Foodhallen

Foodhallen opened in 2014 in De Hallen, a former tram depot in Oud-West that was restored and converted into a cultural complex. Alongside the food hall, the listed industrial building houses a cinema, a public library, a hotel, shops and workshops, and its long brick halls and steel roof trusses give the place a distinctive character. Foodhallen has since opened further locations, but this is the original.

The idea is simple. Around 19 independent food stands and three bars share one large hall, with long communal tables in the middle, so everyone in a group can choose something different and eat together. The line-up changes over time, but it has included Spanish tapas, Indonesian street food, sushi, pizza, burgers, fried chicken and Mumbai street food. The bars serve beer, wine and cocktails, so it works for a casual dinner or simply drinks with something to share.

Foodhallen is good for groups with mixed tastes, families with children who want something familiar, and anyone on a moderate budget who wants a lively atmosphere. It is not the place for a quiet conversation on a Friday or Saturday night, when the hall fills up and queues form at the most popular stands.

It is open every day from 12pm to 11pm, 364 days a year; it closes on Christmas Day and at 8pm on 24 and 31 December, while King's Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are normal opening days. To get a table at peak times, arrive before 6.30pm or come for a late lunch on a weekday. Allow an hour or so, and order from more than one stand to make the most of it. Sharing a few plates between friends is the easiest way to sample several kitchens in one visit, and the bars make it simple to linger over a drink once everyone has eaten.

De Hallen is reached through a passage from Bellamyplein or from Kinkerstraat and Bilderdijkstraat, with tram stops close by. The surrounding Oud-West neighbourhood has plenty of independent shops and cafés, and Vondelpark is a few minutes' walk away, making Foodhallen an easy stop before or after an afternoon in the park.