A floating piece of China in the heart of Amsterdam, for 40 years
Amsterdam · Floating restaurant
For many, it's a familiar sight when you walk out of Amsterdam Central: the floating Chinese pavilion of Sea Palace. The skyline around it has shifted over the years with the Public Library and Nemo, but this, the largest floating restaurant in the Benelux, has been a fixture of Amsterdam for decades and has now been granted protected status.
“We match well with Butlaroo, because we are both companies constantly seeking new innovations.”
Owner Kaji But: "We've been given permission to make the modifications the building needs. Especially around sustainability there's a lot to gain, with a new roof, solar panels and high-efficiency glazing."
Despite the image Chinese restaurants in the Netherlands sometimes carry, Sea Palace is anything but stuck. Real investment goes into innovations that aim for the right balance between profitability and guest experience. During our visit, robots glide back and forth carrying full plates and dishes, Kaji has just invested in a new production kitchen, and he's looking at new locations to extend the concept. That same mindset is why he started Butlaroo years ago: "Fifteen years ago I noticed how much redundant work was going into taking and entering orders." He also saw how mistakes at the till frustrated the kitchen. "I picked Butlaroo as a partner because, like us, they keep innovating. That fits well, especially with our shared dining concept."
The shared dining concept is a hit with visitors. Sea Palace is full from noon, seven days a week. Day-trippers and tourists from the Netherlands and abroad sit alongside many regulars, all filling tables with dim sum and small plates meant to be shared.
The menu carries more than 70 small dishes that change frequently, which makes a digital menu essential. "We've put a lot of time into showing guests how easy it is to order via Butlaroo. It's paid off. We greet guests at the table on arrival and walk them through the concept. We see more and more people are comfortable with this way of ordering, finding it convenient rather than intimidating. Where needed our team helps, so guests can do it themselves next time. The result is fewer mistakes, a higher average spend per guest, and more time for our staff to deliver real service."
Looking ahead, Sea Palace is increasingly focused on the guest experience itself, with Butlaroo as the partner. "We're always working to improve how we look after our guests. Knowing them, recognising them, that's central. How do you actually surprise a guest? We want to make truly relevant offers, tuned to taste profile, preference and spend. Only then does a loyalty programme genuinely add value. We're keen to explore with Butlaroo what's possible, now and in the future."