Guidebook for Amsterdam
Food Scene
Food hall (like a fancy food court) located in an old tram depot with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, serving alcohol. Great atmosphere any night of the week until about 10, later on Friday and Saturdays. Recommended vendors are Chicks & Donuts, Viet View, and The Butcher. There is also a nice movie theatre in this building, called De Filmhallen.
182 locals recommend
De Pizzabakkers
2 Plantage KerklaanFood hall (like a fancy food court) located in an old tram depot with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, serving alcohol. Great atmosphere any night of the week until about 10, later on Friday and Saturdays. Recommended vendors are Chicks & Donuts, Viet View, and The Butcher. There is also a nice movie theatre in this building, called De Filmhallen.
A Dutch bruin cafe without music generally but a great patio to sit and talk with friends and people watch. Order the typical Dutch snacks like bitterballen (deep fried balls with meat paste filling, better than it sounds) and kaasstengels (deep fried cheese in a sort of spring roll wrapper).
23 locals recommend
Kade West
87 KinkerstraatA Dutch bruin cafe without music generally but a great patio to sit and talk with friends and people watch. Order the typical Dutch snacks like bitterballen (deep fried balls with meat paste filling, better than it sounds) and kaasstengels (deep fried cheese in a sort of spring roll wrapper).
One of the best coffee stops (not coffee shop) in Amsterdam. Enough said.
237 locals recommend
Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters
112 KinkerstraatOne of the best coffee stops (not coffee shop) in Amsterdam. Enough said.
Unique and beautiful coffee spot, located on a street with great storefronts. Highly recommend.
35 locals recommend
Screaming Beans Hartenstraat
12 HartenstraatUnique and beautiful coffee spot, located on a street with great storefronts. Highly recommend.
Incredible Thai food at a budget price right by the Red Light District. Tiny little hole in the wall with waits outside. The food can get very spicy, so let them know if you can't handle it.
32 locals recommend
Thaise Snackbar Bird
77 ZeedijkIncredible Thai food at a budget price right by the Red Light District. Tiny little hole in the wall with waits outside. The food can get very spicy, so let them know if you can't handle it.
Cool little spot that hosts pop up restaurants on most nights of the week. Check their facebook page to see what is happening!
18 locals recommend
bar Brå
137 Jan Pieter HeijestraatCool little spot that hosts pop up restaurants on most nights of the week. Check their facebook page to see what is happening!
A Dutch bruin cafe (see Cafe Schilders) but good primarily for day time drinking, coffee or a bite on the patio in the afternoon sunshine. Right alongside a canal.
127 locals recommend
Caffee Oslo
1a SloterkadeA Dutch bruin cafe (see Cafe Schilders) but good primarily for day time drinking, coffee or a bite on the patio in the afternoon sunshine. Right alongside a canal.
Very nice spot to grab a cheap bite or coffee. Patio and restaurant gets busy because of the reasonable prices.
70 locals recommend
Buuf eten
Very nice spot to grab a cheap bite or coffee. Patio and restaurant gets busy because of the reasonable prices.
One of my favorite restaurants in Amsterdam located in an old Jewish synagogue, which is also great value. Moroccan style. DO NOT go for lunch (terrible), only dinner. I recommend the Bizar Bazar platter (minimum two people need to order), you get to taste a lot of delicious things. Come with an appetite!
258 locals recommend
De Bazar Amsterdam B.V.
182 Albert CuypstraatOne of my favorite restaurants in Amsterdam located in an old Jewish synagogue, which is also great value. Moroccan style. DO NOT go for lunch (terrible), only dinner. I recommend the Bizar Bazar platter (minimum two people need to order), you get to taste a lot of delicious things. Come with an appetite!
The biggest market in Amsterdam, open 9-5 Monday to Saturday. Try the fresh stroopwafel and hummus!
1832 locals recommend
Albert Cuyp Market
Albert CuypstraatThe biggest market in Amsterdam, open 9-5 Monday to Saturday. Try the fresh stroopwafel and hummus!
Open from 9-5 Monday to Saturday, very cute market that is not overly busy close to the apartment.
371 locals recommend
Ten Kate Markt
32 Ten KatestraatOpen from 9-5 Monday to Saturday, very cute market that is not overly busy close to the apartment.
You can go in here and try all their different cheese for free! Nice if you buy something as well, but not obligatory as all the cheeses are self serve ;)
25 locals recommend
Amsterdam Cheese Museum
112 PrinsengrachtYou can go in here and try all their different cheese for free! Nice if you buy something as well, but not obligatory as all the cheeses are self serve ;)
Best pizza in Amsterdam! Multiple locations, but this one is my favorite (of the two I've been to). Especially great on a nice day when their patio is open and you can head down to the stretch of bruin cafes after close by.
38 locals recommend
De Pizzabakkers De Pijp
16HS Eerste SweelinckstraatBest pizza in Amsterdam! Multiple locations, but this one is my favorite (of the two I've been to). Especially great on a nice day when their patio is open and you can head down to the stretch of bruin cafes after close by.
Food hall (like a fancy food court) located in an old tram depot with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, serving alcohol. Great atmosphere any night of the week until about 10, later on Friday and Saturdays. Recommended vendors are Chicks & Donuts, Viet View, and The Butcher. There is also a nice movie theatre in this building, called De Filmhallen.
1500 locals recommend
Foodhallen Amsterdam
16 BellamypleinFood hall (like a fancy food court) located in an old tram depot with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, serving alcohol. Great atmosphere any night of the week until about 10, later on Friday and Saturdays. Recommended vendors are Chicks & Donuts, Viet View, and The Butcher. There is also a nice movie theatre in this building, called De Filmhallen.
Essentials
Lidl
308H BaarsjeswegDiscount grocer from Germany.
Lower cost than Albert Heijn. Fewer sales and selection in general but consistently lower prices on day to day items. Takes credit card.
514 locals recommend
Jumbo
55H Eerste Constantijn HuygensstraatLower cost than Albert Heijn. Fewer sales and selection in general but consistently lower prices on day to day items. Takes credit card.
The grocery store chain where I shop for most of my groceries. Multiple locations, but this is one of the closest. Be warned, they do not take credit card, only cash and MAESTRO debit cards.
190 locals recommend
AH Overtoom
116 H OvertoomThe grocery store chain where I shop for most of my groceries. Multiple locations, but this is one of the closest. Be warned, they do not take credit card, only cash and MAESTRO debit cards.
German no-frills discount grocer. Be warned, they do not take credit card, only cash and MAESTRO debit cards.
97 locals recommend
Lidl
308H BaarsjeswegGerman no-frills discount grocer. Be warned, they do not take credit card, only cash and MAESTRO debit cards.
The grocery store chain where I shop for most of my groceries. Multiple locations, but this is one of the closest. Be warned, they do not take credit card, only cash and MAESTRO debit cards.
105 locals recommend
AH Amstelveenseweg
186 AmstelveensewegThe grocery store chain where I shop for most of my groceries. Multiple locations, but this is one of the closest. Be warned, they do not take credit card, only cash and MAESTRO debit cards.
Getting Around
Rent a bike here and drop it at any one of its ten locations in the city when you're done!
56 locals recommend
Het Zwarte Fietsenplan Zuidas
88 Eerste Constantijn HuygensstraatRent a bike here and drop it at any one of its ten locations in the city when you're done!
Local shop recommended by visiting friends who rented their bikes there, and close to the apartment.
79 locals recommend
Amsterdamse Fietswinkel
106 bg PostjeswegLocal shop recommended by visiting friends who rented their bikes there, and close to the apartment.
One of the closest (if not the closest) bike rentals to the apartment. Nice local store, not a chain. I've never rented, but they are good for bike repair. However, they are also very close to the park and when my friends went they were out of bikes. :(
11 locals recommend
the Fietserij
457 OvertoomOne of the closest (if not the closest) bike rentals to the apartment. Nice local store, not a chain. I've never rented, but they are good for bike repair. However, they are also very close to the park and when my friends went they were out of bikes. :(
Drinks & Nightlife
Not really a club or bar, just a classy place that has probably 100 whiskeys on menu (along with beer and wine).
13 locals recommend
JD William's whisky bar
5 PrinsenstraatNot really a club or bar, just a classy place that has probably 100 whiskeys on menu (along with beer and wine).
Sort of an elevated Dutch bruin cafe. A bit of a classier feel, great interior, good people and scene.
468 locals recommend
Bar spek
1 Admiraal de RuijterwegSort of an elevated Dutch bruin cafe. A bit of a classier feel, great interior, good people and scene.
A great Dutch bruin cafe I've recently discovered. Friday and Saturday nights are good, with music. Seems far but it only about a 20-25 minute cycle, which you might think is a lot but is actually pretty easy and pleasant.
549 locals recommend
bar Bukowski
10 OosterparkA great Dutch bruin cafe I've recently discovered. Friday and Saturday nights are good, with music. Seems far but it only about a 20-25 minute cycle, which you might think is a lot but is actually pretty easy and pleasant.
There are three possibilities in Volkshotel for a Friday or Saturday night out--the lounge in the lobby (no charge), the basement (cover charge), and Canvas (on the seventh floor, separate cover charge). I've had a better time in general in the basement, but the upstairs gets going earlier. Earlier being midnight to 1 AM. ;) On Sundays currently between 12-6, the rooftop has three hot tubs and a sauna normally for reserved for hotel guests that is open to the public. Towels provided, lockers available, bring your own swimsuit. Drinks can be ordered and consumed in the hot tubs.
261 locals recommend
Volkshotel
150 WibautstraatThere are three possibilities in Volkshotel for a Friday or Saturday night out--the lounge in the lobby (no charge), the basement (cover charge), and Canvas (on the seventh floor, separate cover charge). I've had a better time in general in the basement, but the upstairs gets going earlier. Earlier being midnight to 1 AM. ;) On Sundays currently between 12-6, the rooftop has three hot tubs and a sauna normally for reserved for hotel guests that is open to the public. Towels provided, lockers available, bring your own swimsuit. Drinks can be ordered and consumed in the hot tubs.
Dutch bruin cafe less than 10 minutes cycling from the apartment. Busy patio when it is warm out (notice a trend?), which stays open until 11 even on weekdays. DJ and dancing inside on Friday and Saturday nights. A favorite of mine that is close by, and the food is good too.
202 locals recommend
Café de Tuin
13 Tweede TuindwarsstraatDutch bruin cafe less than 10 minutes cycling from the apartment. Busy patio when it is warm out (notice a trend?), which stays open until 11 even on weekdays. DJ and dancing inside on Friday and Saturday nights. A favorite of mine that is close by, and the food is good too.
One of my favorite bruin cafes (brown cafe, a Dutch term for a place where they serve alcohol, typically including outdoor wooden picnic table seating) in De Pijp. There are about ten such cafes you can go to on the strip of two blocks this cafe is part of, choose your favorite while hopping from place to place. Very local area, few tourists, cheap beer, bars open till 3 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.
79 locals recommend
Café Schilders
45 Eerste van der HelststraatOne of my favorite bruin cafes (brown cafe, a Dutch term for a place where they serve alcohol, typically including outdoor wooden picnic table seating) in De Pijp. There are about ten such cafes you can go to on the strip of two blocks this cafe is part of, choose your favorite while hopping from place to place. Very local area, few tourists, cheap beer, bars open till 3 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.
Sightseeing
A nice street to walk or bike down when going between Overtoom and Kinkerstraat.
227 locals recommend
AH Jan Pieter Heijestraat
132 H Jan Pieter HeijestraatA nice street to walk or bike down when going between Overtoom and Kinkerstraat.
The Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) of the famous Joordan. Beautiful to bike through, or to before locking your bike up for a stroll. Lots of tourists, but one of the spots I enjoy regardless whenever I cycle through because it's so beautiful.
1405 locals recommend
De 9 Straatjes
The Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) of the famous Joordan. Beautiful to bike through, or to before locking your bike up for a stroll. Lots of tourists, but one of the spots I enjoy regardless whenever I cycle through because it's so beautiful.
De Wallen
The obligatory Red Light District stop.
Book a ticket online in advance in order to avoid the possible hours long line.
2775 locals recommend
Anne Frank House
20 WestermarktBook a ticket online in advance in order to avoid the possible hours long line.
Parks & Nature
Park right outside the apartment that is great for a run if you're into that. ;)
329 locals recommend
Rembrandt Park
PostjeswegPark right outside the apartment that is great for a run if you're into that. ;)
The most popular park in Amsterdam. On a sunny day, locals and tourists alike will be camped out on the grass having barbeques/picnics and sipping on a beer/wine. Great for people watching and enjoying the rays of sunshine.
4196 locals recommend
Vondelpark
The most popular park in Amsterdam. On a sunny day, locals and tourists alike will be camped out on the grass having barbeques/picnics and sipping on a beer/wine. Great for people watching and enjoying the rays of sunshine.
Arts & Culture
The national museum. At least good for a great photo even if you don't go in. There is also an Iamsterdam sign in front. :)
3186 locals recommend
Rijksmuseum
1 MuseumstraatThe national museum. At least good for a great photo even if you don't go in. There is also an Iamsterdam sign in front. :)
Book a ticket online in advance in order to avoid the possible long line.
2485 locals recommend
Van Gogh Museum
6 MuseumpleinBook a ticket online in advance in order to avoid the possible long line.