Most striking feature:
The light. First there was Witteveen in the Pijp (two windows, but a rather dark restaurant), then there was Mazzo (even darker with the beautiful chalkboard on the walls) and now there’s Mercat in Panama. Huge windows surround the pretty interior. Sunrays shine on your table and on the big jamon’s hanging above the bar. As the name suggests, Mercat is a restaurant with a Spanish menu – and a Spanish chef, that’s why the staff is willing to learn the language, I think that’s pretty cool. Tapas, Pintxos, Cava it’s all on the menu. So I thought: let’s try this one during the Spanish lunch time. You see: the restaurant was empty. But hey, it’s only open for a few weeks now so the crowds will start coming in soon. During the day you can sit at one of the three lazy couches (Chesterfields just like in Witteveen and Mazzo) and cool wooden design chairs (spotted in Mazzo as well). Grab your laptop or a few magazines and you can stay here till late dinner. The interior done by Concrete is picture perfect. The lighting is amazing, the market signs above the bar referring to the famous Mercats in Spain are stunning, there’s also a big floor-to-ceiling cupboard (reminded me of the one in Mazzo) filled with Spanish olive oil, sardines and more. Mercat uses the same chairs as Witteveen and Mazzo, and on the ceiling you will find (maybe 50, maybe more, I didn’t count them) industrial lamps. Beautiful. In Summer there’s a big terrace outside.
Check out: www.mercat.nl
Copyright pictures: www.petitepassport.com – made with my Canon IXUS 510HS
Tags: Amsterdam, concrete, iq creative, market, mercat, opening september 2012, panama, pauline egge, petitepassport.com, restaurant, spanish menu, terrace
How was the food?
I’m not a food critic, but I’ve ordered a salad with potatoes and I really liked the potatoes and serrano , but the salad itself was a bit too stiff and also too spicy. Let’s say a 6. Good, but nothing special.
We’ve visited after reading the reviews. Overall, I think the restaurant is over-rated: tapas is overpriced and food is far from the Spanish standards that they are aiming for.
You can find better choices at other Spanish restaurants in Amsterdam.
Thanks for your comment Madalina – I’m sure this is helpful for other readers who are in doubt of whether to go or not. And what about the interior? Did you like the atmosphere?
Best wishes, Pauline
saw this posted on your blog and wanted to try someplace new, so my husband and I ventured over a couple weeks ago. The design is super cool, the natural light is great, but the food was god-awful. I mean, one of the worst meals I’ve ever had in my life, and not cheap!! It takes a lot for me to complain about a place, I really try to give everything/everyone the benefit of the doubt, but I really couldn’t get out of this place fast enough!!
Hi Liz,
Thanks for your comment. Sad to hear that you had such a bad experience. I hope they do better in the future!
Best wishes, Pauline
The food is rather poisonous here.