maandag 17 februari 2014

Lazy weekends in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the best cities to live. Especially when it's not raining. So what to do in Amsterdam on a dry sunny weekend day in winter?

Neighbourhood Food Market

Sampling fine food in a relaxed, cozy setting.
There is almost something going on at the Westergasfabriek all the way in West. It's a good thing it's one of my favorite hang outs in the city, and not only because it's an urban brownfield redevelopment project. Last sunday Westergasfabriek hosted the Neighbourhood Food Market. Inside the Zuiveringshal West a wide variety of food stalls were put up, a DJ spinned old vinyl records, outside there were french fries, pancakes, mexican burritos were made in rolling kitchens.


The atmosphere is relaxed but it gets quite crowded after 3pm, so get there early. There is also some second hand stalls in the western half of the hall. The place is pretty kid friendly, and a photograper was taking cool pictures of families on the southern part of the building. 

Some of our favorite stalls: the pinxtos, vegetarian Indian and definitely the Vietnamese spring rolls.



Six and Sons

Cool retro vintage concept store for men.



 Coffee and vintage furniture, clothing, decorations, fragrances... This is a gentlemen's store with a living room look and feel. Browse through the unique collection downstairs, rest and relax in the coffee bar upstairs with a coffee, sandwich, cake...



Cool stuff, good coffee, great prices!



Zimmerhoeve

Kids love animals, and you don't need to venture to Artis or to the countryside to find some sweet animals your toddles can pet and play with. Off De Clercqstraat, in the Kinkerbuurt there's a quaint little wooden city farm called the Zimmerhoeve. Before there was a petting zoo and playground installed there was a factory making iron cast potholes.

Free entrance, cute place, there are sheep, rabbits, chickens, pigs, goats, guinea pigs... Outside the petting zoo there is a large play ground, some ruins of the old pothole factory are visible on the playground. Warm up with a nice coffee, or a good glass of Belgian beer at nearby Cafe Louter.

zondag 2 februari 2014

Coffee in Amsterdam - my favorite places to chill for coffee

1. Headfirst Coffee Roasters : Coffee|Filter Coffee|Hipster|Jordaan

2. Bedford Stuyvesant: Coffee|Espressobar|Great Sandwiches|Oost

3. Mem's: Espressobar|Trendy|Artsy|Brand New|De Pijp

4. Boulangerie 1072: Bakery|Coffee|Snacks|Retro|Breakfast|De Pijp

5. Back to Black: Tearoom|Coffee|Specialty Beers|Lunch|Historic|Courtyard|Centrum.Zeedijk

6. Six & Sons: Coffee|Vintage Furniture|Decoration|Hipster|Jordaan.Haarlemmerdijk

7. Tazzina: Espresso|Lunch|High Tea|Scones|Jordaan

8. Boterham: Hipster|Breakfast|Lunch|Interior Decorations Shop|Oost

9. Koko Coffe & Design: Coffee|Design|Clothing|Red Light District

10. Scandinavian Embassy: Coffee|Hot Chocolate|Cake|Nordic Design|De Pijp


zaterdag 1 februari 2014

Best Bars in Amsterdam - my hotspots

1. Bar Bukowski: Hipster|Design|Lunch|Drinks|Crowded weekend nights|Oost

2. Pllek: Industrial|Artsy crowd|Lunch|Dinner|Amazing views|NDSM

3. Cafe Thijsen: Brown bar|Cozy|Neighbourhood bar|Nice terrace|Jordaan

4. Schilders: Retro|Design|Young crowd|Dinner|De Pijp

5. Bar Brouw: Industrial Chic|Smoked meat|Lunch|Dinner|Hipster|West

6. Cafe Binnen Buiten: Brown Bar|Food|Great terrace|Cozy|De Pijp

7. Mash: Hardwood interior all over|Hipster|Gin|US beers|De Pijp

8. Henri's Bar: Cocktails|Hip|Lounge|Oost

9. Cafe Kuijpers: Young locals|Food|Hip Brown Bar|Oost

10. De Ruyschkamer: Living room|Juice Bar|Food|Furniture for sale|Amstel

11. Hugo's Bar: Cocktails|NYC-style bar|Good Food|Wines|Oud West

12. Bar Baarsch: Locals|Gastropub|Hip|Child friendly|De Baarsjes

13. Bar Spek: Hip|Laid back|Gastropub|De Baarsjes

14. Hannekes Boom: Robust|Hipster|Exposed wood|Great terrace|Centrum

15. Wolvenstraat 23: Funky|Asian Food|Expats|Wines|Good music|Jordaan

16. De Walvis: Brown Cafe|Cozy|Hipster|Live Music|Spaarndammerbuurt

17. De Zotte: Brown bar|Funky|Belgian Beers|Good Music|Centrum

18. Roest: Artist Freehaven (Corporate though)|City Beach|Industrial|Hipster Markets|Oost|

19. Noorderlicht: Bohemian|Live music|Green house|Funky art|Hippies|NDSM

20. Tripel: Brown Bar|Exposed Wood|Belgian Beers|Horrible music|Jordaan

21. Societe Wunderbar: Urban Chic|Cool|Escape from Kalverstraat|Center

22. Van Mechelen: Belgian Beer|Brown Grand Cafe|Gastro Pub|Schinkel

23. Worst: Wines|Sausages|Gastro|Cozy|Spaarndammerbuurt

24. Kiebert: Retro Design|Brown Bar|Gastro Pub|Apollobuurt

25. Brakke Grond: Flemish Cultural Center|Belgian|Food|Terrace|Centrum

26. Bar Moustache: Stylish|Vintage Decor|Italian Food|Center.Amstel

27. Van Zuylen: Brown Bar|Very Dutch|Snacks|Borrel|Jordaan

28. 5&33: Modern|Design|Cosmopolitan|Art|Centrum

29. Door 74: 'Secret Bar'|20ies Retro|Cocktails|Stylish|Centrum

30. Franklin: Stylish|Cosmopolitan|Food|Cocktails|Schinkel

31. Cafe Kobalt: Sunday Jazz|Authentic Amsterdam Bar|Jordaan

31. Flamingo: Hip|Beers|Students|Cozy|De Pijp

32. Ysbreeker: Elegant|Art Deco|Grand Cafe|Food|Amstel

33. Hiding in plain sight: 30ies|Retro|Cocktails|Centrum

34. Finch: Locals|Vrijmibo|Lively|Jordaan

35. Proust: Locals|Lunch|Jordaan

36. Orangerie: Locals|Brown Bar|Food|Very Amsterdam|Jordaan

37. Vespers: Stylish|Hip|Cocktails|Jordaan

38. Alto: Live Jazz|Small|Cozy|Amsterdam Institute|Hans Dulfer|Centrum

39. Edel: Hip|Retro Design|Big Venue|Terrace|Food|De Baarsjes

40. Cafe Kostverloren: Hipster|Locals|Terrace|Food|De Baarsjes

41. Milo: Art Deco|Calm|Cozy|Food|Oost

42. Vrijdag: New|Brown Bar|Rivierenbuurt

43. Du Cap: Stylish|Cozy|Terrace|Food|Wine|Oud West

44. Orloff: Brown Bar|Snacks|Borrel|Terrace|Cozy|Authentic|Plantagebuurt

45. Boca's Jordaan: Lunch|Borrel|Hip|Cozy|Popular|Jordaan

46. Boca's De Pijp: Lunch|Borrel|Hip|Cozy|Popular|De Pijp

47. Louter: Retro Design|Cozy|Laid Back|Food|Oud West

48. 23 Bar: Cosmopolitan|Okura|View|Elegant|De Pijp

49. Sky Lounge: The View|Center

50. Dutch & Co: Cosmopolitan|Bad Service|New York Design|De Pijp

51. In't Aepjen: Oldest Bar in Amsterdam|Center

52. Andaz Bar: Cosmpolital|Cozy|Stylish|Cocktails|Jordaan

53. Mazzeltof: Dutch Dive Bar|Bad Music|Open til 3am on weekdays|De Pijp

54. Louis : Hipster|New|Jordaan

55. Bar Mick: Retro|Menu of the Day|Spaarndammerbuurt

56. Bar Mash





To be reviewed:
Mick
Butchers tears
(The new Cafe Blanko)
Dvars