THE INSIDE GUIDE : AMSTERDAM
The coolest city in the world? We think it’s definitely in the top 5 and so it’s no surprise that this is one of favourite places to visit in every season. Amsterdam is known for its picturesque canals, historic charm, and vibrant cultural scene. From iconic landmarks like the Anne Frank House to its bustling markets and eclectic neighbourhoods, Amsterdam offers a unique blend of history and urban culture.. not the mention the techno music scene where you’ll find DJ’s dropping beats in the coolest clubs in Europe.
stay
Although.a small city, Amsterdam has multiple neighbourhoods that all exude a different vibe, so your hotel location will really set the tone for your stay here.
The Canal District The beating heart of the city
Oud West The Notting Hill of Amsterdam
Oost Rich culture, historic charm, modern vibrance
Noord Industrial roots, artistic revival, waterfront allure
Read our Amsterdam Journal for an in-depth review about what to explore in each neighbourhood.
Conservatorium Hotel, Amsterdam
The Pulitzer, Amsterdam
The Dylan, Amsterdam
“Amsterdam is not a city,
it’s a world”
see
A city full of artists, creatives, and rebels, there’s something for everyone. Personally, in most cities we love to find hidden gems, explore new neighbourhoods and really immerse ourselves into the daily lives of the locals. Here are our current favourites in Dam;
Art and Exhibitions: Art lovers unite. There are endless exhibitions to absorb around the city. Our favourites are the Banksy Exhibition at The Moco Museum and contemporary photography museum Foam.
Rent a Boat: This is the perfect way to see the city from a different angle. Boats are rentable, which allows you to create your own route - take a speaker, moor up and hang out on the water with drinks and pizza from Dope. The dream.
Museums: Famed for its Museum Quarter, you will never be short of places to wander around on a rainy day. The Rijksmuseum is the star of the show, but a performance at the Concert Hall is not to be missed.
The Jordaan: Often overlooked, this artistic neighbourhood is a maze of cafes, small shops, restaurants and art galleries to explore - an Amsterdam treasure in our eyes.
Tuschinski: We are suckers for cinema. If you love films like we do then this is definitely the place for you, we always visit here just for the architecture alone. The Movies is another cinematic contender, being the oldest cinema in Amsterdam, it has a real sense of cinematic history.
De Food Hallen: An old tram depo turned elevated indoor street food hub, with 47 stalls serving every cuisine imaginable alongside a bar and communal seating, this is a really cool vibe. The burgers from The Butcher are *chefs kiss*
NDSM: A former industrial shipyard converted into a cultural hub, now filled with cafes, restaurants & bars, art galleries, working spaces and weekend markets. Spend a day at Pllek, a beach bar that turns disco when sun sets.
Vondelpark: Beautiful in every season, walk or cycle around this stunning park and soak in the scenery. In the summer months, catch an open air concert or take a picnic and graze on the grass for hours.
For our curated and in depth list of our favourite places in Dam, read more from our Journal below
“where the old world meets the new”
style
A new contender to be one of the most fashion-forward cities in Europe, with an eclectic mix of urban, vintage and luxury stores - nobody can deny the people of Amsterdam have got style. Definitely one of our favourite cities for fashion and endless street style inspo. Don’t forget to claim your tax back at the airport - technically it’s discount right?
1. Vintage Boutiques: Vintage boutiques are a treasure trove in Amsterdam if you know where to find them. We love RumoursVintage near the station for cowboy boots and 90’s trenches or book an appointment at NhoGirl for the coolest vintage feminine pieces.
2. Luxury Pieces: Head to P.C. Hooftstraat, to find every designer store from Prada to Chanel, including the iconic Hermes building - we love this just for the aesthetic. If you prefer to shop indoors, De Bienkorf department store is basically the Selfridges of Amsterdam - dangerous.
3. Independent Amsterdam stores: Pick up some unique pieces from our favourite unisex Amsterdam based stores such as Prjct Amsterdam, Mercer and FOUR.
4. Fashion Exhibitions: Attend Amsterdam Fashion Week to see local designers collections straight from the runway and attend exclusive events and presentations around the city. Our favourite designers in this city are De La Vi, Raf Simons and Atlelier.
5. Interior and Home Decor Pols Potten’s warehouse-store in Amsterdam’s Eastern Docklands is filled with a broad range of interior design items from vibrant ceramics and glassware to intricately crafted furniture and avant-garde lighting fixtures, sourced from both established and emerging designers - sure to add a bit of originality to any home.
We love styling for the city. See what we wore here
soiree
Amsterdam is known for it’s laid back, flirty sunset soirees but this city really comes alive after dark.
Skyline Soirees For the best views and cocktails in the city, head to one of Amsterdam’s impressive rooftops - Mr Porters at The W, complete with a rooftop pool and live DJ, really is the place to be in the summer months. Our other favourites are Soho House and The Sky Bar at A’dam Tower for equally fabulous views and vibes. For our full list of favourite views of the city skyline, see here
Independent Bars Amsterdam is filled with hidden gems tucked away in historic alleyways, including many independent bars with a diverse range of atmospheres and aesthetics, We love unique and intimate settings for a memorable and authentic experience so our current favourites are hidden speakeasy Door74 and Cafe Helmers, which is always bustling and fun. We also love Cornerstore for cool aesthetics, natural wines and live DJ’s - a really cool vibe.
Restaurants + Dining : Head to Helling7 in Noord for a really cool venue and delicious menu, if you love an Italian dish then head Lolos (portions are small though so order more), or if you love immersive decor and Japanese cuisine, Secret Garden is incredible. Head to Mr Porter for at the W hotel for the best steak in the city or if you’re looking for another unique experience, dine at De Kas where all the ingredients are grow on site - so fresh. It would also be rude not to include our favourite Cecconi’s which is always our go-to or a fail safe and satisfying menu. For our full comprehensive list of our favourite restaurants in Amsterdam, go to our journal here
Craft Cocktails and Canals Waterfront havens with stunning views from day to night in Amsterdam are unmatched. Our go to waterside spots are Cafe de Jaren for a chilled vibe or for a ‘tropical oasis’ where you can sing, dance and drink day and night, head to Waterkant for all the fun.
Hotel Haunts With an array of aesthetic hotels in Amsterdam, consequentially there are equally aesthetic bars. Our favourites haunts in the city are Pulitzer Bar, Taiko Bar at Conservatorium Hotel and Lottis at The Hoxton complete with live music sessions on Sundays. For our full list of favourite hotel bars in Amsterdam see here
Super Clubs + Music If you love to dance like we do, head to some of the world renowned super clubs open all hours. Catch a concert at Melkweg or Paradiso or dance until the early hours at Gashouder where world famous DJ’s play all night long.
Amsterdam also has epic outdoor festivals throughout the year; NoArt, Awakenings and DGTL have already been ticked off our bucket list recently and as you can imagine, we loved them all.