Might be a bit out of date, but here's my sil's guide from her hen a couple of years back:
"Some ideas for digs in Amsterdam:
- Last time we went, we stayed in an apartment rented out by the Truelove Guesthouse (info here:
rentalo.com/5450/amsterdam.html). This was on Binnen Brouwersstraat at the top of the Jordaan (my favourite bit of A'dam) - dead central and very convenient for Barney's (the best breakfast in town - see below).
- The Weichmann (www.hotelwiechmann.nl/) on the Prinsengracht is a long-standing favourite
of mine - don't be put off but the cheesy website, it's lovely inside and is on a very beautiful stretch of canal.
- The Winston (www.winston.nl/) is a funky boutique-style hotel, and it's not pricey either. It's a laugh, but can be a bit noisy at night as it's on Warmoestraat which is right in the middle of the Red Light District. Excellent bar.
- The Acacia (www.hotelacacia.nl/index_eng.php?page=1) is also in the Jordaan (on the Lindengracht). As well as hotel rooms, they have houseboats and a studio apartment for rent.
- If you don't fancy any of the above, check out www.bookings.nl/ - it has an online availability checker for rooms in Amsterdam (and special offers too sometimes).
Eating out: be warned that the Dutch tend to eat much earlier than we do in the evening
(sometimes as early as 5pm!). They also tend to commandeer the dinner table for the whole evening, which means that very few restaurants have more than one sitting. This means booking is pretty essential if you want to be sure of getting a table for dinner (I've been caught out in the past and have ended up having to eat felafels on the street...). I'd recommend the following:
- Moeders on Rozengracht - traditional Dutch cooking in homey surrounding - the epitome of 'gezellig' (a not-quite translatable Dutch word meaning cosy, mellow, happy). If you take a photo of your Mum with you, they'll put it on the wall.
- At the other end of the scale is the Supperclub (www.supperclub.nl/). Imagine the Hacienda decked out in mattresses and duvets, upon which you recline while you are served 5 courses of delicious modern european grub. There is usually some sort of bizarre floorshow as the
evening draws to an end (last time I went it was a gimp being covered in chocolate and fruit).
- If you like fondue, try Cafe Bern at the Nieuwmarkt.
- Belhamel does lovely French food and is very romantic (it's on Brouwersgracht).
- Puri Mas on Lange Leidsedwarsstraat is one of the best Indonesian restaurants I've ever been to.
- Breakfast - Barney's on Haarlemmerstraat does the best Irish breakfast outside of Ireland.
It's also a coffeeshop, which leads me onto...
Coffeeshops: I'd recommend the Rusland and its sister shop Siberie (Rusland in the Red Light District and Brouwersgracht respectively), any of the Rokerij chain (they serve beer too - locations include the top of the Singel near Siberie, the corner of Rokin and the Amstel, and on Korte Leidsedwaarsstraat), and La Tertulia on Prisengracht (indoor fountain and crystal garden).
For drinks and things to do in the evening, some of my favourites are:
- 't Loosje on Nieuwmarkt - lovely tiled interior, friendly resident cat, and lots of Belgian beers.
- De Jaren in the University Quarter (Nieuwe Doelenstraat at the bottom of the Red Light District) - airy cafe/bar with great terraces outside on the Amstel river.
- 't Smalle - another canalside favourite on Egelantiersgracht.
- Boom Chicago (www.boomchicago.nl/) - English language stand-up and improv comedy club founded by Americans. Very funny performances and good grub too.
- It's cheesy but it's fun - try a "romantic" candlelight cruise
(
www.amsterdamby.com/transpor/trans10.htm). You can also hire pedaloes during the day from one of the Water Bike/Canal Bus stops on the main canals.
Finally - guide books - for my money, you can't beat the Rough Guide, but a more convenient and portable option is Amsterdam Inside Out - it's titchy and had fold out maps, plus it's full of good ideas for where to go and what to see."