never had such an unpleasant experience in a restaurant before, where the focus shifts to irritation instead of the pleasant get-together with your friends. And that for more than 200 euros with 4 people. An ABSOLUTE OFFENSE and therefore NOT RECOMMENDED!

La comida era increíblemente amarga, totalmente incomible, y dejó un regusto horrible. Además de eso, el propietario fue sorprendentemente grosero, desdeñoso y completamente poco profesional en cómo trataban a los clientes!

Fantastic flavors abound at this Algerian local favorite. We had the set lunch with prawn, salmon, chicken and vegetables. Super tasty and fresh and excellent service. Highly recommended!

Great place. Sadri is an amazing attentive host. The ladies in the kitchen performed miracles. Lovely place, calm exotic ambiance.unique.

A nice surprise, very nice place with a lot of personality, different cuisine with a wide choice of dishes. Unfortunately, I arrived shortly after 9.15pm, the kitchen was closing, so after a clarification between the dining room and the kitchen, they let me sit, telling me that it was only possible to make one run of the 3 menus available (vegan/fish/meat), choosing the vegan one with its 3 dishes. I can't wait to go back to confirm my first impression.

Unfortunately, it's not open today at noon. I think the opening hours need to be adjusted.

In one word: fantastic. How wonderful it is to be welcomed with a smile and visible pride. Just as you wish on a night out. An absolute must for those who love atmosphere, good food, conviviality and hospitality!

What delicious, nomadic dishes are served here. Delicious couscous with spinach, stewed lamb in the tagine, fried prawns, and tasty seasonal vegetables. You should definitely try this place. Absolutely a taste sensation, a lovely location, and very friendly service.

Even though we were received in some chaos and we were served our dinner without asking/explaining the concept, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Raïnarai. The flavors are very good, the staff friendly and pleasant. There is a nice atmosphere. Definitely recommended

Very cozy and cultural atmosphere. Pleasant music in the background and the service was very nice. The food was good, more than enough and very affordable!

They let us come just for a drink, the gentleman at the reception was super friendly, we were sitting in a Moroccan lounge, a super relaxing atmosphere.

I have never had such bad service and have experienced that this does not apply to everyone in the restaurant, but especially to those who only make a reservation on the day itself. Called at 5 p.m. to ask if you can choose everything from the menu if you book via forkje. The employee said that was no problem at all. Upon arrival, a dominant man shouted that there was only a surprise menu. The girls next to us who had not booked through forkje could only get a surprise menu, but other people were eating from the menu. Indicated that I do not eat goat cheese and spicy foods and that would be taken into account. When asked what I wanted to drink, I said orange juice and the man said: This is not a lunchroom and that is bad for your stomach. Confused, I ordered a spa because I don't drink alcohol and he said; Is that all? The starter was then placed on the table without any text or explanation because the waiter only spoke Spanish. As it turned out, the first dish was a goat's cheese salad and the second was spicey humus. I had a stomach ache all night. Instead of the goat cheese we got a bowl of tomatoes with lettuce. The rest of the dishes were tasty and plentiful, but I wouldn't go here again in a hurry due to the rude behavior of the manager or perhaps the owner. Too bad because the food is of good quality and the restaurant is very cozy.

We were with a group of 7 with different dietary requirements and were taken care of very well! Kind and welcoming staff, had nice conversation and a laugh with the chef.

Een van de allerleukste, gezelligste en lekkerste restaurants waar ik in tijden ben geweest! De sfeer is goed, de bediening heel vriendelijk, de tafeltjes zitten niet te dicht op elkaar en het eten is mega lekker en ook nog eens gezond. En heel handig: het restaurant zit recht tegenover een parkeergarage. Echt een aanrader dus!!!

I went with my friends and the owner of the restaurant was super welcoming and catered to all our needs (allergies, special diet etc) the food was delicious! We had a lovely evening!

Gente increíble comida increíble música increíble 🙏♥️ super lekker Comimos y hablamos y conocimos a los propietarios. Todo el personal era amable e interesante e hicieron grandes adaptaciones para necesidades de dieta

What delicious Algerian dishes👌🏾 Staff were friendly and very helpful. When I told them that I was participating in Ramadan, a glass of milk and a dish of figs were brought to me within seconds, which was great!!🙏🏽

Food is tasty but way too expensive. Without announcement you can only choose the number of courses. The menu is a lot more expensive than if you ordered individual dishes, but it is not necessarily special. Plus the bald man in charge is anything but customer friendly. Wine and water also very pricey. Sitting for an hour and a half and a bill that shocks you.

The 3.9 rating is so misleading. It's a really authentic place with kind people and delicious food. We genuinely enjoyed our dinner and the restaurant is really cozy! It's one of those special places that you don't find very often.

Delight!!!!! I was also lucky enough to catch a day of 😎😎😎

Great food served by friendly people having good stories!

Let chef Laurent surprise you! Everything is so flavourful and fresh, and the portions are generous.

Wow wow wow this place is a gem, delicious

Delicious three-course mezze menu for the two of us. Great authentic flavors, lovely people and beautiful space. Well worth it, we will definitely come back!

Delicious food! Everything is possible, vegetarian and vegan. Lovely place and very cozy.

Zeer gastvrije ontvangst. Heerlijk eten, echt met liefde gemaakt. Je begint met een dansje, ongemakkelijk, maar toch een e hte ijsbreker. Zeker een aanrader!

Delicious food. Enjoyed every bite. Cozy atmosphere and great service!

Great... because it was busy, there was only a choice of one or three courses. I went here for dinner with a good friend... and wow, were we surprised! It was behind the restaurant, and my friend owns a restaurant and is a chef, but the flavors here were very authentic. The husband and wife who own it love to pamper you. They didn't make any fuss, and they politely asked if we wanted more of anything. The price-quality ratio was also excellent.

The food is fine, but way too expensive! The restaurant is not wheelchair accessible. The owner does not provide honest information about this even though three calls have been made about it. If you come to eat there with seven people and then have to drag a number of brackish decking yourself in the cold and dark to get in, it is a disillusionment. That's why only one star! Never again Rainaraï!!

First time eating North African food and it was delicious. The chicken was deliciously seasoned and tender. The rice was also well seasoned. Everything is organic and halal so I would definitely recommend it. The atmosphere is also a bit African with appropriate music, lights and decoration. The staff is very friendly and always have a smile! Finally, the owner Laurent is also a nice man to talk to. He loves a chat. In summary, super nice restaurant, nice people and delicious food!