Amsterdam, as one of the most fascinating cities in Europe, has a structure that blends history and modern life. With its 17th-century architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Site canals and rich cultural heritage, Amsterdam welcomes visitors from all over the world every year. The city is known for its free spirit, art and vibrant atmosphere. Full of cultural events, museums and culinary delights, there is so much to discover. Hosting various festivals and markets throughout the year, Amsterdam is always lively. In Amsterdam, you can find starred restaurants and good options from world cuisines rather than traditional flavours.
Restaurants:
– Choux
– De Kas
– RIJKS
– Entrepot
– De Tros
– Oocker
– 4850
– Fuku Ramen
– nNea Pizzeria
– Trattoria Breda
– Pazzi Pizza
– Fou Fow
– Bussia
– Brut de mer
– Bistrot Neuf
Street Food:
– Zero Zero
– The Lebanese Sajeria
– Soju Bar
– Ladybird Fried Chicken
– Mezzave
– Heertje Friet
– Davie’s Amsterdam
– Ranchi
– Fabel Friet
– Toastable
– Lombardo’s
– Miuz Gelato
Bakery:
– Saint-Jean
– Louf
– Bakkerij Wolf
– Fort Negen
– levain et le vin
– et Claire
– Salvo Bake House
– Grammes
– Rise Bakery
– Ulmus
– Holtkamp
Bar:
– Door74, speakeasy
– Bar The Tailor
– Bar Babar, wine bar
Breakfast:
– Little Collins
– Belly Pepper
– Box Sociaal
– The Cottage
– Bakers&Roasters
Cafe/Coffee:
– LOT61
– Cafe Restaurant Metro
– Pllek
– Uncommon
– Winkel43
– Toki
– Scandinavian Embassy
– Rum Baba
1. Centre (Centrum): This area is the heart of Amsterdam, with its historic canals, It is known for the famous Dam Square and the Royal Palace. It is also home to the Red Light District and many museums.
2. Jordaan: This neighbourhood is known for its narrow streets, art galleries and boutique shops, is full of cafes and restaurants favoured by locals.
3. De Pijp A vibrant neighbourhood wherevarious cultures live together, is home to attractions such as the famous Albert Cuyp Market and the Heineken Experience.
4. Oud-West: This area is full of modern cafes and restaurants, It is located close to Vondelpark and is popular with young professionals.
5. Zuid (South): Theluxury shopping street P.C. Hooftstraat and the famous museums (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum) are located in this area. It is also known for its large green areas.
6. Noord (North): Eye Filmmuseum, Noord , an emerging region, It is characterised by its creative spaces and various events , such as the NDSM Werf. It is easily accessibleby ferry.
7. Oost (East): This region hostsa variety of cultural events, Tropenmuseum and Oosterpark are located nearby.
8. Westerpark This neighbourhood is famous for its green spaces and cultural events, it also harbours many cafes and restaurants.
Each neighbourhood offers the opportunity to experience Amsterdam’s rich cultural and historical heritage from a different angle. The most preferable areas to stay in Amsterdam are Jordaan and De Pijp, we love both exploring and staying in these neighbourhoods full of galleries, restaurants, cosy cafes and boutique shops. On our last visit, we stayed at Numa, located near Oosterpark. It was very comfortable for us to stay in this classic Dutch architecture apartment building, which is walking distance to Oosterpark and the tram passes right in front of it. We have arranged a 15% discount code for you. You can benefit from the code KISNISNUMA15 for your stays in many European cities with Numa. We leave the link here.
Top 20 places to visit in Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Vondelpark, Dam Square, Jordaan District, Rembrandt House, NEMO Science Museum, Heineken Experience, Red Light District, Royal Palace Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, Begijnhof, Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt), Amsterdam Canals (Grachtengordel), ARTIS Micropia, De Pijp District, Westerkerk, EYE Film Museum, Zaandam & Zaanse Schans.
With I amsterdam, you can discover the most impressive museums in Amsterdam. Some of these museums are quite popular but definitely worth seeing. All of them are free with the @iamsterdam City Card.
1. Rijksmuseum: The largest art museum in the Netherlands, it houses works by famous artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. You should definitely see the room (room 1.3) where the works depicting the Ottoman period are located.
2. Stedelijk Museum: One of the most important museums of modern and contemporary art, exhibiting works by artists such as Kandinsky and Mondrian.
3. ARTIS-Micropia: The world’s first microorganism museum offers interactive exhibits that make microscopic creatures visible.
4. Eye Filmmuseum: The museum, dedicated to the history and culture of cinema, is a place where motion pictures and technologies are exhibited.
5. Foam Photography Museum: Focusing on the art of photography, the museum exhibits the works of the world’s best photographers.
6. H’ART Museum: A museum with current exhibitions that are an important part of Dutch art history. The Kandinsky exhibition can be seen until November 10th.
7. Amsterdam Museum on the Amstel: The museum, which tells the historical and cultural past of the city, is located on the banks of the Amstel River.
8. Allard Pierson Museum: The archaeological museum houses artifacts from the ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations.
9. Our Lord in the Attic Museum: A secret Catholic church from the 17th century, a historical building, a little-known and interesting museum.
10. Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam: Dating back to the 17th century, the botanical garden contains thousands of plant species and extraordinary greenhouses.
There are two more museums that are not included in the City Card but are definitely worth seeing. These are the Van Gogh Museum, where the works of the famous Dutch painter Van Gogh are exhibited, and the Anne Frank House, where the house where Anne Frank hid during World War II is exhibited. Let us remind you that you need to choose the time period you will visit before going to popular museums.
I Amsterdam City Card is a great option for travelers who want to explore the city in a more economical and practical way. You can find more details on their website (here). After you place your Amsterdam Card order, all you have to do is pick up your cards from their shop in Centraal Station. There are different options for 24 hours, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, depending on the time you need. Prices range from €60 to €125.
Choux – This restaurant serves different tasting menus, and the common point of all menus is the use of very good ingredients and the presence of vegetables on the stage. There is usually a seafood item on the menu, but meat products are rarely on the menu. One of the most successful vegan/vegetarian restaurants we have tried.
Restaurant De Kas – A famous restaurant offering a unique dining experience in Amsterdam, with a Michelin star and a green star. Located in an old greenhouse, the venue is known for its delicious dishes prepared with seasonal and fresh ingredients. They create daily menus using vegetables grown in their own garden. In this beautiful setting that gives the feeling of escaping from the city, it offers a special gastronomic experience with its nature-to-table concept. It is an ideal choice for those looking for a meal focused on both sustainability and taste. Reservations are important. It is a place that we wanted to go again on our last visit but could not find a place, and we have always wondered about their menu. The three-course lunch menu is 50 euros.
RIJKS – One of the most popular museums in the Netherlands and perhaps in Europe is the 1 Michelin star restaurant located inside the Rijksmuseum. The garden is very pleasant in summer, if the weather is nice , definitely prefer to sit outside. There are a la carte and tasting menu options.
Restaurant Entrepot – This is one of the popular chef restaurants we tried and loved. The impressive & simple architecture and open kitchen already impresses you a lot. The menu is limited but changes frequently. The plates are not too small but it would be good to try 4-5 plates. Tasting menu is not a must.
Oocker – Amsterdam has some very good wine bars. In almost all restaurants you can find a good wine list with natural wines. Oocker, A modest neighbourhood bar with a wide selection of wines. A place where you can sit down for a glass and spend the whole evening . a place where you should definitely leave yourself to the advice of the team.
4850 – One of the places we come back again and again. We had visited twice on a previous trip. This time we visited for a quick lunch (their chef hadn’t left yet ). It’s a super cosy place where you can come for coffee and donuts all day long but a restaurant that also serves good wine and delicious food.
Buurtcafé De Tros – One of the places on the list that we tried for the first time. It was near the apartment we stayed in Oosterpark. It is run by the same people who own places like Zero Zero and Ceppi’s. Their menu is not very wide but everything we ate was very tasty. We can say that the smash burger hidden among the bar snacks is the star product of the place.
Bistrot Neuf – a seafood restaurantin Amsterdam that we love, a classic French bistro. We’ve been here before in winter and sat in the bar, The tables overflowing onto the street in summer are also very pleasant. Apart from classics such as Foie Gras, Steak tartare, you can even get an oyster tasting menu if you wish.
Fuku Ramen – Although it is a new place , it is quite difficult to find a place. Fuku Ramen offers a 5-course tasting menu every day except Sunday. It is inspired by the Japanese ‘Izakaya’ bar concept, and Sundays are ‘social sundays’, so you can choose from the menu a la carte throughout the day. The menu changes weekly. If you like Japanese cuisine and ramen , you should definitely stop by. It is both a cosy place and they prepare impressive dishes with high quality ingredients. The place is small, make a reservation:)
Fou Fow Ramen – This is one of the first Ramen restaurants in Amsterdam, and it has a more relaxed atmosphere. They have another branch called Fou Fow Udon on the other side of the canal, You are less likely to queue there. We triedTonkotsu and Miso ramen.
Bussia – From Wednesday to Saturday from 8.00-15. 00am.Serving breakfast from 30 to 30, this place is another good option in Amsterdam. Frequently preferred for lunch and dinner The restaurant is not included in the breakfast lists because it is not served in the morning. If you want to experience a good Italian cuisine , you can make a reservation here in the evening. For breakfast, donuts and focaccia are ideal. For lunch or dinner , try their fresh pasta and risotto.
nNea – An award-winning pizzeria in Amsterdam. They makeNeapolitan style pizzas. A pizzeria from Turkey , which was recently published ranked 6th in the list of ‘Europe’s 50 Best Pizzas’ inthe top 50.They took place in 6th place. As such , it can be a little difficult to find a place in the place. However, if you can’t find a place , don’t worry, buy from the shops next door.You can take it away or you can eat it quickly at the bar and continue. But you can wait 1 hour for your pizza even for take-away. The dough is very tasty. Pizzas vary between 11-20 euro.
Pazzi – 4 branches in Amsterdam if we are not mistaken, Although not as popular as nNea , this is still a good pizzeria. Theyonly serve in the evening. If you like picante salami and gorgonzola , you will love the Pazzi Pizza on their menu as we did.
Mr.Meat Steakhouse – This is one of the restaurants run by the same group as Ali Ocakbaşı. The restaurant serves Tuesday-Friday evening service on weekdays. On the weekend , both evening and lunch. The products such as Lokum, Cıtır, Quince are the signature dishes of the chef. We tried Turkish delight and the meat was really well cooked, 200gr Turkish delight served 36 euro. The sides of the plate could be improved. Service is very successful.
Trattoria Breda – This is a stylish Italian restaurant that is not bad at all. It ‘s in the more eastern part of the city – on the Oostenburg side. They serve lunch and dinner. You can try focaccia and fresh pasta at lunchtime and pizzas in the evening. Enoteca Breda , which serves in the evening , is also here, has an interesting concept of a wine bar offering a special selection of wines on tap. It is good to makea reservation. They have another fine-dine concept restaurant named Breda , which is on the Michelin list.
The Lebanese Sajeria – A street food within walking distance of the railway station. If you like Lebanese & If you like Middle Eastern cuisine , you can go for wraps, soups and vegan snacks. On recommend ation , the one with labne and chicken was tried and loved.
Zero Zero – Again, a sandwich place highly recommended by our followers, One of the things we can’t resist in this life is focaccia (dough), burrata and charcuterie. Sandwiches are a really successful shop.
Soju Bar – The craze for Korean cuisine seems to be felt allover Europe:) Soju is a popular bar with Korean fried chicken and snacks. We tried’garlic soy’ from the chicken, it was a little too sweet , but the others can be given a chance. We also tried Korean beer.
Street Food:
Some places that we can evaluate in the category of fast snacks and street flavours. Zero Zerowith their sandwiches, Ranchi and Davie’s Amsterdam, Soju Bar and Ladybird Chicken for fried chicken lovers, If you like Middle Eastern cuisine , we can recommend The Lebanese Sajeria or Mezzave. For Dutch-style fries , try Fabel Friet ‘s popular address but Heertje Friet is also very successful. It is also a favourite of many locals. For burgers, Lombardo’s , which is also very popular among tourists, was one of the first places we tried. A burger style that we are surprised that everyone loves so much. If you like smash burgers or thinner patties, If you like burgers with soft burger buns , this place is not for you. But we can’t say that the burgers are bad either. Le Smash is quite popular among smash burger lovers , but we couldn’ t find the opportunity to try it.
The first places that come to mind when you think of Amsterdam are ‘munchies’ orientated breakfast/brunch but there are also very good bakeries. On these two trips we had the chance to try bakeries from all over the city. Here are our favourite bakeries, cafes, breakfast places…
1 – Saint Jean – Completely plant-based, The bakery , which produces vegan products, is surprisingly one of the best bakeries in the city. Soft serve ice creams, cruffins and scones are marvellous.
2 – 4850 – which serves as a cafe during the day but is also a fine-dine restaurant serving lunch and dinner like this is the place in Amsterdam with a good selection of wines, oneof our favourite places.
3 – Fort Negen – Double baked almond croissants, delicious products such as peach and sumac cruffin for a bakery with a queue at the door.
4 – levain et le vin – Focaccia sandwiches, A pleasant shop where you can go if you want to pair the buns with natural wines.
5 – et Claire – This small neighbourhood bakery offers pastry products of great craftsmanship. The rosemary and parmesan croissant is our favourite.
6 – Salvo Bake House – A creative bakery with Italian soul in Amsterdam. Tiramisu variations highly recommended.
7 – louf – One of our favourite bakeries is Louf. Another bakery that is talented with its sandwiches, pleasant seating area, breads and buns.
8 – Bakkerij Wolf – Good sourdough breads, A bakery that you can choose for focaccia sandwiches and breakfast plates.
9 – Rise Bakery – This place also carries the Italian spirit, classic desserts such as cannoli are interpreted a neighbourhood bakery that produces a lot of croissants.
10 – Grammes – The signature flavours of this place are the chocolate-filled croissant and the puff pastry prepared by special order.
11 – Ulmus Bakery – Although a little out of town Another neighbourhood bakery we love is this one. If it is close to your accommodation , you can choose it for bread and croissants.
12 – Van Stapele Koekmakerij – It is a shop in one of the most central points of Amsterdam with a continuous queue at the door. Theyonly sell chocolate chip cookies. The cookies are not bad, no need to exaggerate of course. The queue moves fast , fortunately.
13 – Holtkamp – One of the most famous patisseries in Amsterdam. Founded in 1969 , it is especially known for its cream-filled handmade desserts.
Breakfast:
In Amsterdam, there is a slightly longer-lasting restaurant that is not only about bakery products . If you want to have breakfast , there are a few places we can recommend.
1 – Little Collins – This place has two branches. We tried their place in De Pijp … They offer quality and creative brunch plates. Compared to the most popular brunch places in Amsterdam , they have a smaller and more concise menu. We like this kind of places because they have a very large menu. It is much less likely to serve the menu successfully. In such places where the menu is usually very large , the products plates that are too similar to each other and lack creativity. Little Collins made us happy in this respect. There were also options for vegans. They don’t takebookings. They have another branch in the west of the city. It is also open for service in the evening, it is relatively quieter during the day. They also have a new place called Brio , which is open from 11.They have a place where they serve all day long from 11.00 and it stands out with its fresh pasta.
2 – Belly Pepper – Belly Pepper , which we closely recognise from the brands and kitchens we work within Istanbul Chef Esra Acar Koç opened this breakfast place with her partner at the beginning of 2024. They offer a creative Turkish breakfast menu. Classics such as çılbır, bagel and hash browns, There are also creative plates where they include flavours such as spinach fritters in their breakfast plates. Everything we ate was delicious. If you are in Amsterdam, you should try a Turkish breakfast or at least have If you want to sip your tea with dessert , keep this place in mind.
3 – Box Sociaal – One of the most popular breakfast places in Amsterdam. It has two branches as Jordaan and Plantage. We tried Plantage near the botanical garden. Instead of ordinary products , here they serve delicious bread toppings, You can trybreakfast burgers, shakshuka or breakfast bowls. Bookings can be made on their website. Brunch/Lunch menus are served between 9.00-15.45.
4 – The Cottage – Located in the Oosterpark area where we stayed, this place is a bit far from the city and quiet. Although it feels like a place , it is a place filled with locals all day long. It became oneof our favourite addresses for breakfast. They serve from 8.30-23 every day except Tuesday. Our favourite from their menu is the scrambled eggs served with sage butter, asparagus and pancetta. Don’t let the fact that their profile says ‘English Breakfast’ scare you, the plates we tried were quite enjoyable. We can’t say the same for their coffee though. You can make a reservation on their website.
5 – Bakers&Roasters – One of the most popular brunch places in the city. Both branches are quite busy. Their menu is quite wide, there is probably something for everyone. We found their Chorizo Breakfast Burrito delicious. It would not be our first choice , but if it is close to where you are staying , you can consider it. Apart from these 5 places, there are other popular places like Omelegg and Benji’s. Although we do not recommend them , they are especially preferred by Turkish tourists.
Cafes:
There are many coffee shops in Amsterdam that you can choose for good coffee and a pleasant time. Our favourites are: Toki, Scandinavian Embassy, Uncommon Amsterdam, LOT61, Rum Baba and the aforementioned 4850 and Salvo. If you happen to be in the northern part of the city near NDSM or NXT Museum, Pllek and Cafe Restaurant Metro are two of our favourite places.
Zaanse Schans is actually an open-air museum located about 15 kilometres from Amsterdam, even closer to Zaandam. You can think of it as a region where traditional Dutch rural life and history are preserved. There are windmills, wooden houses and old workshops. There are places where you can learn about woodworking and cheese production in the Dutch countryside.
– In the 18th & 19th centuries, during the period of industrialisation, it was an important industrial area. It was a place where mills, woodworking workshops and many craftsmen operated. Nowadays, this area is free to visitors, Zaans Museum , which has detailed information about the history of the Zaans Museum , is 14,5€.
If you are interested in exploring traditional Dutch culture, historical architecture and natural beauty, you can visit Zaanse Schans, but it is not absolutely necessary. Since the whole village smells of chocolate, you involuntarily buy hot chocolate, it is flavourless but we still have to – because it is an irresistible smell. Moreover, they make you make your hot chocolate, such a concept.
Zaandam is a small settlement about 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam. I preferred it for accommodation because it is close and not touristic. If you want to rent a car and explore places outside the centre of Amsterdam, it is also a logical location in terms of accommodation.
I think the best thing you can do in Zaandam is to trace the painter Claude Monet, who painted a series of paintings here in 1871. Most of his paintings, which show the beauty and texture of the region at that time, were painted against the landscape. The fact that a Frenchman, who was not very famous at the time, came and explored the nature, looking at the fields and mills for hours and painting, was the subject of local police reports and was even found suspicious.
The building used as a workshop at that time serves as a small gallery, Entrance to the Monet Atelier in Zaandam is free. Inside there is a short documentary and reproductions of his paintings.
At the top of the Inntel Hotel building , which is identified with Zaandam The blue corner is also inspired by Monet’s paintings.
