Marie's Guidebook
Food Scene
My favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood that serves Dutch style pub food. In the summer they have a lovely courtyard terrace. Probably best to make a reservation in advance, but since it's so closeby you can just walk by and try.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Restaurant Van Beeren
54 KoningsstraatMy favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood that serves Dutch style pub food. In the summer they have a lovely courtyard terrace. Probably best to make a reservation in advance, but since it's so closeby you can just walk by and try.
Cafe that serves Dutch style pub food, with a lovely calm terrace on a quiet canal (one of the most beautiful canals in the city, actually). Good place for a beer & bitterballen and they also have a chess board.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Captein & Co
27 Binnen BantammerstraatCafe that serves Dutch style pub food, with a lovely calm terrace on a quiet canal (one of the most beautiful canals in the city, actually). Good place for a beer & bitterballen and they also have a chess board.
Lively bar at Nieuwmarkt where locals love to go to eat pub food and drink beer.
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Stevens
123I GeldersekadeLively bar at Nieuwmarkt where locals love to go to eat pub food and drink beer.
Name of the place is De Engelbewaarder (dont know why it says the Garden here in the title). Oldest literary cafe in the country. Attracts a mixed crowd of old and young people. Floating terrace. Jazz on sunday afternoon. You can have your morning coffee here, or an afternoon beer, or a nice dinner.
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Garden
59HS KloveniersburgwalName of the place is De Engelbewaarder (dont know why it says the Garden here in the title). Oldest literary cafe in the country. Attracts a mixed crowd of old and young people. Floating terrace. Jazz on sunday afternoon. You can have your morning coffee here, or an afternoon beer, or a nice dinner.
Authentic Thai Restaurant with great food and a relaxed atmosphere. For lovers of Thai food I can also recommend tiny restaurant O-Cha at Binnen Bantammerstraat (but the Airbnb app somehow does not allow me to add that place to my guidebook). One thing to note is that O-Cha does not serve alcohol and Phu Thai Thai does.
Phu Thai Thai Take Away
25 KoningsstraatAuthentic Thai Restaurant with great food and a relaxed atmosphere. For lovers of Thai food I can also recommend tiny restaurant O-Cha at Binnen Bantammerstraat (but the Airbnb app somehow does not allow me to add that place to my guidebook). One thing to note is that O-Cha does not serve alcohol and Phu Thai Thai does.
Extremely popular, super tiny Thai snackbar, be prepared to stand in line for a while (or you can look up the menu online, order by phone, and walk by to take away your food and skip the line). Also has a restaurant across the street that serves alcohol.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Thaise Snackbar Bird
77 ZeedijkExtremely popular, super tiny Thai snackbar, be prepared to stand in line for a while (or you can look up the menu online, order by phone, and walk by to take away your food and skip the line). Also has a restaurant across the street that serves alcohol.
Well-known Chinese restaurant on a beautiful location by a canal in the Red Light District. You should make a reservation in advance if you want to eat here. Known for their Dim Sum-lunches.
47 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Oriental City
177-179 Oudezijds VoorburgwalWell-known Chinese restaurant on a beautiful location by a canal in the Red Light District. You should make a reservation in advance if you want to eat here. Known for their Dim Sum-lunches.
Famous floating Chinese restaurant across the water from my boat. Beautiful views. Suitable for groups. You walk into a Chinese Disneyland when you go inside. Very expensive, you can get the same quality Chinese food five times as cheap at the Zeedijk, but then you will miss out on the amazing Chinese decorations and over the top atmosphere. At Sea Palace, you really pay for the total experience.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sea Palace Restaurant
8 OosterdokskadeFamous floating Chinese restaurant across the water from my boat. Beautiful views. Suitable for groups. You walk into a Chinese Disneyland when you go inside. Very expensive, you can get the same quality Chinese food five times as cheap at the Zeedijk, but then you will miss out on the amazing Chinese decorations and over the top atmosphere. At Sea Palace, you really pay for the total experience.
Food is just as delicious as it is at Sea Palace, but five times cheaper. This Chinese restaurant is so authentic that it has absolutely zero decorations or atmosphere. Also quite the experience. If you manage to get a seat all the way at the back by the window, you have a view of the Oudezijds Achterburgwal (Red Light District).
Wing Kee
76 ZeedijkFood is just as delicious as it is at Sea Palace, but five times cheaper. This Chinese restaurant is so authentic that it has absolutely zero decorations or atmosphere. Also quite the experience. If you manage to get a seat all the way at the back by the window, you have a view of the Oudezijds Achterburgwal (Red Light District).
Most famous Chinese restaurant of Amsterdam, because a popular novel was named after its oysters ("Oesters van Nam Kee") and the most famous Dutch actress from the 00's (Katja Schuurman) did a nude scene in the novels film adaptation. The steamed oysters are indeed delicious. If you are with a group you better go to the restaurants location at Geldersekade.
94 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nam Kee
111-113 ZeedijkMost famous Chinese restaurant of Amsterdam, because a popular novel was named after its oysters ("Oesters van Nam Kee") and the most famous Dutch actress from the 00's (Katja Schuurman) did a nude scene in the novels film adaptation. The steamed oysters are indeed delicious. If you are with a group you better go to the restaurants location at Geldersekade.
My absolute favourite. Spanish restaurant at the edge of the Jordaan area. They serve paella on sundays. It is not possible to eat here if you haven't made a reservation in advance, unless you come early (at six o'clock), then you can usually still get a seat at the bar.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Duende Dos
1-3 Nieuwe WillemsstraatMy absolute favourite. Spanish restaurant at the edge of the Jordaan area. They serve paella on sundays. It is not possible to eat here if you haven't made a reservation in advance, unless you come early (at six o'clock), then you can usually still get a seat at the bar.
Bar at Nieuwmarkt that has great bites to go with a beer in the late afternoon. Their breakfast menu is also lovely.
38 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Café Fonteyn
13- 15 NieuwmarktBar at Nieuwmarkt that has great bites to go with a beer in the late afternoon. Their breakfast menu is also lovely.
Latei
143 ZeedijkCute and authentic breakfast place at Zeedijk.
If you want to treat yourself to a lavish breakfast ($$$), go here. Be prepared to stand in line for a while though. Located at Kadijksplein, and also somewhere in De Pijp.
315 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bakers & Roasters
54 Eerste Jacob van CampenstraatIf you want to treat yourself to a lavish breakfast ($$$), go here. Be prepared to stand in line for a while though. Located at Kadijksplein, and also somewhere in De Pijp.
Name of the place is Pollux (dont know why it says Cox here). Crazy night bar just down the street (at Prins Hendrikkade) which attracts a fun mix of students, tourists and neighborhood folks.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Cox
121 Prins HendrikkadeName of the place is Pollux (dont know why it says Cox here). Crazy night bar just down the street (at Prins Hendrikkade) which attracts a fun mix of students, tourists and neighborhood folks.
Sightseeing
The Noordermarkt - in the middle of the Jordaan neighborhood - on Saturday mornings is a lot of fun. During covid it was practically the only thing that we were still allowed to do, and the whole city would flock to the market on Saturday morning to get drunk. The market is really big and stretches out over the square and the street behind it (Lindengracht). The fish stand on the corner of Lindengracht/Brouwersgracht is the only place in town that serves a proper kibbeling (great hangover breakfast).
892 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Noordermarkt
42B NoordermarktThe Noordermarkt - in the middle of the Jordaan neighborhood - on Saturday mornings is a lot of fun. During covid it was practically the only thing that we were still allowed to do, and the whole city would flock to the market on Saturday morning to get drunk. The market is really big and stretches out over the square and the street behind it (Lindengracht). The fish stand on the corner of Lindengracht/Brouwersgracht is the only place in town that serves a proper kibbeling (great hangover breakfast).
The palace at Dam square was built during the Golden Age as our city hall, before it was turned into a palace by the brother of Napoleon during the French occupation. It is beautiful on the inside, and I believe a ticket is only about 10 euros. Because the palace is still used by the King to host state dinners, it is often closed. Check online if it is open and buy your ticket online.
360 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Palacio Real de Ámsterdam
147 Nieuwezijds VoorburgwalThe palace at Dam square was built during the Golden Age as our city hall, before it was turned into a palace by the brother of Napoleon during the French occupation. It is beautiful on the inside, and I believe a ticket is only about 10 euros. Because the palace is still used by the King to host state dinners, it is often closed. Check online if it is open and buy your ticket online.
Best museum in town (in the middle of the Red Light District). An old canalhouse that is entirely preserved in its original state, with a surprisingly beautiful underground catholic church in its attic.
172 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo Nuestro Señor en el Ático
38-40 Oudezijds VoorburgwalBest museum in town (in the middle of the Red Light District). An old canalhouse that is entirely preserved in its original state, with a surprisingly beautiful underground catholic church in its attic.
This church is known as "The Parrot" (Papegaai). This is a church where you least expect it: its entrance is hidden in the middle of the busiest shopping street (Kalverstraat).
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Amsterdam
58 KalverstraatThis church is known as "The Parrot" (Papegaai). This is a church where you least expect it: its entrance is hidden in the middle of the busiest shopping street (Kalverstraat).