Guidebook for Amsterdam
Food Scene
Best terrace in the neighbourhood, hidden away on a quiet square 2 mins from our house. Good for coffee, wines or dinner.
354 locals recommend
Café Cook
2 James CookstraatBest terrace in the neighbourhood, hidden away on a quiet square 2 mins from our house. Good for coffee, wines or dinner.
Just around the corner from our house is this nice bar/restaurant with a big terrace.
276 locals recommend
Bar Baarsch
91 Jan EvertsenstraatJust around the corner from our house is this nice bar/restaurant with a big terrace.
Café Zurich
2b MercatorpleinRestaurant/bar on Mercatorplein, with a really big terrace.
De Bakkerswinkel has more shops in town, but this is my favorite: you can have a great lunch here, and they have scones and pies to die for. Located on the cultural hotspot de Westergasfabriek (old gas factory) near the Westerpark, where there are a lot of other bars and restaurants and loads of events.
245 locals recommend
De Bakkerswinkel
De Bakkerswinkel has more shops in town, but this is my favorite: you can have a great lunch here, and they have scones and pies to die for. Located on the cultural hotspot de Westergasfabriek (old gas factory) near the Westerpark, where there are a lot of other bars and restaurants and loads of events.
Great Italian restaurant, but you need to make reservations in advance because it's always full. Not cheap, but not too expensive either.
313 locals recommend
Toscanini
75 LindengrachtGreat Italian restaurant, but you need to make reservations in advance because it's always full. Not cheap, but not too expensive either.
Arts & Culture
Beautifully renovated old tram station, which nowadays holds a food market, a cool cinema and a couple of restaurants.
369 locals recommend
De Hallen
41 BellamypleinBeautifully renovated old tram station, which nowadays holds a food market, a cool cinema and a couple of restaurants.
One of 2 legendary concerthalls in Amsterdam (together with neighbouring Paradiso). Holds 3 concert halls (1500, 1000 and 750 people), a theatre, art gallery and restaurant in an old milk factory near Leidseplein, centre of town. All famous pop music artists once performed here.
444 locals recommend
Melkweg
234A LijnbaansgrachtOne of 2 legendary concerthalls in Amsterdam (together with neighbouring Paradiso). Holds 3 concert halls (1500, 1000 and 750 people), a theatre, art gallery and restaurant in an old milk factory near Leidseplein, centre of town. All famous pop music artists once performed here.
Together with the Melkweg this is the place to see (pop) music concerts live. Their main hall holds 1500, the small room 300. In an old Jewish church. Legendary shows.
937 locals recommend
Paradiso
6-8 WeteringschansTogether with the Melkweg this is the place to see (pop) music concerts live. Their main hall holds 1500, the small room 300. In an old Jewish church. Legendary shows.
Great for a indepth look into the history of Amsterdam, with also temporary exhibitions
111 locals recommend
Amsterdam Museum Building
92 KalverstraatGreat for a indepth look into the history of Amsterdam, with also temporary exhibitions
A peak into the lives of rich merchants from the Golden Age. The house and interior are still in the original state.
42 locals recommend
Willet-Holthuysen Museum
605 HerengrachtA peak into the lives of rich merchants from the Golden Age. The house and interior are still in the original state.
Small but nice museum with exhibitions of temporary photographers from all over the world.
792 locals recommend
Foam
609 KeizersgrachtSmall but nice museum with exhibitions of temporary photographers from all over the world.
Last remaining secret Catholic church, now turned into a museum. Located in the oldest part of town, so great when you're exploring that part anyway and you want to taste some history.
172 locals recommend
Museum Ons'Lieve Heer Op Solder
38-40 Oudezijds VoorburgwalLast remaining secret Catholic church, now turned into a museum. Located in the oldest part of town, so great when you're exploring that part anyway and you want to taste some history.
Parks & Nature
Iconic park where all the hippies used to sleep in the '60s and '70s, it's still the most used park by Amsterdammers. With some great terraces (check out Het Blauwe Theehuis) in summertime a diverse cultural programma on the outdoor stage in the middle of it.
4196 locals recommend
Vondelpark
Iconic park where all the hippies used to sleep in the '60s and '70s, it's still the most used park by Amsterdammers. With some great terraces (check out Het Blauwe Theehuis) in summertime a diverse cultural programma on the outdoor stage in the middle of it.
Big but fairly unknown park just around the corner from our house. This english-style park is great for a bbq, or just to walk and relax.
329 locals recommend
Rembrandt Park
PostjeswegBig but fairly unknown park just around the corner from our house. This english-style park is great for a bbq, or just to walk and relax.
Massive park, build in the crisis years of the 30s as work programme for the unemployed. You can wander here for days, have a swim, visit the animal farm, watch the rowing, etc.
547 locals recommend
Amsterdam Forest
Massive park, build in the crisis years of the 30s as work programme for the unemployed. You can wander here for days, have a swim, visit the animal farm, watch the rowing, etc.
Small but well used park, with a cultural programme on Sundays in the summermonths.
373 locals recommend
Erasmusparkbuurt
Small but well used park, with a cultural programme on Sundays in the summermonths.
Shopping
This area of small streets linking the most famous canals is great for shopping, because here are the small, indepent shops. This part of The Jordaan is located inbetween the Raadhuisstraat, the Prinsengracht, the Singel and the Leidsegracht.
1405 locals recommend
De 9 Straatjes
This area of small streets linking the most famous canals is great for shopping, because here are the small, indepent shops. This part of The Jordaan is located inbetween the Raadhuisstraat, the Prinsengracht, the Singel and the Leidsegracht.
Nice shopping street at walking distance, with a diverse selection of shops and a good outdoor market on the Ten Cate Straat, and also The Hallen nearby.
137 locals recommend
Kinkerstraat
KinkerstraatNice shopping street at walking distance, with a diverse selection of shops and a good outdoor market on the Ten Cate Straat, and also The Hallen nearby.
Essentials
Dirk van den Broek
25 Marie HeinekenpleinCheap but good supermarket nearby.
AH Jan Evertsenstraat
13 A Jan EvertsenstraatNearest supermarket, hi-end so more expensive
Sightseeing
A canal tour is always nice, and the company you choose doesn't really matter. They are mostly located around Central Station. It gives you a whole different perspective on our city, which you can't get on foot.
50 locals recommend
Canal Boat Tour Amsterdam Cruise
226 Oudezijds VoorburgwalA canal tour is always nice, and the company you choose doesn't really matter. They are mostly located around Central Station. It gives you a whole different perspective on our city, which you can't get on foot.
Our small version of China Town has some great restaurants with real Chinese food, but also a diverse mix of other kitchens and bars. And a proper Chinese temple.
118 locals recommend
Zeedijk
ZeedijkOur small version of China Town has some great restaurants with real Chinese food, but also a diverse mix of other kitchens and bars. And a proper Chinese temple.