Guidebook for Amsterdam

Dustin & Eva
Dustin & Eva
Guidebook for Amsterdam

Food Scene

Amazing traditional Italian food. An appetizer & pear-cheese ravioli will be plenty. The servers have a great sense of humor but reservations are a must! +31206240846
66 locals recommend
Eetcafé Koevoet
17 Lindenstraat
66 locals recommend
Amazing traditional Italian food. An appetizer & pear-cheese ravioli will be plenty. The servers have a great sense of humor but reservations are a must! +31206240846
Great place for coffee, lunch or a quiche or burrito for dinner. Sean runs a catering company with a small coffee and sandwich takeaway store. But it's worth sticking around if you can find a seat.
98 locals recommend
Small World Catering
14 Binnen Oranjestraat
98 locals recommend
Great place for coffee, lunch or a quiche or burrito for dinner. Sean runs a catering company with a small coffee and sandwich takeaway store. But it's worth sticking around if you can find a seat.
Delicious Thai food for a reasonable price. A few small tables but mostly takeout.
11 locals recommend
Som Tam Thai
24 H Tweede Goudsbloemdwarsstraat
11 locals recommend
Delicious Thai food for a reasonable price. A few small tables but mostly takeout.
Best Dutch Pancakes (pannenkoeken) in the city. Good any time of day as you can order practically anything on/in your pancake (sweet or savory). Good with kids but can get busy during peak meal hours
63 locals recommend
The Pancake Bakery
191 Prinsengracht
63 locals recommend
Best Dutch Pancakes (pannenkoeken) in the city. Good any time of day as you can order practically anything on/in your pancake (sweet or savory). Good with kids but can get busy during peak meal hours
Best appeltaart in the city. Pair it with a latte macchiato or a fresh mint tea (vers munt thee) for the full effect.
506 locals recommend
Winkel 43
43 Noordermarkt
506 locals recommend
Best appeltaart in the city. Pair it with a latte macchiato or a fresh mint tea (vers munt thee) for the full effect.
Good South Indian food. Can also order online. www.rangoli.nl
Rangoli South Indian Restaurant
11 Haarlemmerstraat
Good South Indian food. Can also order online. www.rangoli.nl
Various kinds of burgers (including vegetarian). Try more than one by getting the 3 mini burgers. http://burgermeester.eu/
115 locals recommend
Burgermeester | de Jordaan
130 Elandsgracht
115 locals recommend
Various kinds of burgers (including vegetarian). Try more than one by getting the 3 mini burgers. http://burgermeester.eu/
Good takeout pizza. Turkish guys who run this place are really nice and make a good thin crust pizza
Haarlemmerdijk 115
115 Haarlemmerdijk
Good takeout pizza. Turkish guys who run this place are really nice and make a good thin crust pizza
Good order at counter Italian food. If nice weather sit outside with great view of the water.
37 locals recommend
Vapiano Amsterdam Oosterdokskade
145 Oosterdokskade
37 locals recommend
Good order at counter Italian food. If nice weather sit outside with great view of the water.
Higher end cooked to order with huge range of fresh foods. Great view of the city (go to top floor of the Public Library). Good for families.
27 locals recommend
La Place
143 Oosterdokskade
27 locals recommend
Higher end cooked to order with huge range of fresh foods. Great view of the city (go to top floor of the Public Library). Good for families.
Excellent Indonesia "Rice Table" (many small dishes served family style). Can be a bit noisy in there but food is worth it. Also have a takeout counter in back.
69 locals recommend
Kantjil & De Tijger
291 A Spuistraat
69 locals recommend
Excellent Indonesia "Rice Table" (many small dishes served family style). Can be a bit noisy in there but food is worth it. Also have a takeout counter in back.
Forget Wok to Walk. This place is so much better. Only takeout though. Made to order rice or noodle dishes with great sauces.
Halvemaansteeg 16
16 Halvemaansteeg
Forget Wok to Walk. This place is so much better. Only takeout though. Made to order rice or noodle dishes with great sauces.
Great selection of sandwiches for lunch.
Sint Antoniesbreestraat 142
142 Sint Antoniesbreestraat
Great selection of sandwiches for lunch.
Dinner on the expensive side but great terrace to enjoy a drink and their goat cheese croquettes
59 locals recommend
Waag
4 Nieuwmarkt
59 locals recommend
Dinner on the expensive side but great terrace to enjoy a drink and their goat cheese croquettes
Take the free ferry behind Centraal Station to Ijplein and walk to this cafe for a nice lunch on the water
59 locals recommend
Wilhelmina Dok
1 Noordwal
59 locals recommend
Take the free ferry behind Centraal Station to Ijplein and walk to this cafe for a nice lunch on the water
Good for a drink or their rotisserie chicken dinner. Beautiful neighborhood for a walk.
Zandhoek 8I
8I Zandhoek
Good for a drink or their rotisserie chicken dinner. Beautiful neighborhood for a walk.
Excellent tapas served from 17:00, especially the pumpkin poffertjes with brie, honey and walnuts
9 locals recommend
Kip in t ij
41 Plantage Kerklaan
9 locals recommend
Excellent tapas served from 17:00, especially the pumpkin poffertjes with brie, honey and walnuts
Good Turkish food in a unique setting - an old church. Funky interior, huge plates of food. On the weekends it's best to reserve or if you don't, you can always wait at the unique bar.
258 locals recommend
De Bazar Amsterdam B.V.
182 Albert Cuypstraat
258 locals recommend
Good Turkish food in a unique setting - an old church. Funky interior, huge plates of food. On the weekends it's best to reserve or if you don't, you can always wait at the unique bar.
Good, cheap, fast Chinese (mostly) food. Don't be offended if they take your plate away right when you are done. Good place right before or after a movie.
9 locals recommend
Asian Kitchen
5-A Vijzelstraat
9 locals recommend
Good, cheap, fast Chinese (mostly) food. Don't be offended if they take your plate away right when you are done. Good place right before or after a movie.
Cafe right on the water. You can even play beach volleyball between courses. Food is decent & staff is very nice. Good place for a drink outside when the sun is out.
19 locals recommend
Strand West
900 Stavangerweg
19 locals recommend
Cafe right on the water. You can even play beach volleyball between courses. Food is decent & staff is very nice. Good place for a drink outside when the sun is out.
Sandwich & deli shop. Delicious fresh, usually organic ingredients. Good for a cup of coffee as well.
8 locals recommend
Sapori Del Mondo
30a Plantage Middenlaan
8 locals recommend
Sandwich & deli shop. Delicious fresh, usually organic ingredients. Good for a cup of coffee as well.
Good place for a drink if you can grab a spot on the patio by the water. Inside it is a bit noisy- popular spot.
119 locals recommend
Café de Jaren
20-20 Nieuwe Doelenstraat
119 locals recommend
Good place for a drink if you can grab a spot on the patio by the water. Inside it is a bit noisy- popular spot.
Really good falafel with a salad bar that you can go back to over and over again.... until your pita is gone.
21 locals recommend
Maoz Vegetarian
1 Muntplein
21 locals recommend
Really good falafel with a salad bar that you can go back to over and over again.... until your pita is gone.
Kobe beef burger is worth getting. For veggies: the portobello mushroom sandwich is pretty good. Double fried "friet" (fries) are really good with some garlic sauce for dipping.
47 locals recommend
Bar De Burgh
2 Kolksteeg
47 locals recommend
Kobe beef burger is worth getting. For veggies: the portobello mushroom sandwich is pretty good. Double fried "friet" (fries) are really good with some garlic sauce for dipping.
Great for dim sum lunch. Service is usually quick & there is something for everyone.
47 locals recommend
Oriental City
177-179 Oudezijds Voorburgwal
47 locals recommend
Great for dim sum lunch. Service is usually quick & there is something for everyone.
Good sushi. Their dragon roll is really good. Decent prices as well.
6 locals recommend
Yummie Sushi
35 Spaarndammerstraat
6 locals recommend
Good sushi. Their dragon roll is really good. Decent prices as well.
Nice classic French food. Big plates for decent price. If good weather, sit outside. Or instead the upstairs is nice as well.
41 locals recommend
De Gouden Reael
14 Zandhoek
41 locals recommend
Nice classic French food. Big plates for decent price. If good weather, sit outside. Or instead the upstairs is nice as well.
Great classic Italian pizzas. Fresh ingredients. Restaurant is small, so takeout is advised. Call ahead--can get busy.
81 locals recommend
De Pizzabakkers Haarlemmerdijk
128 HS Haarlemmerdijk
81 locals recommend
Great classic Italian pizzas. Fresh ingredients. Restaurant is small, so takeout is advised. Call ahead--can get busy.
Grab some fresh baked bread or stay for lunch. Order the "shared menu" where you get many delicious toppings and a basket full of bread. Chicken salad is really great here. (no cash, plastic only)
31 locals recommend
Vlaamsch Broodhuys Haarlemmerstraat Amsterdam
108 Haarlemmerstraat
31 locals recommend
Grab some fresh baked bread or stay for lunch. Order the "shared menu" where you get many delicious toppings and a basket full of bread. Chicken salad is really great here. (no cash, plastic only)
Good Belgian food
6 locals recommend
Brasserie Vlaming
193A Prinsengracht
6 locals recommend
Good Belgian food

Essentials

Closest grocery store 8:00 - 22:00 daily
303 locals recommend
AH Westerstraat
79 Westerstraat
303 locals recommend
Closest grocery store 8:00 - 22:00 daily
Cheaper supermarket with wider selection than Albert Heijn. 8:00 - 21:00 daily except Sunday 10:00 - 21:00
89 locals recommend
Westerstraat
Westerstraat
89 locals recommend
Cheaper supermarket with wider selection than Albert Heijn. 8:00 - 21:00 daily except Sunday 10:00 - 21:00
Grocery store incase Jumbo is out of something. 8:00 - 22:00 daily
303 locals recommend
AH Westerstraat
79 Westerstraat
303 locals recommend
Grocery store incase Jumbo is out of something. 8:00 - 22:00 daily
Organic grocery store. Very good products. On the expensive side but the vegetables taste so much better than the regular stores. Great cheese selection as well. Lots of local products.
857 locals recommend
Marqt
402 Ceintuurbaan
857 locals recommend
Organic grocery store. Very good products. On the expensive side but the vegetables taste so much better than the regular stores. Great cheese selection as well. Lots of local products.

Everything Else

Dry cleaning & secondhand clothes store
Chemische Wasserij Accuraat
Dry cleaning & secondhand clothes store
Best ice cream/gelato in Amsterdam! Open 13:00 - 22:00 but only from March - end September
66 locals recommend
Monte Pelmo
17 Tweede Anjeliersdwarsstraat
66 locals recommend
Best ice cream/gelato in Amsterdam! Open 13:00 - 22:00 but only from March - end September
Cheap bike rentals that don't look like tourist bikes. http://www.recycledrentals.com/
Recycle Bike
84A Spuistraat
Cheap bike rentals that don't look like tourist bikes. http://www.recycledrentals.com/
Beautiful park & old buildings from when it was the Gas factory. Neat cafes & restaurants in the Westergasfabriek area. Lots of arts shows and festivals happen here.
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 Haarlemmerweg
1599 locals recommend
Beautiful park & old buildings from when it was the Gas factory. Neat cafes & restaurants in the Westergasfabriek area. Lots of arts shows and festivals happen here.
Film festival usually in August. Watch a movie under the stars & enjoy good food & drinks from food trucks. www.plukdenacht.nl
8 locals recommend
Pluk de Nacht
8 locals recommend
Film festival usually in August. Watch a movie under the stars & enjoy good food & drinks from food trucks. www.plukdenacht.nl
Good priced bike rental where the bikes do not look like tourist bikes.
28 locals recommend
Frederic Rent a Bike
23 Binnen Wieringerstraat
28 locals recommend
Good priced bike rental where the bikes do not look like tourist bikes.
Cheap bike rentals. Bikes are not obviously rental bikes (which can be nice if you know how to bike). Can also get picnic baskets filled with food to take on a biking adventure.
18 locals recommend
StarBikes Rental
143 De Ruijterkade
18 locals recommend
Cheap bike rentals. Bikes are not obviously rental bikes (which can be nice if you know how to bike). Can also get picnic baskets filled with food to take on a biking adventure.

Drinks & Nightlife

Organic local beer brewed in a windmill. Enjoy their beer and some trappist cheese (abdijkkaas) and the organic sheep's cheese from 15:00 - 20:00. http://www.brouwerijhetij.nl/proef_en.htm
17 locals recommend
Funenkade 7
7 Funenkade
17 locals recommend
Organic local beer brewed in a windmill. Enjoy their beer and some trappist cheese (abdijkkaas) and the organic sheep's cheese from 15:00 - 20:00. http://www.brouwerijhetij.nl/proef_en.htm
Tapas cafe, good for a drink and small bites to eat.
114 locals recommend
Festina Lente
40B Looiersgracht
114 locals recommend
Tapas cafe, good for a drink and small bites to eat.
Old traditional cafe. Good for a drink & some bittergarnituur (fried snacks)
46 locals recommend
The Garden
59HS Kloveniersburgwal
46 locals recommend
Old traditional cafe. Good for a drink & some bittergarnituur (fried snacks)
Great, award-winning bartenders (and super nice!) and really good drinks. They know their stuff. Gets really crowded on Fri/Sat. Go early or during the week.
166 locals recommend
Vesper
57 Vinkenstraat
166 locals recommend
Great, award-winning bartenders (and super nice!) and really good drinks. They know their stuff. Gets really crowded on Fri/Sat. Go early or during the week.

Shopping

Great staff to help with any phone needs or buy a SIM card.
Telefoonkopen.nl
Great staff to help with any phone needs or buy a SIM card.
Our friend Ron runs the shop that is owned by his family. He has great tips on all kinds of drinks & has a nice selection. Ron's father even does some brewing and we recommend trying his limoncello.
2008 Wijn & Dranken
59 Haarlemmerdijk
Our friend Ron runs the shop that is owned by his family. He has great tips on all kinds of drinks & has a nice selection. Ron's father even does some brewing and we recommend trying his limoncello.

Arts & Culture

Beautiful acoustics at the main concert hall. Free lunch concert every Wednesday at 12:30 http://www.concertgebouw.nl/specials/gratis-lunchconcerten.
476 locals recommend
The Concertgebouw
10 Concertgebouwplein
476 locals recommend
Beautiful acoustics at the main concert hall. Free lunch concert every Wednesday at 12:30 http://www.concertgebouw.nl/specials/gratis-lunchconcerten.
Well done history of the resistance in Amsterdam, both successes and failures. Small so does not take much time.
76 locals recommend
Persmuseum Amsterdam
76 locals recommend
Well done history of the resistance in Amsterdam, both successes and failures. Small so does not take much time.

Sightseeing

A medieval castle only 15 minutes from Amsterdam by train. The town of Muiden is also very quaint and worth getting a coffee in on your way in or out of the castle. http://www.muiderslot.nl/english
186 locals recommend
Muiderslot
1 Herengracht
186 locals recommend
A medieval castle only 15 minutes from Amsterdam by train. The town of Muiden is also very quaint and worth getting a coffee in on your way in or out of the castle. http://www.muiderslot.nl/english
The Trade Union museum is housed here but it's worth just going to see the building. De Burcht was constructed in 1903 for the Trade Union of the Diamond Workers, by Berlage, a famous Dutch architect.
Stichting De Burcht
9 Henri Polaklaan
The Trade Union museum is housed here but it's worth just going to see the building. De Burcht was constructed in 1903 for the Trade Union of the Diamond Workers, by Berlage, a famous Dutch architect.
Former headquarters of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). Ask the porter to see the restored meeting room (as long as a class is not in session--it's a University of Amsterdam building).
Kloveniersburgwal 48
48 Kloveniersburgwal
Former headquarters of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). Ask the porter to see the restored meeting room (as long as a class is not in session--it's a University of Amsterdam building).
Book a slot ahead online to skip the lines (which can be very long). Free with museumcard. In summer open late (10pm), so might also avoid line at the end of the day.
2775 locals recommend
Anne Frank House
20 Westermarkt
2775 locals recommend
Book a slot ahead online to skip the lines (which can be very long). Free with museumcard. In summer open late (10pm), so might also avoid line at the end of the day.