Amsterdam, what a beautiful city! It was even more beautiful than I’d remembered. There’s nothing not to love, arriving in the land of gingerbread houses, stroopwaffles, endless coffee shops and countless cosy canals. We walked, walked and walked discovering shops, cafes and restaurants along the way.
We travelled via the new Eurostar route from London St.Pancreas to Amsterdam Central. Even though it took just over four hours it was so straightforward and the time went by really quickly. You could quite easily spend a day here, our two nights here was the perfect amount of time.
Where To Stay
We stayed at Yotel for two nights which we absolutely loved. Super comfortable beds and slick, trendy interiors throughtout the hotel. Simple, clean and well designed. It was situated in the Buiksloterham neighbourhood, on the Tolhuis Canal. It was a 15- minute walk and a quick ferry ride from anywhere we wanted to be. The staff were really accomodating and the happy hour in their bar is a must.
Where To Eat
We both fell in love with the brunch at Bakers & Roasters, a very popular New-Zealand style brunch spot. I ordered the vege breakfast which had scrambled eggs, grilled haloumi, avocado, breakfast potatoes, creamy mushrooms, homemade chilli jam & toast. So delicious! A must-visit! Other brunch spots highly recommended were Dignita, Coffee & Coconuts, Pluk & Little Collins.
If you’re in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, Winkel 43 is the place to go. I went for the classic apple pie, served with fresh cream and a hot chocolate. YUM! It was a slice of heaven and quite honestly the best applie pie I’ve ever had! We were lucky enough to get a seat outside, it was a great spot to watch the world go. Defintely a place not to miss.
We came to Eddy Spaghetti after a day of exploring and it was just what the doctor ordered. A big bowl of all-arrabbiata topped with burrata alongside a nice glass of white. Slightly out of town but definitely worth it.
We came to Jansz for dinner one night (the restaurant in the Pulitzer hotel) and it was delightful in every single way. This restaurant is the most perfect chic dinner spot. We had a table overlooking the canal which was lite up at night. We indulged in a three-course meal, I loved my scallops with peas, red onion and serrano ham to start. Full of flavour and so fresh! Make sure you save room for the chocolate fondant for dessert. DELISH!
Mr Stacks serves up epic stacks of vegan pancakes, both sweet and savoury options. We loved the banana and chocolate hazelnut stack! Other pancake recommendations were: The Pancake Bakery & Moak.
You can’t come to Amsterdam without having a traditional Dutch stroopwafel. Wafer-thin waffles wedged between a layer of gooey caramel sauce, it tastes like a chewy cookie. Van Wonderen adds chunky toppings to theres. I went for a salted caramel one, tasted amazing, slightly more expensive than the food-truck ones you can get on Albert Cuyp Market. Also, how did I miss the cookies at Van Stapele?!
The craft brewery Brouwerij ‘t IJ is such a fun thing to do one afternoon or evening, it’s located underneath the city’s tallest windmill. Considering I’m not really a beer drinker, I actually really enjoyed the taste. Stay away from the 9% stuff!
What To Do
There is so much to do; I’ve visited twice and I still feel as though I haven’t scratched the surface. I feel as though during this trip we spent most our time wandering around the streets and the canals, getting lost, which is sometimes the best way to see a city. De 9 Straatjes is such a lovely area to have a stroll around, also Vondelpark. De Pijp which is east of the city is also a favourite area of mine. You can hire a bicycle for the day, weather dependant, we had strong wind and rain so we did most exploring via foot.
Stumbling across Albert Cuyp street market was a great start to our Saturday here in Amsterdam. With over 260 stalls full of traditional dutch food, fruit and vegetables, rows of flowers, books, fabrics and other bits and bobs. Definitely don’t miss this!
There aren’t enough words to describe how much I love the cute little shops here in Amsterdam. Anna & Nina is a one of them – you can find things for your home, jewellery, stationary and more. I had to quickly restrain myself as I knew I would find some bits to come home with me, not forgetting I opted for hand-luggage only, which is always pretty much packed to the brim. Other adorable shops to pop in: Love Stories, Restored, Penny Lane & Six & Sons.
Have you visited Amsterdam before? If so, what was your favourite thing about the city. G xx
