For quite some time now I’ve wanted to work on more city guides, but feel like it’s hard without actually going to every place myself. Lucky for me, I’ve made some wonderful friends during my travels who live in amazing places, so today I’ve teamed up with one of my closest friends to share a hip guide to Amsterdam. She knows my style and taste well and thought these places would be a great addition to my City Guide series. I hope one day to take a trip to Amsterdam to see them all myself.
Eat & Drink
DeFour Restaurant & Deli
Slow down in this charming little deli just outside the crowded city-centre. Enjoy lovely organic food and wine in an artistic place that is not part of the tourist trail.
Potgieterstraat 47, 1053 XS Amsterdam (www)
D&A Humus Bistro
Enjoy very nice hummus and other classic dishes from the Middle-East in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Westerstraat 136, 1015 MP Amsterdam (www)
Gambrinus Bar & Restaurant
Enjoy a night out with the locals in this lively bar and restaurant in a nice residential neighborhood. Good beer and excellent food in one of the better pubs of Amsterdam.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 180, 1072 LV Amsterdam (www)
J.D. Williams Whisky Bar
This American-owned bar offers an extremely good selection of whiskies from all over the world. And although they also serve good food and a nice glass of wine, it’s the whisky you should go for!
Prinsenstraat 5, 1015 DA Amsterdam (www)
Café de Klepel
A unique old bar turned a corner and became a place to enjoy nice food and beautiful wines. A wide selection of organic and bio-dynamic wines are offered by the glass. Make sure to book in advance.
Prinsenstraat 22, 1015 DD Amsterdam (www)
See & Do
A’dam Lookout
Cross the IJ-river on one of the ferries and enjoy a spectacular view of the city and its surrounding landscape on top of the Amsterdam Tower.
Overhoeksplein, 5, 1031 KS Amsterdam (www)
Westerpark and Westergasfabriek
This vibrant park and refurbished early twentieth-century industrial buildings are home to numerous cafes, restaurants and artistic projects year round. Make sure you don’t miss it on your trip!
Pazzanistraat 37, 1014 BE Amsterdam (www)
NDSM-Wharf
Hop on one of the ferries across the IJ-river and enjoy the cultural hotspot of the city.
Tt. Neveritaweg 61, 1033 WB Amsterdam, Netherlands (www)
De 9 Straatjes
A picturesque section of Amsterdam full of quirky shops and delicious eateries.
Wolvenstraat 9, 1016 EM Amsterdam (www)
Shopping
Noordermarkt / Flea Market & Organic Food
If you happen to be in the area on Saturday (mornings), make sure you don’t miss this lovely market. With its organic food and vintage finds, the Noordermarkt is a favorite of many locals.
Prinsengracht 14S, 1015 DV Amsterdam (www)
Tangram Gifts
Not your typical gift shop: a pleasant mix of stationary, home decoration and children’s toys, you’ll be sure to find something for everybody in this shop. If you happen to be unsuccessful, don’t worry: there are plenty of shops in this street.
Herenstraat 9, 1015 BX Amsterdam (www)
Episode
This shop offers curated and repurposed vintage clothing for reasonable prices. It’s located in a popular shopping street that’s part of the so-called ‘Nine Streets’, another favorite of locals and tourists alike!
Berenstraat 1, 1016 GG Amsterdam (www)
Sleep
The Toren Hotel
Ranked the best hotel in the Netherlands for five consecutive years, The Toren offers a stay to be remembered. Beautifully situated on one of the main canals (close to the Anne Frank House), it is the number 1 choice for the luxurious traveller.
Keizersgracht 164, 1015 CZ Amsterdam, Netherlands (www)
True Love Guesthouse
Stay in your own little studio in an authentic canal house on one of the beautiful canals of the city.
Prinsenstraat 4II, 1015 DC Amsterdam, Netherlands (www)
Don’t they sound dreamy? If you enjoyed this guide, my friend has also just opened a tour company in Amsterdam, called Walking Histories, a little about them:
Though separated by an ocean, the history of Amsterdam and the history of the United States have more in common than you might think. The history of one place always intertwines with the histories of other places. During a walking tour, Walking Histories reveals the stories that are visible in the streets of Amsterdam and shows that the early history of the United States is rooted in Amsterdam’s glorious past. From the early seventeenth-century onwards, commercial success, religious and artistic liberty and an early experiment with republicanism attracted many people to Amsterdam. Follow in the footsteps of Henry Hudson, the Pilgrim Fathers, Peter Stuyvesant and John Adams in the old streets of Amsterdam and discover the entanglement of Dutch and American history.
They’re also on facebook, feel free to show them a little love there too!
This post is a part of my City Guide series, click here to see them all.
Have you been to Amsterdam? Any places you would add to this list? I’d love to hear!
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