Upstairs pancake house

Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis
Grimburgwal 2
1012 GA Amsterdam
tel:  +31 (0) 20 626 56 03

opening hours: 

Friday 12-19
Sat 12-18
Sunday 12-17

There are many pancake houses in Amsterdam but the one I like the best is called Upstairs. Located in the center of the city, just off a canal, it is hard to find and keeps odd hours. You enter a little door and  climb up a very steep flight of stairs and when you get there you find a tiny restaurant with only four tables that seat a total of 18 people. Arno Jakobs is the owner and he lives upstairs  and does the cooking. He has been the owner for 12 years when he took over the restaurant from some friends who couldn’t keep it anymore but it’s been a pancake house since 1962. My favorite pancake is the one with apples and bacon which I eat with the traditional accompaniment of stroop—a heavy dark syrup that the Dutch love. Mr. Jakobs says that is one of the most popular pancakes and so is apple with cinnamon and the pancake with bacon and cheese.  

I go to Upstairs whenever I am back in Amsterdam. While I wait, I enjoy looking up at the ceiling which is where Mr. Jakobs keeps his tea pot collection. He has 126 teapots including a silver one from his great grandfather which he keeps in the kitchen for safekeeping after a number were stolen by his customers.  I’ve never been greedy enough to have a desert pancake but they look amazing and are piled high with icecream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and fruit.