Amsterdam
in North Holland

Right beside the Amstel River and the Opera House sits Alpha Coffee, a specialty coffee spot with a Greek twist. It’s perfect for an early morning breakfast run – grab a cappuccino and one of the most comforting, cinnamon-laced pastries in the city. The sweet treats can be subbed for Greek salads and savoury pastries (minced meat and spinach, feta filo parcels) in the afternoon, but make sure to take home a slice of sweet pumpkin pie. The summer sun hits this sleek little sun in the early evening, turning it into a prime perch for soaking up some vitamin D. 

Located on the corner of Newtonstraat, MAS is a neighbourhood café and sourdough bakery known for its artisanal breads and glorious seasonal Danish pastries (think orange curd with cranberry compote or honey and poached pears), all made using local ingredients.  Open from Wednesday to Saturday, it has recently expanded with its own Atelier location on Pretoriusstraat, a larger space that allows the team to further showcase their craft baking and buttery creations. 

The workday gets a whole new lease of life when you spend it at BounceSpace. With Vondelpark as your backyard, we would head to this co-working spot for the coffee alone. That aside, there's also a hair salon and gym if you're looking for other means of procrastination! 

This corner-side bolthole is a favourite spot to settle down with the paper and sip on a creamy oat flat white. Their lunches are also superb: home cooked, delicious and full of goodness. Though if you happen to be dashing for the ferry, get a coffee and a croissant to go. 

A lovely outpost of one of our favourite coffee spots, set right on Olympiaplein in Amsterdam Zuid. Stop by for expertly brewed coffee from Amsterdam's Five Ways Coffee Roasters and pair it with one of their excellent pastries.

If we're waiting in line to nab a spot at Kometen, the good news is that Crew de la Cream has just slung open its shutters. Is it the best new coffee spot in town? Potentially. There's speciality blends and plenty of matcha on offer, plus some gourmet lunch toasties.

Nordic restraint meets the lively energy of Jakarta’s kopitiams, right in the heart of De Pijp. Warm wood and a deep-red tiled bar, topped with a sculptural LED ribbon, open straight onto the bustling kitchen. Here, Swedish chef Ellinor Strinnholm cooks Indo-inspired dishes, reimagined with a gentle lagom touch. Think oysters crowned with tangy sambal matah. Or kaya toast on thick sourdough served on mismatched vintage plates. Open for brunch and dinner, the bistro hosts an annual Midsommar celebration featuring collaborations with young artists. 

Munch on as many cheese-and-mustard croissants and omelette-filled Danishes as your stomach allows at louf's newest outpost, tucked into a 1631-built corner of the city's milling history. Baked daily with slow-fermented levain, layered pastries turn morning coffee into a rite. For a jolt of local heritage, make a Tuesday pilgrimage to De Molen to watch the last wind-powered sawmill in action, its turning sails a reminder that this city was built on motion.

Just steps from Westerpark, is yet another outpost of the coveted louf bakery. Watch the bakers at work as loaves come fresh from the oven, grab a coffee and order one of their buttery croissants filled with ham and cheese before continuing your stroll through the neighbourhood. There’s no indoor seating but the carefully curated cookbook selection, curated in collaboration with De Kookboekhandel, is worth a browse. 

Part contemporary art gallery, part design store, part café, this canal house proves that admiring art is much easier with a freshly brewed coffee in hand. Fuel your browsing classic Dutch poffertjes topped with Greek yoghurt and blueberry compote, or the vegan lentil ragù, then try your best to leave without buying a print, a ceramic vase, or both.

Founded by a duo of true Amsterdammers, YUSU has become a go-to for Oost’s young, creative crowd, helped by its location near the city’s most-famous fashion academy. Its name comes from the Surinamese word for “serious” - a nod to the team’s roots and the seriously good coffee served here. Beans are sourced from Amsterdam specialty roastery Back to Black, with a private-label blend for both espresso and filter. Alongside the excellent coffee, you can expect ceremonial matcha and house-baked treats like Surinamese pasteitjes, Brazilian pão de queijo and rotating pastry specials. Regular collaborations with local artists and DJ sets keep things moving, making YUSU as much a cultural hangout as the coolest people-watching stop.