If you’ve been around Amsterdam Centraal, you’ve probably noticed this place. Standing out against the city skyline, the Sea Palace’s characteristic architecture has been a landmark in Amsterdam for decades. Yet, somehow, in the five years I’ve lived in Amsterdam, I never ventured in to check out the vibes or the Cantonese cuisine and Dim Sum.
I feel like by not visiting this place, I’ve missed ticking a very special box in my ‘Dam integration. But all that changed last week when my friend told me they booked a table there for Dim Sum lunch and asked if I wanted to tag along.
What’s it all about, then?
You might not expect to see a giant floating Chinese restaurant docked on the water in Amsterdam Central, but in fact, Sea Palace has been something of an institution in Amsterdam since 1984. Coined the first floating restaurant in Europe, it’s a mere brisk 5-minute walk away from Centraal Station. Downstairs you’ll find a cocktail bar and an à la carte restaurant, and upstairs there’s plenty of room that can be reserved for all kinds of parties (they’re actually a registered wedding venue) or just to hang out for a prolonged lunch date.
Here, a variety of authentic Cantonese dishes and special items like Peking duck, Chinese hot pot, and Sichuan food are available for your dining pleasure.
But I was here for the Dim Sum.
Sea Palace serves an extended Dim Sum menu between 12 and 16 every day, and as always in Amsterdam, it’s best to book a table. It can be a hit-and-miss situation; one moment there’s room, and the next it’s so packed you have no chance of moving around, let alone getting a seat.
The Dim Sum menu is about 7 pages long, so there’s definitely something for everyone. Ordering is super easy as well; you just scan a QR code with your mobile and order via their web app — no need to wave down a busy waiter. Even if you are a technophobe, don’t worry – if you’ve ever navigated your way through a website on your phone, you’ll find this a breeze.
So what did we have? Steamed pork dumplings with shrimp, dumplings with duck fillet, deep-fried dumplings with beef, steamed buns with duck… We had a lot of things. The plan was to try as many different fillings and types of dumplings as we could, and I think we managed that just fine. And before you ask, I liked all of it. My favorite? I’ve always been a sucker for steamed buns, but there was something else that also ranked really high on my scores…
What surprised me on the menu
Now, whereas I know my loempias from my dumplings, I am by no means a connoisseur of such things. And to be honest, I can be quite easily convinced to try something new. This time, the “let’s try something new” was chicken feet.
I can already hear you all go “ewww,” but let me tell you, don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it. Sure, there’s a distinct gelatinous texture, and they are a little difficult to munch down on until you get the hang of it, but they’re actually really tasty. Ours were drenched in delicious black bean sauce and cooked to absolute perfection. So top tip of my visit: give the chicken feet a go – you won’t regret it, promise!
What’s the verdict?
I’ve heard some diehard Amsterdammers avoid this place because they find it too touristy, but honestly… I think it passes the vibe check. The food is delicious, reasonably priced, the atmosphere is easy and fun, and the décor is just fantastic. Everywhere you look, there’s something new to spot. I can definitely see where the 4.3 million euros that funded the construction of this project were spent. I’ll definitely visit again, and I think you should too!
If you somehow have missed it, Sea Palace can be found on Oosterdokskade 8 – so why not head on over there already!
katnapped. 