Guidebook for Amsterdam
Food Scene
Our favorites. New places pop up constantly and I can't keep up with all, but here's a few.....
Trakteren
119-Ah Jan Pieter Heijestraat Great coffee!
Café Lennep
334 Jacob Van LennepkadeNext door. Signature Spring Chicken roast.
Staring at Jacob
215 Jacob Van LennepkadeAmerican style Brunch (brunch only)
This place is an enormous Food Court. All fresh, organic. It has bars, seating. Fridays and Saturdays are soooo busy, but a great scene. Next door is FILMHALLEN, the movie theatre. In this complex (and old tram remise, you'll find local shops, a library, etc.) A very cool place to visit.
1500 locals recommend
Foodhallen Amsterdam
16 BellamypleinThis place is an enormous Food Court. All fresh, organic. It has bars, seating. Fridays and Saturdays are soooo busy, but a great scene. Next door is FILMHALLEN, the movie theatre. In this complex (and old tram remise, you'll find local shops, a library, etc.) A very cool place to visit.
I love this place.. great terrace on the water in Summer. Good for just a late night drink as well. Vintage/hip
376 locals recommend
Lokaal Edel
1 PostjeswegI love this place.. great terrace on the water in Summer. Good for just a late night drink as well. Vintage/hip
This place.... I LOVE the restaurant, but they also have a coffee bar AND a separate Gin/Tonic bar where they serve 60 types of different GT's. One of my absolute faves. Walk to Kinkerstraat/Bilderstraat junction, take tram 3 towards Zoutkeetsgracht. Or just walk there, takes about 15 mins.
225 locals recommend
Razmataz
7HS Hugo de GrootpleinThis place.... I LOVE the restaurant, but they also have a coffee bar AND a separate Gin/Tonic bar where they serve 60 types of different GT's. One of my absolute faves. Walk to Kinkerstraat/Bilderstraat junction, take tram 3 towards Zoutkeetsgracht. Or just walk there, takes about 15 mins.
Abyssinia Restaurant
190 Jan Pieter HeijestraatAuthentic Ethiopian food. Nice place.
A nice Italian place in a beautiful leafy street. Walking distance from the flat. Weekends need reservations.
139 locals recommend
De Italiaan
29 Bosboom ToussaintstraatA nice Italian place in a beautiful leafy street. Walking distance from the flat. Weekends need reservations.
This place, situated next to Noordermarkt (Saturday must see) is known to have the best fresh apple pie in the city. Therefore, busy! But worth it.
506 locals recommend
Winkel 43
43 NoordermarktThis place, situated next to Noordermarkt (Saturday must see) is known to have the best fresh apple pie in the city. Therefore, busy! But worth it.
Pont 13
50 HaparandadamRestaurant on an old ship. Very cool.
Fantastic place. On the other side of the IJ river, take the free ferry. You walk for about 10/15 mins. In an old warehouse, our favourite go to place. We love it there. They only take reservations over the phone.
410 locals recommend
Hotel De Goudfazant
30 AambeeldstraatFantastic place. On the other side of the IJ river, take the free ferry. You walk for about 10/15 mins. In an old warehouse, our favourite go to place. We love it there. They only take reservations over the phone.
Scheepskameel
5 KattenburgerstraatChoux
128 De RuijterkadeGreat food, quirky Aussie chef.
Happyhappyjoyjoy West
158HS BilderdijkstraatThere are a few in the city. Fusion Asian.
In the red-light district (well, bordering it), this Fusion Asian place is one of our favourites.
18 locals recommend
A-Fusion Food & Drinks
130 ZeedijkIn the red-light district (well, bordering it), this Fusion Asian place is one of our favourites.
This is SO GOOD. Israeli food, done beautifully. Great for lunch in that neighbourhood.
66 locals recommend
Hummus bistro d&a
136 WesterstraatThis is SO GOOD. Israeli food, done beautifully. Great for lunch in that neighbourhood.
Lunch only. The place looks uninviting, but oh oh the pasta. Owned by a true Italian he makes all his own pasta fresh. You can take home frozen fresh pasta. I used to work in this neighbourhood and would go there at least twice a week. Takes cards only.
8 locals recommend
Salvatorica
71 LijnbaansgrachtLunch only. The place looks uninviting, but oh oh the pasta. Owned by a true Italian he makes all his own pasta fresh. You can take home frozen fresh pasta. I used to work in this neighbourhood and would go there at least twice a week. Takes cards only.
De Dikke Graaf, actually. Their website https://www.dikkegraaf.nl/reserveren/ for reservations. I love this little, local hide-out.
38 locals recommend
De Graaf
153 WilhelminastraatDe Dikke Graaf, actually. Their website https://www.dikkegraaf.nl/reserveren/ for reservations. I love this little, local hide-out.
De Plantage
36 Plantage KerklaanGrand Café type vibes. Good food, close to the zoo Artis.
Essentials
AH Jan Pieter Heijestraat
132 H Jan Pieter Heijestraat Regular supermarket.
Ekoplaza
164 HaarlemmerdijkOrganic food shop.
Ten Kate Markt
32 Ten KatestraatStreetmarket. Fresh produce.
I love this eco shop. It's a bit more expensive than Eco-Plaza, but has way better quality products. I usually shop here instead of the usual Albert Heijn supermarket.
857 locals recommend
Marqt
402 CeintuurbaanI love this eco shop. It's a bit more expensive than Eco-Plaza, but has way better quality products. I usually shop here instead of the usual Albert Heijn supermarket.
Drinks & Nightlife
It is a bar, BUT upstairs has a Thai restaurant. Most random combination ever, but a good place and right down from the flat.
189 locals recommend
The Golden Brown Bar
60 Jan Pieter HeijestraatIt is a bar, BUT upstairs has a Thai restaurant. Most random combination ever, but a good place and right down from the flat.
Vesper
57 VinkenstraatCOCKTAILS
This place is open from the morning (don't know exactly what time, until late at night). It has a gorgeous view over the IJ-water. It is a boat ride away. Take the (free) ferry behind Central Station number NDSM-Werfveer – pont 906.
On this NDSM-Plein you'll find several restaurants and bars. The ferry goes 24hrs.
489 locals recommend
Noorderlicht Café
102 NDSM-PleinThis place is open from the morning (don't know exactly what time, until late at night). It has a gorgeous view over the IJ-water. It is a boat ride away. Take the (free) ferry behind Central Station number NDSM-Werfveer – pont 906.
On this NDSM-Plein you'll find several restaurants and bars. The ferry goes 24hrs.
Pllek
59 T.T. Neveritaweghipster
This former newspaper building is now a restaurant and night club.
199 locals recommend
Trouw Amsterdam
125 WibautstraatThis former newspaper building is now a restaurant and night club.
This place is so very very popular. They serve food and it is a local favorite. It's next to my Indoor Climbing Gym ;-)
533 locals recommend
Hannekes Boom
4 DijksgrachtThis place is so very very popular. They serve food and it is a local favorite. It's next to my Indoor Climbing Gym ;-)
Nice little place on a canal to drink a mid-morning coffee, or have lunch or dinner. It's tiny and a bit vintage. Very cute. Walking distance.
114 locals recommend
Festina Lente
40B LooiersgrachtNice little place on a canal to drink a mid-morning coffee, or have lunch or dinner. It's tiny and a bit vintage. Very cute. Walking distance.
THE new place in town. Very popular. It's a local hang out with beers and drinks. I haven't been there yet, but as it is on the water, I can see it is always super crowded. Especially on sunny days.
436 locals recommend
Waterkant
55 KapelwegTHE new place in town. Very popular. It's a local hang out with beers and drinks. I haven't been there yet, but as it is on the water, I can see it is always super crowded. Especially on sunny days.
Popular for coffee during the day and Friday afternoon/evening drinks. Young professionals hang out here after work.
161 locals recommend
Brandstof B.V.
357 MarnixstraatPopular for coffee during the day and Friday afternoon/evening drinks. Young professionals hang out here after work.
Cafe Struik
160 RozengrachtPopular small cafe.
A true Amsterdam bar/cafe for locals. Not many tourists go here, so you will experience Dutch bar life.
58 locals recommend
Café de Toog Amsterdam
142 hs Nicolaas BeetsstraatA true Amsterdam bar/cafe for locals. Not many tourists go here, so you will experience Dutch bar life.
Parks & Nature
run, walk, hang out in Het Blauwe Theehuis (good for an afternoon tea ) or the old "Filmmuseum' now a restaurant/bar
4196 locals recommend
Vondelpark
run, walk, hang out in Het Blauwe Theehuis (good for an afternoon tea ) or the old "Filmmuseum' now a restaurant/bar
Big(ger) park. We don't have massive parks, but this is a nice place for a walk.
547 locals recommend
Amsterdam Forest
Big(ger) park. We don't have massive parks, but this is a nice place for a walk.
The Vondelpark and the Westerpark always compete, which one is the better place to be. I prefer Westerpark. There are some cool cafes and restos in there as well. Such as West Pacific, Westerliefde and the Westergasfabriek which is a concert hall. Refer to the Iamsterdam.com website for more info.
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 HaarlemmerwegThe Vondelpark and the Westerpark always compete, which one is the better place to be. I prefer Westerpark. There are some cool cafes and restos in there as well. Such as West Pacific, Westerliefde and the Westergasfabriek which is a concert hall. Refer to the Iamsterdam.com website for more info.
Getting Around
Otto-Bikes Amsterdam - Fietsverhuur- Verkoop - Reparaties
402 Overtoomrent a bike here
Entertainment & Activities
Filmhallen
12 Hannie DankbaarpassageGreat place for movies. Connected to Foodhallen.
Another film house. I prefer to go to the film houses (art) instead of the big Pathe theaters.
48 locals recommend
Cinecenter
10 LijnbaansgrachtAnother film house. I prefer to go to the film houses (art) instead of the big Pathe theaters.
Rialto
338 Ceintuurbaanart house film
Shopping
This street has been nominated "Best Shopping Street". It mainly has unique boutiques, independent stores and nice little cafes, restaurants and bars. You can walk (about 30 mins) or hop on tram 10 from Elandsgracht.
269 locals recommend
Haarlemerdijk
HaarlemmerdijkThis street has been nominated "Best Shopping Street". It mainly has unique boutiques, independent stores and nice little cafes, restaurants and bars. You can walk (about 30 mins) or hop on tram 10 from Elandsgracht.
De Bijenkorf
1 DamWe basically have only one fancy department store. This is it.
on Saturday mornings this is an organic market with fresh cheese, bread, etc. On Monday mornings this is a brocante, vintage, fabric market. It is then connected to the Westerstaat, which is the fabric market.
892 locals recommend
Noordermarkt
42B Noordermarkton Saturday mornings this is an organic market with fresh cheese, bread, etc. On Monday mornings this is a brocante, vintage, fabric market. It is then connected to the Westerstaat, which is the fabric market.
The street next to my flat. It's a lovely street with little shops, coffee places and restos.
227 locals recommend
AH Jan Pieter Heijestraat
132 H Jan Pieter HeijestraatThe street next to my flat. It's a lovely street with little shops, coffee places and restos.