Eating in Amsterdam

Dignita Court Garden | For a quiet breakfast, this place offers a beautiful and tasty breakfast or lunch in the middle of a garden that is just as beautiful. (They do have two more locations in the city, but this is by far my favorite).

Saint-Jean | Who would have believed that the same place can be both 100% vegan as well as one of the best pastry shops in the world. Saint-Jean in the Jordaan proves it’s possible. Definitely not only for vegans!

Van Dobben | Dutch people love sandwiches, and Van Dobben is one of the oldest and most celebrated places for that. Tasty and quality fillings inside wonderful bread. You don’t need to complicate things that are simple and good. You can sit inside or take away and find a nice bench in Rembrandt square just across the corner.

De Deli | Wonderful little place for a quick sandwich (but a damn good one!) or a nice meal before or after visiting the nearby ARTIS Zoo or Jewish quarter.

The Butcher | Burgers, toppings and sides that can satisfy anyone of you hungry travelers. They have a few locations, but Nine-Streets is the most central one.

Jungle Burger | Another excellent option that I really like when I want some buns and patties is Jungle Burger. It’s a tiny place in one of the allies near Kalverstraat, so it’s a gret option for a break in the middle of your shopping.

FoodHallen | In these places you get a very wide and diversed range of food stalls from all over the world. It’s a great option if you want to try different tastes or bites at the same time, or if you and your travel companions want to eat different things and can’t find something for all of you.

Sampurna | Whether you’re a food enthusiast or just curious to try something new, I highly recommend visiting Sampurna for an authentic Indonesian culinary experience. Try the famed rijsttafel (rice table) which offers a delightful array of flavors that truly showcase the richness of Indonesian cuisine.

De Hapjeshoek | Food from Surinam is not very famous, but it is really good! A wonderful combination of native Amerindian, Dutch, Indian, and African cuisines. This small place is inside the Waterloo Metro station. From the outside it doesn’t look impressive, but the taste is the complete opposite.

Il Boccalino | One of the best and most famous food in the world. Who doesn’t like pizza and pasta? If you are in the mood for a great Italian place, go to Il Boccalino.

Lucca Due | Another great option for Italian food lovers is Lucca Due in the north of the center.

Phutakun | Asian food is always a pleasure, and Thai Phutakun is the place to go if you want an authentic, diversed and welcoming taste of Thailand.

Nam Kee | Zeedijk street is know by some people as “Amsterdam Chinatown”, and as the name suggest, this is the place to find all kinds of Asian cuisines. But among the great variety on the street, Nam Kee is so good and famous that it even has a Dutch film made about it! (Oesters van Nam Kee).

Tempura | If you just want some rice in seaweed as a quick bite, you can definitely go for the sushi sold in large branches of Albert Heijn supermarket. However, if you want a real roll experience with quality products and great atmosphere, head over to Tempura.

Fou Fow | In the winter, a hot bowl of creamy soup full of crunchy and tasty toppings is an excellent choice. And in the summer as well! Fou Fow will give you great options for soupy heaven. They have two locations – one in the Jordaan and one in De Pijp.

D&A Bistro | We say that a real hummus is made with love or not made at all. So if you have a sudden craving for hummus like you’ve never tried before, falafel, sabih, shakshuka or other Israeli dishes (and atmosphere) then in D&A you’ll find the best and most authentic option in Amsterdam.

Have A Roll | After you had something to eat on Albert Cuyp Market and you need something sweet – go here and pick one of the cinnamon rolls with wonderful toppings. If you can resist eating them immediately, then take them with you to a quiet bench in the nearby Sarphati park.

Vleminckx | Just a little window with the best fries in Amsterdam. Say no more.

Haringhandel Jonk | As a country surrounded by water, fish are a very central part in Dutch culture and cuisine. Pickled herring is a must-try, but if you don’t feel that brave you can go for Kibbeling, which are fried fish and are also very good. There are many shops and small stands around the city that sell them, but my personal favorite is Jonk Volendammer Haringhandel in the Spui square.

Ballenbar | A local favorite and a dish that is fun to share or just take it all for yourself. These are little deep-fried balls filled with creamy meet ragout. They go extremely well with a nice glass of Jenever (see below). You can find them in almost every pub, bar, or café. One place that decided to put them as the star of the show is De Ballenbar, which is a stand inside the Food Hallen, that serves excellent traditional bitterballen as well as various modern variations of them.

MOAK Pancakes | Not many Dutch foods are as appealing as pancakes. If you are near a fairground or a market then look for Poffertjes, which are tiny pancakes covered with powdered sugar. But if you want to sit for truly amazing boost of flavor go to MOAK Pancakes (for either breakfast, lunch or dinner) and you won’t regret it.

Queens Stroopwafels | They are round, they are crunchy from the outside, they are creamy and sweet from the inside, they are great for both cold and hot days. Morning, midday or night. Any supermarket would offer you pre-maid ones in small bags or boxes you can take home as a souvenir. You can put them above your cup of tea or coffee for a minute and they’ll be hot and creamy even more. If you fancy a larger version, straight from the oven and with some wonderful toppings, then head over to Queens on the Kalverstraat shopping street.

Drinking in Amsterdam

Melly’s Cookiebar | A tiny place with great coffee and wonderful cookies and cakes. Don’t miss the Alfajores. One door next to it they also have a very good stroopwafels place.

De Koffieschenkerij | This cozy café inside the complex of the Oude Kerk (Old Church) is located inside the oldest standing building in Amsterdam. This gives a nice atmosphere that adds to their tasty drinks and cakes. On a cold day you can sit in the warm and comfortable room and on a sunny day take advantage of the quiet garden terrace.

Wynand Fockink | If you think gin is a British invention – think again. The Dutch version, called jenever (pronounced “Yeneh-far”), is the original. It is usually drunk in a special tulip-shaped glass that is filled to the very top. For the first sip, don’t pick it up but lower your lips to the glass on the table. A good place to see how it’s made and try it is Wynand Fockink.

De Drie Fleschjes | Another very interesting place to try Jenever in a traditional and welcoming atmosphere, as it has been around since the early 17th century.

De Bierfabriek | Ever dreamt of being your own bartender? Get a tap table at this beer factory and pour yourself some of their great home brewed beers. They also have excellent food to go with it!

Proeflokaal Arendsnest | For a variety of Dutch beers right on the Herengracht canal, go to tasting room. They can cater for all beer tastes.

Hiding In Plain Sight | If you are the mixing kind, these guys will know how to mix, stir or shake for you almost anything you can think about.

Shopping in Amsterdam

Waterloomarkt | In the main square of the former Jewish quarter of Amsterdam you can find a wonderful and interesting market that has a wide collection of second-hand, books, art, clothes and food. It operates every day (except Sunday).

Noordermarkt | This historic market is located in the picturesque Jordaan district. On Saturdays, it hosts an organic farmers’ market, where you can find fresh produce, cheeses, and baked goods. On Mondays, it becomes a bustling flea market with vintage clothing, antiques, and bric-a-brac.

Het Muizenhuis | Discover the enchanting world of miniature mouse life at this Mouse House, just next to the flower market. Perfect for families and miniature enthusiasts.

Posthumus Winkel | Step into the past at this historic shop in Amsterdam, specialized in personalized stamps, wax seals, and stationery since 1865. In an era where most people think stamps and seals are a relic of the past, this charming store keeps the tradition alive with its exquisite craftsmanship.

The Otherist | Butterflies, beetles, minerals, flowers, porcelain skulls, soaps, oils, prints and may more things that are very weirdly beautiful and interesting.

Museums in Amsterdam

Grachtenmuseum | The canals are the true gems of Amsterdam and this charming little museum tells their stories in a creative and interesting way.

House of Rembrandt | He is probably the greatest Dutch artist of all times, but even if you know (or care) nothing about him, his house which was re-decorated as it was in the mid 17th century, is an extremely interesting window to life in the city during its golden age. And they have an amazing audio guide in so many languages.

Our Lord In The Attic | This is a unique opportunity to go into the world of secret churches that used to exist in Amsterdam. A regular house from the outside, but a beautiful and impressive church inside.

Artis Zoo | Amsterdam’s zoo is a quiet and inspiring corner of the city. Great place to let the young ones run around while meeting animals from all over the world up close. Don’t miss right outside it the Micropia, it’s a whole different kind of a zoo, dedicated to the tiny animals we all carry around with us – microbes and viruses.

STRAAT | Forget about dusty ancient painters. The real art today is found on walls in the public sphere, and this graffiti museum in the trendy NDSM area in northern Amsterdam is the best place to see it.

Portuguese Synagogue | It used to be the largest synagogue in the world, and it is still used by the Portuguese Jewish community. The building is impressive and the story of the community is interesting. Don’t miss the “Treasures of the Community” room (on the right side from the entrance, downstairs).

Resistance Museum | This museum is for everyone who wants to understand the realities of life in Amsterdam during the Second World War. It is full of personal stories and moral dilemmas. Very recommended.

Amsterdam Outdoors

Sarpathi Park | The central park of the Pijp neighborhood is named after the great doctor and social entrepreneur Samuel Sarphati. It has green plains, quiet benches, children’s playgrounds, lake with birds and ducks. Grab your takeaway from the nearby Albert Cuyp market and find a nice spot for a picknick any time of the day.

Weesperplantsoen | It’s not big, but it’s in the very center of the city and it’s surprisingly quiet and calm. After you rest a little, you can also visit the Amsterdam and H’ART museums that are situated in the surrounding buildings.

Amstel Park | A short ride on the tram or bus would bring you to this lovely green area with lots of grass, trees, flowers and serene atmosphere. As a bonus, the north tip has a small theme park and a petting farm for kids.

Amsterdam Forest | This is the big one. 10 km2 (2,471 acres) of nature, air and recreational activities. It mainly offers many trails for walking or cycling (you can also rent bicycles near the main entrance). The more adventurous among you would find kayaks and canoes, a playground on an island in the middle of a lake, animal farms, a pancake restaurant, paddling pools, a herd of Scottish Highland cattle (big hairy cows), and a Cherry orchard that is celebrated as the best place to see the cherry blossom outside of Japan (usually around March). The short ride out of the center is defiantly worth it.