It’s about time! After 2+ years of living in Amsterdam and numerous requests for recommendations from friends, family, colleagues and followers I’ve finally put together a working guide for Amsterdam. I’ve wanted to put this guide together for a while but it takes time to feel comfortable and familiar with your new city, exploring restaurants, museums, and other things to do. I’m no expert, but these are all places and things we enjoy, so I feel comfortable recommending them. This is probably less of a true guide as it is more of a list of recommendations, culled for you to help plan your own trip. I’m no travel agent, but I can at least help narrow your decisions for you. I’ve compiled a list of our favorite restaurants, hotels, cafes, bars, museums, experiences and attractions. This list is by no means all-inclusive. It’s a working list that will be edited and added to the longer we live here. I hope this guide serves as a helpful tool for anyone planning a visit to Amsterdam (or move here like we did). We absolutely love living here and I’m happy to share the city we adore with all of you. This is my Eat + Stay + Play: Amsterdam guide!
For more of my Eat + Stay + Travel guides click here!
Where to Eat & Drink in Amsterdam (restaurants, cafes, bars)
For most restaurants and brunch spots I highly recommend making a reservation. Many of these places are not very big and you may be turned away without a reservation.
Restaurants and Cafes:
Maris Piper Brasserie – Consistently delicious food, beautiful terrace, elegant vibe
De Kas – Michelin star and Michelin green star farm-to-table restaurant
Ron Gastrobar – Michelin star restaurant with a super fun vibe
Foodhallen – Indoor food hall with an eclectic array of food types so something for everyone
Hinata – My favorite ramen place in Amsterdam
A-Fusion – Michelin Guide spot with a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Korean flavors
Zero Zero – Possibly the best sandwich ever
Le Smash – Possibly the best smash burger ever
Vondeltuin – A fun beer garden atmosphere in Vondelpark with a playground for the kids
Le4 Stagioni – A cozy neighborhood favorite for pizza and pasta
Visque – Another cozy neighborhood favorite for seafood
Hoi Tin – My favorite Chinese restaurant in Chinatown (get the tea!)
Sir Pita – Freshly made pita bread sandwiches and yummy hummus
Toscanini – A modern rustic Italian restaurant for a cozy date night or skylit lunch
Frietboutique – My favorite frites in Amsterdam (plus they have great gelato)
Massimo Gelato – Truly amazing gelato with flavors like ricotta & figs
Corner Bakery – A casual spot by Museumplein for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Brasserie van Baerle – Michelin Guide restaurant with brasserie favorites in a luxury setting
Mr. Porter – Steakhouse, bar, and lounge at the top of the W Hotel
Carter – Neighborhood restaurant with a fun terrace and excellent burger
Pastis – A little slice of Paris in Amsterdam with a great steak tartare and caesar salad
Bar Barolo – Neighborhood spot for cozy and elegant Italian fare and a sunny terrace
Chun Cafe – Extremely popular but the beef bulgogi sandwich is one of the best things ever
George W.P.A. and Le Petit George – Two more of our favorite french cafes
Pastai – A tiny Italian restaurant with big flavors in their pastas, great date night spot
Brunch Spots:
Cafe de Jaren – My favorite waterfront terrace in Amsterdam for brunch or lunch
Staring at Jacob – Super popular brunch bar with chicken and waffles and dirty Bloody Mary’s
Florentin – Absolutely love the shakshuka varieties here (make a reservation!)
Brug 34 (also a bar) – Always a fun time here! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Little Collins (in de Pijp) – Walk-ins only here but a fantastic brunch spot with a unique menu
Dignita – Brunch or just a coffee, they’re so nice here
4850 – Came for brunch but want to come back for dinner as it’s also a wine bar and restaurant with upscale cuisine
Coffee Lovers:
Coffee District – Usually a line here but tends to be my go-to for coffee takeaway
Cafecito – For strong coffee lovers who like to sit and sip
Lot 61 – Another favorite neighborhood option
Et Claire – Amazing selection of sweet and savory pastries and the cutest French vibe
Coffee Concepts – My coffee spot on the way to Vondelpark
Clapham – Neighborhood favorite with excellent croissants as well
Edible Treasures – A gorgeous space with artisanal treats and a boutique with homewares
Bars (some with food):
Hoppe – One of our favorite Dutch “brown bars” that dates from 1670
Herengracht – A great spot for canalside drinks and lunch, too
Vondeltuin – Also mentioned as a cafe above, they have a great terrace for beer and wine
Brouwerij Troost in de Pijp (also a brewery) – We love this brewpub for their beer and snacks
de Tulp – Slightly funky and fun spot with a great Pornstar Martini
Het Paardje – I love a glass of rosé on their terrace but they also do a great brunch
Door 74 – Prohibition-era style bar that you MUST have a reservation for. Great mixology!
De Spiegel – Another good place for canalside drinks and Dutch snacks
Cafe Luxembourg – A fun terrace at a lively corner
Hasta La Vista, Baby! – This is the Skybar at INNSiDE by Meliá Hotel – drinks with a view
Freddy’s Bar – Located within the De L’Europe hotel, this is a swanky spot for a nice cocktail and pays homage to Alfred “Freddy” Heineken who used to socialize here
Pulitzer’s Bar – Located within the Pulitzer hotel, it’s one of my favorite places for an elegant pre or post dinner cocktail, especially beautiful at Christmas
Cafe de Sluyswacht – Built in 1692 as a home for the lock guard, it has a lovely terrace overlooking the water and is a great spot for drinks and Dutch snacks
Hannekes Boom – A funky dockside restaurant with great views overlooking the water, makes a great stop on your Sloepdelen as you can order drinks and food to your boat
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
Things to Do in Amsterdam (experiences, attractions, museums):
Experiences:
Sloepdelen – Our favorite boat rental company and a go to when we have visitors. Be your own captain and sail through the canals. Always a great time.
Heineken Experience – A rather fun and interactive tour and history with ice cold beer at the end
Vondelpark – Amsterdam’s most beautiful green space with lovely cafes. They offer free outdoor concerts on Sundays in the summer at the Openluchttheater
Concertgebouw – Aside from award-winning ticketed performances, they offer free lunch concerts from September to June at 12:30. Check the website for dates
Amsterdam Noord – Take the free ferry a short distance from Amsterdam Central to Amsterdam Nood. Some of our favorites there include STRAAT Museum (street art museum), Lowlander Botanical Bar & Restaurant, Hangar, Beef Chief North at Oedipus Brewing, and Euro Pizza
OBA Oosterdock (Amsterdam Public Library) – Truly one of the most impressive libraries (largest in the Netherlands) with a rooftop cafe for some of the best views of the city
Museums:
Make a reservation/buy your tickets as early as possible. They WILL sell out.
Rijksmuseum – Tickets do not have to be planned too far in advance unless for a special exhibit
Anne Frank House – If you wait, you will miss this one. Plan ahead and get your ticket early
Van Gogh Museum – Van Gogh art museum at Museumplein (gets crowded)
Stedelijk Museum – Massive contemporary museum at Museumplein
Foam – A photography museum in an 18th century canal house exhibiting a rotating collection of different photographers’ work.
Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam – A museum of WWII Resistance
MOCO – Modern art museum featuring works by Banksy, etc.
Markets:
Albert Cuypstraat – Outdoor market 7 days a week selling just about everything with some delicious food vendors. Grab a snack and stroll the stalls
Noordermarkt – Over 400 years old! Antiques, food, clothing, textiles, books…you name it, the Noordermarkt has it. Operates on Mondays and Saturdays
Bloemenmarkt – A floating flower market on the Singel canal. It has a “touristy” feel but can be a good source for souvenirs and also tulip bulbs for your own garden. Open 7 days a week
Waterloopleinmarkt – A fun and funky outdoor flea market with loads of vintage clothing and antiques. Some are cash only, so come prepared. Open Monday through Saturday
Museum Market – Arts and crafts market at Museumplein every third Sunday of the month
(lots more to come here as we are working our way through more markets – and as weather permits!)
Shopping:
The Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes) – A beautiful canal-district area of boutiques and cafes
P.C. Hoofstraat (Pieter Cornelisz Hoofstraat) – A shopping street with exclusive and designer stores like Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc.
Cornelis Schuystraat – A cozy little shopping street with boutiques, cafes, and designer shops
Amsterdam with Kids:
The Pancake Club – For delicious Dutch mini pancakes – “poffertjes,” coffee, and other treats in a unique carousel like environment on the Singelgracht. It’s fun for adults, too!
ARTIS – This is the Amsterdam zoo and ranks pretty high on our list of zoos we’ve been to.
Vondelpark – Massive outdoor park to let the kids stretch their legs
Nemo Science Museum – We also enjoyed this as adults. They have a rooftop terrace as well
We Bike Amsterdam – Bike tour company great for anyone but tandem bikes offered makes it fun for smaller kids
Dutch Day Trips:
If you’re looking for things to do outside of Amsterdam, these are places we’ve visited in a day.
Haarlem – Just outside of Amsterdam, medieval cobblestone streets and art museums
Delft – A canal-ringed city where the famous blue and white Delftware is made with a lovely town square and cafe culture
The Hague – Location of the Dutch parliament and the U.N. International Court of Justice
Rotterdam – Major port city completely reconstructed after WWII and known for its modern architecture, also a gastronomical hub
Utrecht – Another close neighbor of Amsterdam – read about our day there here
Zaanse Schans – Neighborhood with historic windmills, cheese making, wooden clog making, and other activities that are great to do with kids. It’s a bit touristy but makes for a fun day
Keukenhof Garden – Read about our experience and when to visit this beautiful flower garden here
Have you been to Amsterdam? What are some of your favorite places here?
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xo – Erin
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This is a GREAT collection for traveling there! I loved reading about those great bars and restaurants not to mention the coffee places!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found my recommendations helpful! I’ll continue to update this post so be sure to visit often! 😉