A collective run restaurant that's open for dinner only. Reservation required (except Sat), limited to 50 diners. Menu changes daily and is fixed. A starter, main dish, dessert. Open Thu-Sat 7:00pm-1:00am.
Categories: Vegan, International, Western, Beer/Wine
21 Reviews
First Review by Dharam
Contributions +56
Comfy homemade meals - Edit
I love this place! It’s like going out for dinner in your own cozy livingroom. In fact, I bet you can show up in your pyjama’s and nobody would mind, that’s how chill this place is. A team of volunteers cook a 3 course menu for you: soup, main, dessert. It’s always a surprise what’s for dinner but one thing’s for sure: 100% vegan and 100% prepared with love. It’s only 5 euro’s for the entire menu and in return you wash your own dishes. Which in fact adds to the great vibe. Must try if you are looking for a unique local experience in Amsterdam!
Pros: only 5 euro’s, unique and authentic experience, cool building with garden
Contributions +114
great food, laid back atmosphere - Edit
We went here by chance as my brother googled to find somewhere close to his place where I could eat.
Everyone is really friendly and the three course meal (only one choice each night) was delicious.
Washed up our own dishes as staff are volunteers.
Profits go to social or grassroots initiatives so top up your bill if you can.
Pros: tasty food, friendly atmosphere
Contributions +26
Great food, good atmosphere - Edit
The food here ranges from pretty good to really good. The atmosphere is quite squatty, you have to like that to feel relaxed here, but they're very welcoming.
And the prices are great as well, 5 or 6 euros for a good three course meal. Donating more if you can spare it is recommended, it makes sure they can continue running and give others who don't have money to spare a place to eat out.
On some days you have to do your own dishes, totally fine!
Pros: great food, cheap, various beers
Cons: it's a squatty atmosphere
Contributions +160
Great value - Edit
It's almost unbelievable that you can get a 3-course meal in Amsterdam for €5. Yet, that's what you get at MKZ. Don't expect fancy dishes or table service.
The menu consists of a soup, a main and a dessert (nothing to choose from) and you do your own dishes in the end. The food is honest and portions are big enough.
We were happy to have a vegan 'pastel de nata' (a typical Portuguese pastry) as dessert. It was a happy coincidence for us (born and raised in Portugal).
Pros: Value for money, All vegan, Atmosphere
Contributions +135
Alternative Place For The Curious - Edit
The MKZ is an interesting place to discover. It's community driven and has that typical people's kitchen squat vibe, where you aren't served and clean your own dishes afterwards. This should not be a problem, just perhaps something to keep in mind before going there. The soup and dinner was great, however, the dessert was some weird chocolate jelly, but my guess is we had bad luck that day.
All in all, I would definitely return to the MKZ for a good and cheap dinner. I'm not the biggest fan of radical ideologies (anarchy) connected to places I go to eat out, but everybody seemed nice and it wasn't shoved in your face. So if you know what to expect you'll surely have a good time!
Also, we came a bit too early and checked out an anarchist library/ café across the kitchen. It was really interesting to see, so you might wanna check that out, too.
Pros: Alternative vibe, Cheap food
Cons: Anarchy atmosphere might have you feel misplaced
Contributions +74
A Must for Vegans in Amsterdam - Edit
We went there with our three little kids. Volunteers were very friendly and kind. Food was excellent and served in more than sufficient quantities. Atmosphere very easy going and positive. We can only highly recommend going there.
Pros: Atmosphere, Food, Price
Cons: It can get very late for small children (21H00)
Contributions +233
the best - amazing value & food cooked with love - Edit
MKZ is a community restaurant, so the food is cooked by volunteers, there's no waiting staff and you have to do your own washing up. Sounds a bit rubbish, right? But no, it's absolutely amazing! My favorite place of Amsterdam. There are three courses, normally soup, main with salads and dessert but it's a fixed menu so you get what they've cooked and there's no other choices, but I've been going there weekly for two years and I've never had a bad meal. The atmosphere is so lovely and friendly and the food is cooked with real love and passion. To top it off, the whole thing will cost you €5. Yes, all three courses are only €5. You cannot argue with that! There's a basic bar there too, which is also very cheap. It's not for profit too so everything they make over costs either goes back to the MKZ or is donated to charities. Make sure to call up and book on the day from 4pm or you won't get a place. Don't miss out on this unique Amsterdam institution
Pros: amazing atmosphere , crazy cheap, huge portions
Cons: can sell out
Contributions +34
The Spirit of Autonomy & Resistance Lives! - Edit
MKZ is a self-managed space that grew out of the autonomous and anarchist scene in Amsterdam. It's a fine example of making veganism accessible for non-priviliged folks (underpaid, refugees and migrants, etc.) and community building (take part of discussions, watching a documentary, picking up your food and cleaning up after yourself) around social justice issues.
To sign in for the dinner you just have to call the collective through the phone and tell them your name. Then you're on the list and welcome to enjoy your 3 course all vegan dinner for just €5!
The first time I've been there with some of my friends from Bulgaria, the collective of De Binnenpret/MKZ was raising money in solidarity and financial support of an autonomous social center in Warsaw, Poland. So in addition to supporting great projects like De Binnenpret, MKZ, Bollox Infocafe, OCII music space and more, you're also showing solidarity with international autonomous projects in need of support.
The location is also really great, it's just next to Vondelpark.
Pros: Affordable to non-priviliged people, Great food, Collectively run and autonomous
Contributions +545
Tasty, friendly and cheap! - Edit
It is a lovely place with charms and the food is quite tasty and delicate.. 3 course meal for 5 euros only! It was quite crowded on Friday night but still was totally worth the visit. They had pumpkin soup, curry/rice/hummus/salad/tofu something for main, and churros/chocolate sauce for dessert. Need to make reservation except for the Saturday! But they don't reserve a table or anything.. just that you are on the list and they know how much to cook. Tell your name when you get there and they will find you on the list.
Pros: tasty, cheap, charming place, good cause
Cons: could get crowded
Contributions +58
3 course meal for 5 euro - Edit
Great food for 5 euro! I finished everything feeling very satisfied. I had: soup as starter, vegetable curry as main dish (very good but also spicy) and a peanut chocolate tart as dessert (which was amazing!) You have to call in the afternoon to make a reservation for the evening and you have to wash your dishes after the meal.
They sell drinks apart, still cheaper than you would get in any restaurant.
Contributions +111
Always great! - Edit
I've been to MKZ several times now, and it's always been delightful. While they have several rotating cooks, I must say my favorite day to visit is on Saturdays.
The atmosphere is very welcoming, and it's definitely very affordable (which is hard to find in Amsterdam!). Their soup is always fantastic, and the portions are really filling. You won't leave hungry! Beer/Wine and other drinks are also really cheap, and you can also choose to stay for their information, or music nights (only some nights).
People (other patrons and volunteers who run the place) are absolutely friendly, and it's nice to know your money is supporting good causes! A must for any vegan visiting Amsterdam!
Pros: hearty portions, affordable, exotic flavors!
Cons: only one set menu per night, hard to find if you're a tourist, rotating cooks!
Contributions +28
Extremely cheap, alternative, and vegan! - Edit
The place is really chill, got a nice vibe, it was sooo cheap only five euros for a three course dinner, really alternative as well and the food was really delicious but you might have to wash your own dishes which I didn't mind doing at all.
Great place! A++
But if you would like to go somewhere fancy and with table service then you might want go elsewhere....otherwise I would recommend you to try it out.
Pros: Cheap, Cool vibe, Delicious food
Cons: No table service, Everyone washes their own dishes
Contributions +37
Good And Cheap - Edit
Excellent choice if you want a cheap, healthy and sustainable dinner. For as less as 5 euros, you can have a 3 course dinner. Profit goes to charity, so that's a big plus.
Pros: Price, Vegan, Location
Cons: Reservation Required, Not The Tastiest
Contributions +3396
Directions! - Edit
This place can be easy to miss; the entrance is through the burgundy gate - look for the sign for the, “anarchist bibliotheek,” - then turn right.
Contributions +141
Awesome - Edit
Really good food for taste and the amount you get, they are usually okay with you having seconds (which you will prob want to) as long as everyone has had at least one serving and there is more left. Incredible value for 5 euros soup main and desert.
Informal service, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on the indiviual
There's also a really cool anarchist bookshop/cafe across from the kitchen
Pros: Price, Food, Atmosphere
Cons: The wait can sometimes be long
Contributions +24
Great food - Edit
I've been to MKZ a few times. I've always loved the food. It's well made, and they always make dessert! (I'm a real sweet tooth). I love the up stairs tables from which you can oversee the rest of the place. It's really quite a unique building!
Doing dishes is not too bad if you only have to do your own plate and cutlery.
The only drawback I can think of is the staff (and much the other people there) being slightly 'hostile', or at least not very friendly. I think it has always been a squat place for anarchists and it seems like they can mainly interact with each other rather than with anyone who comes in. One more negative thing is the opening days: not on Saturdays and Sundays unfortunately...
However, I'm not too bothered by all that as long as they have such great food!
Pros: great tasting food, very fair price
Cons: staff
Contributions +83
A nice place to go - Edit
I went to MKZ with my omnivore family, and it was very different than I thought. In the good way. You have to go up there and get your food yourself, and when you are done, you take the dishes. But it really doesn't matter that you have to do it yourself, because the atmosphere in there is so great and undescribeable. The food was great, they only had one menu, of course, but it tastes good.
It was very cheap, because it is runned by volunteers and it is a non-profit place.
A lot of 20 to 30-year old people came there to meet up, so it is a very local place.
But to sum up, it was a really great experience and defineatly worth a visit.
Pros: Nice staff, Great food, Fantastic atmosphere
Cons: Very local
Contributions +167
one of the best squat meals - Edit
Far more food than what you get at Joe's Garage (though you pay a little more at MKZ, 5 euro vs. 3 at Joe's). Dessert is included, unlike at De Peper where you pay extra. For that reason it makes it a good choice for an Amsterdam squat meal. If you've never been to a squat meal in Amsterdam this is a good place to try it out.
Contributions +90
Worth a visit - Edit
I had some reservations about going here because 1) it's way out of the way and 2) the person on the phone was pretty brusque, so I was worried it might be a bunch of crazy anarchists. Luckily it was a nice building and the people there seemed completely nice. The 3-course meal( where else can you get 3 courses for 5 eur?!!!) included sweet potato soup (sweet potatoes are expensive in Europe!), a plate with coucous, hummus, bread, cucumber salad and mixed vegetables and beans with sauce, and a cinnamon roll. The portion size was very reasonable. One negative is the doing the dishes by yourself, because you're basically at the mercy of your fellow diners and can only hope that they are thorough when cleaning. Also it was wholesome but I felt that the night I went wasn't super duper healthy, as the meal included refined couscous, white bread and the cinnamon roll I think was full of sugar. But I know not everyone is as concerned about these things as I am. Also a negative is that it is only open M-Fr after 19:00.
P.S. The correct time to call is after 14:30 (even though some sources say earlier)
Pros: Yummy, Price, 100% vegan, good cause
Cons: Location, Not super healthy, Ltd hours
Contributions +16
Food you would make at home, in another place - Edit
MKZ is a place where you can eat whatever the kitchen has prepared for you. The place is a legalised squat, of which they are using a part as a kitchen/restaurant/bar something like that, it's not really something to define, you just have to experience it! It's possible to eat there for 5 euros, and then you get three courses, if you eat less then the three courses, it will be even cheaper. Everything they cook is vegan, and so far has been, really tasty! Imagine the food a bit to be as if you where cooking at home, but then you will eat that in a place with a great atmosphere, nice music and nice people (I'm not saying that that isn't possible at your own house;). What you will have for dinner really depends on who is cooking that day, and unlike the other review here, the times I went, the food wasn't that spicey, so I guess it really depends, and of course, how much spices you are used to. Last time I was there we missed out the first course, so we started with te second, which included: some cooked barley with olives and spices with tomato sauce. Then there was some kind of tempeh burger with humous, a salad and some cooked vegetables. The dessert was amazing! It was some kind of cake/pie, made of cocos with cookies and nuts, with a thick chocolate cream layer, delicious! But as I said before, the food really differs every time! One thing you have to be willing to do, is washing your own dishes (I think they changed that now, because the other review is saying something else). I think it helps even more with the aspect of giving you the feeling of being at home.
Pros: Amount of food, The price, The atmosphere
Contributions +48
great but spicy - Edit
Me and my husband went here one night.We call in the afternoon and they only need your name and number of people. Then we walk all the VOndelpark and went there. The place is great, decoration is great and the concept is great also with the price, but i cant eat spicy food! The soup was spicy to but not too much, but the main dish that was looking great and full, wow it was very spicy. I ask the volunteers working there and they told me that that is normal. So the soup and the dessert with the beer (bio at 1€) was good and very cheap.
But remember if you dont like spicy food you may think in go to another place closest to the center then walk all the vondelpark and return!
Pros: Price, Place, Organization
Cons: Spicy, location
Link to this page from your site. Entry info .
Return to Amsterdam Vegetarian Restaurants & Health Food Store Listings
Business Owners, if you see an unfair review, read this.
Why was my review removed? - details / Review guidelines
Reviews are not endorsed by HappyCow - review terms
Has MKZ closed, shut down, moved, or changed? Please use the Update Form.
This page has been viewed 21444 times.
Nearby Listings
View MoreToko Kok Kita
ROOTS - Amstelveenseweg
Dignita - Vondelpark
De Gouden Tent - Zeilstraat
Be the first to review
0 reviewsBagels & Beans - Zeilstraat