Reason to go there )

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The Dutch aren't particularly well-known for their cuisine, what with every menu topped with fried dough (bitterballen) and buttermilk (karnemelk). But take a quick look around any street in Amsterdam and you'll find a plethora of cafés nonetheless.

Before we go any further we're going to agree on some terminology, otherwise things could get weird real fast:

Coffeeshop

: for purchasing pot or hash. Usually alcohol is not served, and this is NOT the place to go for a coffee. Enjoy it - it's totally legal.

Cafe: does not sell hash. This is the place to go for a beer, wine, coffee, mint tea (very Dutch, by the way). Usually has appetizers and serves lunch and dinner (and sometimes breakfast).

Bar - A bar. You know what this is.

OK. Now with that out of the way, look around. They're everywhere. Cute, romantic, relaxed and often very gezellig, these are different from pubs in the sense that they have food, they usually have an outdoor seating area (because in Holland if the sun is out there, people are out there), they have tables inside and they serve more than just beer. Don't be fooled by the fact that there are waiters/waitresses, though. Much like the rest of the EU, tipping isn't all that common in the Netherlands and they act like they're fine with this, often taking 15 minutes to approach the table for an order, and almost ALWAYS forgetting to bring you your drink until you pull them aside. That's just the way it is.

In the centre of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is well known for having a very tourist-centred cafe concentration but wander the canal circles and you'll be pleasantly surprised. The Nieuwmarkt is also crawling with nice cafes with a bit less of the 'tourist' feel to it, though you'll still hear a barrage of languages around you, which is always a good indication that you're either in a touristy area or a language school. And you cannot, friend, confuse the Nieuwmarkt with a language school. In the Jordaan, the Haarlemmerdijk is a great start for both sightseeing and searching for your eventual 'eetcafe'.

Amsterdam is a biking city but it's also a walking city - so walk around, work up an appetite, earn that beer and it'll taste that much nicer when you sit by the canal to enjoy your locally brewed Heineken.

pic source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inthegan/sets/58433/

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inthegan

favorite cafes

on: Sat 02 of Feb, 2008 [19:08 UTC]

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de Jaren @ Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22
central near the University and the Flower Market and the Hotel de l'Europe
wonderful terrace in the warmer weather... you can stay all day...

Van Puffelen @ Prisengracht 375-377

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ferdinand

Re: favorite cafes

on: Sun 03 of Feb, 2008 [06:27 UTC]

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Hi inthegan, if you wish you can add these two cafés under Amsterdam -> Eating and drinking

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Item last edited by ferdinand , based on work by Marjolein4 , inthegan , helga and writingtraveler . Thu 19 of Jun, 2008 [14:47 UTC].

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Cafes (Proper) (Earth -> Europe -> Netherlands -> Western Provinces (Randstad) -> Amsterdam -> Reason to go there )

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Cafes (Proper)
(Earth -> Europe -> Netherlands -> Western Provinces (Randstad) -> Amsterdam -> Reason to go there )