The recommendations bible of Benardo!
These are my personal tips -based on experience and research- for a great experience in Amsterdam! This resulted in a good list of tips! You can click on the bold text to get to the Google Maps location of the establishment.
All of you good luck in Amsterdam!
And don’t forget to write me a review here of course ;)
Food / Restaurants
Food / Breakfast / Lunch
Dutch Snacks
Food Markets
Bars
Nightlife
Shopping
coffeeshops no coffee weed
Museum
Parks
Food / Restaurants
Ron Gastrobar Oriental
Around €17,50 for a dish.
This is not just another regular restaurant. Ron’s Gastrobar Oriental is owned by former Michelin chef, Ron Blaauw. After many years of cooking for his two starred restaurant, Ron decided to get back to the roots of his passion. So he opened Ron’s Gastrobar, and later on an oriental version of the same concept. His restaurants are easygoing, affordable and serve delicious dishes. I love their vibe, it’s very approachable and delicious!”
Restaurant Prins van Oranje
Around €17,00 for a dish.
Cannibale Royale
Around €16,00 for a dish.
Cannibale Royale fulfills all needs for anyone who loves good food, lots of meat, exotic beers and the most beautiful wines. Cannibale Royale is a bar where you can feel like a prehistoric being again. You are always welcome to drop by for a delicious cocktail or special beer to compliment their meaty treats. So forget all hypes about haute cuisine for a minute, it’s time to enjoy everything that is tasteful, rich in flavour and is just simply good!
Breakfast/lunch
Blue Amsterdam
Restaurant Blue Amsterdam is a wonderful ‘secret’ in the centre of Amsterdam. Situated atop the Kalvertoren shopping centre, many shoppers below often have no idea of the spectacular views and food that awaits with delicious sandwiches and homemade lemonade and local beers.
Pancakehouse Upstairs
My most-loved pancake house is Pancakehouse Upstairs, which is (unsurprisingly) up an extraordinarily steep and narrow flight of stairs, even by Dutch standards. It’s a tiny place, and easy to miss, but worth it once you get inside. Teapots hang from the ceiling in every size and shape, while the pancakes are the diametre of dinner plates and as thick as pizzas, with both sweet and savoury toppings. Try a hearty classic like ham and cheese, or go sweet with apple, cinnamon and whipped cream.
The Avocado Show
It’s all avocado all the time at The Avocado Show, Europe’s first restaurant that focuses solely on the little green superfood. Its all-avocado menu, in which every dish features the fruit, has been a hot topic among foodies and curiosity-seekers. It doesn’t disappoint: there are avocado burgers, avocado fries and even avocado ice cream.
Dutch snacks
For amazing haring and kibbeling (typical Dutch fish treats) visit the stand on the nieuwmarkt square (It’s not there every day though).
Have a “broodje kroket” with mustard (white bun with a croquette filled with ragout) at Van Dobben, the dutchest snack there is.
The kroket also comes in a small balls called “bitterballen” you can buy these at almost every bar or cafe.
Best French fries at Vleminckx Sausmeesters, make sure to get them with mayonnaise or peanut sauce for the most authentic taste. You can also get a ”patatje oorlog” for a combination of mayonnaise and peanut sauce with chopped onion.
(Food) markets
Waterloopplein market
Waterlooplein market is second-hand market for original souvenirs. Open: Monday-Saturday from 9:30-18:00
Dappermarkt
Dappermarkt: less touristy local market (best kebab!) Monday through Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
Albert Cuyp Market
There is a big food market on the Albert Cuyp every day except sunday.
Bars
Brouwerij ‘t Ij
Shoot a Windmill selfie while tasting the best craft beer of a’dam at Brouwerij ‘t IJ (closes 20:00)
Poolbar
Plastered with posters and vinyl records, the subterranean Poolbar is an easy-going place to shoot pool at its eight tables, or play table shuffleboard or darts. Two large screens show international sports fixtures, Dutch and Belgian beers are on tap and in bottles. In short, the place to be when you want to have a fun night surrounded by locals!
Madam Amsterdam
During the day, this swanky setting is part of the LOOKOUT experience at A’DAM Tower, which includes a rooftop observation deck with giant swing for thrill seekers. But as soon as the sun goes down, the music goes up – and Madam is transformed into Amsterdam’s highest nightclub. (Open from 21:30pm) (To the bar from 21:30 free entrance)
Nightlife
The Waterhole
For more than a quarter of a century, The Waterhole has been one of Amsterdam’s favourite clubs located just off the Leidseplein. It entices visitors from all over the world with its great atmosphere and live entertainment.
When you want to be surrounded by locals, this is the place to party! The DJ is playing his music tracks for only 1.5 minute in different styles: house, Dutch, cheesy, hit parade and sing-a-long numbers. It is always crowded and party guaranteed!
La Favela
La Favela is a piece of Brazil in Amsterdam. They want to celebrate the things in life that sparkle, and that is exactly what they are doing. It’s a place where everyone can feel at home. The interior of La Favela is colorful and exotic, with a lot of different influences from Latin-America, creating a one of a kind look and feel. During the day, La Favela is a restaurant. They serve delicious lunch, snacks, drinks, and dinner. When the night falls, La Favela is turned into one of the most colorful clubs in Amsterdam!
Shopping
For nice boutique shops go to the 9 streets or the Haarlemmerstraat in the Jordaan area.
For the expensive big brand fashion shops go to the Pieter Cornelis hooft straat between the Vondelpark and the museum square.
For great secondhand clothes go to the Waterloo square clothes market (Monday through Saturday).
All the ‘standard’ shops (like H&M or Nike/Adidas) can be found at the Kalverstraat and the Nieuwendijk.
Coffeeshops (no coffee; Weed)
Dampkring
Dampkring Amsterdam is situated in the Handboogstraat in Amsterdam, not far from the famous Amsterdam Flower market. Relax in this beautiful area of Amsterdam and enjoy a coffee and a smoke at the Dampkring. A high quality selection on the menu and a friendly atmosphere make all feel welcome, tourists and locals a like. This particular spot also appeared in the film Oceans 12 (you know, that film with an all-star cast).
Boerejongens
Boerejongens is a favorite among the ‘Amsterdammers’. They have 4 locations throughout Amsterdam and you can recognize their shops because of their classy interior with a lot of marble, wood and brass golden details. Truly different than the grizzly dark coffeeshops in Amsterdam of the past.
Paradox
This is one for lovers of all things weed and all things edible. If it’s your first time trying a “space cake” or an edible the staff will be nice enough to walk you through what to expect.
Museums
Moco Museum
The Moco Museum (Modern Contemporary) aims to reach out to a wide, international audience in Amsterdam by featuring works created by the ‘rock stars’ of the art world, such as Banksy.
Rijksmuseum
One of Amsterdam’s most impressive and popular museums, the Rijksmuseum boasts a diverse collection steeped in more than eight centuries of history, Dutch and international. Of course, visitors can expect to see works from all the Dutch Masters of the 17th century: Rembrandt, Vermeer and more – as well as other modern icons like Van Gogh. A must visit when in Amsterdam!
Het Grachtenhuis
A visit to the Museum of the Canals (Het Grachtenhuis) is the perfect way to learn more about the history of Amsterdam’s Canal Ring. The museum looks at the 17th-century city expansion projects that led to Amsterdam’s ring of canals which received UNESCO world heritage status in 2010. After seeing the interactive displays, you’ll look at Amsterdam in a whole new light when wandering through the city’s streets or taking a canal cruise.
Parks/extra
The Vondelpark.
Vondelpark is in the middel of the city and always nice to visit. Play some games, make music or just simply light up, lay back and enjoy this beautiful park.
Amsterdamse bos
Amsterdamsebos is a big park where you can cuddle with goats, rent a canoe, play sports or just simply light up, lay back and enjoy this beautiful park.
Cheesefarm Jacobs Hoeve (Organic Jersey farm)
Discover the secret behind the tastiest cheese in the world. Henri Willig invites everybody to their organic Jersey farm. Especially for his herd of Jersey cows Henri Willig build this beautiful farm. Their cows are as happy as possible at this type of stable in order to stimulate their natural behaviour. Henri Willig hopes that anyone who visits the organic farm also learns something. Therefore he created a “self-guided” tour, which is fun and educational for young and old. Take bus 314 or 316 from Amsterdam Central Station (on the north side of the station) that will take you to the busstop Lagedijk. From there it will be a 10 minute walk to the farm of Henri Willig.