YOU ARE READING
The Weekly Getaway: hip cafés, concept stores and endless walks in Amsterdam
SAVE
MENU
Travel Guides

The Weekly Getaway: hip cafés, concept stores and endless walks in Amsterdam

Dilara Yurttutan | 8 February 2017
Amsterdam
3.9
UrbanHipCasual
See:
Stay:
Do:
Eat/Drink:
Location:
Amsterdam
Best time to go:
Apr-Jun
Ideal trip duration:
3-4 nights

Red light district, coffee shops, crowded tourist areas and the smell are among things you’ll hear about Amsterdam apart from classics; Anne Frank House, Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, canals. But you can also experience a completely different city, with hip cafes, concept stores and endless little streets to discover!

If you’d rather have the second version of Amsterdam, stay in Grachtengordel area overlooking canals, walking distance to bars, cafes, shops and galleries. Whether it’s a breathtaking canal flat on Airbnb or one of many top notch hotels, options are endless. And to truly enjoy life, like locals do get ready to walk a lot, or even better, bike! Bikes for hire can be found in every corner.

Not to say that the museums and the city’s main attractions should be missed… but if you’ve been there a couple of times or want a break from the jam-packed lines, the following spots aren’t to be missed.

image-asset-865.jpeg
image-asset-866.jpeg
image-asset-867.jpeg

Wittenburg

Start the morning with breakfast at Bakers & Roasters, and go early to skip the line. Decoration is warm, welcoming, and the chirpy staff make you feel like you’re at home. The menu has everything from poached eggs with pulled pork, halloumi to banana nut french toast. Despite the huge breakfast, its hard to resist their, made in-house, layer cakes. Two words, red velvet. You’ll leave wanting to go back to try the french toast, or maybe the pancakes.

IMG_3680.jpg
IMG_3683.jpg
image-asset-868.jpeg

Plentiful breakfast options at Bakers & Roasters

De Pjip and Nine Streets

Best to walk off the breakfast in the neighbourhood, De Pijp. Find your way towards Albert Cuypmarkt where you can see locals and Dutch culture, especially stroopwafels at its finest. For the best shops go to Gerard Doustraat, check out Brick Lane, The Fragnance Store, and All the Luck in the World. You won’t be able to resist going into every other boutique you spot. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, the decoration, items, concepts, friendliness will be too inviting – don’t miss out on Wild and Blackbirds. Buy your tickets online and skip the line at the Van Gogh Museum.

Make your way towards Nine streets, like the name suggests these are nine streets connected by canals. First stop Marie Stella Maris, a natural fragrance and beauty store. If you’re in the need for a caffeine fix, don’t miss the secret café downstairs.

Walking around the area you can find cosy jewelry, and clothes shops as well as vintage finds. Go to the Darling for unique clothing and you can grab a cupcake too. Stores and cafes in the city are inspiring, it leaves you wanting to try everything and take in every single detail just so you don’t forget. Stop by Denham to find unique jeans and you can grab a coffee too.

IMG_3623.jpg
IMG_3782.jpg

Walking up Prinsengracht you might spot a huge line, this leads to Anne Frank House, and goes around the block. If you do not want to wait in line, go across the river where you can have a moment.

image-asset-869.jpeg

The famous entrance of the Anne Frank house

Grachtengordel and De Wallen

Walk through De Jordaan where you’ll see real Amsterdam locals – try SLA for salads and lunch, Winkel 43 for outdoor seating and deserts. Make your way to Harlemmerstraat. Or for great cocktails have an experimental one at Vesper Bar. Enter the small charcuterie shop Ibericus for some tasters and the cheese store to try some samples and see locals shopping for wine, cheese and bread for the perfect dinner. Go to stout for the granola, or the coconut macaron. For a perfect lunch, get small takeaways from the local shops to have a picnic at Vondelpark. Or for an indulgent lunch go to Bulls and Dogs, and get ready to go all out. Whether its one of their Funky dogs, Freakalicious Milkshakes, sides and save room for the dessert!

image-asset-870.jpeg
image-asset-871.jpeg
image-asset-872.jpeg

Walk lunch off at Nieuwe Spiegelstraat for antiques, teaspoons to clip on earrings to unique one time pieces. From spiegelstraat you can find Bloemenmarkt — flower market by the Singel canal — here, you can admire, smell and buy tulips (or just seeds of countless range of flowers and plants). Have an afternoon drink at a spot next to the canal to enjoy some gouda and wine.

Walk down Rokin through the narrow streets near the canal to find the Love Me sign. Follow the road to Rembrandt Square to see the masters house.

image-asset-873.jpeg

For a relaxed dinner go to Terpentijn for Vietnamese. There’s a restaurant upstairs and a smaller menu downstairs with outdoor seating for the warmer months. For a more indulgent and cosy dinner go to Casa Di David, near Singel canal, sit upstairs by the window for the best table. Share starters, pasta and pizza – try the delicious tiramisu too, it’s ok you’re on vacation!

image-asset-874.jpeg
image-asset-875.jpeg

Pasta and pizza at Casa Di David

See

  • Bloemenmarkt – The flower and seed market to admire or buy
  • Foam Photography museum – for cool photography exhibitions
  • Stedelijk Museum – to see modern and contemporary art in the architectural masterpiece
  • Nine Streets – walk around the canals and famous streets to find cafes, boutiques andvintage clothing.
  • Van Gogh Museum– to see the classics by the Dutch master
  • Rijksmuseum – the highlight of Amsterdam with numerous masterpieces

Stay

  • Pulitzer Amsterdam – A canalside heaven that joins 25 canal houses with marble bathrooms, stunning interior design and ideal location
  • Conservatorium hotel – located in former conservatory near the museumplein
  • The Dylan – boutique hotel, home to michelin star restaurant Vinkeles
  • The College Hotel – located in former prep school a boutique hotel, near De Pijp

Eat/Drink

  • Metropolitain – great brunch or lunch for Instagram worthy meals.
  • Pluk – breakfast and lunch, cakes, cakes and cakes
  • Betty Blue – for a cool atmosphere, good coffee and vegan treats
  • George – canalside french brasserie
  • La Rive – for a fine dining experience, a riverside luxury spot
  • Guts and Glory – offers a different menu based on chapters every few months, currently on
  • Chapter 8, French
  • Envy – for experimental Dutch cuisine
  • Vesper Bar – great for pre-dinner drinks with seasonal drinks menus
  • Tales and Spirits – elegant, small spot for mixology cocktails, also good for dinner and small bites
  • Door 74 – for themed drinks for the brave, those who last and those to enjoy joyfully. Call the secret phone number to find the address
  • Hiding In Plain Sight – offers bar and lounge areas, listed as best bar in Amsterdam
BACK TO TOP
Related Articles for Amsterdam
The Weekly Getaway: hip cafés, concept stores and endless walks in Amsterdam
1 of 16
2 of 16
3 of 16
4 of 16
5 of 16
6 of 16
7 of 16
8 of 16
9 of 16
10 of 16
11 of 16
12 of 16
13 of 16
14 of 16
15 of 16
16 of 16
PREVIOUS
NEXT
CLOSE