Words by Anano Shalamberidze

REM PUTS ICONIC REM ISLAND BACK ON THE MAP

REM has opened its’ doors: the newest food destination in Amsterdam offers fantastic food by head chef Bobby Rust and a unique view over the IJ. REM is an initiative by catering entrepreneurs Martijn Peters, Martijn Witlam, David André and Frits de Haes and is located at the REM island. The location now has a restaurant, bar, meeting spaces, and an incredible rooftop terrace. Looking for a delicious cup of coffee, a 6-course fine dining experience, a cocktail, or feel like dancing? REM has you covered!

REM intrigues you from the minute you walk into the space. The interior is playful, contrasting fancy and fun; lavish views of the water are illuminated by neon lights that slowly introduce ambiance as the dinner goes on. Like the interior, the food combines elegance and playfulness, accompanied by a perfectly complimenting wine selection. The restaurant team are accomodating and knowledgeable, and ready to answer any of your queries regarding the alcohol alternatives. The atmosphere exudes a warm and welcoming feel, yet is cool and nonchalant.

The chef’s menu deserves its own shout-out. Utilizing unexpected ingredients, the menu offers sweet flavors in appetizers and cauliflower in desserts. It all seems counter-intuitive at first, but you will soon find out that it creates an original and surprising culinary experience. The wines selected to perfectly complement each of the dishes, from white to orange and from sparkling to dessert wine, bring out the flavors further. The dishes include rabbit with North Sea crab, chicory, and sauerkraut, Beet Wellington with crapaudine beet and mushrooms, and a platter of a wonderful selection of cheeses.

The peak of the REM experience is the best rooftop terrace in Amsterdam West. Grab a drink and bite and sit yourself down on one of the lounge sofas with the sun in your face and an incredible skyline as your backdrop. On the weekends, a DJ plays the hottest tunes until the sun goes down. And no worries – you can dance the whole night away just two floors down.

You can book a table through the website. The REM Studio is available for rent for meetings, lectures or private events such as baby showers, birthdays, private dinners and more. REM regularly organises events and parties on special occasions such as King’s Day and Halloween. In fact, REM needs little excuse to throw a party, so be sure to keep an eye on the website and the Instagram account to stay up to date.