Oh, Amsterdam. Everyone loves your canals, your stroopwafels, your crazy amount of bikes and your beautiful old houses. With so many sights to see and things to do, it certainly isn’t easy to narrow things down for those that are looking for tips. Since we have two stores there, in the Utrechtsestraat and the Cornelis Schuytstraat, we asked our teams what they would recommend. With everyone living all over the city, what came out is a mixture of everything. The way we like it.
Bellerose Utrechtsestraat, Amsterdam
Bellerose Cornelis Schuytstraat, Amsterdam
FOOD.
Let’s start with one of the coolest places to eat (or just get a drink) in Amsterdam-West : Meneer Nieges is an original, quirky spot with a superb terrace right by the water, overlooking the IJ. Whether you’re local or visiting, you’ll have a good ol’ time. Open every day from 10 AM until midnight.
Another hotspot in the same area is Bar Spek. No matter if it’s breakfast, lunch or snacks you’re after, Bar Spek’s got you. Using locally grown, balanced ingredients they serve honest, tasteful food all day. Make sure you try their brick oven pizza!
At the heart of the well-known Negen Straatjes (the Nine Streets District for non-Dutchies), you can find Sous , a cozy bar & bistrot that offers lunch, dinner and cocktails. Open late because they’re counting on keeping you there for a while.
Looking for a fun, lively and eclectic place to eat and drink? Walter Woodbury Bar in the Javastraat might be what you need. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, beer, gin-tonic – you name it and they have it. The woodwork, wicker chairs, birdcages and abundance of plants give it a warm, exotic feel.
A lot can be said about avocados, but we’ll be damned if they’re not super tasty when served right. That’s what the people behind The Avocado Show must have thought too. With two locations in Amsterdam, things seem to be working out well. You’ll be surprised at the many ways they can work an avocado into a recipe!
We love Japanese food so it’s no wonder that we love De Japanner. Their concept is based on the traditional Japanese Izkaya bars, a place where you can go to get a beer, or sake, and some fingerfood after long day’s work. No frills, just good times and great, fresh food.
Sous
COFFEE & MORE.
If you would wildly throw an egg anywhere in Amsterdam, the chances of you hitting a coffee spot with said egg are 50%. So, if you can’t do without a cup of joe, Amsterdam is possibly the best place to be. Here are a few addresses our teams prefer.
Winkel 43 on the Noordermarkt is renowned for its amazing coffee and its amazing apple pie. It’s an authentic, relaxed place, ideal to sit down and chill after having wandered around on the Lapjesmarkt, the well-known second hand and vintage market that takes place there every Monday morning.
Another well-known coffee bar is Coffee Bru, in the eastern part of the city. Their vibe is welcoming and easy going, and their coffee is righteous. You’ll find yourself among locals here, ranging from young creatives with MacBooks, to families.
Fresh Belgian coffee in Amsterdam? It’s real. Caffénation is already legendary in Antwerp (where all their beans are roasted!) and opened its first Amsterdam location a while ago in the Oud-Zuid area. A cozy 50s style interior with a whole bunch of plants, and a range of specialty coffees await you.
De Wasserette on the Gerard Douplein is another fun stop for lunch and for coffee. Their terrace is small yet cozy and they’re always open early.
If you feel like coffee tastes better with pancakes, we agree! And so does Mr. Stacks Specialized in American-style pancakes and all kinds of tea, this excellent spot in the hip De Pijp area is heaven on earth for fans of all-day breakfast.
SHOPPING & EXPLORING.
Back in the West area, De Hallen is a food market we’d highly recommend. In a myriad of stalls, you can find (and taste) close to anything there. Beers, gin, hot dogs, Asian food, cakes, pies and whatnot. Besides, De Hallen also offers a wide range of other things: there’s a movie theater, a bicycle repair shop, a daycare center and… Denim City, a mixture of a store and atelier revolving around all things denim.
In Amsterdam-Noord, you’ll find Pllekk, a cultural meeting point and restaurant (with delicious organic, mostly vegetarian food). Their aim is to inspire and with that goal in mind, Pllekk offers yoga classes, outdoor cinema, live music and more.
Now, something totally different, right next door to our own Utrechtsestraat store: Concerto! Without a doubt, the go-to place for anyone that loves music. They have an incredibly wide offer of new and secondhand vinyl, CD’s, DVD’s, books and more. Plus, coffee and a slice of cake too, of course.
Another favorite of ours is Concrete Matter, which is a finely curated menswear store, offering the best vintage treasures next to new and relevant brands. Looking for an original Italian camo overall from the early 1960s? They have it.
De Hallen
Concerto
Concrete Matter
VARIOUS.
You don’t need us to tell you that the Rijksmuseum or The Van Gogh Museum are well worth a visit. However, we’d like to highlight two lesser known museums.
FOAM is the Amsterdam museum of photography. Located right in the city center (Keizersgracht), it’s easy to find and always an interesting stop. Drop by and let yourself be surprised by whatever exhibitions they currently have going.
Another favorite is MOCO, dedicated to modern art, contemporary art and street art. Aimed at a younger crowd, MOCO is located on the Museum Square in a wonderful historic villa from 1904.
If you’ve had enough of walking around, shopping and eating, you know where to go: the famous Vondelpark. 47 hectares of (mostly) peace and quiet, right by the city center.
MOCO
Vondelpark
STAY.
We have a soft spot for Conscious Hotels. This small chain has 3 different locations and does things a little differently. They mix stylish design with a sustainable, ecological approach. Excellent breakfast too, with only local produce.
The Hoxton in the Negen Straatjes isn’t only wonderfully located and as pretty as they come, their bar is also buzzing and lively so if you don’t care much for sleep, you know where to go.
The Hoxton - credit : photos courtesy of The Hoxton Amsterdam
Pictures : Louis Vielle
Words : Bjorn Dossche
