Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide
Page 170
Tram #1, 3, or 12 to 1e Constantijn Huygensstraat/Overtoom. Walk down 1e C. Huygensstraat, make a right onto Vondelstraat, and enter the park about 1 block down; the cafe is on your left. Soups and sandwiches €3.50-6.75. Entrees €11.75-19.50. Open daily 10am-1am.
BAGELS AND BEANS
Van Baerlestraat 40
CAFE
020 67 570 50 www.bagelsbeans.nl
This charming chain now has over 40 stores across the Netherlands, but this is where it all began. You can get something as simple as a bagel with cream cheese (though with dozens of bagels and cream cheese options, it’s not as simple as it sounds), or go for one of their creative sandwiches like chicken and avocado or goat cheese, honey, and walnuts. Given the dearth of affordable food around here, this place is magical. Check out the absurd opening times.
Tram #2, 3, 5, or 12 to Van Baerlestraat. Bagel with cream cheese €3.35. Sandwiches €3.95-6.50. Open May-Sept M-F 7:59am-6:02pm, Sa-Su 9:31am-6:02pm; Oct-Apr M-F 8:28am-6:01pm, Sa-Su 9:31am-5:59pm.
EAT AT JO’S
Marnixstraat 409
AMERICAN
020 63 833 36 www.eatatjos.com
This cafe inside the Melkweg complex gives you the opportunity to rub elbows with performers and locals over outstanding, impeccably fresh food. The menu changes daily, accommodating seasonal variation and the chef’s multiethnic whims, but always with a vegetarian and vegan option.
Tram #1, 2, 5, 7, or 10 to Leidseplein. Make a right down Marnixstraat. Sandwiches €5. Salads €7. Entrees €13. Open W-Su noon-9pm. Dinner service begins at 5:30pm.
SAMA SEBO
P. C. Hooftstraat 27
INDONESIAN
020 66 281 46 www.samasebo.nl
Just next to the temporary entrance to the Rijksmuseum, this restaurant exemplifies the Dutch fondness for Indonesian food—authentic rijsttafels are served in a place that looks like a quintessential Dutch pub. Not the cheapest meal available, but the lunch deals are a good value for the neighborhood.
Tram #2 or 5 to Hobbemastraat. Walk down the street with the Rijksmuseum on your right; the restaurant is at the intersection with P. C. Hooftstraat. Entrees €2.50-8. Lunch menus €16. Rijsttafel €30 per person. Bar open M-Sa 9am-1am. Kitchen open noon-3pm and 5-10pm.
J. J. OOIJEVAAR
Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 47
DELI
020 62 355 03
This is the place for the cheapest sandwiches on the Leidseplein—perhaps in all of Amsterdam. Rolls start at €1.30, and all manner of fillings are available to stuff them with: cheeses, meats, vegetables, etc.
Tram #1, 2, 5, 7, or 10 to Leidseplein. Sandwiches €1.30-3.50. Open M-F 8:30am-6pm.
De Pijp
If you could somehow work it so that you ate every meal in De Pijp during your time in Amsterdam, you would be a happy camper. In a radius of just a few blocks, you’ll find a tremendous variety of cuisines dished up at significantly lower prices than in most other parts of the city. Albert Cuypstraat and Ferdinand Bolstraat are good places to start looking, but don’t neglect the side streets that radiate off of them as well.
CAFE DE PIJP
Ferdinand Bolstraat 17-19
MEDITERRANEAN
020 67 041 61 www.goodfoodgroup.nl
20-somethings linger over drinks, dinner, or more drinks at Cafe De Pijp, something of a catch-all local hotspot. The menu is filled with tapas-esque offerings, like Merguez sausage with Turkish bread and aioli, or more Italian-inspired dishes along the lines of eggplant parmesan. On weekend nights, DJs spin dance tunes to help you work off your meal.
Tram #16 or 24 to Stadhouderskade. Walk 2 blocks down Ferdinand Bolstraat. Entrees €5.50-8. Open M-Th 3:30pm-1am, F 3:30pm-3am, Sa noon-2am, Su noon-1am.
BAZAR
Albert Cuypstraat 182
MIDDLE EASTERN
020 67 505 44 www.bazaramsterdam.com
The crush of Albert Cuypmarkt feeling a little overwhelming? Pop into this former church where the vaulted ceilings remain, now decorated with Arabic Coca-Cola signs and old Dutch advertisements. Bazar serves inexpensive and super tasty Middle Eastern food.
Tram #16 or 24 to Albert Cuypstraat. Walk through the market a few blocks. Sandwiches and lunch entrees €4-10. Dinner entrees €12-16. Open M-Th 11am-midnight, F 11am-1am, Sa 9am-1am, Su 9am-midnight.
WARUNG SPANG MAKANDRA
Gerard Doustraat 39
INDONESIAN
020 67 050 81 www.spangmakandra.nl
Imperialism may have been a pretty terrible thing, but at least it has given us delicious culinary combinations like the Indonesian-Surinamese mix at this neighborhood favorite. Enjoy noodle and rice dishes, satays, and rotis—pancakes with different meat or vegetable fillings—for incredibly low prices.
Tram #16 or 24 to Albert Cuypstraat. Walk 1 block north on Ferdinand Bolstraat and make a left. Entrees €5.50-9. Open M-Sa 11am-10pm, Su 1-10pm.
BURGERMEESTER
Albert Cuypstraat 48
BURGERS
020 67 093 39 www.burgermeester.eu
Thankfully, the burgers here are better than the store’s punny name (burgemeester is “mayor” in Dutch). This is something of a designer-burger bar—you can get a patty made from fancy beef, lamb, salmon, falafel, or Manchego cheese and hazelnuts, then top it with things like Chinese kale, truffle oil, or buffalo mozzarella. Burgers can be ordered normal-sized or miniature, because food is always more fun when it’s tiny. They sell salads, too, but who goes to a burger joint for a salad?
Tram #16 or 24 to Albert Cuypstraat. Walk down the street away from the market. Burgers €6.50-8.50. Toppings €0.50-1. Open daily noon-11pm.
DE TAART VAN M’N TANTE
Ferdinand Bolstraat 10
DESSERT
020 77 646 00 www.detaart.com
What started as a customized cake bakery now has its own restaurant where you can try slices of delicious cakes and pies—apple, pecan, and all kinds of more exciting combinations (including ones made “tipsy” with dashes of Amaretto and other liqueurs).
Tram #16 or 24 to Stadhouderskade/Ferdinand Bolstraat. The store is on the corner. Tart slices €4.30-5.20. Open daily 10am-6pm.
Jodenbuurt and Plantage
EETKUNST ASMARA
Jonas Daniel Meijerplein 8
ERITREAN
020 62 710 02
Jodenbuurt started out as a neighborhood of immigrants, and this East African restaurant is a testament to the area’s continuing diversity. The menu consists of different types of meat or vegetables cooked in delicately blended spices, all served with injera, a traditional spongy, slightly tangy bread.
Tram #9 or 14 or Waterlooplein. Restaurant is just after the Jewish Historical Museum. Entrees €9.50-11.50. Beer €1.50. Open daily 6-11pm.
ROSARIO
Peperstraat 10
ITALIAN
020 62 702 80 www.restaurantrosario.nl
If you’re in the neighborhood and ready to drop a tidy sum, then this is the place to come. Everything from the bread to the pasta is fresh and homemade. Dishes are classic Italian with a twist, like curry tagliatelle with salmon or avocado panna cotta.
Tram #9 or 14 or Waterlooplein. Walk along Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat until it becomes Peperstraat. Antipasti €11-12.50; primi €13.50-15; secondi €22-24. Open W-Su 6-10:30pm.
PLANCIUS
Plantage Kerklaan 61A
CAFE, SANDWICHES, FRENCH
020 33 094 69 www.restaurantplancius.nl
Capturing that elusive stylish yet unpretentious feeling, Plancius is a one-stop-shop for everything from breakfast to after-dinner drinks. The menu rotates seasonally, but trust that lunch will have a selection of creative spins on the traditional sandwich, while dinner tends toward more formal French fare like lamb shank or shrimp croquettes.
Tram #9 or 14 to Plantage Kerklaan. Across from Artis Zoo. Sandwiches €2.65-8.50. Dinner appetizers €8; entrees €15-19. Open daily 11am-11pm. Cheaper items served until 6pm.
NIGHTLIFE
It goes without saying that experiencing the nightlife in Amsterdam is an integral part of any trip to the city. Certainly, you can go to the Rijksmuseum and see a dozen Rembrandts, but there’s nothing like stumbling out of a bar at 5am and seeing the great man staring down at you from a pedestal in the middle of Rembrandtplein. That’s one of the main after-dusk hotspots, where you can find glitzy clubs lined up next to raucous tourist bars and dance spots where the music invites choruses of drunken revelers to sing along. Leidseplein offers a similar mix of quality dance venues with live DJs, cool cocktail spots, and rowdy pubs. A few additional clubs are scattered throughout the city, but mostly what you’ll find in the way of nightlife are some hipper lounge bars and a whole lot of bruin cafes, cafe-pub combinations populated by old Dutch men and hipster students, depending on what neighborhood you’re in. The closer you get to the Red Light District, the more the local presence fades away and is taken over by groups of large British men on bachelor party trips wearing matching T-shirts.
GLBT nightlife is very visible and prominent. Around Rembrandtplein, especially on Reguliersdwarsstraat, you’ll find both gay clubs and bars that cater primarily to men, though some women often turn up, too. The northern part of Zeedijk also has a couple of gay bars, and on the end of Warmoesstraat, near Dam, you’ll find smaller, darker clubs that are strictly men-only and feature a fair bit of rubber and leather.
Oude Zijd
Both Zeedijk and Nieuwmarkt are lined with bars, so you certainly won’t be at a loss for options when you head out to grab a drink in the evening. The watering holes on Zeedijk tend to be more popular with tourists, while Nieuwmarkt’s crowd is mixed. If you head east toward Jodenbuurt, you will find more locals. Heading west will bring you to the Red Light District in all its glory. Though some overflow energy from the busier neighborhoods to the west spills into the Oude Zijd, things are generally a bit tamer at night. It’s telling that most of the establishments listed here have “cafe” in their name. The northern part of Zeedijk, near Centraal Station, has a smattering of GLBT bars, identified by their rainbow flags.
HET ELFDE GEBOD
Zeedijk 5
BAR
020 62 235 77 www.hetelfdegebod.com
Named “The Eleventh Commandment” after a now nonexistent Belgian beer, this bar sets itself apart from the endless row of pubs along the street with its incredible beer selection.
At the beginning of Zeedijk, near Centraal Station. Beer from €3. Open M 5pm-1am, W-Su 3pm-1am.
CAFE DE JAREN
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22
BAR
020 62 557 71 www.cafedejaren.nl
Incredibly popular with locals and tourists of all ages, Cafe de Jaren has an expansive interior and a two-tiered terrace overlooking the Amstel, making it one of the nicest spots to sit in Amsterdam. Thanks to its size and elegance, it looks a lot more expensive than it is. It also serves a diverse lunch and dinner menu.
Tram #4, 9, 16, 24, or 25 to Muntplein. Cross the Amstel and walk a ½-block. Beer from €2.50. Wine from €3. Open M-Th 9:30am-1am, F-Sa 9:30am-2am, Su 9:30am-1am.
COTTON CLUB
Nieuwmarkt 5
JAZZ CLUB
020 62 661 92 www.cottonclubmusic.nl
An old and storied jazz club on the edge of Nieuwmarkt. Legendary musicians have played here, and every Saturday 5-8pm, you can hear the talented house musicians play, often with special guests. The rest of the week this is still a tuneful and relaxed place to enjoy a drink.
Nieuwmarkt. Beer from €2.50. Weekly concerts are free. Open M-Th noon-1am, F-Sa noon-2am, Su noon-1am.
CAFE NAGEL
Krom Boomssloot 47
BAR
020 51 684 93
Cafe Nagel is a truly local spot that feels miles away from tourist-filled Nieuwmarkt (though it’s just a 2min. walk). It’s packed with a regular crowd of locals in their 20s and early 30s on weekend nights. The good selection of beers and spirits (at some of the cheapest prices in town) should be enjoyed at the cafe’s simple wooden tables or bustling bar.
Nieuwmarkt. Walk down Keizersstraat; it’s across the canal. Beer from €2.50. Spirits from €3. Open M-Th 11am-1am, F-Sa 11am-3am, Su 11am-1am.
Red Light District
Ah, the Red Light District at night. Most of the neon glow bathes Oudezijds Achterburgwal and the nearby alleyways. Farther over on Warmoesstraat, you can still get a tinge of the lascivious luminescence but will find far more non-sex-related establishments. Especially on weekends, the whole area is filled with crowds of predominantly male tourists. Despite getting very busy, the hotel bars on Warmoesstraat and Oudezijds Voorburgwal can be fun places to mingle with fellow backpackers.
CLUB WINSTON
Warmoesstraat 129
CLUB
020 62 539 12 www.winston.nl
A surprisingly large spectrum of musical genres fills this club each night with young locals and tourists. Live bands often play earlier in the evening, while DJs take over after 11pm. Once the bands clear out, the stage is free for intrepid dancers. You can hear everything from rock, metal, and drum ’n’ bass to electronica, indie pop, or hip hop.
From Centraal Station, go south on Damrak, turn right onto Brugsteeg, and left onto Warmoesstraat. Cover usually around €5. Beer from €2.50. Open daily, usually 9pm-4am.
GETTO
Warmoesstraat 51
BAR
020 42 151 51 www.getto.nl
A fun, everyone’s-welcome-here cocktail bar crossed with a diner, Getto offers a phenomenal cocktail menu as well as their very own homemade infused vodka (flavors range from vanilla to cucumber). Though the bar’s considered a GLBT establishment, the crowd is really as diverse as they come.
From Centraal Station, go south on Damrak, turn right onto Brugsteeg, and veer left onto Warmoesstraat. Cocktails from €6. Open Tu-Th 4pm-1am, F-Sa 4pm-2am, Su 4pm-midnight. Happy hour Tu-Sa 5-7pm.
CAFE AEN’T WATER
Oudezijds Vorburgwaal 2a
BAR
020 65 206 18
Smack in the middle of the two busiest Red Light District drags, you’ll be surprised by how relaxed you feel and how much Dutch you hear. The star attraction is the large outdoor patio that hugs a bend in the canal, but if you choose to sit inside, you’ll be able to enjoy the soundtrack of quality rock and indie music.
From Centraal Station, turn left onto Prins Hendrikkade and then bear right onto Nieuwebrugsteeg; continue straight as it becomes Oudezijds Vorburgwaal. Beer from €2. Open M-Th noon-1am, F-Sa noon-3am, Su noon-1am.
ROCK PLANET
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 246
BAR
020 42 164 00
This bar serves as an appropriate reminder that though some in the Red Light District may try, no one does debauchery like a rock star. The staff happily takes any music requests (as long as they’re for rock), but you can also select from a vast collection of live concert DVDs and watch the performances while you drink. Reasonably mellow on weekdays (despite the high decibels), Rock Planet really fills up on weekend nights.
From Dam Sq., walk east on Dam and make a right onto Oudezijds Voorburgwal. Beer from €2. Open M-Th 9am-1am, F-Sa 9am-3am, Su 9am-1am.
Nieuwe Zijd
Though not very concentrated, nightlife in the Nieuwe Zijd is diverse. Spuistraat is the place to go for artsier cafes and bars, while Dam Square and Rokin are lined with larger, rowdier pubs. The small streets in the southern part of the neighborhood are home to quite a few good beer bars and a couple of energetic clubs as well.
PRIK
Spuistraat 109
BAR, CLUB
020 32 000 02 www.prikamsterdam.nl
Voted both best bar and best gay bar in Amsterdam on multiple occasions, Prik attracts pretty much everyone—locals and tourists, gay and straight people, men and women—though the majority of patrons tend to be men. It’s a place that is as light and fun as its name (“bubble”). Serves great inventive cocktails and tast
y bar snacks. Come for cocktail specials all day Thursday and Sunday evenings. On weekends, DJs spin pop, house, and disco classics.
Tram #1, 2, 5, or 14 to Dam/Paleisstraat. Walk down Paleisstraat and right onto Spuistraat. Beer from €2. Cocktails from €6. Open M-Th 4pm-1am, F-Sa 4pm-3am, Su 4pm-1am. Kitchen open until 11pm.
DANSEN BIJ JANSEN
Handboogstraat 11-13
CLUB
020 62 017 79 www.dansenbijjansen.nl
A student-only club (must have ID or be accompanied by someone who does), Dansen bij Jansen attracts those from both the nearby University of Amsterdam and local hostels. The music in the crowded main dance floor may feel a bit three-years-ago, with a slightly cheesy mix of Top 40, R and B, and disco, but it certainly gets people dancing.