Guidebook for Amsterdam

Joanna & MP
Joanna & MP
Guidebook for Amsterdam

Parks & Nature

Great playground around the corner
10 locals recommend
Herenmarkt
12 Herenmarkt
10 locals recommend
Great playground around the corner
Lovely park 15 minutes away with children's playgrounds, paddling pool and lots of cafes and restaurants.
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 Haarlemmerweg
1599 locals recommend
Lovely park 15 minutes away with children's playgrounds, paddling pool and lots of cafes and restaurants.
Amsterdam's best known (and busiest) park with several playgrounds and cafes. It was laid out as a private park for the wealthy residents bordering the park but is now open to the public, and locked at night.
4196 locals recommend
Vondelpark
4196 locals recommend
Amsterdam's best known (and busiest) park with several playgrounds and cafes. It was laid out as a private park for the wealthy residents bordering the park but is now open to the public, and locked at night.

Food Scene

The best brownies and sandwiches in town! 5 mins walk
98 locals recommend
Small World Catering
14 Binnen Oranjestraat
98 locals recommend
The best brownies and sandwiches in town! 5 mins walk
Prinsengracht 252, Algerian delicatessen with small eat in area. Larger restaurant in the Westerpark. 15 mins walk to Prinsengracht deli, 25 mins to Westerpark restaurant.
23 locals recommend
Raïnaraï
252 Prinsengracht
23 locals recommend
Prinsengracht 252, Algerian delicatessen with small eat in area. Larger restaurant in the Westerpark. 15 mins walk to Prinsengracht deli, 25 mins to Westerpark restaurant.
Elandsgracht 130 for excellent hamburgers and vegetarian too (also take away 423 6225) – 20 mins walk
115 locals recommend
Burgermeester | de Jordaan
130 Elandsgracht
115 locals recommend
Elandsgracht 130 for excellent hamburgers and vegetarian too (also take away 423 6225) – 20 mins walk
Wood fired pizza oven and ingredients imported from Italy. It’s really worth going because these are the best pizzas we’ve ever tasted. Small eat in bar area or take away. 15 mins walk
248 locals recommend
La Perla Pizzeria
53 Tweede Tuindwarsstraat
248 locals recommend
Wood fired pizza oven and ingredients imported from Italy. It’s really worth going because these are the best pizzas we’ve ever tasted. Small eat in bar area or take away. 15 mins walk
Wood fired pizza oven, have a glass of prosecco while you wait, take away or eat in. 8 mins walk
81 locals recommend
De Pizzabakkers Haarlemmerdijk
128 HS Haarlemmerdijk
81 locals recommend
Wood fired pizza oven, have a glass of prosecco while you wait, take away or eat in. 8 mins walk
Trendy bakery and café 1 min walk
31 locals recommend
Vlaamsch Broodhuys Haarlemmerstraat Amsterdam
108 Haarlemmerstraat
31 locals recommend
Trendy bakery and café 1 min walk
In the 9 streets, patisserie every day, great croissants but only on Saturdays) 15 mins walk
41 locals recommend
Chocolaterie Pompadour
12 Huidenstraat
41 locals recommend
In the 9 streets, patisserie every day, great croissants but only on Saturdays) 15 mins walk
Amazing chocolates! (opposite Villa Zeezicht for apple pie) 10 mins walk
65 locals recommend
Puccini Bomboni
17 Staalstraat
65 locals recommend
Amazing chocolates! (opposite Villa Zeezicht for apple pie) 10 mins walk
Italian, very buzzy atmosphere, 20 years old and still one of Amsterdam's most popular restuarants. Must book – call 623 2813. 5 mins walk
313 locals recommend
Toscanini
75 Lindengracht
313 locals recommend
Italian, very buzzy atmosphere, 20 years old and still one of Amsterdam's most popular restuarants. Must book – call 623 2813. 5 mins walk
Art deco interior, views down the Herengracht. Lunch, dinner. 2 mins walk
74 locals recommend
De Belhamel
60 Brouwersgracht
74 locals recommend
Art deco interior, views down the Herengracht. Lunch, dinner. 2 mins walk
On the canal side almost at boat level. Lunch, drink, dinner. 10 mins walk
26 locals recommend
Spanjer en van Twist
60 Leliegracht
26 locals recommend
On the canal side almost at boat level. Lunch, drink, dinner. 10 mins walk
Grab the outside lounging cushions. Lunch, drink, dinner. 2 mins walk
43 locals recommend
Cafe Nobo
73 Haarlemmerstraat
43 locals recommend
Grab the outside lounging cushions. Lunch, drink, dinner. 2 mins walk
Great apple pie on Noordermarkt. Always a queue but worth the wait. 5 mins walk
506 locals recommend
Winkel 43
43 Noordermarkt
506 locals recommend
Great apple pie on Noordermarkt. Always a queue but worth the wait. 5 mins walk
Beautiful little tarts of every flavour imaginable. Dangerously close to the apartment! Table above the store for breakfast/lunch. 1 min walk
13 locals recommend
Petit Gateau
80 Haarlemmerstraat
13 locals recommend
Beautiful little tarts of every flavour imaginable. Dangerously close to the apartment! Table above the store for breakfast/lunch. 1 min walk
Great place for breakfast or lunch. If you want eggs and bacon, pancakes, granola etc this is the place! 5 mins walk
49 locals recommend
Greenwoods Singel
103 Singel
49 locals recommend
Great place for breakfast or lunch. If you want eggs and bacon, pancakes, granola etc this is the place! 5 mins walk
Super delicious salads and super healthy - choose one of the specials or design your own. 7 mins walk
102 locals recommend
SLA
34 Westerstraat
102 locals recommend
Super delicious salads and super healthy - choose one of the specials or design your own. 7 mins walk
On the corner of our street, the most delicious Spanish ham will tempt you with the scent wafting down the street. You can't resist! 10 seconds walk
27 locals recommend
Ibericus Amsterdam
93 Haarlemmerstraat
27 locals recommend
On the corner of our street, the most delicious Spanish ham will tempt you with the scent wafting down the street. You can't resist! 10 seconds walk
French bistro with 80 wines by the glass. 4 mins walk
42 locals recommend
Bistrot Neuf
9 Haarlemmerstraat
42 locals recommend
French bistro with 80 wines by the glass. 4 mins walk
Best place for lunch if you're visiting the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Great selection of salads, soups etc. Advisable to book at lunch time or go early or late.
135 locals recommend
Buffet van Odette
598 Prinsengracht
135 locals recommend
Best place for lunch if you're visiting the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Great selection of salads, soups etc. Advisable to book at lunch time or go early or late.
The most delicious soups from this tiny corner location. There are a couple of stools inside or a bench outside, otherwise you can take your soup with you. Great for a pit stop before or after museums
31 locals recommend
Soup en Zo - Spiegel
54 Nieuwe Spiegelstraat
31 locals recommend
The most delicious soups from this tiny corner location. There are a couple of stools inside or a bench outside, otherwise you can take your soup with you. Great for a pit stop before or after museums
A restaurant in a green house and now an Amsterdam institution. They grow their own food or source it locally. Excellent. You'll need a taxi to get there.
267 locals recommend
De Kast
3 Kamerlingh Onneslaan
267 locals recommend
A restaurant in a green house and now an Amsterdam institution. They grow their own food or source it locally. Excellent. You'll need a taxi to get there.
Vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, juice - whatever your dietary requirements, they can cater to you here. Perfect for breakfast or lunch.
46 locals recommend
Lavinia Good Food
176 Kerkstraat
46 locals recommend
Vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, juice - whatever your dietary requirements, they can cater to you here. Perfect for breakfast or lunch.
The menu is in Dutch, you won't find many tourists here but despite it's out of the way location it's packed every night of the week. Go if you want to go where the locals go. PS it's not a hotel!
410 locals recommend
Hotel De Goudfazant
30 Aambeeldstraat
410 locals recommend
The menu is in Dutch, you won't find many tourists here but despite it's out of the way location it's packed every night of the week. Go if you want to go where the locals go. PS it's not a hotel!
Amsterdam's new food halls. Very hip, very now, very busy.
615 locals recommend
De Hallen Amsterdam
47 Hannie Dankbaarpassage
615 locals recommend
Amsterdam's new food halls. Very hip, very now, very busy.
Awesome location in a glass box suspended above the water. Innovate cooking from a top chef, restaurants belongs to the Supperclub/Envy group.
27 locals recommend
Wolf Atelier
20 Westerdoksplein
27 locals recommend
Awesome location in a glass box suspended above the water. Innovate cooking from a top chef, restaurants belongs to the Supperclub/Envy group.
Fine dining with stunning views.
28 locals recommend
MOS
185 IJdok
28 locals recommend
Fine dining with stunning views.
Delicious French bakery just 5 minutes walk from the apartment. Also has a cafe.
39 locals recommend
Gebroeders Niemeijer
35 Nieuwendijk
39 locals recommend
Delicious French bakery just 5 minutes walk from the apartment. Also has a cafe.
A shop selling lots of delicious and more-ish snacks. Fresh bread, great sandwiches, coffee, borrelhapjes, breakfast, lunch and cakes...
45 locals recommend
STACH Food
1A Nieuwe Hoogstraat
45 locals recommend
A shop selling lots of delicious and more-ish snacks. Fresh bread, great sandwiches, coffee, borrelhapjes, breakfast, lunch and cakes...
Best coffee in the neighbourhood! Just around the corner...
Il Tramezzino
79A Haarlemmerstraat
Best coffee in the neighbourhood! Just around the corner...
Juice and healthy snacks on the Noordermarkt.
JOE & THE JUICE
5 Noordermarkt
Juice and healthy snacks on the Noordermarkt.
French bistro with simple but consistently good menu, on the Noordermarkt. 5 min walk.
21 locals recommend
Libertine Petit Café
4 Noordermarkt
21 locals recommend
French bistro with simple but consistently good menu, on the Noordermarkt. 5 min walk.
Haarlemmerstraat 130 (around the corner) relatively simple but good value and convenient, wood fired oven also pasta and other Italian standards, eat in or take away. 2 mins walk
6 locals recommend
Restaurant & Pizzeria Lucca Due
130 Haarlemmerstraat
6 locals recommend
Haarlemmerstraat 130 (around the corner) relatively simple but good value and convenient, wood fired oven also pasta and other Italian standards, eat in or take away. 2 mins walk
Fabulous Italian restaurant, book in advance. Noordermarkt, 5 mins walk
16 locals recommend
Domenica
7 Noordermarkt
16 locals recommend
Fabulous Italian restaurant, book in advance. Noordermarkt, 5 mins walk
Great local juice bar with seats outside in the sun and a playground across the street on the square. This is also a nice place to stop on a Saturday morning on your way to or from the market.
JOE & THE JUICE
5 Noordermarkt
Great local juice bar with seats outside in the sun and a playground across the street on the square. This is also a nice place to stop on a Saturday morning on your way to or from the market.
Perfect for a quick lunch, delicious freshly made Manouche (Lebanese sandwiches) with healthy fillings. 2 minutes walk
11 locals recommend
The Lebanese Sajeria
1 Wijde Heisteeg
11 locals recommend
Perfect for a quick lunch, delicious freshly made Manouche (Lebanese sandwiches) with healthy fillings. 2 minutes walk
De Bakkerswinkel in the Regulateurshuis in the Westerpark (also Warmoesstraat 69) for the best scones, also soups, salads, sandwiches and cakes – 17 mins walk. Near children's playgrounds in the park.
245 locals recommend
De Bakkerswinkel
245 locals recommend
De Bakkerswinkel in the Regulateurshuis in the Westerpark (also Warmoesstraat 69) for the best scones, also soups, salads, sandwiches and cakes – 17 mins walk. Near children's playgrounds in the park.
Fine dining with innovative preparation and presentation yet informal and unpretentious. Focus on locally sourced ingredients, heavy slant towards vegetables. No Michelin star yet, but that means you can still get a table. One of the best restaurants in Amsterdam in our view. Hidden away in a warehouse attic with views over het IJ.
101 locals recommend
BAK restaurant
408 Van Diemenstraat
101 locals recommend
Fine dining with innovative preparation and presentation yet informal and unpretentious. Focus on locally sourced ingredients, heavy slant towards vegetables. No Michelin star yet, but that means you can still get a table. One of the best restaurants in Amsterdam in our view. Hidden away in a warehouse attic with views over het IJ.
Oh so hip and oh so delicious plant based coffee and pastries
10 locals recommend
SAINT-JEAN Amsterdam
158h Lindengracht
10 locals recommend
Oh so hip and oh so delicious plant based coffee and pastries
Great sharing menu with excellent French inspired food and cosy heated terrace for outdoor dining year round.
17 locals recommend
Gertrude Rest. & Bar
28-H Bosboom Toussaintstraat
17 locals recommend
Great sharing menu with excellent French inspired food and cosy heated terrace for outdoor dining year round.
Bakery with delicious croissants and in the summer ice cream. Worth taking a stroll down the canal to!
Lourens
Bakery with delicious croissants and in the summer ice cream. Worth taking a stroll down the canal to!
Yummy Lebanese flatbreads and the best lentil soup.
The Lebanese Sajeria Haarlemmerstraat
Yummy Lebanese flatbreads and the best lentil soup.
The best cinnamon rolls in Amsterdam?
OSLO
The best cinnamon rolls in Amsterdam?
Delicious Algerian delicatessen and market. Great for picking up lunch of dinner. New location is just 7 mins walk away.
Raïnaraï Markt
Delicious Algerian delicatessen and market. Great for picking up lunch of dinner. New location is just 7 mins walk away.
Seriously good chips/fries from the tiny shop in the 9 streets. It’s insta/tiktok famous - be prepared to queue. Fun fact: this shop used to sell toothbrushes and toothpaste!
Fabel Friet
Seriously good chips/fries from the tiny shop in the 9 streets. It’s insta/tiktok famous - be prepared to queue. Fun fact: this shop used to sell toothbrushes and toothpaste!
Fantastic fresh organic soups. This is our go-to lunch place, we were SO happy when they opened a location literally around the corner!
soupenzo - haarlemmer
Fantastic fresh organic soups. This is our go-to lunch place, we were SO happy when they opened a location literally around the corner!
Eclectic sharing plates in this hipster hangout on the corner on the canal.
Kikkie van de Prinsensluis
Eclectic sharing plates in this hipster hangout on the corner on the canal.
From the ex-chef of Toscanini and the owner of La Perla comes this fresh take in Italian classics. Choose the chefs menu. You’ll be glad you did!
16 locals recommend
La Fiorita
12 H Tweede Tuindwarsstraat
16 locals recommend
From the ex-chef of Toscanini and the owner of La Perla comes this fresh take in Italian classics. Choose the chefs menu. You’ll be glad you did!
Small but atmospheric restaurant with a bistro my style set menu that changes daily according to the seasons.
61 locals recommend
Café De Klepel
22 Prinsenstraat
61 locals recommend
Small but atmospheric restaurant with a bistro my style set menu that changes daily according to the seasons.
Raïnaraï Markt
Cafe/restaurant on the Noordermarkt. Big terrace in summer. 5 mins walk
PEQU
Cafe/restaurant on the Noordermarkt. Big terrace in summer. 5 mins walk
Best croissants in Amsterdam (we’ve done extensive testing!) and delicious sourdough bread. Cafe and bakery. 17 mins walk
Bakkerij Wolf
Best croissants in Amsterdam (we’ve done extensive testing!) and delicious sourdough bread. Cafe and bakery. 17 mins walk

Entertainment & Activities

Art deco cinema with mostly art house films. Really old fashioned, nice bar, no popcorn but chocolate and snacks. 8 mins walk
429 locals recommend
The Movies
159 - 163 Haarlemmerdijk
429 locals recommend
Art deco cinema with mostly art house films. Really old fashioned, nice bar, no popcorn but chocolate and snacks. 8 mins walk
Art house films
48 locals recommend
Cinecenter
10 Lijnbaansgracht
48 locals recommend
Art house films
Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg and visit this space age design film institute housing a cinema, good restaurant and great terrace. 10 mins walk then 5 mins ferry
1109 locals recommend
Eye Film Museum
1 IJpromenade
1109 locals recommend
Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg and visit this space age design film institute housing a cinema, good restaurant and great terrace. 10 mins walk then 5 mins ferry
Great cinema attached to the FoodHallen - perfect combination of dinner, movies and drinks after.
243 locals recommend
Filmhallen
12 Hannie Dankbaarpassage
243 locals recommend
Great cinema attached to the FoodHallen - perfect combination of dinner, movies and drinks after.
Amsterdam’s oldest and tiniest cinema. Single screen, two levels of seating. Art house films.
30 locals recommend
Filmtheater De Uitkijk
452 Prinsengracht
30 locals recommend
Amsterdam’s oldest and tiniest cinema. Single screen, two levels of seating. Art house films.

Drinks & Nightlife

Drinks and snacks, no dinner. Terrace on the canal. 4 mins walk
105 locals recommend
Cafe Tabac
101 Brouwersgracht
105 locals recommend
Drinks and snacks, no dinner. Terrace on the canal. 4 mins walk
Good selection of very drinkable wines at reasonable prices.
Grapedistrict
112 Haarlemmerstraat
Good selection of very drinkable wines at reasonable prices.
Probably the best wine merchant in Amsterdam.
22 locals recommend
Chabrol Wines
7 Haarlemmerstraat
22 locals recommend
Probably the best wine merchant in Amsterdam.

Getting Around

Bike rental, collection around the corner. Good prices.
28 locals recommend
Frederic Rent a Bike
23 Binnen Wieringerstraat
28 locals recommend
Bike rental, collection around the corner. Good prices.
Amsterdam's main train, tram and bus station, just 7 minutes walk from the apartment.
1346 locals recommend
Amsterdam Centraal station
Stationsplein
1346 locals recommend
Amsterdam's main train, tram and bus station, just 7 minutes walk from the apartment.

Arts & Culture

Spectular setting and exhibitions that change ever 6 months.
604 locals recommend
Hermitage Amsterdam
51 Amstel
604 locals recommend
Spectular setting and exhibitions that change ever 6 months.
A moving reminder of the atrocities of WW2. Vist the hidden house where Anne Frank and her family hid. Book online (at least 3 weeks in advance) or go very early to avoid the queues. 6 mins walk
2775 locals recommend
Anne Frank House
20 Westermarkt
2775 locals recommend
A moving reminder of the atrocities of WW2. Vist the hidden house where Anne Frank and her family hid. Book online (at least 3 weeks in advance) or go very early to avoid the queues. 6 mins walk
Reopened in 2013 after a 10 year renovation, this world class museum is packed with Dutch masters. Book online to avoid the queues. 35 mins walk or 15 mins by bike
3186 locals recommend
Rijksmuseum
1 Museumstraat
3186 locals recommend
Reopened in 2013 after a 10 year renovation, this world class museum is packed with Dutch masters. Book online to avoid the queues. 35 mins walk or 15 mins by bike
A fascinating museum charting the development of the canal belt, told through an audio/visual tour, suitable for all ages. Our top recommendation!
89 locals recommend
Het Grachtenhuis
386 Herengracht
89 locals recommend
A fascinating museum charting the development of the canal belt, told through an audio/visual tour, suitable for all ages. Our top recommendation!
Stunning private house with incredible art and antiques collection. Free private tours twice a day by reservation only. No children under 10 years old.
Collection Six
218 Amstel
Stunning private house with incredible art and antiques collection. Free private tours twice a day by reservation only. No children under 10 years old.
Amazing museum, amazing paintings, manageable collection. Horrible queues, essential to book in advance. Go as early as possible or it'll be packed once you get in.
2485 locals recommend
Van Gogh Museum
6 Museumplein
2485 locals recommend
Amazing museum, amazing paintings, manageable collection. Horrible queues, essential to book in advance. Go as early as possible or it'll be packed once you get in.

Sightseeing

We recommend the Canal Hopper boat tour, take it from the first pier on the Damrak, signed 'Ecotours'. It's a smaller boat (max 12 people), electric (silent) and much more intimate than the Canal Bus.
11 locals recommend
Canal Bus
11 locals recommend
We recommend the Canal Hopper boat tour, take it from the first pier on the Damrak, signed 'Ecotours'. It's a smaller boat (max 12 people), electric (silent) and much more intimate than the Canal Bus.
It doesn't get more iconic that this - Amsterdam's historic canal belt, now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site - it's all around us and we appreciate it every day!
138 locals recommend
Canals of Amsterdam
138 locals recommend
It doesn't get more iconic that this - Amsterdam's historic canal belt, now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site - it's all around us and we appreciate it every day!
The largest building in the world when it was built! Resting on 800 wooden pillars.
360 locals recommend
Royal Palace Amsterdam
147 Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal
360 locals recommend
The largest building in the world when it was built! Resting on 800 wooden pillars.
Famous neighbourhood on our doorstep with cute houses in narrow streets. Originally built as a workers area, now largely gentrified. Home to many boutiques and cafes.
756 locals recommend
Jordaan
756 locals recommend
Famous neighbourhood on our doorstep with cute houses in narrow streets. Originally built as a workers area, now largely gentrified. Home to many boutiques and cafes.
Top rated boat tours in Amsterdam. Electric boats departing from Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum.
Flagship Amsterdam Canal Cruise
263 Prinsengracht
Top rated boat tours in Amsterdam. Electric boats departing from Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum.
Rent a boat and cruise the canals like a local. Remember to bring snacks and drinks!
32 locals recommend
Sloepdelen Amsterdam
69 Elandsgracht
32 locals recommend
Rent a boat and cruise the canals like a local. Remember to bring snacks and drinks!