I really can’t believe I’m writing this, but today is the two year anniversary of when I relocated to Amsterdam! Even with the challenges of the pandemic, I wouldn’t change it for the world. To celebrate, I got together with a few of my Amsterdam friends – Kelsey, Josemar, Dana, and Gabrielle – to talk about our favorite spots. We are at different stages in life (and all have a different story!), so our travel guide is sure to be helpful if you are visiting our city. This list features all of our favorite spots and activities in the Dam – basically everything we recommend to our own friends & family when they visit. Here is our local’s guide to the best of Amsterdam – and check out the saved map at the end!
Mercedes, Kelsey, Dana,
Gabrielle, and Josemar
Where to stay in Amsterdam
GABRIELLE: In general for guests visiting – the Jordaan gives you the most charming, chic, Amsterdam vibe. For people with kids visiting, the West by Rembrandtpark or Oud Zuid surrounding Vondelpark/Beatrixpark is perfect. Easy tram rides/bike rides into the main city center + lots of parks and open space for kids to run around.
KELSEY: Pulitzer Hotel right in the heart of the canals. It has one of my favorite bars and is so close to everything you’ll want to do in Amsterdam.
JOSEMAR: Best area to stay in (and favorite in neighborhood) is the Jordaan of course. I’d suggest The Hoxton located on one of the beautiful Amsterdam canals. Or Morgan and Mees located walking distance from the Jordaan canals.
MERCEDES: I’m partial to the canal district in the west (the “grachtengordel”), so I always recommend The Pulitzer Hotel. But the Conservatorium Hotel is in a perfect location near the park and museums if you’re traveling with a family.
DANA: To get the most out of your visit, I’d recommend staying in the canals or near Museumplein! The Pulitzer is my favorite hotel in the city. It’s made up of multiple connected canal houses, so you have the true experience of Amsterdam. The bar is also amazing with some of the best cocktails in the city! For those that are keen to be closer to the Van Goghs in the Museum district, The Conservatorium is a luxe hotel and spa set in a gorgeous art nouveau building that used to house a music conservatorium.
Best coffee spot
(not to be confused with coffee shops!)
KELSEY: Pluk! It’s the most Instagrammable cafe in Amsterdam. They do everything from coffee to fresh juices and smoothie bowls.
JOSEMAR: My all time favorite coffee/cafe (which also happens to be my local go-to) is, AO bar. Great coffee, daily made canele, friendly service and a chic blue aesthetic. Another one of my favorite cafe’s is Uncommon Amsterdam. The Scandy design, the tasty coffee and the delicious brunch options make it the perfect little cafe.
GABRIELLE: De Drie Graefjes Zuid – it’s by Stadionplein in Oud Zuid (the Old South). I’m a chai gal and have tried several chai lattes around town. This spot has the perfect one, the chai has an extra mmph to it!
MERCEDES: We have TONS of great coffee places in Amsterdam! My current favorite for an oat chai latte is Luuk’s in the Jordaan, but I love Lourens for their aesthetic, and il Momento for their charm & croissants. I’m also obsessed with the cruffins at the trendy new spot Saint Jean.
Best brunch
MERCEDES: Little Collins! Their menu is always changing, and they have the most delicious sourdough. It actually reminds me a lot of my favorite brunch spots in Los Angeles. I also love the ham & cheese croissants at the Simon Meijssen bakery.
KELSEY: Bakers & Roasters for brunch. It’s the one place in Amsterdam where you can get crispy bacon. Plus they do great eggs – the veggie brekkie is my favorite.
JOSEMAR: Best brunch in town is Dignita Hoftuin, hands down. Never ordered anything I didn’t love.
GABRIELLE: For breakfast: Dignita! There are a few locations around the city. For lunch: Couscousbar on Kinkerstraat.
DANA: For a unique experience, G’s Brunch Boat is a great time. There’s a bottomless mimosa option and you can watch the city go by from the water. Back on dry land, Bakers & Roasters is the go to!
Best shopping
JOSEMAR: Best shopping street is Gerard Doustraat in De Pijp. It has known shops like Weekday, Scotch & Soda but also lots of cute little boutiques like Circle of Trust, Anna + Nina. Spend the day morning shopping and stop for lunch at Fiko or Brut de Mer.
KELSEY: De 9 Straatjes (“the 9 Streets”) is an area full of cute little boutiques and stores you won’t find anywhere else. Plus the area is also full of cafes and bars for when you need a break.
GABRIELLE: Agree on the 9 Streets for boutique shopping. For “mall” vibes (has de Bij, Mango, Zara, AND H&M… it’s like a jackpot) head to Stadshart Amstelveen. But really… the winner is UTRECHT! Take the NS train to Utrecht and the mall is right at the exit. In addition to the mall, there are plenty of shops outside of the mall by the canals.
DANA: Go vintage!! From quirky to luxury, Amsterdam has a great variety of vintage stores. Episode has multiple stores across the city and I’ve found fun items there from sunglasses to gear for King’s Day. But my favorite spots for treasure hunting are the beautifully curated luxury vintage stores – like Tamago Amsterdam.
MERCEDES: I’m a big fan of buying something with history when I travel, so my favorite places to shop are antique stores. Antiekcentrum is the best antique store in Amsterdam – it’s a huge plaza with everything from vintage Delft tiles to chandeliers and paintings. I also love the 9 Streets for boutique shopping, and my favorite Saturday activity is visiting Noordermarkt to buy flowers, vintage items, and snacks.
Best dinner spot
MERCEDES: This is a tough one since I’m a foodie, but I have to go with Vanderveen! The head chef & the whole team are such genuine people, and their food is truly incredible. Plus their sommelier is a rockstar. A close second for me would be De Kas, which has excellent food and a cool vibe since it’s inside of a greenhouse.
KELSEY: How do I choose?! I really love Cecconi’s for Italian food and great drinks, N/nea for authentic pizza, and Cannibale Royale for a casual dinner – there are several locations around the city.
GABRIELLE: I agree with Kelsey – Cannibale Royal for steak. Also Lolo Amsterdam for Italian + fun vibes, and Seoul Sista for korean BBQ.
JOSEMAR: Currently, favorite dinner spot is a modern Italian restaurant called, Ceppi’s. It has a chic interior, absolutely delicious antipasti, pasta, pizza – you really can’t go wrong with the menu. And the cocktails from spritz to house specials, they’re so so good!
DANA: Any of the George group restaurants (Cafe George, George WPA) is a sure way to a great night! The house rosé is delicious, the menu is full of classic French brasserie staples, and the people watching is always on point.
Favorite bar
DANA: For the full Amsterdam experience, the local brewery Brouwerij ‘t IJ has two amazing spots in the city worth visiting: their brewery in a windmill right along the canal side, and ‘t Blauwe Theehuis (the Blue Teahouse) outdoor tasting room inside Vondelpark! Both are excellent spots to spend an afternoon, and at ‘t Blauwe Theehuis they even have bocce ball courts and ping pong tables.
KELSEY: Pulitzer’s Bar hands down. The dimly lit interior is incredibly sexy, and they make damn good cocktails.
MERCEDES: Absolutely agree with Kels. Pulitzer Bar is the coolest place for a drink in the city! I also love Waterkant for a low-key daytime drink by the water in the summer.
JOSEMAR: Def Pulitzer bar, amazing cocktails and overall vibe.
Must-do activities in Amsterdam
DANA: So hard to choose just one! But I would say that getting out on the canals is one of the best ways to see the city and is a must do. You can book a group experience like the Friendship or the iconic G’s Brunch Boat, or use one of the many companies that let you charter your own electric canal boat. Bring a picnic and cruise down the canals and/or drive up to one of the many bars accessible by boat – like Waterkant or the brewery in a windmill, Brouwerij ‘t IJ.
GABRIELLE: Definitely a boat ride through the canals. I prefer renting our own boat vs. the tours. But if doing a tour, I recommend “Those Dam Boat Guys”.
MERCEDES: Those Dam Boat Guys are my favorite too! Honestly, a boat tour is one of my must-do activities as well – especially since you can do it any time of year. The Pulitzer offers a private tour for guests on an antique boat, which is an awesome experience. BUT I’m going to go with a bike ride + picnic through Vondelpark. You can easily rent bikes all around the city, and Vondel is my favorite place to take visitors in the summer.
KELSEY: A boat tour is an absolute must! There’s no better way to see Amsterdam than from the water. It’s definitely worth the splurge to do a private tour or a nicer boat for a small group tour. You won’t regret the experience.
Must-try Dutch food
JOSEMAR: Oud cheese with Dijon mustard. It’s become a staple on my charcuterie boards!
GABRIELLE: OLIEBOLLEN FOR LIFE. They’re fried donuts you can only find in the winter. Also, I personally like Het Koekemmanetje better than Van Stapele Koekmakerij… (unpopular opinion maybe lol, but try for yourself!)
KELSEY: Stroopwafels. They’re these delicious thin waffle cookies with caramel pressed inside. You have to get them fresh! There’s a stand at Museumplein outside Rijksmuseum that does the perfect amount of warm caramel.
MERCEDES: This is a tie for me – I love Dutch apple pie, so Winkel 43 is a must visit. But I also LOVE poffertjes, which are tiny little Dutch pancakes covered in butter & powdered sugar. You can get them at any street market, but I love the fresh ones at the stall in Noordermarkt. I have an insane sweet tooth and Amsterdam definitely delivers (also I second Gabby on Het Koekemmanetje, although my husband is team Van Stapele).
DANA: Yes, poffertjes! Those mini pancakes traditionally come with butter and powdered sugar and are a little plate of joy. For the authentic experience, head over to the Albert Cuyp street market and watch them be made fresh just for you.
Helpful tips when visiting
DANA: If you visit in the spring and are hoping to make it out to visit the gorgeous tulip fields of Holland (you definitely should!), my best local tip is to go north from Amsterdam instead of heading south. The tulip fields south of the city out by the Keukenhof gardens are lovely, but they get absolutely PACKED with tourists in the main season. Instead, head north to Noordoostpolder (area around Emmeloord). There are far less crowds and large stretches of colorful fields. Remember to always ask the farmers before walking into the fiends to get the shot!
KELSEY: Keep an eye out for the bike lane (it’s usually the red one)! It often looks like a sidewalk, but you will absolutely get run over if you walk in it. Bikes always have the right of way in Amsterdam.
GABRIELLE: Agreed – don’t walk on the bike paths 🙂 Haha. Explore the city by tram/bike/foot. The tram to get from farther places, bikes for shorter distances (rent one!), and definitely wander on foot. So many cute shops and cafes to visit!
JOSEMAR: Yep, mind the bikes! My first trip to Europe consisted of Paris, Belgium and last stop, Amsterdam! As soon as I arrived at Centraal Station I quickly received the Amsterdam welcome which consisted of me accidentally walking in the bike lane and a lot of angry bells ringing at me to get out of the way.
MERCEDES: Be prepared for rain. I love this city, but the weather is really hit or miss (mostly miss). Even in the summer it can be cold and rainy, so always pack a good travel umbrella & a sweater. And check out my Amsterdam anniversary post from last year if you want to read about Dutch traditions!
About Josemar: @thedamfoodie
My name is Josemar (pronounced: joe-seh-mar), I’m an expat from Texas and have been living in Amsterdam for a little over two years now. By day I work in Post-Production at PVH Studios for Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. By night (or whenever I can) you can find me exploring my love for food, drinks & a good ambiance. As a result, I created an Instagram account to house all my personal, local & travel culinary experiences in one place @thedamfoodie.
About GABRIELLE: @GABRIELLELAZOORE
Hi all! My name is Gabrielle and I’m an expat from the US. Originally from Los Angeles, CA but lived in Austin, TX for 4 years prior to moving to Amsterdam spring of 2021. I’m here with my husband and my 2 boys, ages 7 and 5. I’m an RN back home but soaking up staying home (and exploring) with the kids. Living abroad has always been a dream and I’m happy to share this experience with my family – follow along on Instagram at @gabriellelazoore.
About DANA: @WHATDANAWORE
My name is Dana, and I’ve lived in Amsterdam with my husband (and cat!) for almost two years. When the opportunity to move here with my job came up, we jumped on it! It fulfilled our dream of living abroad and experiencing all the cultural splendor that Europe has to offer. Though we had our civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall last year, our wedding is in France in May! To follow along on building out the wedding wardrobe and many white dresses, check out my Instagram @whatdanawore. 🙂
About Kelsey: @kelseyybarnes
My name is Kelsey, and I’ve been living in Amsterdam for over four years. I’m a freelancer in marketing and advertising with a content creation hustle on the side. Growing up, I spent more than twenty years as a competitive figure skater, which shaped the person I am today and expanded my love for fashion. When my fiancé & I got the opportunity to move to Amsterdam a few years ago, I knew I had the unique chance to share how my style was influenced by life as an American expat in Amsterdam. And so kelseyybarnes.com was born.
About Mercedes: @mercedesconstantine
My name is Mercedes, and I moved from Los Angeles to Amsterdam exactly two years ago with my husband. My career is in strategy working for an entertainment company, and I was lucky enough to relocate because of my job. I’m a former actress with an insatiable passion for travel. Moving to Amsterdam was the perfect opportunity to start sharing my tips on travel, European beauty & style recommendations, and my latest adventures abroad on mercedesconstantine.com.
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