A guide to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is our hometown, so this one feels a little more personal. It’s the city we know by heart, from our favourite coffee spots and hidden shops to the museums we keep coming back to. There’s always something new to discover, even in the places we thought we knew. Here are a few of our favourite spots to eat, shop, wander and get inspired.
Food & Cafe
Buffet van Odette
A true Amsterdam classic. Tucked away on the Prinsengracht, Buffet van Odette has been serving seasonal, homemade food and natural wines for years. It’s the kind of place that works for everything: a long lunch, an early dinner, a glass of wine at the bar or simply watching Amsterdam pass by outside.
Carmen
A neighbourhood favourite on the Keizersgracht, Carmen is part restaurant, part guesthouse and the kind of place that feels effortlessly local. Come for breakfast, stay for a drink and take your time.
Oficina
A small, intimate spot with a creative energy that feels very Amsterdam. Come for good food, matcha and an afternoon that doesn’t need much planning. One of those places you’ll want to keep to yourself.
Goudfazant
For something completely different, cross the IJ and head to Amsterdam-Noord. Goudfazant is set in a huge industrial space overlooking the water, with a relaxed atmosphere and food that makes the trip more than worth it. It’s Amsterdam at its most unexpected.
Toscanini
One of our favourites for Italian food. Toscanini has been a Jordaan institution for years, serving simple, beautifully executed Italian dishes with a focus on seasonal ingredients. No fuss, just really good food.
Coffee
Uncommon
For serious coffee without taking itself too seriously. Uncommon is all about speciality coffee, thoughtful food and a relaxed atmosphere. A good place to start the day or take a little break from exploring.
Coffee District
With several locations around the city, Coffee District has become a go-to for a really good cup of coffee. Minimal, easy-going and very Amsterdam.
Louf
Small, cosy and made for lingering. Louf is one of those neighbourhood coffee spots where you can grab your morning coffee, sit down for a while and watch the city go by.
Shop
ENSO Vintage
For vintage lovers, ENSO is worth making a stop for. A carefully selected collection of vintage pieces makes it feel more like a treasure hunt than a traditional shop. Go in with time, you never know what you’ll find.
Athenaeum Boekhandel
One of our favourite places to get lost in a book. Athenaeum is an Amsterdam institution, with an extensive selection of books, magazines and independent publications. Perfect for picking up something to read before heading to one of the city’s cafés.
Art
Stedelijk Museum – Yayoi Kusama
The Stedelijk is one of Amsterdam’s most important homes for modern and contemporary art, but this year there’s an especially good reason to visit.
Yayoi Kusama’s major retrospective brings together more than 300 works spanning her extraordinary career, from paintings and sculptures to installations and fashion. The exhibition includes a newly created Infinity Mirror Room and runs from 11 September 2026 until 17 January 2027.
There is an added poignancy to the exhibition following Kusama’s recent passing at the age of 97. What was planned as a celebration of her life and work now feels like an especially meaningful farewell to one of the most influential artists of our time.
For us, it feels particularly special to have this exhibition in our hometown. The Stedelijk and Kusama have a long history together, making this a must-see for anyone visiting Amsterdam this season.
Rijksmuseum
No Amsterdam guide would be complete without the Rijksmuseum. From Rembrandt and Vermeer to its extraordinary collection of Dutch art and history, it’s one of those places you can return to again and again and still discover something new.
Take your time, look up at the architecture and don’t forget to wander through the gardens afterwards.
Huis Marseille
Hidden inside two beautiful canal houses on the Keizersgracht, Huis Marseille is Amsterdam’s first photography museum. Its intimate scale makes it a lovely contrast to the city’s larger museums, with exhibitions that bring both established and emerging photographers into focus.
