The Netherlands: Amsterdam
Areas in the city:
In a nutshell...
Among the diverse cultural attractions in Amsterdam, visits to Anne Frank's house and the Van Gogh museum give a glimpse of the historical and artistic riches of the city. The capital is home to no fewer than 50 museums from the truly bizarre to the most classic collections of Dutch national heritage.
Vondel Park and the canals make up the backdrop of the city, ideal for family picnics and romantic strolls, with out for getting an essential visit to the flower market, the most famous in the world, near Muntplein. On bike or by foot, a stop at one of the city's numerous squares is a great way to get a feeling for the vibrancy of daily life in Amsterdam: in Rembrandtplein or Leidseplein, the most famous squares, you will find the well-known "brown café's".
To end the visit with a panoramic view of the city, make your way the Westerkerk and its bell tower, the tallest in Amsterdam, located in the heart of Jordaan, one of the fashionable quarters.
Amsterdam: Restaurants
KANTJIL & DE TIJGER - Spuistraat 291-193
This indonesian restaurant invites customers to enjoy their finely prepared, carefully spiced meal in a contemporary colonial environment. Perfect for before a movie, the service is quick and the(...)
LE GARAGE - Ruysdaelstraat 54-56
The Garage is one of the best restaurants in town where B-List celebrities like to hang out. Black ceilings, mirrors on every wall, and red velvet booths give the place a chic ambiance that is only(...)
BLOESEM - Binnen Dommersstraat 13
In Jordaan, this romantic little restaurant distinguishes itself by its eclectic decor: paintings of floral arrangements, blue-tinted sculptures and gold-framed mirrors. The menu is updated(...)
SICHUAN FOOD - Reguliersdwarsstraat 35
Not far from Rembrandtplein, this restaurant (honored several times over by restaurant guides) prepares authentic Chinese food, most notably Szechuan specialties as its name indicates. Inside, the(...)
CAFE DE DOFFER - Runstraat 12-14
In the 9 Streets district, this rustic bistro is covered in posters of famous Heineken ads. The evening, the menu features a "Doffer" with fries and at lunch time there are salads and omelettes(...)
IN DE WAAG - Nieuwmarkt 4
This gothic style building in the middle of the beautiful Nieumarkt district is a real "can't miss," and not just for its historical aspects. Long ago, merchants would sell their wares there and at(...)
DUENDE - Lindengracht 62
In the heart of the Jordaan district, this authentic Spanish restaurant offers tapas like one would find in Spain. The decor contrasts mosaic with marvelous latin themes painitngs. To perfect the(...)
RESTAURANT T ZWAANTJE - Berenstraat 12,
The ambiance of this restaurant is guaranteed by the walls covered in posters for various concerts and expositions as well as by the copper objects hanging from the ceiling ( pitchers, teapots,(...)
BRASSERIE HARKEMA - Nes 167
A two minute walk from Dam and you will find behind the exterior of an old tobacco factory, a bistro done in red brick and glass that does homage to the space's former function. An entire wall is(...)
KOEVOET (LE PIED DE BICHE) - Lindenstraat 17
This cafe was run by the Koevoet family from 1889 until 1967 before becoming this locally well known restaurant managed by Mario and Ciccio. The decor hasn't changed in more than a century (the(...)
L ENTRECOTE ET LES DAMES - Van Baerlestraat 47-49
The concept is so simple, it's brillant: steak, fries, salad all for 19.50€. As for the setting, it seems pretty contemporary with its gray walls covered in black and white photos, red velvet(...)
IN DE KEUKEN - Utrechtsestraat 114
This recently opened restaurant (June 2006) is based on an interesting concept: the kitchen is fully integrated in the dining room, creating a familiarity with the personnal who work there. (...)
VIJAYA - Geldersekade 23
You only need to know one address in Amsterdam to taste the best curries and tandooris : Vijaya! Indian hospitality is matched by the warm and inviting atmosphere at this 38 seat restaurant that(...)
ROSE S CANTINA - Reguliersdwarsstraat 38-40
This Mexicain restaurant, opened in 1980, was a first in Amsterdam and took locals by surprise, losing them somewhere in between guacamole and fajitas. With the exception of a rather contemporary(...)
DE TAART VAN M N TANTE - Ferdinand Bolstraat 10
This café is a real treat for the eyes and the mouth. Simon de Jong, pastry chef and genius uses his confections as an output for his wild imagination. The multi-colored decor seems right out of(...)
RESTAURANT D VIJFF VLIEGHEN - Spuistraat 294-302
The nine seperate rooms that make up this maze of a restaurant are all connected by five contiguous houses. Originally, this location was owned by an antiques dealer who opened up a small bar; don't(...)
BAR RESTAURANT PUR - Ferdinand Bolstraat 176 - 178
In the heart of De Pijp, this is a great restaurant to visit after wandering through the Market at Albert Cuypstraat. The decor is minimalist and embellished only by several abstract paintings. (...)
DE BELHAMEL - Brouwersgracht 60
This restaurant has been open for 53 years, its name means "the difficult child." The decor is sumptuous and customers take advantage of a great view offered by the restaurant's location at the(...)
RESTAURANT DORRIUS - Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 5
Opened in 1890 as part of the Crowne Plaza, the Dorrius is a real institution in Amsterdam. Customers arrive dressed stylishly for a business lunch or a celebratory dinner. The setting is very(...)
RESTAURANT DINING ELEVEN - Reestraat 11
Dining Eleven's reputation can't be improved upon. Dutch chef Martin Keus has worked extensively in some of the best restaurants and in his restaurant here he prepares a wonderfully imagined French(...)
CAFFE TOSCANINI - Lindengracht 75
With unfinished floors and cream walls accented by stylish candleabras and black and white photos, this Italian restaurant offers clients a real "Southern experience," especially during the day when(...)
SLUIZER - Utrechtsestraat 41-45
Open since 1967, this restaurant specializing in Amsterdam cuisine has one of the best reputations in town. At the customer's discretion, two choices of ambiance for two choices of cuisine. The first(...)
BRASSERIE DE POORT - Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 176 - 180
This brasserie welcomes custormers into a retro environment, filled with light and displaying nice paintings and frescos of Amsterdam during the Belle Epoque. This is THE place for steak in(...)
LE ZINC... ET LES AUTRES - Prinsengracht 999
The imposing bar on the ground floor came from France and has lent its name to the restaurant which it now occupies. The space, formerly a warehouse that has been nicely renoveted, offers a calm(...)
DAMSTEEG RESTAURANT - Reestraat 28 - 32
The plethora of figurative and abstract paintings give a bit of class to the ambiance of this Mediterranean restaurant. The menu is composed of dishes using only fresh products such as(...)
BLAUW AAN DE WAL - Achterburgwal 99
Though this restaurant is in the middle of the Red Light District, it is actually a nice respite from life in the city. It remains seperated from the neighborhood by a private passageway that leads(...)
RESTAURANT PATA NEGRA - Utrechtsestraat 124
This authentic tapas bar is run by Spanish. To let you know, to be understood you must speak Dutch or Spanish (English is not spoken or understood). Spicy pepper wreaths hang from above the bar and(...)
BORDEWIJK - Noordermarkt 7
In front of Noordmarkt, in the Jordaan district, this restaurant has gone modern, offering a dining room done in neon lights. French cuisine is elaborated on by frech market products: crayfish and(...)
VAN DOBBEN - Korte Reguliersdwarsstraat 5-9
100 meters from Rembrandtsplein, you'll find this "Eetsalon" which is the most representative of Amsterdam. Its sober ambiance, all in black and white and without any decoration whatsoever, makes(...)
RESTAURANT D THEEBOOM - Singel 210
This former cheese warehouse near Dam dating back to 1712, now houses a restaurant run by Georges Thubert, alumnus of the Nice School for Hotel Management. The menu offers a mainly French cuisine(...)
DE GROENE OLIFANT - Sarphatistraat 510
In leaving the KIT (Royal Tropical Institute), go take a seat at this chic bistro. It may have a strange name; green is not the color normally associated with elephants, nor the color it may appear(...)
KAPITEIN ZEPPOS - Gebed zonder End 3-5
This restaurant in a former monastery is hidden in a passage known well mainly to students. It is a retro style bistro offering a second floor dining room and a large winter garden. The cuisine is(...)
LA RIVE - Prof. Tulplein 1
In the setting of the sumptuous Intercontinental Hotel, la Rive welcomes customers for an unforgettable moment. This restaurant has a two-star ranking in the Michelin guide. The cuisine is both(...)
LATEI - Zeedijk 143
In this ecclectic bazar filled with objects straight out of the 50s, everything is for sale: from the smallest trinket to larger pieces of furniture, absolutely anything you see is for sale even the(...)
RESTAURANT CHRISTOPHE - Leliegracht 46
Boasting a star in the Michelin guide, this is one of the best restaurants in Amsterdam. French cooking with impeccable service is enjoyed in the restaurant's sombre setting. Delicate spices and(...)
DE BOLHOED - Prinsengracht 60-62
This restaurant's reputation is built on over 20 years of serving vegetarian dishes. The "natuare" side of the establishment is apparent in the decoration: all the furniture is in ocher and green(...)
PIET DE LEEUW - Noorderstraat 11
This typically traditional style cafe, containing a maze of hallways and dim lighting seems like a tavern and it has been open for more than 56 years. Its founder was a champion of billiards at the(...)
BOJO - Lange Leidsedwarstraat 49-51
In the neighborhood where it seems the city never sleeps, this night time restaurant welcomes customers until 2am on weekdays and 3am on the weekends offering sumptuous Indonesian dishes. The(...)
