Near Amsterdam's second most important amusement area, the Leidseplein, lies this small jazz pub with a short bar and just a few tables and chairs. Dimly lit, the cafe has a rustic charm to it with its soft candles and lanterns. Alto has been entertaining jazz lovers for more than 50 years and you will find the plastered photo walls of jazz greats quite alluring. The wooden floors adds to the mystique of the place while the nightly live performances gives it an ethereal aura to it. Go there if you are a jazz enthusiast, you might just love the place.
This collective collaboration of the NH Group of Hotels and three-star Michelin chef Jacob Jan Boerma is the flagship restaurant of the iconic Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. The White Room is widely considered to be the longest running restaurant in Amsterdam. The interiors include ceiling ornaments, artwork and original 19th-century wall panels. The main dining room is grand as it gets and the cuisine is contemporary with a hint of local flavors.
A cozy, down-to-earth tearoom in the English style, Greenwoods offers unique takes on simple fare. Everything here, from the bread used for the sandwiches to the delicious signature cheesecake is made on the premises by the friendly, efficient staff. Specials change regularly, but firm favorites are the High Tea - a selection of bite-sized sandwiches and cakes and the traditional English breakfast. Of course if you don't want to eat, you can always just lounge on the small terrace with a paper and a coffee, tea or organic juice. While Greenwoods closes early in the evening, the last few hours of the afternoon are the best time to visit, when the sun hits the terrace and the crowds of lunchtime regulars have moved on.
Located in one of the oldest wooden buildings in Amsterdam, Int Aepjen is full of history and local color. It is affectionately referred to as "the monkey bar." Folk tales say that this lively bar used to be frequented by sailors. On being unable to pay the tab, the sailors used to pay in kind by handing over monkeys from the Dutch East Indies. However, nowadays monkeys are not acceptable as a form of legal tender here, although you will still find images of them in the taproom.
An upscale European gastro bar run by Michelin Star Chef Ron Blaauw, Ron Gastrobar is the perfect place for an exquisitely crafted and unique meal. Dishes here are all served tapas-style. Make sure to order at least 2 dishes per person as these are small plates. Mouth-watering gourmet dishes like the Risotto with Crispy Frogs Legs, BBQ Green Cabbage with smoked Bone Marrow, and the Smoked Eel Van Eveleens are just some of the exciting dishes available here. You may choose from the outdoor patio seating or their indoor option, where the walls are covered with illustrations of chefs, and the ambiance is lively and warm. Be sure to make a reservation in advance as it tends to get packed quickly.
This pub offers a central location to enjoy a drink or a coffee with plenty of people-watching opportunities from the patio. The bar has mainly standing room with a few small tables for those lucky enough to snag them. Coffee can be brought to you through the connecting door to the cafe in the rear. Very little has changed here in the last 300 years except for the computer the bartender uses for his bookkeeping. Do not forget to try a glass of Wees Old Geneva.
Standing in the corner of a street, this tiny shop like structure can be deceptive; Pisa Ijs is the storehouse of the most sinful frozen desserts you can lay your hands on in the city. There are over thirty varieties of fresh, Italian home-made ice creams and the menu is regularly updated to accommodate the season's favorite. Even the fact that there's no seating available doesn't deter people from coming here by the hordes. To pick from the assortment of flavors available, you can even sample them. By the time you've tasted them all, there's no room left for anymore. The strawberry, chocolate and dry fruit varieties are worth slurping. And so are the cappuccino and raspberry. Cones or cups, the choice is yours.
Perched at the top of a very steep staircase, the appropriately named Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs offers traditional Dutch pancakes to those customers brave enough to make the climb. The atmosphere is intimate to say the least, and with only five tables this pancake house is not set up for large groups. Whether you want sweet or savory pancakes, you can find something tasty on the menu such as the tempting bacon, cheese, and tomato or the traditional syrup pancake. Prices may be a little high, but the sizeable portions mean these pancakes are more than a snack. Opening hours can also be a little unpredictable.
Tales and Spirits serves cocktails which are crafted to perfection by their generous and talented bartenders. The interior of the bar is brightly lit with the glow emitting from gorgeous chandeliers. Wooden furnishings give the place a vintage look and modest tables and chairs make comfortable seating spaces. What if...?, All things nice, Little Miss Trouble, Stings like a bee, and Zombie are some of their concoctions that taste as fun as they sound. Duck liver brioche burgers, Brandt and Levie sausage, and crunchy chicken complement the drinks very well. They also have a separate dinner menu and dining room for those who'd prefer a more substantial meal.
Located in De Pijp, the charming Bakers & Roasters cafe offers refreshing and unmistakable flavors of New Zealand with a South American spin on it. Choose from an exciting array of baked goods, brunch dishes, fresh-fruit salads and Kiwi-based specials to be combined with a freshly brewed coffee. Other thirst quenchers include healthy juices, hearty milkshakes, brunch cocktails and draft beers. Bright colors and lively ambiance of the cafe uplift the mood while massive portions of delicious food, hit the right spot. For an experience of your own, head down to this quaint cafe on Eerste Jacob van Camp.
Featuring delicious coffees and a daily changing menu of creative salads, cakes and sandwiches, The Coffee Virus cafe ensures there is something delightful in store for everyone. Goat Cheese Toastie and Wild Chicken Sandwich are some of the delicacies served here. The decadent food can be paired with a cup of Lekker Coffee, a beverage much loved by the locals. Set in a laid-back space, with wooden tables, plants and natural light filling the interiors, the restaurant’s ambience, and quiet atmosphere also makes this place a great spot to get some work done or simply read some books.
Since winning the European Coffee Award for Best Artisan Roast in 2014, Bocca Coffee has continued to win hearts with its speciality blends and inspired menu. Customers flock to the central Amsterdam cafe for such treats as cascara sodas, sparkling drinks made from coffee cherry tea, and coffee tonics. The modern, well-lit space is accented by pale wood furnishings and hanging plants, creating an ambiance as warm as the coffee. After enjoying a cup, patrons can check out Bocca's on-site state of the art showroom.