You'll forget all about the bicycles whizzing by and the canals snaking through the city when you sit down at Bouchon du Centre for lunch. "Amsterdam, who?" you'll ask. This Lyonnais rustic bistro is warm & welcoming, with a menu brimming with bouchon staples like andouillette, boudin noir & oeufs en meurette. Don't forget to order a bottle of Beaujolais!

Even on the rainiest of Amsterdam days, a trip to Movements Studio will have you feeling hot and sweaty. With the rooms reaching a steamy 40 degrees, this workout isn't for the fainthearted. 

Originally founded in San Francisco, CORE40 brought its cult-favourite workout concept to Amsterdam, and locals have been embracing the burn ever since. Need a break from canal-side wandering? Swap stroopwafels for a Megaformer session. This high-intensity, low-impact workout combines strength, cardio, and core training into 40 gloriously challenging minutes. Expect shaking legs, a serious endorphin rush, and the smug satisfaction of having earned your next pastry.

Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between, Meyer is a no-fuss, Amstelveld hangout. The food is hearty yet simple: fresh salads are the lunchtime staple, replaced by lemon ricotta ravioli with a crunchy pistachio pangrattato in the evening. Though the real highlight is the large terrace spilling with fellow ‘Dammers, which gets especially crowded in time for cocktail sundowners.