The Guide: Amsterdam
We have always had a soft spot for Amsterdam. Perhaps, its easy accessibility to the UK; a short flight or an overnight ferry, makes it appealing to us. You can experience a new culture in a heartbeat but that’s not the only reason. Like our beloved Copenhagen, the Dutch capital caters for the keen cyclist even with the cobbled streets, it's predominantly flat.
Aesthetically, the mismatched brick townhouses, leaning askew, unusually feel somewhat uniform creating the city's character. It’s filled with an abundance of independent shops, museums woven through canals and although being a European tourist hotspot, with the right guidance, you can find places off the beaten track which help you feel like a local.
Cue, The Guide: Amsterdam
This is an honorary mention. Early in the year, Public Space announced its closure. However, just in case the masterminds behind the operation decide to delve into pastures new, we’ll place them on your radar and you can keep in the loop, as you please. The social space-meets-restaurant by evening was on the Noord side of Amsterdam. A simple journey on the regular, public ferry from the mainland. It’s strange talking about the venue in the past tense and we’ll be sad that we can’t visit on our next trip to the city but we hope for a revival in a different form soon.
Dubbed ‘The Bathtub’ because of its physical appearance, Stedelijk Museum is the contemporary and modern art & design hub of Amsterdam, showcasing a rich collection of dynamic, cutting-edge work from the late 19th Century onwards. Within the gallery, you’ll find works across a range of movements such as Bauhaus, Functionalism and from many of the greats incl. Barnett Newman, Robert Ryman and Sheila Hicks.
The city is peppered with bakeries throughout the whole city. We could list a dozen off the top of our heads and at each location, you’d get a delicious spongy sourdough, crumbly croissant or puffy pastry. One of our top picks though is Fort Negen, great for on-the-go goodness. Their team have trained at organic farms and artisan establishments while honing in on their skills to dish up the best. Fort Negen is ideal for those staying in Amsterdam-West or those wanting to get to grips with their newly hired black bike, cycling through some quieter streets.
Hotel V is a regular of ours and a sanctuary for us, specifically their Fizeaustraat location as it’s nestled in a suburban area of the city. Cycling into central Amsterdam means you get the pleasure of passing (and thus, having the opportunity to drop into) some of our go-to recommendations. The interiors feel deeply rooted in eclecticism, combining vintage pieces from the 70s, industrial touches and minimalism. How they do that so effortlessly and still refined, we don’t know. And yet they still manage to capture comfort. We’re also extremely nostalgic about the complimentary toiletries in the rooms, as the fragrances are to die for via. their branded products.
Voila. The first on your journey from Hotel V Fizeaustraat, cycling to the heart of Amsterdam. Our breakfast spot; Restaurant De Ysbreeker. Overlooking a canal-lined street, the rustic charm and a strong recommendation from a trusted source drew us in and we continued to return. It has a rich history, dating back to 1702, it’s been a key location for the shipping industry, literary movements and political parties. Due to this and in their own words, their approach to catering is ‘unorthodox’- spanning pub culture, lounging, and perfect for a mid-cycle pitstop with tea and a space to work.
A slight detour away from Hotel V, you’ll find Baking Lab. It’s a circular enterprise, eliminating food waste and fully vegetarian. Shop-front you’ll find homemade bread, ingredients, and supplies, downstairs their bakery and upstairs, a small terrace where you can enjoy freshly made food, squeezed juices and ground coffee. Again, another lovely place to escape the bustle of tourists before cycling back; a calm, peaceful pause in the midst of ticking everything off your travel to-do list.
We became familiar with Mediamatic during the pandemic. They were one of the first hospitality businesses to offer an innovative way to continue operating during those months when socialising with strangers was limited. Greenhouses installed outside posed as self-contained dining pods, enabling people to eat out safely. The centre not only houses a plant-based restaurant and bar but also hosts lectures, workshops and art projects with nature and biotech at its core.
An independent concept store across clothing, lifestyle and homewares, stocking smaller brands meshed with established, long-standing businesses and encouraging high-low combinations. Think - Birkenstock, VEJA, Sunspel and Studio Nicholson to Our Legacy, Hereu and Eytys. The team is committed to styling quality, well-made items. We’d recommend pairing some pieces with steals from Amsterdam’s second-hand stores. Try ENSŌ for women’s refined vintage, Roski Yard for private appointments and Concrete Matter for men’s workwear.
A dream canteen, Oficina is a public-facing eatery and food design studio with a carefully compiled, seasonal menu led by collaborating cooks and designers. Distinct in their offering is their range of loose-leaf teas from Asia served to you on long, dining tables shared with other guests and their menu mixes inspiration from international cuisines with locally grown herbs and vegetables, straight from their garden. We love it here and we think you will too.
Sister to NYC’s Index, post-office is a community-based physical workspace. Currently, it’s membership only, so if you’re relocating to Amsterdam or remote working, this could be the spot for you. However, their open-to-all calendar is filled with screenings, exhibits, book clubs and unique events. Sometimes an RSVP is needed so check their Instagram. Longer term the vision is to be entirely self-run, free and co-operative style. Looking forward!
A triple threat! Carmen’s curatorial eye pulls together a shop, kitchen and guesthouses. What to expect? Brands incl. TEKLA, Lesse, Base Range and Acca Kappa are in-store and the small cafe is located out the back. Chefs regularly take over their space for one-off events presenting natural, clean plates and the guesthouse is an extension of their love for modernist design.
Home to over 54,000 films, the Eye Filmmuseum is heaven for enthusiastic cinephiles. Think of it like MUBI but IRL (for non-internet folk, despite being here, unabbreviated is in real life). Behind the scenes, they’re restoring, preserving and digitising their vast catalogue of movies, embedded in academia for researchers and students but front-facing, screen foreign-language films (all subtitled), exhibit hybrid work in video art form and architecturally, the building is incredible with a restaurant overlooking the waterfront.
