Navigating Amsterdam’s Neighbourhoods

Oud West:

Where you’ll find the very pretty Vondelpark

I stayed in the nearby Hotel Vondel which was an excellent base for sightseeing and walking to each of the neighbourhoods mentioned in this post. With a base in Oud West, it seems most of my recommendations are food related – not that that’s a bad thing!

To eat: 
Ted café: all day brunch spot tucked down a lovely residential road. Teds had a warm and friendly vibe and fun interior. A good choice of brunch dishes, I opted for Teds’ French toast which was simply delicious! 

Bosco: up the road from Teds, Bosco is another lovely venue for drinks or food. The menu is small but there’s a choice of burgers, a vegetarian, fish or meat dish plus sharing boards. 

Foodhallen: Formerly a tram shed, Foodhallen is a full of delicious food stalls and tempting drinks. Good for lunch or a relaxed evening out where there’s no shortage of food choice.

To shop:
Things I like Things I love: a gorgeous boutique full of fashion, beauty and home-wear. It felt like every item was handpicked and carefully chosen. I regret not splashing out on a checked bag so I could bring back all the things I loved!

To gram:
Wildernis: Ditto above, if only I could buy up all the beautiful plants from Wildernis, a pretty plant shop where you can also stop for a tea or coffee. If you time a visit, Wildernis also run a series of plant workshops which could be a lovely addition to an itinerary.

Museum quarter:

Where you’ll find the Rijksmuseum and Van Gough museum

To eat/to gram:
Cafe George: Along the pretty darn fancy Leidsegracht which is home to several designer shops like Chanel, Cafe George is a lovely spot to eat/drink in a very instagrammable location. Styled like a French bistro, there’s plenty of options for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Jordaan:

Where you’ll find the Anne Frank museum 

To do:
An ‘Alternative’ walking tour will no doubt lead you into the Jordaan area. If you prefer to navigate your own way, Jordaan is lovely area to wander and see some of the prettiest canals in the city. 

I joined the free alternative walking tour and picked up a few interesting facts along the way from the friendly guide. A fan of quirky buildings, I particularly enjoyed seeing the (reportedly) narrowest house in the world. True or not, this stretch of canal houses is lovely to stop and snap.

De pijp:

Where you’ll find the Heineken experience 

I always like to head to the local markets when visiting a new city and in the heart of the very cool De Pijp neighbourhood, Albert Cuyp Market is a treat for all the senses and full of atmosphere.

To eat/drink:
Little Colins – a sweet little bar/bistro, perfect for a drink or bite to eat after wandering through De Pijp. I only made it here for a coffee but a friend recommended this place and highly rated the brunch. 

A new branch has also opened in Oud West so there’s double the chance to stop by at Little Collins when in Amsterdam.

Centrum:

Where you’ll find the canals (of course), Dam Square and the Red Light District 

To gram
Bloemenmarket is the world’s only floating flower market and a blooming treat for the eyes! Lined with flower stalls and nearby cafes where you can fuel up on coffee and waffles.

To eat:
Stefs – a quaint little cafe and bakery where I stopped to stock up of a few treats to bring home. It would’ve been rude not to order a warm waffle – topped with melted chocolate and powdered sugar, of course!

To shop:
Currently on a vintage kick, I made sure to check out some vintage stores and would definitely recommend a trip to Zipper or one of four Episode vintage stores. I always think there’s something very cool about browsing through rails of vintage items and even buying a piece to remind you of your travels. 

And that brings us to the end of our tour of Amsterdam’s neighbourhoods. Thanks for reading! I really hope this guide comes in useful and helps you to plan your time in some of the city’s wonderful neighbourhoods.