Guidebook for Amsterdam
Essentials
Slotervaart
Supermarket
Marqt
402 CeintuurbaanOrganic groceries
Albert Neuhuysstraat 32
Nearest local groceries
Dirk van den Broek
25 Marie HeinekenpleinSupermarket
Possibly the best fish shop to buy your Dutch raw (fermented) herring, classic street food. Have pickle & onion with it. Foreigners may eat it with a fork, instead of holding it by the tail.
Eerste van der Helststraat 60HS
Possibly the best fish shop to buy your Dutch raw (fermented) herring, classic street food. Have pickle & onion with it. Foreigners may eat it with a fork, instead of holding it by the tail.
Van der Linde
38 RozengrachtVery creamy ice cream
Daily street market, better and not as crowded as the better known Albert Cuyp Market.
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Dappermarkt
383 Eerste Van SwindenstraatDaily street market, better and not as crowded as the better known Albert Cuyp Market.
Entertainment & Activities
Indlu kaAnne Frank
20 WestermarktAnne Frank's hiding place
Take your kids to Nemo science education museum and they'll have plenty to do and learn. The awesome building was designed by Renzo Piano.
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NEMO Science Center
2 OosterdokTake your kids to Nemo science education museum and they'll have plenty to do and learn. The awesome building was designed by Renzo Piano.
Everything Else
WellCome Wellness
1 Hendrikje StoffelsstraatFitness, gym, swimming pool, sauna, wellness
Amsterdam Lelylaan Station
37 Cornelis LelylaanNearest train and subway station
Surinameplein
SurinamepleinNearest tram stop
Nearest bicycle rental
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Black Bikes Olympic Stadium | Bike Rental Amsterdam
267-269 KoninginnewegNearest bicycle rental
Free ferries to North Amsterdam: your mini cruise for free.
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De Ruyterkade Steigers
Free ferries to North Amsterdam: your mini cruise for free.
Paradiso
6-8 WeteringschansRock music concert hall
AIR Amsterdam
24 AmstelstraatClub
Melkweg
234A LijnbaansgrachtRock music hall
Jimmy Woo
18 Korte LeidsedwarsstraatClub
Sugar Factory
Club
Escape Caffé
15 RembrandtpleinClub
Its reception is the nearest where you can purchase the I Amsterdam card, which is recommended for sightseeing.
Also a restaurant, bar, which is too expensive, in my opinion.
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WestCord Fashion Hotel Amsterdam
1 Hendrikje StoffelsstraatIts reception is the nearest where you can purchase the I Amsterdam card, which is recommended for sightseeing.
Also a restaurant, bar, which is too expensive, in my opinion.
Classic 'coffeeshop': not for coffee but for marihuana. Brad Pitt is a regular.
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Original Dampkring
29 HandboogstraatClassic 'coffeeshop': not for coffee but for marihuana. Brad Pitt is a regular.
Best known 'coffeeshop': not for coffee but for marihuana. It has several franchises around town.
The Bulldog Mack
132 Oudezijds VoorburgwalBest known 'coffeeshop': not for coffee but for marihuana. It has several franchises around town.
Reportedly the best 'coffeeshop' in town. Not for coffee, but for marihuana.
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Amnesia
133 HerengrachtReportedly the best 'coffeeshop' in town. Not for coffee, but for marihuana.
Nearby 'coffeeshop' with a good reputation. Not for coffee, but for marihuana.
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Boerejongens Coffeeshop West Amsterdam
239 BaarsjeswegNearby 'coffeeshop' with a good reputation. Not for coffee, but for marihuana.
Johan Cruijff ArenA
1 Johan Cruijff BoulevardHere you can see Ajax play football.
Food Scene
Toko Kok Kita
166H AmstelveensewegTakeaway Indonesian meals nearby. Recommended.
Coco's keuken - Andreas Ensemble
Small-scale neighborhood restaurant. Not recommended.
Floor17
410 StaalmeesterslaanCocktail bar and good restaurant with a great view.
Stadscafé Van Mechelen
96/97 SloterkadeCoffee, bar, restaurant. Hipsters.
Caffee Oslo
1a SloterkadeCoffee, bar, restaurant. Yuppie.
Buuf eten
Friendly restaurant. Not so expensive.
Amstelveenseweg 152
152 AmstelveensewegLots of restaurants
Michelin star quality restaurant, yet somewhat informal. Good for celebrity spotting.
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Ron Gastrobar
55 SophialaanMichelin star quality restaurant, yet somewhat informal. Good for celebrity spotting.
Best fine dining in town. Very expensive, extremely good.
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Spectrum (previously Librije’s Zusje)
542 HerengrachtBest fine dining in town. Very expensive, extremely good.
My favorite everyday restaurant. Brasserie style. 3-course seasonal menu for 25 euro. Open mo-fr. Recommended.
Jefferson bar brasserie
16 VliegtuigstraatMy favorite everyday restaurant. Brasserie style. 3-course seasonal menu for 25 euro. Open mo-fr. Recommended.
One of my other favorite mid-price restaurants in Amsterdam. Not easy to find.
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Hotel De Goudfazant
30 AambeeldstraatOne of my other favorite mid-price restaurants in Amsterdam. Not easy to find.
Classic restaurant, heavy food. Authentic, old-fashioned Amsterdam. Make reservations. Prepare to be entertained all night.
Surinamestraat 32
Classic restaurant, heavy food. Authentic, old-fashioned Amsterdam. Make reservations. Prepare to be entertained all night.
Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters
112 KinkerstraatGreat home roasted coffee
Sweet Cup
93HS Lange LeidsedwarsstraatHome roasted coffee in a cute little workspace
Beer and grilled chicken in a former brewery.
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Bierfabriek Amsterdam
67 NesBeer and grilled chicken in a former brewery.
de Biertuin
29 LinnaeusstraatBeer garden with grilled chicken, always crowded.
Authentic kosher lunchroom. One of the few remaining examples of the once prevalent Jewish lifestyle in Amsterdam (South). Somewhat overpriced.
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Sal Meyer
114 BuitenveldertselaanAuthentic kosher lunchroom. One of the few remaining examples of the once prevalent Jewish lifestyle in Amsterdam (South). Somewhat overpriced.
Amazing view. Perfect for a sundowner outside. Just stay away from the food.
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Zouthaven
1 Piet HeinkadeAmazing view. Perfect for a sundowner outside. Just stay away from the food.
Former steamer ferry departure lounge. Somewhat quirky and off the map, but the food isn't bad, and the view is great. Not consistently open; check their website beforehand for special events.
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De Kompaszaal
311 KNSM-LaanFormer steamer ferry departure lounge. Somewhat quirky and off the map, but the food isn't bad, and the view is great. Not consistently open; check their website beforehand for special events.
Classic lunchroom. Van Dobben is famous for their kroketten, but broodje halfom (sandwich with beef and liver) is also a classic. Somewhat surreal atmosphere with stoic staff and marble interior.
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Eetsalon Van Dobben
5-7-9 Korte ReguliersdwarsstraatClassic lunchroom. Van Dobben is famous for their kroketten, but broodje halfom (sandwich with beef and liver) is also a classic. Somewhat surreal atmosphere with stoic staff and marble interior.
Dutch street food behind a window. Especially recommended for their kroketten that come in 3 varieties. Bring lots of coins. Febo is all around town. Great fun, especially for late night snacks.
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Febo
132 StadionpleinDutch street food behind a window. Especially recommended for their kroketten that come in 3 varieties. Bring lots of coins. Febo is all around town. Great fun, especially for late night snacks.
French fries, classic dutch street food. This is one of the best holes in the wall. Want to go dutch? Order it with mayonnaise or satésaus (peanut curry sauce). Daredevils take it with 'oorlog' (war).
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Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx
33 VoetboogstraatFrench fries, classic dutch street food. This is one of the best holes in the wall. Want to go dutch? Order it with mayonnaise or satésaus (peanut curry sauce). Daredevils take it with 'oorlog' (war).
Nearby coffee bar, pleasant place for a quiet drink or a chat with the cheerful Belgian owner.
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Caffènation Amsterdam
120 WarmondstraatNearby coffee bar, pleasant place for a quiet drink or a chat with the cheerful Belgian owner.
Expensive but very refined dining in Okura's three Michelin-ranked restaurants. Yamazato is the best Japanese restaurant in town. Ciel Bleu is French refinement above Amsterdam.
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Hotel Okura Amsterdam
333 Ferdinand BolstraatExpensive but very refined dining in Okura's three Michelin-ranked restaurants. Yamazato is the best Japanese restaurant in town. Ciel Bleu is French refinement above Amsterdam.
Dining in the former pathologic examination room of a hospital. The idea is somewhat morbid, but the food is fine. Mid price. Combined with a small cinema.
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LAB111
111 Arie BiemondstraatDining in the former pathologic examination room of a hospital. The idea is somewhat morbid, but the food is fine. Mid price. Combined with a small cinema.
Levant Restaurant
93 WeteringschansSympathetic and stylish Turkish cuisine.
wagamama - Max Euweplein
10 Max EuwepleinAffordable noodle restaurant
Shopping
Kalverstraat
KalverstraatHigh street shopping
P.C. Hooftstraat
Pieter Cornelisz HooftstraatLuxury shopping (mainly fashion)
Hoofddorpplein
HoofddorppleinNeighborhood stores
Overtoom
93-1 OvertoomStores
Kinkerstraat
KinkerstraatStores
Ten Katestraat
Ten KatestraatNearest daily street market (not so big)
HEMA is quintessentially dutch shopping, comparable to what Marks&Spencer is in the UK. It has many outlets in Amsterdam. Want to know the Dutch? Go to Hema.
Kinkerstraat 313
313 KinkerstraatHEMA is quintessentially dutch shopping, comparable to what Marks&Spencer is in the UK. It has many outlets in Amsterdam. Want to know the Dutch? Go to Hema.
Haarlemmerstraat
HaarlemmerstraatNice shopping street
Drinks & Nightlife
Nearest "brown bar" with bar food. Mostly students.
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Ter Brugge N.V.
578 OvertoomNearest "brown bar" with bar food. Mostly students.
Relaxed bar with affordable salads and hamburgers.
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Café Schinkelhaven
126 AmstelveensewegRelaxed bar with affordable salads and hamburgers.
Cafe Welling
32 Jan Willem BrouwersstraatClassic bar. Near-dead alcoholic intellectuals.
Cafe Eijlders
47 Korte LeidsedwarsstraatClassic bar. 1940s style. Not too many tourists.
Hoppa!
18-20 SpuiClassic brown bar
You think Heineken is the only dutch beer? Think again. Belgian beer is arguably better, but this bar comes closest to convincing you otherwise.
Arendsnes / T
You think Heineken is the only dutch beer? Think again. Belgian beer is arguably better, but this bar comes closest to convincing you otherwise.
Great selection of international indy beers and smoked meat.
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Bar Brouw
16 Ten KatestraatGreat selection of international indy beers and smoked meat.
A nice location to have an easy beer outside when the weather allows.
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Hannekes Boom
4 DijksgrachtA nice location to have an easy beer outside when the weather allows.
Public house full of atmosphere in the heart of Amsterdam, specialising in "Jenevers" (gins), liqueurs and bitters.
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In de Olofspoort
13 NieuwebrugsteegPublic house full of atmosphere in the heart of Amsterdam, specialising in "Jenevers" (gins), liqueurs and bitters.
Bar San Francisco
40 ZeedijkClassic sleazy night bar
Well known, crowded party bar. Don't expect to have any highbrow conversations here.
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Jantjes Birthday Amsterdam
114 ReguliersdwarsstraatWell known, crowded party bar. Don't expect to have any highbrow conversations here.
Loud, well known party bar. It's about as low as you can go.
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Cafe Nol
109 WesterstraatLoud, well known party bar. It's about as low as you can go.
Best selection of Belgian beers. If you like beer and you won't be visiting Belgium any time soon, at least try their beers, instead of Heineken's marketing liquids.
Delirium Cafe Amsterdam
4 Piet HeinkadeBest selection of Belgian beers. If you like beer and you won't be visiting Belgium any time soon, at least try their beers, instead of Heineken's marketing liquids.
Arts & Culture
Filmhallen
12 Hannie DankbaarpassageExcellent cinema
The Concertgebouw
10 ConcertgebouwpleinClassical music. Nec plus ultra.
Rijksmuseum
1 MuseumstraatMainly 17th century dutch paintings. Rembrandt etc.
I-Van Gogh Museum
6 MuseumpleinVan Gogh
I-Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
10 MuseumpleinPrime 20th century art
Leidseplein
LeidsepleinAmsterdam's mainstream entertainment area
Small museum dedicated to Multatuli, Holland's best known 19th century author. Free admission.
Multatuli Society
20 KorsjespoortsteegSmall museum dedicated to Multatuli, Holland's best known 19th century author. Free admission.
World class contemporary jazz with a stunning view over Amsterdam
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Bimhuis
3 Piet HeinkadeWorld class contemporary jazz with a stunning view over Amsterdam
Gorgeous Art Deco cinema. The largest viewing room is a gem.
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Pathé Tuschinski
26-34 ReguliersbreestraatGorgeous Art Deco cinema. The largest viewing room is a gem.
Contemporary classical music at a very high level. Beautiful modern building by the river.
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Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
1 Piet HeinkadeContemporary classical music at a very high level. Beautiful modern building by the river.
Film museum and cinema. Modern building, great view.
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Eye Film Museum
1 IJpromenadeFilm museum and cinema. Modern building, great view.