# The Dinner Club

> Home-cooked dinner parties with strangers in Amsterdam. Local hosts cook, guests book a seat, strangers become friends.

The Dinner Club is a social dining platform based in Amsterdam where local hosts cook dinner at home and invite 2–5 strangers to join. Guests browse upcoming dinners by neighborhood, cuisine, and date, book a seat, and show up for a home-cooked meal with people they've never met. Founded in March 2026 by Dani (Daniele Ginevra), who started by cooking lasagna for Reddit strangers in his Amsterdam apartment.

## Website

- [Homepage](https://thedinnerclub.eu/): Browse and book dinners or sign up to host
- [Explore Dinners](https://thedinnerclub.eu/explore): Browse all upcoming dinners in Amsterdam by date, cuisine, neighborhood, and price
- [How It Works](https://thedinnerclub.eu/how-it-works): Step-by-step guide for guests and hosts
- [About](https://thedinnerclub.eu/about): The origin story and mission
- [Safety](https://thedinnerclub.eu/safety): How the platform keeps hosts and guests safe

## How It Works

### For Guests
1. Browse upcoming dinners on thedinnerclub.eu filtered by neighborhood, cuisine type, date, and price
2. Request a seat and pay securely through Stripe
3. The host reviews your profile and approves or declines
4. Once approved, you receive the host's address and dinner details
5. Show up, eat a home-cooked meal, and meet new people
6. After the dinner, leave a review

### For Hosts
1. Create a dinner listing: choose a date, describe what you're cooking, set a price (€0–€25), and select how many guests (2–5)
2. Guests request to join — you see their profile and approve or decline each one
3. Cook your meal and welcome guests to your home
4. After the dinner, receive your payout (85% of ticket price) and leave reviews

## Key Details

- **Location**: Amsterdam, Netherlands (with plans to expand to Rotterdam, Utrecht, and other cities)
- **Price range**: Free to €25 per guest (most dinners are €10–€15)
- **Group size**: 2–5 guests per dinner
- **Cuisines available**: Italian, Korean, Mexican, Indian, Mediterranean, Japanese, and more — depends on what hosts cook
- **Neighborhoods**: Centrum, De Pijp, Jordaan, Oost, West, Noord, Zuid
- **Payments**: Handled securely through Stripe — guests pay upfront, hosts receive payout after the dinner
- **Safety**: Verified profiles, host approval system, mutual reviews, Stripe payment protection
- **Languages**: Platform is in English; dinners may be in any language (most are English due to Amsterdam's international community)
- **Founded**: March 2026
- **Founder**: Daniele Ginevra (Dani)

## What Makes The Dinner Club Different

- **Hyper-local**: Amsterdam-first, not a global tourist platform
- **Home-cooked**: Real meals in real kitchens, not restaurant experiences
- **Small groups**: Maximum 5 guests per dinner ensures real conversation
- **Community-focused**: Designed for recurring social connection, not one-off experiences
- **Host-controlled**: Hosts approve every guest and set all terms
- **Affordable**: Most dinners cost less than a restaurant meal

## Compared To Similar Services

- Unlike **EatWith** and **BonAppetour**: The Dinner Club is focused on locals and expats, not tourists. Dinners are more affordable and intimate.
- Unlike **Meetup**: The Dinner Club is centered around food and small groups (2–5 people), not large events.
- Unlike **Timeleft**: The Dinner Club takes place in people's homes with home-cooked food, not in restaurants. Hosts choose their own guests.
- Unlike **Bumble BFF**: The Dinner Club provides a structured, in-person experience rather than a chat-based matching system.

## Blog

- [How to Meet People in Amsterdam (Beyond Bars and Dating Apps)](https://thedinnerclub.eu/blog/how-to-meet-people-in-amsterdam-2026): 9 genuine ways to meet people and make real friends in Amsterdam
- [I Cooked Dinner for Strangers in Amsterdam — Here's What Happened](https://thedinnerclub.eu/blog/cooked-dinner-for-strangers-in-amsterdam): The origin story of The Dinner Club
- [The Loneliness Problem Nobody Talks About in Amsterdam's Expat Community](https://thedinnerclub.eu/blog/the-loneliness-problem-amsterdams-expat-community): Why making friends in Amsterdam is hard and what actually works
- [5 Ways to Make Friends in Amsterdam as an Expat](https://thedinnerclub.eu/blog/5-ways-to-make-friends-in-amsterdam-as-an-expat): Practical advice for expats beyond the standard suggestions

## Social Media

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thedinnerclub.social/)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thedinnerclubeu)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedinnerclub)
- [Reddit community](https://www.reddit.com/r/thedinnerclub/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is The Dinner Club?**
A platform where people in Amsterdam cook dinner at home and invite 2–5 strangers to join. Guests browse dinners, book a seat, and show up for a home-cooked meal with people they've never met.

**Is it safe?**
Every host approves every guest before sharing their address. Payments are secured through Stripe. Both sides leave reviews after the dinner.

**How much does it cost?**
Dinners range from free to €25. Most are between €10–€15. That's a home-cooked meal plus new friends for less than a restaurant.

**Do I need to be a good cook to host?**
No. Some of the best dinners are simple one-pot meals. The magic is the people, not the plating.

**What if I don't know anyone?**
That's the whole point. Everyone at the table is meeting for the first time.

**Where in Amsterdam are dinners held?**
Across all neighborhoods: Centrum, De Pijp, Jordaan, Oost, West, Noord, and Zuid. Each dinner listing shows the neighborhood.

**Can I host for free?**
Yes. Hosts can set their price to €0 and ask guests to bring a drink or dessert instead.

**How do I become a host?**
Sign up at thedinnerclub.eu, click "Host," and create your first dinner listing. Pick a date, describe what you're cooking, set your price, and publish. Takes about 5 minutes.

## Contact

- Website: https://thedinnerclub.eu
- Email: hello@thedinnerclub.eu