A guide by PhilSen
In de Wildeman certainly justifies its label as a bierproeflokal (beer tasting house) with its choice of 200 bottled beers and another 18 or so on tap.
Kolksteeg 3 (an alleyway not far away from the Centraal Station/Dam Square); www.indewildeman.nl
It may seem rather strange to be drinking Belgian beers in Holland but this little bar is just fantastic.
The bar area is tiny and with wooden tables, stone floor and tan walls covered in old-fashioned advertisements for many of the beers they sell. It has eight Belgian beers on tap and 30 in bottles. The beer menu is very well written, informative but also very amusing, giving you background on where the beer was brewed and also the percentage alcohol content, very important if you intend to stay for more that one or two.
The girl behind the bar was extremely friendly and also knowledgeable about the beers on sale. You can also order bar snacks such as toasties, cheese and mustard (perfect with beer) and extremely spicy sausages.
Gravenstraat 2, just behind the Nieuwe Kerk and Dam Square
Apart from the appeal of its name to the British sense of humour, this Dutch maritime museum offers plenty for anyone interested in naval and shipping history. It’s based in an old navy depot and moored outside is a replica Dutch East Indiaman that you can board and explore.
Kattenburgerplein 1
www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl/index_explorer.htm
Foam is a relatively new and excellent photography museum. It consistently holds solid exhibits, ranging from big names like Mario Testino or Henri Cartier-Bresson to lesser-known but none the less interesting photographers.
Keizergracht 609, it's located very centrally one of the major canals; tel: 020 551 6500; www.foam.nl
The cafe at the top of Metz Department store has amazing views over the skyline. Its on the sixth floor (there’s lift access too) and has windows on three sides. The views are incredible. Wide selection of tea and cake too. Well worth it.
455 Keizergracht (on the intersection at Keizergracht and Leiderstracht)
Every clubber and late-night drinker is well aware of the evils of the post-party munchies and the many horrific solutions. But Amsterdam takes nocturnal junk food to a new level.
Find a FEBO outlet, stick your change in the slot, pull back the little glass door and, hey presto, there's your snack. Piping hot and stuffed to the rafters with cholestorol. It's automatic - no need to interact with a human being - and they never close.
But do be careful not to burn yourself. And don't ask: a) what that unidentified fried object you're eating actually IS; or b) just how long it's been there...
All over the city centre - look for the yellow shopfronts;
www.febo.nl
Authentic Indonesian restaurant, bustling with locals and tourists. Efficient and informal service, excellent food, good value.
Spuistraat 291-293;
tel: 020 620 0994;
www.kantjil.nl
American hotel is an extremely good place to stay, though a bit pricy. Fantastic location close to museums & night life. Very friendly staff, a real treat, and the hotel's cafe is a fantastic place to have a meal or just a cup of coffee, very beautiful with a distinctly old-times flavour. Excellent value for money. Strongly recommend both places.
Leidsekade 97, Amsterdam (close to Ledsplein);
tel: (0)20 556 3000;
email: info@AmsterdamAmerican.com;
www.amsterdamamerican.com
Intimate in the way only tapas bars can be intimate, prices here are very reasonable and the atmosphere is suitably Mediterranean. The scratched-on-with-a-knife graffiti decor is not, however, to everyone's taste.
0031 20 422 62 50
124 Utrechtsestraat
The Inner Amsterdam Student House is a great budget place to stay. It has dorm rooms, but I stayed in a twin-room with ensuite bathroom for 40 euros for the night (November). Unfortunately I left too early for the free buffet breakfast. It is situated behind the Concert Hall, with the Van Gogh museum nearby. From Centraal Station take tram #5 to Museumplein (the tram starts from Centraal so that's the only direction it's headed). Trams takes about 15 minutes, it's then about 2 minutes walk away.
Wanningstraat 1, 1071 LA Amsterdam, Tel: +31 (0)20 662 5792, www.innerhotel.nl
When the noise, grime and mayhem that otherwise characterises Shanghai gets you down, head for this flower market. It's a refreshing change to wander around the aisles of this huge indoor bazaar that still retains a whiff of old-school charm about it, not to mention the scent of a multitude of exotic blooms shipped in from who knows where. And at festival periods, even Christmas, the upper floor is reborn as an all-singing all-dancing plastic tat wholesaler - just what you need for those last-minute decorations...
225 South Shanxi Rd, near Yongjia Rd. Look for the trail of floral debris and turn into the car park. Nearest metro - Shanxi Nan Lu (Line 1)
I came to Amsterdam, a cynic of all things jazz and bohemian. I left 'Cafe Eijlders' with great memories of friendly locals, attentive barstaff, nice beer, good music and a promise to return
Café Eijlders
Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 47
1017 PW Amsterdam
telefoon: 020 - 624 2704.
www.eijlders.nl
In a quiet canalside location a stone's throw from the Anne Frank Museum, De Prins is a lively English pub-style eatery with a limited number of tables and a warm, friendly atmosphere on a cold winter's night. The menu is limited but the food is top quality and perfectly prepared. The fondue is well up to Swiss standards and is a perfect protection against Amsterdam's cold winds. As in many restaurants in this enlightened city, smokers are still welcomed, so if you are not addicted to tobacco you may be better elsewhere.
Plancius, in the former Jewish quarter next door to the excellent Dutch Resistance Museum, is a busy modern restaurant popular with locals. We lunched on superb home-made soup and lighter-than-air omlettes, and had swift and friendly service.
De Prins: Prinsengracht 124, Amsterdam 1015 AE
Public Transport - Tram: 6, 13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt and a short walk.
www.diningcity.nl/deprins/
Plancius; Plantage Kerklaan 61a, 1018 CX Amsterdam.
Tel: (020) 330 94 69
Public Transport - Tram 6,9, 14 (stop: Artis)
www.restaurantplancius.nl/
