Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [151]
Pompadour Chocolaterie Huidenstraat 12 (Grachtengordel west) 020/623 9554. Delicious chocolates and lots of home-made pastries (usually smothered in or filled with chocolate). Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun noon–6pm.
Puccini Singel 184 (Grachtengordel west) 020/427 8341, www.puccinibomboni.com. Arguably the best chocolatier in town, selling a wonderfully creative range of chocolates in all shapes and sizes. This mini-chain has also abandoned the tweeness of the traditional chocolatier for brisk, modern decor. At the junction of Oude Leliestraat. Mon noon–6pm, Tues–Sat 11am–6pm. Also at Staalstraat 17 (Old Centre), 020/626 5474; Mon & Sun noon–6pm, Tues–Sat 9am–6pm.
Puccini
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Cheese
Arxhoek Damstraat 19 (Old Centre) 020/622 9118. Centrally situated general cheese shop. Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun noon–4pm.
De Kaaskamer Runstraat 7 (Grachtengordel west) 020/623 3483. Friendly shop with a comprehensive selection of Dutch cheeses, plus international wines, cheeses and olives. Mon noon–6pm, Tues–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm.
Kaasland Haarlemmerdijk 1 (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/625 7945. As the name suggests, this shop offers a huge selection of cheeses, plus breads and sandwiches. Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–7pm, Sun 10am–7pm.
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Coffee and tea
Geels & Co Warmoesstraat 67 (Old Centre) 020/624 0683. Oddly situated among Warmoesstraat’s loud bars and porn shops, this is one of the city’s oldest and best-equipped coffee and tea specialists, with low prices on beans and utensils, and a fantastic stock of coffees and teas. It also has a small museum of coffee upstairs. Mon–Sat 9.30am–6pm.
Levelt Prinsengracht 180 (Grachtengordel west) 020/624 0823. This specialist tea and coffee company has occupied the same premises for over 150 years and, although there are now Levelts dotted across the city, this is the best. Friendly service too. At Westermarkt. Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm.
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Delis and imported foods
Eichholtz Leidsestraat 48 (Grachtengordel south) 020/622 0305. Old-fashioned store specializing in imported foods from Britain and the US – the place to find Oreo cookies, Pop Tarts and Heinz beans. Mon 10am–6pm, Tues–Sat 9am–6.30pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–6pm.
Meeuwig & Zn. Haarlemmerstraat 70 (Grachtengordel west) 020/626 5286. Oil from every thinkable country sold from large silver barrels. Also a wide selection of vinegar, over thirty kinds of mustard and tasty fresh olives. Mon–Fri 10.30am–6pm, Sat 10am–5.30pm.
Olivaria Hazenstraat 2a (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/638 3552. Olive oil – and nothing but. Incredible range of oils, all self-imported from small- and medium-sized concerns around the world. Expert advice and a well-stocked tasting table. Mon 2–6pm, Tues–Sat 11am–6pm.
Oriental Commodities Nieuwmarkt 27 (Old Centre) 020/626 2797. Large and warren-like Chinese supermarket. All sorts of stuff is squirrelled away in corners – seaweed, water chestnuts, spicy prawn crackers. Get there early for the handmade tofu. Mon–Sat 9am–6pm.
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Fish and seafood
Although there are lots of fresh herring and seafood stalls dotted around the city at strategic locations, including one or two excellent ones in the Albert Cuypmarkt, perhaps the best is the award-winning Bloemberg on Van Baerlestraat, just along from the Van Gogh Museum. Others worth trying are on the corner of Singel and Haarlemmerstraat, Singel and Raadhuisstraat, and Utrechtsestraat and Keizersgracht.
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Organic and natural food
De Aanzet Frans Halsstraat 27 (De Pijp, Outer districts) 020/673 3415. Small, organic co-operative supermarket in De Pijp. Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–5pm.
Boerenmarkt See "Boerenmarkt". Weekly organic farmers’ market.
De Natuurwinkel See "De Natuurwinkel". The city’s widest selection of organic and natural food.
Natuurwinkel Waterlooplein Waterlooplein 131 (Old Jewish Quarter and Eastern docklands) 020/624