Tasting menus come & go these days, but the set menu at this modern French bistro is always surprising & always delicious. Grab an aperitif at the bar while you wait for your table, & be sure to ask the sommelier to recommend a bottle to go with your dinner once you’re comfortably seated. He’s never steered us wrong yet.

Finding House of Noa already feels like being in on a secret. Hidden beneath the historic catacombs of UNESCO-listed Beurs van Berlage, this atmospheric spot pairs handcrafted temakis with one of the city's most intriguing candlelit spaces, dressed in deep crimson tones, jewel-coloured velvet, and Asian-inspired murales. The Japanese-inspired omakase menu is reason enough to visit alone – don't skip the buttery Black Cod Miso or the A4 Wagyu Tataki.

The quintessential comfort spot for warming Indonesian soups, right in the city centre. While classics such as soto Betawi (Jakarta’s iconic coconut milk–based beef broth) and the soto ayam (a bright, citrusy chicken soup) steal the spotlight, the rice bowls are well worth your attention - especially weekend specials such as the crispy, just-spicy-enough ayam geprek, served with cucumbers and freshly crushed sambal. Perfect for taking away and enjoying in the nearby Wertheimpark, before you wander the city’s straatjes, with a handful of indoor seats also available. 

Despite its diminutive size, Amsterdam has everything to offer that a bigger capital would: a great nightlife, fantastic restaurants &, of course, a glittering, impressive department store. London can keep Harrods & let Paris have Galeries Lafayette. Because we have de Bijenkorf. Carve out a few hours to wind your way through the cavernous space & find something that really speaks to you.