Hotels nearby or that are recommended – we used to recommend the Doubletree Hilton by the station and the Amrath which are both lovely hotels but not super close to us (10 min walk) and not super close to the bars (15-20 min walk) or places we go so… Also you will probably see a great deal on a hotel and think it’s worth saving the €35 a night but trust us it’s easier to get a hotel within the S100 (M25 for you londoners) otherwise you will spend a lot of your weekend walking or on a tram. It’s fine if you are local or have a bike otherwise pay the extra and enjoy the weekend. Nearby | Rembrandtplein | Map | Trivago | Booking.com | Hotels.com
Nearby (Valkenburgerstraat)
There are four on our street listed here by their ratings in order of best to least best according to people who have booked on tripadvisor. Monet Garden (Nice #44 out of 417 ratings) Holiday Inn Express (Average #64 out of 417 ratings) Motel One (Average #72 out of 417 ratings) Ibis (Basic #131 out of 417 rating). Ibis though is also cheaper than the other 3 usually so take your pick biertjes or nice room!
Amstel 144, 1017 AE edenhotelamsterdam.com Booking.com The always reliable Eden hotel near Rembrandtplein is only a few minutes from us and unlike the ones on our street closer to many of the bars. It’s had a refurb during covid time so the prices may be a little higher than you remember.
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You can book a lot of places using ‘The Fork‘ listed in no particular order. € is approximate in case that wasn’t clear and you can save €20 off your first booking with this link or using this code 7C90F385
In no particular order – so check the map if you are looking for a particular location or something near your hotel. We also have a more comprehensive list on google maps which may have some new favourites that have not made it onto this page yet. It’s also worth noting that some we absolutely will not put on this page since we don’t want to publicise them too much for fear of the ‘influencer death’ that impacts so many lovely Amsterdam spots. We of course will recommend them to you though as they are not a secret just some local gems.
Asian | Aziatisch
A Fusion – €€ Zeedijk 130, 1012 BC https://a-fusion.nl/ | Book on The Fork and use code 7C90F385 Asian restaurant that has a Michelin Bib Gourmand 6-course shared dining menu.
Mojo Japanese Kitchen – €€ Oosterdokskade 133, 1011 DL http://mo-jo.eu Again sounds dodgy – all-you-can-eat sushi – but is delicious!
Restaurant Puri Mas – €€ – CLOSED Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 37-41, 1017 NG http://www.purimas.nl/ Nice Indonesian with a great ‘rice table’ set menu.
Sampurna – €€ Singel 498, 1017 AX https://www.sampurna.com/ Despite its very tourist location this is a great local gem. Rijstafel is a great option.
Shisho – €€€ Rembrandtplein 47, 1017 CT https://www.shiso.nl/ Sounds dodgy – all-you-can-eat sushi – but is fantastic and more ‘central’ than MoJo
Thaise Snackbar Bird – €€ Zeedijk 77, 1012 AS http://www.thaibird.nl/ Nice but no reservations and usually a queue – small tiny and a quick dirty meal rather than a casual night out.
The Cottage – €€ Linnaeusstraat 88, 1092 CP https://www.thecottage.amsterdam/ A taste of the UK in NL. Sunday Roast but book well in advance it’s a small popular place.
Dutch | Nederlands
Van Beeren – €€ Koningsstraat 54, 1011 EW http://eetcafevanbeeren.nl Great neighbourhood bar/food place with a garden in the summer but best to book as it can get busy.
Brug 34 – €€ Utrechtsestraat 19, 1017 VH http://www.brug34.nl/ Lovely for Sunday Brunch in the summer on the terrace. Nice Gay bar in the evenings.
Kaagman & Kortekaas – €€€ Sint Nicolaasstraat 43, 1012 NJ http://www.kaagmanenkortekaas.nl/ A delicious set menu restaurant with no decisions needed except how many courses and if you want cheese or not!
De Kas – €€€€ Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE http://www.restaurantdekas.nl/ A greenhouse with a fascinating history is now a restaurant using ingredients grown on-site.
Frenzi – €€ Zwanenburgwal 232, 1011 JH http://www.frenzi-restaurant.nl/ Nice little neighbourhood cafe. Good for a bottle of wine at sundown or a meal or a casual brunch at the weekend.
French | Frans
Bistro Neuf – €€€ Haarlemmerstraat 9, 1013 EH https://bistrotneuf.nl/ Amazing – one of our go-to places when family are in town.
Incanto – €€€ Amstel 2, 1017 AA http://www.restaurant-incanto.nl/ Nice but pricey italian sesonal food. Great for groups as it has a private dining area.
Oocker – €€€ Frederiksplein 29h, 1017 XL http://www.oockeramsterdam.nl/ Tapas sized bites and some mains. Small food menu. Large wine menu.
Foodhallen – €€ Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT http://foodhallen.nl/ Does what it says on the tin, a hall filled with food. Think of a food court but better food and drinks.
The Seafood Bar – €€ Spui 15, 1012 WX https://www.theseafoodbar.com/ If you love seafood then the platter is amazing! Otherwise kibbeling from a stall will be cheaper 😉
Bridges – €€€€ Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX https://www.bridgesrestaurant.nl/ | Book on The Fork and use code 7C90F385 Located in Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam. Slightly more upmarket than many of the other offerings on this list but they have a great tasting menu and a lovely cocktail bar (see Oriole below) for a pre-drink.
Oriole – – €€€€ Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX http://www.oriolebistro.nl/ Fancy hotel restaurant and cocktail bar. Located in Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam. The Mystic Garden is delicious. Also a cocktail bar and there is a courtyard in the summer for brunches.
Wolf Atelier – €€€ Westerdoksplein 20, 1013 AZ https://www.wolfatelier.nl/en Great set menu and a lovely experience from the menu box through to the desserts.
Graphite – €€€€ Paardenstraat 15III, 1017 CX https://graphite.amsterdam | Book on The Fork and use code 7C90F385 More formerly known as “Graphite by Peter Gast”. A speakeasy Michelin star restaurant with reservations essential.
Box Sociaal – €€ Plantage Middenlaan 30A, 1018 DG https://www.boxsociaal.com/menu/ Sunny, vibrant outpost for Australian-inspired global brunches & burgers, plus wine & local coffee.
Febo – € Various locations febo.nl LOLS – great for the stumble home after drinks.
Amsterdam is home to an array of fantastic restaurants that offer a diverse culinary experience, from cosy local eateries to innovative fine dining. Some standout options include Foodhallen, a vibrant indoor food market perfect for sampling a variety of dishes, and De Kas, known for its farm-to-table concept in a stunning greenhouse setting. For those who enjoy traditional Dutch cuisine, Moeders is a beloved spot celebrating hearty home-cooked meals. While these places are excellent choices, we might hesitate to recommend them too widely, as they are local favorites and could easily become overcrowded with tourists, potentially diminishing the unique, authentic experience they offer. It’s worth noting that while these restaurants are exceptional, their charm is partly due to their current balance of local and visitor patrons.
There is a map below and the list is broadly Memorials then Museums and other stuff like boat trips. Don’t forget there is a lot more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam. If you are here for a few days or have been here before consider venturing outside the city. This is a list of some of the top culture in Amsterdam.
Prinsengracht 263-267 (Westermarkt) https://www.annefrank.org/en/ Book early as this is one of the most visited sites in Amsterdam and books up well in advance. The building is located on the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk. You experience her story through an audio tour, quotes, photos, videos, and original items. Important: The Anne Frank House can only be visited with an online ticket for a specific date and time. Book online here https://www.annefrank.org/en/museum/tickets/
Weesperstraat and Nieuwe Herengracht https://www.holocaustnamenmonument.nl/en/home/ (Free) Seventy years after the Second World War, more than 102,000 victims of the Holocaust have their own memorial.
Shadow Bank/De Schaduwkade –
Nieuwe Keizersgracht 1, 1018 DS http://www.schaduwkade.nl/ (Free) Monument to murdered jews who lived in the houses opposite the memorial.
Stolperstein
All over the city and country https://stichting-stolpersteine.nl/ Stolperstein (stumble stones) are brass stones which commemorate the victims of National Socialism during the Second World War. The brass Stolpersteine are placed in the pavement for the last home of the victims.
Museumplein https://www.rijksmuseum.nl The Rijksmuseum is the museum of the Netherlands. The completely renovated Rijksmuseum tells the story of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and more! Most famous is Rembrandt’s masterpiece the Night Watch.
Van Gogh Museum (The Sunflower guy) –
Museumplein https://www.vangoghmuseum.com/en Book early as this along with Anne Frank Huis is one of the most visited sites in Amsterdam and books up. Discover the world’s largest collection of works by Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, featuring masterpieces such as Sunflowers.
Stedelijk (Museum of Modern Art) –
Museumplein https://www.stedelijk.nl/en The Stedelijk Museum is an international institution in Amsterdam dedicated to modern and contemporary art and design.
Oosterdok 2 https://www.nemosciencemuseum.nl/en/ Worth it for the roof cafe and views alone! The largest science museum of the Netherlands you will find proof that science and technology can be captivating for all ages.
The National Maritime Museum/Het Scheepvaartmuseum –
Amstel 51 https://www.hartmuseum.nl/ This museum houses collections from other museums like the Amsterdam Museum, the Rijksmuseum etc and used to be twinned with the Russian Museum Hermitage but of course no more hence the rebrand. In addition, the Hermitage H’Art Museum Amsterdam provides spaces for smaller exhibitions, such as the annual winner of the ABN AMRO Art Award.
Tropen Museum –
Linnaeusstraat 2 https://www.tropenmuseum.nl/ The Tropenmuseum is a museum of world cultures, housed in one of the most impressive museum buildings in the Netherlands. From the monumental Great Hall there is a wide view of what the museum has to offer. It has some great temporary exhibitions too so check the website for more.
Museum Het Schip –
Oostzaanstraat 45, Amsterdam https://www.hetschip.nl/ Iconic 1919 apartment building with a museum displaying works by the Amsterdam School, plus a cafe.
NXT (Digital exhibition) –
Asterweg 22, 1031 HP https://www.nxtmuseum.com Nxt Museum is the first museum in the Netherlands dedicated to new media art.
Grachtenmuseum (The Museum of the Canals) –
Herengracht 386, 1016 CJ https://grachten.museum/ History of Amsterdam’s canals through films & audio & interactive exhibits in a waterside museum.
A’dam Tower (swings and beers on the top of a tower) –
Overhoeksplein 5 1031 KS https://www.adamlookout.com/ A’DAM LOOKOUT is an observation deck with an unrivalled panoramic view of Amsterdam. Also it has SWINGS that go out over the roof.
Zaanse Schans (Windmills, chocolate and clogs) –
Kalverringdijk Schansend, Kraaienest, 1509 AZ Zaandam http://zaanseschans.com/ Riverside village with traditional windmills & workshops making wooden clogs, cheese & pewter goods.
Stationsweg 166A 2161 AM Lisse https://keukenhof.nl/ The most beautiful spring garden in the world! (allegedly). Open in Spring usually March/April/May and best usually end April/May. Important: It gets busy so midweek is best and you can only buy tickets online.
Amsterdam Light Festival (December/January) –
Amsterdam Light Festival is light art festival in the city centre of Amsterdam. National and international artists are invited and called upon to create a light artwork for the festival. This year Amsterdam Light Festival will illuminate the city for the eleventh time in a row. The route can be experienced by foot, bike or by boat. Ticket sales start in the autumn. https://amsterdamlightfestival.com/
We love a boat trip and rather than take an organised tour boat if you are up for it you can hire a boat (or ask us if we are free and we will join you). This way you can cruise around and bring your own food and drink like a picnic. Or if you want to waste your hire time you can moor up near one of the bars on the water like Hannekes Boom.
Adam’s Boats –
Mauritskade 3 (Centrum) https://adamsboats.com/ Can fit up to 10 so is a little more expensive than Mokumboot. No supermarket nearby the pick-up location so buy your snacks and drinks before you get there. Important: If it is going to be remotely warm the weekend you are here then you should reserve a boat before you get here. letsbook.adamsboats.com
Mokumboot –
Mauritskade 1 (Centrum) – More locations available including Nassaukade 351 (Centrum) Can fit up to 6 so is a less expensive that but if you want a larger group or more space then Adam’s is the way forward. No supermarket nearby the Mauritskade pick-up location so buy your snacks and drinks before you get there. Important: If it is going to be remotely warm the weekend you are here then you should reserve a boat before you get here. https://mokumbootverhuur.nl/
Bridges
Yeah, I am a little obsessed with the number of bridges in Amsterdam crossing the canals. So yeah feel free to also check out my obsession. https://bridges.cramberts.com
Brug34 – Utrechtsestraat 19 brug34.nl Great bar with a large terrace that gets the evening sunshine so great for after work beers
Hannekes Boom – Dijksgracht 4, 1019 BS hannekesboom.nl Another lovely bar for the summer with a large outdoor area and great views over oosterdok and NEMO.
Cafe Stevens (and Nieuwmarkt) – Geldersekade 123I, 1011 EN cafestevens.nl Nieuwmarkt is a great place full of bars that get the sun in the evening during the summer. Stevens is nice for lunch too.
Foodhallen – Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT foodhallen.nl Does what it says on the tin, a hall filled with food. Think a food court but better food and drinks.
Café de Sluyswacht – Jodenbreestraat 1, 1011 NG sluyswacht.nl Nice café with views along Oudeschans from the terrace at the back. Amsterdam is not known for it’s service and even then I would say service here is hit and miss. But nice views so…
Bar TwentySeven – Dam 27 – 1012 JS bartwentyseven.com Fancy hotel cocktail bar with views over Dam Square. I recommend the new interpretation of the moscow mule.
Oriole – Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX oriolebistro.nl Fancy hotel cocktail bar. Located in Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam. The Mystic Garden is delicious. Also a restaurant and there is a courtyard in the summer for brunches.
Pllek – T.T. Neveritaweg 59, 1033 WB pllek.nl Great bar for the summer with a large outdoor space and views over the river. Swim at your own risk. Take the 906 ferry to NDSM (it’s free and take 10 mins) and it’s about a 5 min walk.
Located on top of the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam North, A’DAM LOOKOUT is mainly known as an observation deck and we recommend it for that also but there is a lot more to it.
A ticket to the Sky Deck will also give you access to the outdoor rooftop bar, where you can enjoy the views with some snacks and drinks. On the floors below you also find the indoor restaurants Madam and Moon.
SkyLounge AmsterdamLuminAir – Double Tree Hilton Rooftop, Oosterdoksstraat 4, 1011 DK luminairamsterdam.com Expect quite steep prices, but also a great vibe in the evening as it is a hotel bar after all, also a fabulous view as it’s considered one of the best rooftop bars in Amsterdam. Realistically it’s central and easy to find. Plus since the rebrand, you can now make reservations so you can book ahead instead of standing in line, especially for sunset or a Friday/Saturday evening.
Zoku Amsterdam – Weesperstraat 105, 1018 VN livezoku.com/amsterdam/eat-drink/ Another hotel rooftop bar. This one is on top of the trendy and social apartment hotel Zoku Amsterdam where you find a large selection of rooftop spaces. It’s not as touristy as the Skylounge but then the view is less good being on the 6th floor on a main busy road. Although it does have a great view of the skinny bridge.
W Lounge at W Amsterdam – Spuistraat 175, 1012 VN marriott.com/en-us/hotels/amswh-w-amsterdam/dining/ Like the SkyLounge at the Hilton expect quite steep prices, but also a great vibe in the evening as it is a hotel bar. Definitely not here for the view but to have cocktails and atmosphere. The dress code is smart casual.
