Amsterdam Guide (Winter edition!)

Usually around the Holidays we spend our time in Amsterdam, where we are enjoying family, friends and when lucky: some Winter sun. It's no secret Amsterdam is one of our favorite cities! Whether you're visiting Amsterdam in Summer of Winter, with or without lockdown, there's always lots to explore. 

Together with Kate Wood, a brand that originally started in Amsterdam and now has brand stores in Bali and Shanghai, we roamed the cozy streets and canals last December to create a little Amsterdam guide for you. Showing you our favorite places in the city. Since Amsterdam is in lockdown due to the coronavirus, restaurants, shops and museums are closed. But we still have a little list of amazing things to do that you can do to soak up the Amsterdam good life!

Coffee

Toki
The one place where we love to enjoy the best coffee in town since the day it opened. Hidden in a little side street in the city Center, Toki is a lovely little neighborhood hangout with amazing coffee, teas, cakes (drooling) and since recently also cooking amazing healthy food. They also just opened up in Berlin!

Winkel 43
In the middle of tje Jordaan neighborhood, you’ll find on Noordermarkt Winkel 43. Our to-go spot for the best apple pie in town. Even during lockdown people are queuing up to get their hands on a coffee and apple pie to go (don’t forget the whipped cream!).

Eat

Mades Warung
For our favorite Indo food head over to Mades Warung. Owned by the same family as Mades Warung in Bali, you'll find the best Indo food that you eat in Bali as well. It's worth the drive if you live in The Netherlands and you're missing Bali. it will take you straight into the island vibes. During the lockdown it's take-away only but when not in lockdown you can sit cozy inside - or outside in the sun. Open for lunch and dinner.

If you're in the city center and crave Indo food, we also love Proper Indofood on Vijzelgracht. 

Benji's
To stay in the Indo vibes we love to go for lunch or dinner at Benji's(we also had our friends & family book launch party there!) Favorite is the vegan nasi campur. Yum!

SLA
For a healthy lunch or juice break you'll find us at SLA. With many venues in town you can always find one in the neighborhood. The tempe bowl and the vegan cheesecake are our all-time favorites.

Bamboa
For a coffee and cake or delicious lunch with a view we love Bamboa. Thanks to the stunning interior done by Kae Sutherland it feels like you're in a Bali cafe and will take you straight into island mode (exactly the reason why we had our press launch of our book here!). 

Do

Walk
If there’s one thing we love about Amsterdam is endless walks through the city and it’s beautiful parks. Grabbing a coffee to go and just stroll around. Here are some areas which are nice to explore:

Nine streets / Amsterdam canals:enjoy the unique architecture of the Dutch houses. If you don’t feel like walking you can take a boat tour. Or grab a bicycle to bike around town.

Vondelpark: always buzzing and blooming. Also a great spot if you want to go for a run or outdoor workout. 

Westerpark: grab a coffee at Espressofabriek and stroll around the park (great one if you’re traveling with kids, there are some nice playgrounds and a little petting zoo.)

Amsterdam Noord: at the Central train station you can take a free ferry to the North of Amsterdam and explore this upcoming, creative area. In Summer time make sure to head over to restaurant Hangar for typical Dutch oysters and the perfect sunset view over the water. 

Rijksmuseum
You can’t visit Amsterdam while soaking up all the amazing art at the grand Rijksmuseum. We’ve been quite a few times but Arnaud hasn’t been there before, so we were lucky to visit one day before all museums closed due to the lockdown. You’ll need to get a ticket upfront to visit. Afterwards walk around in the garden park behind the museum, grab a coffee or tea. There are also plenty of other amazing musea such as the Anne Frank House or FOAM photography museum that we can highly recommend to visit. Find the full list of Amsterdam musea and galleries here.

Shop
Amsterdam is currently still in lockdown, but shops are allowed to open on appointments. There are many amazing vintage-, boutique- and concept stores. A few personal favorites: 

Vintage shops: Episode, Noordermarkt on Monday & Zipper. 

De Pijp & Gerard Doustraat: Shop at one of the many cute boutique stores like Anna+Nina (most products made in Bali!) or stroll over the Albert Cuypmarket.

Nine Streets: Zig zag your way through the nine streets along the canals, finding beautiful boutiques, art galleries and vintage stores.

Tattoo
Best souvenir you can get! Haha. If you’re eager for new ink Tattoo Studio Friendship is our go-to spot. You need to book your appointment in time as they are pretty popular (our tattoos are done by the owner, Fabian Manuputty).

Bali massage
When you’re tired after a full day of exploring and walking or biking, spoil yourself with a nice massage or treatment. And of course there isn’t anything better than a traditional Balinese massage: you can book it at Scent of Bali, located in De Pijp. 

Sleep

Hoxton Hotel
Stay along the beautiful canals in the city at The Hoxton Hotel. The restaurant, bar and lounge area are also a popular spot for entrepreneurs and creatives to hangout and work all day (when not in lockdown). PS. Can’t miss the truffle fries!

Hotel Jakarta
For a bit of Indonesia in Amsterdam you should stay (and eat!) at Hotel Jakarta. It’s a tropical oase and beautifully designed sustainable hotel close to the city center, at the famous harbor where many ships from Indonesia left and arrived in the fifties from Indonesia. Our parents arrived here from Indonesia when they were young. 

Work

We can also recommend some amazing work spaces if you need a creative space to work without having your own office or while cafes are closed during lockdown.

VENU
You'll find us at VENU, a stunning, serene and minimal space on Haarlemmerstraat with delicious coffee and cakes when we are in town. Book a spot for the day or a few hours through their website. 

Fosbury and Sons
With creative spaces around the world, you can also find Fosbury and Sons in Amsterdam in one of the most amazing buildings along the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. Book a spot for the day or go for a monthly membership. 

We hope you loved our little Amsterdam guide with Kate Wood! Do you have any other favorite spots you'd like to share? Comment below! 

Ps: a few little snapshots of our favorite sunglasses and watches of Kate Wood which you can find here. How do you like Manua's favorite sunnies? ;)