The best places for pancakes in Europe

A cruise to Europe is incomplete without trying local cuisine. And one delicacy that is popular in most European cities is pancakes. From American-style pancakes to mini Dutch pancakes, get ready to feast your eyes on some of the continent’s most delicious offerings:

Amsterdam is the city of canals, bicycles and pancakes. And a cruise to the Netherlands capital is incomplete without trying its famous pancakes and waffles. Around every corner, you’ll find a quaint café serving traditional pancakes but which café is the best in the city? We chatted to Kelly from Girl With The Passport, she told us: “When travelling to Europe, my favourite place to enjoy pancakes is Amsterdam. There is just something about traditional Dutch pancakes, which are typically larger and thinner than American-style pancakes. I also love that there are both savoury and sweet varieties, making it easier for travellers to enjoy pancakes at any time of day.

“Now, within Amsterdam itself, one of the city’s best pancake houses has to be Upstairs Pannenkoeken. It’s a tiny hole in the wall restaurant that can only be reached by ascending an incredibly steep set of stairs. However, once you walk inside and try one of their amazing pancakes, you’ll understand why this place is so popular and why you need to make a reservation in advance.”

Multiple venues

Previously Mook Pancakes, Moak Pancakes is a sweet-toothed, sugar lover’s dream. Started by the dream team Sten and Sammy in 2016, Moak has grown into an empire of delicious offerings and now serves happy and healthy pancakes to locals and tourists. No matter what you’re craving, Moak will have it with no limitations.

We chatted to Sten, co-founder of Moak Pancakes, he told us: “It was all a dream, back in 2016, when we started with the help of some friends. Actually, a lot of them. We made a promise to ourselves - and to them and to you - to give it our all! Our philosophy is pretty simple: great food, the juiciest juices, a cool mellow-urban vibe, featuring mostly throwback hip-hop. And we’re offering it all with our dedicated brand of generous hospitality.

“At Moak, you can find your ultimate guilty pleasure: the American pancake. Served with incredible toppings and the best maple syrup straight out of Canada. With three locations in Amsterdam, there’s always a Moak nearby for your breakfast, lunch or brunch.”

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Serving pancakes as you’ve never seen them before, The Happy Pig boasts ‘the best pancakes in Amsterdam.’ We spoke to Andrea, owner of The Happy Pig, who explained: “A lot of people say that you’ll find Amsterdam’s best pancakes at The Happy Pig Pancake Shop located in the very heart of the city.

“But beware! This isn’t a regular restaurant. It’s more like an adorable ‘hole in the wall.’ But with mouth-watering organic pancakes and homemade fillings and toppings, The Happy Pig attracts people from all over the world. You can choose between organic traditional, vegan and gluten light pancakes. Pick a sweet or savoury filling. Then go ahead and pick one (or more) delicious toppings. If you want, we’ll give you advice on toppings! Otherwise, you can pick any combination you like. “You can take your pancakes on the go but there is also a small seating area where you can enjoy your food and drink and leave your name and a drawing on the chalkboard. A unique experience!”

Perhaps not the first place you think of when you dream of delicious fluffy pancakes but Barcelona is a hub of culinary excellence and it doesn’t stop at the sweet varieties. Cafés and restaurants all serve sweet and Marden pancakes along with traditional breakfast offerings that locals and tourists alike can’t get enough of.

Multiple venues

The philosophy behind Brunch & Cake is to eat the best, do absolutely everything by hand and over low heat, be honest and use the best possible ingredients. Which is possibly why this brunch spot is so popular. From the brunch menu, you can try the confetti pancake - a homemade ricotta hotcake with banana, strawberries, granola, berries and organic yoghurt ice cream. Or, try the healthy Nutella pancakes with sugar-free homemade rawtella, cocoa nibs, banana, vegan cookie crumbs and strawberry “nice cream.” Delicious!

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Milk Pancakes is a bar and bistro in the heart of the city that serves delicious, freshly cooked brunch dishes. We chatted to Rebecca, co-founder of Milk Pancakes, she told us, “We have been serving brunch in Barcelona for over 15 years and were, in fact, the very first restaurant to make brunch fashionable here. Milk serves brunch by day and an eclectic bistro menu by night.

“Pancakes have always featured highly on our menu as a main dish and as a side. Our most popular is the Penny Lane Pancakes with banana, walnuts, thick Greek yoghurt and lashings of pancake syrup. Truly delicious! There really is so much you can do with the pancake and its popularity doesn’t look like it is going to wain anytime soon.”

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Who says you have to travel far to get a stack of delicious pancakes? If you’re planning a cruise from London, why not stop off and enjoy a pre-cruise pancake? London may not be the first place you think of when imaging delicious crepes and pancakes but it really is a hub for breakfast and brunch spots, all with sweet menu offerings.

Multiple venues

My Old Dutch, which was established in 1958, is a popular pancake house providing pancake lovers with a cornucopia of both savoury and sweet pancakes. With three different venues each offering a wide spread of pancakes, bellies far and wide are filled with happiness. What’s more, the atmosphere, which is warm, friendly and relaxed, makes My Old Dutch a fantastic spot for families and children.

85a Southwark Bridge Road

Situated near Southwark Bridge in the heart of Central London, Where the Pancakes Are serves simple and honest pancakes as well as a selection of breakfast and brunch dishes. “Pancakes are an ideal meal any time of the day or a perfect snack to revive the spirit after school, after work, after the gym, after a gig,” the team at Where the Pancakes Are told us. “We serve nutritious buttermilk pancakes; savoury or sweet, each dish is a feast of colour and flavour, made with heaps of tender loving care.”

The city of love and delicious pancakes, the streets of Paris are often filled with the smell of coffee and sweet pastries escaping from local bakeries and delicatessens. Wander the streets of the city and get lost in the romanticism and of course, some delicious pancakes served with sweet and sticky toppings. There are a plethora of amazing locations to visit whilst in the city but if you’re looking for the best American stack, then Holybelly is the place to be.

46 Rue De Turbigo

46 & 3rd work hard every day to provide their customers with great food, great coffee and even greater service. They use fresh, seasonal ingredients to produce speciality breakfast and brunch dishes every day of the week. 46 & 3rd are passionate about pancakes and they serve them up plain, with salted buttered caramel sauce, Oreo crumbles with apple puree or with homemade chocolate sauce, speculoos, coconut and fruit and even savoury, with maple syrup, two sunny side up eggs and delicious crispy bacon.

Holybelly opened in 2013 and has been offering delicious, light pancakes ever since. Making everything from scratch and following the rhythm of the seasons religiously, Holybelly offers a savoury stack made of 2 pancakes, 2 fried eggs, crispy bacon, bourbon butter and bacon salt or a sweet stack of 3 pancakes with seasonal fruits, cream and maple syrup.