About

In the heart of Amsterdam’s lively De Pijp, Ceintuur Theater is a hidden gem where history and hospitality meet. Once a stage for film and theater, today it has found new life as a neighbourhood restaurant — warm, vibrant, and full of flavor.

At the heart of our kitchen is David Vano, who brings Mediterranean flavors to life with generous dishes, fresh seasonal ingredients, and honest cooking. Out front, Ricardo da Cruz Paulino and his team welcome you with personal care, selected wines, and crafted cocktails — making every guest feel right at home.

Ceintuur Theater is still what it has always been: a place to connect, celebrate, and create memories, only now around the table.

The location

Ceintuur Theater is housed in a former neighborhood cinema built in 1921–1922, showing clear influences of the Amsterdam School and early Art Deco: concrete facades, stained glass, and the characteristic wrought-iron light fixtures above the entrance.

Back then, the cinema quickly picked up the local nickname ’t Stinkertje (“the little stinker”). It was a very Amsterdam kind of joke about the warm and poorly ventilated theater halls that were common in neighborhood cinemas at the time. Like many local cinemas in the 1960s and 70s, it eventually struggled with changing times. The rise of television, new forms of entertainment and shifts in film distribution all played a role. The cinema finally closed its doors in 1976.

In the years that followed, the building took on different roles, first as a kitchen shop and later as a coffee bar. Today, we have brought it back to its original purpose. With a careful renovation and respect for its history, the space has been prepared for the years ahead. Our goal is simple: to once again create a warm and welcoming place where Amsterdammers come together.