Cannibale Royale Handboogstraat

Cannibale Royale Handboogstraat is the original branch of an Amsterdam restaurant group built around late-night dining, grilled meat and a deliberately theatrical atmosphere. Its dark, energetic dining room occupies a narrow street close to Spui and suits evenings that have already gathered momentum. Burgers, ribs and steaks dominate the menu, although plant-based choices are also available. The blog recommends the substantial Le Cannibale Royale burger, which layers beef with slow-cooked pork, sauerkraut, cheddar and fried onion. Founded in 2014, the Handboogstraat restaurant established the formula that later spread to several Amsterdam neighbourhoods and Rotterdam: hearty food, craft beer and cocktails served in a setting closer to a bustling drinking den than a conventional brasserie.

Where does the name come from?

No authoritative account of the original naming decision was found. “Cannibale Royale” can be read as “Royal Cannibal,” a knowingly extravagant piece of French-flavoured wordplay. Given the restaurant’s meat-led identity and playful language, the name clearly reinforces its carnivorous theme, but that interpretation should not be mistaken for a documented founder’s explanation.

Fun fact

The Handboogstraat restaurant is the original Cannibale Royale: it opened in 2014 before the concept expanded across Amsterdam and into Rotterdam. According to an account of the concept’s development, its founders were partly inspired by Bombay’s energetic dining culture and the possibility of sitting down for dinner late at night.