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Amsterday City Guide
Living in Paris, we’re lucky that Amsterdam is just a three-hour train away. This January we travelled there for St. Rona meetings, but we came back genuinely impressed.
Amsterdam surprised us with its incredible food scene, thoughtful cafés, and strong design aesthetic. There’s creativity in the details — from interiors to menus to small independent stores.
What stayed with us most, though, was the energy of the people: open, welcoming, and refreshingly genuine.
This guide is simply a collection of the places we loved and kept returning to — the spots that made the city feel easy, inspiring, and genuine.
Breakfast & Lunch
Carmen
One of those places that immediately feels special. We stopped by for lunch and ended up staying longer than planned. Beautiful canal-house setting, thoughtful interiors, and everything feels curated but warm. Perfect for a slow morning.
📍 Keizersgracht 600, 1017 EP Amsterdam
Oficina
Very beautiful canteen, and great food for both breakfas and lunch. Part canteen, part design space — very Amsterdam. The menu is seasonal and vegetable-forward, and the whole atmosphere feels creative yet grounded. We loved the details here.
📍 Jan van Galenstraat 147, 1056 BN Amsterdam
Louf De Pijp
For mornings when you just want really good bread and pastries. Their sourdough is really good, and the terrace (when sunny) is such a nice spot to sit with coffee and just watch the neighbourhood.
📍 Nicolaas Berchemstraat 4, 1073 VR Amsterdam
Two Story
A very easy, relaxed brunch spot right by the Singel canal. Great coffee, simple but well-done eggs and seasonal plates with beautiful shop, and gallery.
📍 Singel 395, 1012 WN Amsterdam
Dinners & Drinks
Cornerstore
This is one of our favorite. It’s lively — very wine-centric, with seasonal dishes and a strong natural wine list. Perfect for late-night drinks, dinner with friends or even a date night. They also host vinyl DJ sessions, which makes it feel even more fun and local.
📍 Papaverweg 11, 1032 KD Amsterdam, Netherlands
Café Binnenvisser
Cozy, relaxed, very Amsterdam. Great natural wines and craft beers, and the interior feels intimate. Beautiful plates. Such a nice spot for an easy evening.
📍 Bilderdijkstraat 36, 1052 NB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Scheepskameel
Definitely a place for a proper dinner.Refined seasonal dishes, open kitchen, tasting menu — everything thoughtful and precise. They have a great meat selection, and the atmosphere is warm.
📍 Gebouw 024A, Kattenburgerstraat 5, 1018 JA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Alba Restaurant & Wijnbar
It's very hype for a good reason. Very wine-forward, and great natural pairings. It feels elegant but still comfortable — ideal for a long dinner with friends, date nights.
📍 Wibautstraat 105HS, 1091 GL Amsterdam, Netherlands
Café Twee Prinsen
Such a charming little wine bar. We stopped in after walking the canals and stayed longer than planned. Thoughtful natural wine list, simple bar snacks, and that cozy canal-side atmosphere that makes Amsterdam evenings feel special.
📍 Prinsenstraat 27, 1015 DB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Restaurant Calisto
Warm interior, really good food, and the kind of place where you don’t feel rushed at all.
📍 Haarlemmerdijk 61, 1013 KB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cultural — Museums & Bookstores
Foam Museum
Foam is all about photography — contemporary, bold, sometimes unexpected. It’s not overwhelming in size, which makes it easy to really take your time and enjoy each exhibition.
📍 Keizersgracht 609, 1017 DS Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rijksmuseum
A classic for a reason. Even if you don’t spend hours inside, just walking through the building feels special. The architecture alone is worth it. We focused on a few key works (Rembrandt, Vermeer) and didn’t try to see everything — much more enjoyable that way.
📍 Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Athenaeum Boekhandel
A beautiful independent bookstore with an amazing art, design and international magazine section. You could easily spend an hour just flipping through titles. Very inspiring. We loved it!
📍 Spui 14-16, 1012 XA Amsterdam, Netherlands
The English Bookshop
Such a comforting stop during the trip. A great selection of English-language books — fiction, art, design, travel. I always like visiting bookstores when travelling, and this one felt thoughtful and well curated.
📍 Kalverstraat 223, 1012 XC Amsterdam, Netherlands
