Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [117]
De Hortus Plantage Middenlaan 2a. The pleasant café in the orangery of the Hortus Botanicus serves a good range of tasty sandwiches and rolls – plus the best blueberry cheesecake in the Western world. Unfortunately, you do have to pay entry for the gardens (€7) to get to the café. Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat & Sun 10am–5pm; Dec & Jan till 4pm; July & Aug till 7pm.
Kadijk Kadijksplein 6. Tiny split-level place which – contrary to what the homely interior with Delft blue crockery might suggest – has an excellent Indonesian-inspired menu. Tasty saté, soto ajam and traditional Indonesian spekkoek (spiced cake) served with the coffee. Daily noon–10pm, Sat & Sun from 1pm.
Eating and drinking | Cafés and tearooms |
The Museum Quarter and Vondelpark
’t Blauwe Theehuis Vondelpark 5. These days this is a slightly shabby tearoom/café/bar in the middle of the Vondelpark, but its building dates from the De Stijl period. Downstairs it’s a regular self-service park café; upstairs it’s a pleasant, circular bar that hosts DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. April–Sept daily 9am–1am (Fri & Sat till 3am); Oct–March Mon–Wed 9am–7pm, Thurs 9am–11pm, Fri 9am–2am, Sat 9am–1am, Sun 9am–10pm.
Brasserie Patou PC Hooftstraat 63. The perfect spot to watch the shopping mania of the Dutch rich and famous, flashing their credit cards on the luxurious PC Hooftstraat. Service can be slow though. Daily 7.30am–6pm.
Cobra Hobbemastraat 18. This stand-alone asymmetric structure behind the Rijksmuseum mainly caters for tourists looking for a convenient place for a drink or a quick bite between exhibitions. It’s also a popular late-night hangout, open from 10am until 3am at weekends, otherwise until 9pm.
Keyser Van Baerlestraat 96. In operation since 1905, and right next to the Concertgebouw, this café-restaurant exudes a fin-de-siècle charm, with ferns, gliding bow-tied waiters and a dark, carved-wood interior. It’s open all day, and you can come here for dinner, but these days it’s best as a venue for lunch or coffee. Daily 11am–11pm.
KinderKookKafé Vondelpark 6. A café entirely dedicated to making kids happy with a help-yourself bar where they can top their own sandwich, pizza or cake; the food is simple but tasty. Daily 10am–5pm. .
De Roos PC Hooftstraat 183. The downstairs café at this New Age centre on the edge of the Vondelpark is one of the most peaceful spots in the city, selling a range of drinks and organic snacks and meals. There’s also an upstairs bookshop, and any number of courses in yoga and meditation. Mon–Fri 8.30am–9pm, Sat & Sun 8.30am–5.30pm.
Toussaint Café Bosboom Toussaintstraat 26. This cosy, very friendly café not far from the Vondelpark is a pleasant spot for lunch – excellent sandwiches, toasties and uitsmijters, as well as tapas-style options, although service can be slow. Daily 10am–midnight (Fri & Sat till 1am).
Vertigo Vondelpark 3. Attached to the Filmmuseum, this is a pleasant place to while away a summer afternoon at the tables outside overlooking the park; in winter, take refuge in the intimate basement interior. Good food, too, at all times of day. Mon–Fri 11am–1am, Sat & Sun 10am–1am.
Eating and drinking | Cafés and tearooms |
The outer districts
Bagels & Beans Ferdinand Bolstraat 70. Large southern branch of this popular coffee and bagel joint, just opposite the Albert Cuypmarkt, with outside tables. Snacks include tuna melts, soups and club sandwiches. Mon–Fri 8.30am–5.30pm. Sat & Sun 9.30am–6pm.
Granny 1e van der Helststraat 45. Just off the Albert Cuypmarkt, with faded, old-fashioned Dutch appeal and terrific appelgebak and pana montata. Tues–Sat 9am–6pm.
Eating and drinking |
Restaurants
Traditionally at least, Dutch cuisine lacks a certain finesse, with its origins firmly rooted in the meat, potato and cabbage school of cooking. That said, many restaurants offer tasty renditions of Dutch dishes, plus a healthy selection of vegetarian