Explore Amsterdam’s Beautiful Parks & End Your Day with Authentic Indian Cuisine

Amsterdam is known for its canals, culture and creativity — but one of its best-kept secrets is the many lush spaces that make up city life. From enormous parks teeming with cyclists and families to serene gardens tucked away behind centuries-old streets, Amsterdam has an array of places where you can take a deep breath and get some quality time amidst nature.

During a full day of exploration amongst these tranquil surrounds there is nothing better than rounding off the evening with a yummy, hearty dish in the thick of it all. And that’s where Samrat Restaurant at Bethaniëndwarsstraat 17, 1012 CB Amsterdam becomes the best conclusion—with traditional Indian food in your Amsterdam park visit.

This guide leads you by the hand through Amsterdam’s grandest parks and gardens, prettiest ponds and green retreats – culminating with a delicious Indian dinner at Indian Restaurant to wind down your day.

Amsterdam: Where Green Escapes and City Life Coexist

Unlike most head-spinning capital cities, Amsterdam has a one-off gift for spaciousness, air and the great outdoors. Green space is not an afterthought, and it’s not relegated to the outskirts; instead, parks, ponds, playgrounds and botanical gardens are woven into the urban experience. No matter where you live in the city, a patch of green is not far off, and nature becomes part of daily routines rather than being reserved for weekends.

For residents, that means beginning the day with an early-morning run along tree-lined paths, unwinding after work with a leisurely picnic or taking children to playgrounds in grassy sections near waterways. Open-air rehearsals of musicians, friends meeting on sunny lawns and cultural events in outdoor theatres all make use of these peaceful green sanctuaries that are dotted around the neighbourhoods of Amsterdam. These nooks serve as a natural pause in the rhythm of city life, where time seems momentarily frozen, and the restlessness of the city dissolves into something more intimate.

For holidaymakers, the green heart of Amsterdam provides a pleasantly balanced break. Sightseeing is never overwhelming, since moments of peace are always a short walk away. You could start your day in green, leafy park trails, spend the afternoon lounging beside a serene pond or botanical gardens and be back by night in the historic city centre. The shift from nature to culture, from silent trails to bustling roads, occurs seamlessly and without a long commute.

When the day reaches an end, though, it’s incomplete without a proper meal that can match the richness of the journey. For a genuine Indian meal in the heart of Amsterdam city centre, there is no place like Samrat Indian Restaurant. Late in the evening and after hours outdoors, guests are greeted not only with warm hospitality but also by that rich scent of spices combined with dishes that taste as if they will heal you. Inside the calm ambience of Samrat, you would never know that one had come from just such a place—and that’s perfect for returning after all the hustle and bustle and winding down with some really deep dining.

Iconic Parks That Shape Amsterdam’s Outdoor Lifestyle

Vondelpark – The Soul of the City

No park sums up Amsterdam better than Vondelpark. It is no mere green space, but rather a living, breathing embodiment of the city’s identity — where life and culture and creative juices spill out. Everyone from first-time tourists to students taking a break from class, families spending quality time, and artists seeking inspiration meet here, making the vibe at once lively but not cloying.

Vondelpark is relaxing and cool in the early mornings. Joggers press on steadily down tree-lined paths, cyclists cut through with ease and dog walkers take in the silence before the city fully stirs itself. The park becomes something of a social scene as the day goes on. Afternoons are spent picnicking on sunlit grass, soft music wafting through the air as friends gather together and talk and share under towering trees. By the evening, golden sunlight filters through the leaves, giving everything a warm light that verges on cinematic.

Image The park’s sinuous paths effortlessly lead visitors to peaceful water features like the Vondelpark Ponds, where people linger on benches or watch ducks paddle along a mirrored surface — or just find pause for stillness. Culture and creativity A cultural highlight is provided by the Vondelpark Open Air Theatre, with free performances as diverse as music and dance or drama - an example of how Amsterdam’s generous nature combines seamlessly with its creative heart.

After hours soaking up this spirited but casual scene, the craving for an equally soulful and satisfying meal feels natural. Whizz in on the tram for a bit or enjoy an easy bike ride, and you’re right in the city, where Samrat Indian Restaurant is. Indeed, after a day exposed to the elements, head into this spot’s fragrant spices and richly flavoured curries before sinking your teeth into hot-from-the-oven naan – it offers an effective way to end a quintessential Amsterdam trip.

Westerpark – Where Nature Meets Culture

Westerpark One of Amsterdam’s most vibrant parks, artfully combines nature with the creative and cultural. Designed around lovingly restored industrial buildings, the park is fresh and modern but also has a feeling of history. Broad grassy fields allow for seated relaxation, while adjacent art venues, cafes and cultural spaces lend an energetic stamp to the landscape.

The park is famous for its constantly shifting ambience. On one occasion, you will see folks lounging with a book or blanket on the lawns; on another, there may be an art show, local market or music fest that enlivens the spot for everyone. Despite the buzz, Westerpark is never overwhelming. There is a soothing rhythm to the park, and when you get a little stiller, Westerpark Pond, it offers some quiet corners in the city.

After spending some time with Westerpark’s artistic influence and its own special vibe, it should seem like smooth sailing to change gears and find dinner in the city centre. And this Indian Restaurant has got to be your next port of call – It’s right slap bang in the middle and those big, bold Indian flavours are just what you need for crashing out after a day of open-air exploring, art appreciation and inspiration.

Oosterpark – Spacious and Serene

Despite its very best efforts, Oosterpark is a calm and spacious space. The park is open, with broad lawns and tall trees and softly looping walkways; it is an airy and unhurried space that lends itself to long walks, easy meetings of friends or moments of silent contemplation. It’s a time for visitors to really slow down, whether while on a quiet walk or just sitting in place and observing daily life pass by.

In the middle of this peaceful area is the Oosterpark Pond, a central feature that adds to the park’s relaxing ambience. Book-carrying visitors often cluster nearby with coffee or murmuring conversation, as the slow rock of the water sets a casual mood for a leisurely afternoon.

The peaceful, easy vibe of Oosterpark is made for a lazy evening. After a day of decompression within its leafy confines, heading to the Indian Restaurant for some hearty Indian cuisine feels like an effortless extension of the same vibe. Warm, familiar food in a convivial city-centre setting rounds off the laid-back, unhurried feel Oosterpark will leave you with.

Neighbourhood Parks and Local Green Retreats

Sarphatipark – A Community Favourite

Sarphatipark is smaller than some of Amsterdam’s bigger parks, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in personality and pleasantness! Deeply beloved by the locals, this is a park that feels intimate and personal, spinning as it does on the axis of everyday neighbourhood life. It’s the sort of cosy place that regulars will know your name, and where the air is more one of casualness rather than mass-market tourism.

Families congregate in the Sarphatipark Playground with kids running wild and parents sitting on the side. Couples walk hand in hand along shaded paths, and solitary visitors tend to take a seat on benches nestled beneath leafy trees, reading, listening to music, or just watching the world go by. The park’s design invites lingering, but on laid-back afternoons and slow openings for the evening.

That chipper, everyday feel makes it more easily imaginable to end the day with a dinner that feels similarly comforting and unpretentious. It’s that warm and fuzzy content vibe this Indian Restaurant exudes, a place where families, couples and groups of friends can sustain the composure after an idle day outdoors with authentic Indian cuisine that feels sustaining following a calm day getting back to nature.

Beatrixpark – Calm, Spacious, and Refreshing

Beatrixpark is a much more sedate option for turning off from the busier sections of town. The feeling is one of openness and elbow room, with a wide lawn or two, open sightlines, and carefully engineered paths helping everything feel copious and unhurried. For visitors who also like their peace, instead of the crowds, and appreciate a space to reflect and wander slowly.

The calmness of Beatrixpark Lake gives the park a peaceful, almost meditative feel. It’s normal for walkers to stop by the water’s edge and watch reflections quiver, even just experience the gentle beat of silence provided by nature. Whether you’re walking alone or sharing a quiet moment with a friend, Beatrixpark can make you feel refuelled rather than hurried.

When people have experienced this relaxation, they often search for the food equivalent of that restful feeling. “The restaurant wholeheartedly believes that their guests should be able to enjoy food in a relaxed and chilled atmosphere, and the perfectly balanced environment at Samrat’s offers exactly this, simply unwind, take your time when you’re there.” – This Indian Restaurant welcomes everyone looking for great-tasting Indian cuisine served by friendly staff with warm smiles. Not only do we serve top-notch Indian dishes, but we also offer a relaxing atmosphere so that our guests can forget about time and enjoy every bite of their food, even in busy Amsterdam!

Rembrandtpark – Scenic and Understated

Rembrandtpark is one of the quietest urban parks in Amsterdam, trading crowded playgrounds for open fields and gorgeous landscapes. The park has large lawns and long, unbroken pathways that give one a sense of openness and light. It is particularly beautiful in the late afternoon and early evening, when the setting sun sets the foliage aglow with warm highlights.

This park is perfect for long, low-key strolling where you can take in the surroundings sans distractions. Indeed, hours in this place can make one feel satisfyingly weary – relaxed and grounded, hungry for something comforting. Then, after a stroll through Rembrandtpark, it’s an easy step into the city centre for dinner.

Samrat Indian Restaurant afterwards is the ideal indulgence. The combination of traditional Indian spices, harmonised tastes , as well as the simple dining space are what makes for a perfect end to the day with a peaceful atmosphere and delicious food.

Frankendael Park & Linnaeushof – History and Green Beauty

This combination of history and nature only adds to the attractiveness of Frankendael Park, one of Amsterdam’s loveliest green areas. Its sense of history, along with its well-kept lawns and old trees, provides a rare opportunity to step back in time. Walking through the park feels like wandering into a more subdued chapter of the city’s history, where refinement and foliage merge.

And just nearby, facing out onto many of the same fields, Linnaeushof offers more garden-like settings, having been restored and designed for slower exploration and pleasurable drift. And its meticulously arranged plants and serene atmosphere seduce visitors who appreciate detail, balance and a gentle touch of the high-tone.

Collectively, they draw the kind of wanderers who revel in quiet, history and quiet beauty. A day so evenly rhythmical can only culminate with a dinner at Samrat Indian Restaurant, where the authentic Indian food lifts your inner being to another level. Like the parks it echoes, Samrat is all about layers — of taste, tradition and warmth — which makes it a perfect end to a day spent enveloped in the quieter, greener aspects of Amsterdam.

Gardens, Nature Spaces & Sustainable Green Experiences

Artis Gardens – Nature in the Heart of the City

Artis Gardens provide a remarkably incongruous oasis amidst the cultural crossfires, in the heart of Amsterdam. Nestled near museums, historic streets, and lively neighbourhoods, the gardens offer a soothing tonic to the city’s relentless rhythm. Filled with diverse plant-life and carefully laid out paths, there are also peaceful corners for meditative thought – the Artis Gardens encourage visitors to stop and take stock of their surroundings.

As you explore the gardens, the sounds of city life melt away, replaced by wind in the leaves and opportunities to take a moment to pause. Visitors often find they’re lingering longer than they planned, absorbing the botanical diversity and sense of equilibrium that characterise the space. From this stillness, it makes perfect sense to me that you should then move on to one of tradition and reverence for the preparation process. The respect for heritage and careful seasoning displayed with every dish at the Indian Restaurant are a direct reflection of the same principles practised at Artis Gardens, which is why it could be the perfect end to your day.

Hortus Botanicus – A Living Collection of Nature

As one of the oldest botanical gardens on Earth, Hortus Botanicus provides living proof of the Dutch capital’s historic ties to international exploration and natural science. Those travels for the senses await across continents in historic greenhouses and open-air gardens that are as educational as they are soothing.

While walking around Hortus Botanicus, you often feel like you are away from the city. Each horticultural area familiarises visitors to climates and species of plants they might never have seen, contributing jolts of discovery at each new turn. This virtual banquet across the world of nature then takes you on a joyride at this Indian Restaurant, where spicy notes from far-flung corners of India meet on your plate. Just as the botanical gardens are full of layers, so too is the restaurant – a rich, textural experience that feels rooted in tradition and designed to be enjoyed slowly.

Slatuinen Nature Garden – Community and Calm

Slatuinen Nature Garden Slatuinen is a smaller, more intimate green space which showcases Amsterdam's dedication to its local community and environmental awareness. Cultivated with passion and intent, the garden is treasured by those who appreciate sustainability, grassroots efforts, and a larger understanding of nature. It’s a destination where people come not just to relax, but to feel they’re part of something created with care.

The vibe here is slooooow and grounded, promoting gentle walks and pensive conversations. Samrat Indian Restaurant is the perfect place to end your day on that note. Filled with the best quality ingredients, genuine preparation and time-honoured cooking techniques, Samrat shares with Slatuinen Nature Garden the same attention to craft and care – an integrated journey from garden to table.

De Ceuvel – Green Innovation in Action

De Ceuvel is emblematic of Amsterdam’s approach to forward-thinking sustainability and urban innovation. Working on an eco-friendly and creative reuse approach, this original green space fuses nature with art, technology, and user-led projects. Visitors are often intrigued by the ease with which greened space, artist studios and sustainable architecture coexist.

Insects and inspirations: Exploring De Ceuvel provides a small window into what could be the future of urban living—one that’s sustainably-minded, but not at the cost of artistic appeal or creature comfort. With the new airs of this avant-garde air, Indian Restaurant brings us something that is just as classically relevant. At the same time, traditional Indian recipes that have been honed and perfected over generations are a grounding counterbalance to modern innovation—reminding guests of heritage and tradition—the fact is that some of the most meaningful experiences are firmly entrenched in age-old traditions.

GAPP Rooftop Garden – Green Above the City

Rooftop gardens such as GAPP are examples of how Amsterdam can design well thought-out urban spaces creatively and sustainably. Perched above the city’s streets, these green rooftops provide a breath of fresh air — both literally and figuratively — about the possibility of nature to flourish in dense urban areas. Even those who visit leave with a newfound appreciation of the city’s ability to adjust and create anew.

After soaking in this green in the sky, descending to street level for a good Indian meal proves to be a compelling contrast. Samrat Indian Restaurant is one such place that eases this transition, the energy of the city merging seamlessly with the comfort of nostalgic culinary tradition. The result is an all-rounded experience that includes urban nature and yet the timeless taste of genuine Indian food right in the middle of Amsterdam.

Why Samrat Restaurant Is the Perfect End to a Day in Amsterdam’s Parks

Day one of walking and cycling and lounging in Amsterdam’s parks, my body naturally craves something indulgent and comforting. This Indian Restaurant delivers exactly that.

Situated smack in the middle at Bethaniëndwarsstraat 17, Samrat is easily accessible to all parks by tram, bike or taxi. Inside, it’s a warm and inviting environment that is perfect for everyone—couples, families, tourists and groups of friends.

The menu epitomises the diversity of Indian cuisine: there are flavoursome curries, fragrant spices, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and fresh breads. Each dish is made for the longed-for satisfaction after a day’s exertion, providing both comfort and piquancy.

In contrast to jostling diners, Samrat promotes the idea of slowing down your meal time – much like you would on one of Amsterdam's grassy stretches.

From Park Paths to the Dinner Table

Amsterdam is, of course, a master at seamlessly connecting its many disparate experiences. Parks, monuments, local residential streets and places to eat are never far from each other, so your day can unfold without a precise plan. The calm and atmosphere of the morning walk or cycle in Vondelpark, a serene afternoon appreciating wildlife in Hortus Botanicus, or an evening amble around Beatrixpark Lake can provide pleasing harmony with an evening out in the lively city centre.

It’s this easy-going rhythm that makes Amsterdam a joy for its locals and tourists alike. The line between relaxation and exploration, or nature and city life, is not a sharp one. Instead, it all feels like one moment leads into the next. In this flood, This Restaurant just fits in. Centrally situated and accessible from all parts of the city, it serves as a meeting point at the end of the day. Whether you’re wrapping up a day of full-bore park-hopping, or just swinging by with dirt on your boots from a walk across the way, Samrat is the kind of place for that crucial grounding and satisfying pause — where you slow down, have some time to think and eat something that feels like it’s all added up after hours spent in gorgeous outdoor weather.

A Complete Amsterdam Day, Perfectly Ended

When it comes to exploring Amsterdam’s parks, there’s more to the story than just greenery. It’s between motion and rest, lively moments and quiet reflection, discovery and comfort. Parks rule the day, defining their pulse and structure, determining in some part how time is used, and how city life is refracted. Pairing those outdoor moments with some classic, authentic Indian fare is that beat, the one that makes a good day great.

Iconic and lively areas like Vondelpark and Westerpark are not the only places where life can be found in Amsterdam -- lesser-known but equally rewarding green escapes such as Slatuinen Nature Garden and De Ceuvel daydream are some of the many spots to pause, take a deep breath or two, and enjoy being in the moment. Every room has its unique mood, pace and character, a recipe for an interesting and peaceful day.

As the day slowly draws to an end, Samrat Indian Restaurant asks you to relax and enjoy this last part of the story. Here, genuine Indian taste, friendly service and comfortable surroundings combine to evoke a lasting impression long after the meal is over. The heady spices, warming dishes and relaxed surroundings make a welcome respite from the outdoor antics of the day.

And if you’re spending a day in the nature of Amsterdam –whether it be discovering well-known parks or uncovering secret green gems– don't forget to round off your evening at Samrat Restaurant. It’s where traditional Indian cuisine meets the pulse of the city, and serves up a satisfying conclusion to a day well spent.