Amsterdam
in North Holland

During the day, this sleek little spot is the perfect place to pick up a coffee and cinnamon bun, or kanelbullar, to take with you to the Oosterpark. At night, 4850 is transformed into a cosy, romantic restaurant with an excellent wine list. Although you might think you only want three courses, we highly recommend going for the whole shebang, as we’ve yet to have a bad bite here.

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. 

Both the beans of the espresso and filter coffee (which are roasted in-house) change on a regular basis, so you’ll always have something fresh and exciting to drink when you’re here. They also serve up a wonderful range of sweet and savoury snacks, so it’s easy to idle away the afternoon. What is more, there's also a 'puppycino' for all the pups in town. 

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. 

Sometimes you want something totally classic, though other times you want to feel like you’re in the know, like you’ve finally one-upped those hipsters you see flooding through the city. When you want to indulge in some amazing third-wave coffee in the coolest of locations, you better hop on your bike & head over to Bocca. Their short but sweet food menu never disappoints & we struggle to resist their delicious pastries, particularly the raspberry brownies.

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! 

For those of us that aren’t living or staying in Noord, Broodbakkerij Ex is a bit of a trek, but so long as it’s not bucketing down, we relish the journey. Make the most of your jaunt across the IJ (even better if you’re nearby) and spend an hour or two with a newspaper, a couple pastries and a coffee or two. They’ve got one of the only sourdough croissants in town, and boy, is it good!

Tucked away in the middle of the Negen Straatjes is Café de Pels. It may look unassuming & unexciting at first glance, but we implore you to give it a chance. It’s the dreamiest respite from a day of brisk shopping & the ideal place to spend a rainy afternoon. Order a biertje or two, & maybe a toastie if you’re feeling a bit peckish, & enjoy some of the best people watching around.

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. 

As an extension of the Maha Amsterdam community, Café Maha Amsterdam is, as the name suggests, a cafe come homeware store. It's aesthetically pleasing in every way, though what makes this spot a true gem is the family feel. Serving especially good coffee, and ultra-delicious sweet treats; the matcha sesame, and miso chocolate cookies aren't to be missed. 

CARMEN is a feast for each and every sense. Run by Carmen Atiyah de Baets and her husband Joris, this guesthouse-kitchen-shop is a delightful mishmash of creativity and design. The 17th century former family home is now a bustling, central city hangout, where the kitchen takes centre stage. Open for lunch service seven days a week, the ravioli is our menu go-to. For something lighter, a date scone is served with whipped salted butter, and a slither of the chocolate torte has become the afternoon staple. 

This uber popular spot in the heart of Amsterdam's Negen Straatjes serves up the very best bubble tea in town. You might know them for their TikTok-famous Rib Eye Bulgogi sandwiches, but rest assured that all of their treats are sensational!

This little coffee shop is known for their filter and specialty coffees made with beans from Rum Baba coffee roasters. The delicious buttery scones are our fave treats at Coffee Bru.

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.

One of our evergreen favourites for our morning jolt, Coffee District is beautiful & inviting whether you're lucky enough to snap up a spot on the bench outside in or simply grabbing a cappuccino to go. Not only is their coffee some of the best in town – & certainly some of the very best in the ‘hood – but their pastries are also too moreish to resist. Snag a few extra chocolate chip cookies to bring home with you for when the craving inevitably strikes.

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.

This stunning all-glass café is nestled snugly in the back garden of Amsterdam’s Hermitage Museum. After an hour or two in the museum, we love settling in for a relaxed lunch or a coffee. They’ve got wonderful fresh, healthy salads & sandwiches, all featuring vegetables from their own garden.  It’s also one of our top spots for a luxurious weekend brunch.

The name really says it all, doesn't it? We love this concept store & deli for its well-curated selection treasures - both edible and inedible. Edible Treasures stands for everything artisanal to pimp up both your kitchen and palate! 

Whether you are stopping by for a quick drink with a friend or, are in the mood for a rousing game of chess, chances are you'll fall in love with Festina Lente. It's an incredibly cosy hangout in de Joordan for board games and drinks during the cold, winter days and for drinks in the sun on the spilling, summer side terrace. 

Don’t you ever want to go somewhere that just makes you feel cool? The kind of place where you look around & everyone is stylish & seems to be engaged in super intellectual discussions? Well, FUKU is just such a place. Come here for a dose of cool & a cup of killer coffee. Oh, & don’t forget about the delicious pastries, homemade granola & natural wine!

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. 

While there are countless great coffee spots in Amsterdam, not all of them are quite up to snuff. Koffiespot's artisan coffees from across the globe can be enjoyed in their charming little shop alongside delicious healthy breakfast bowls and gluten-free sweets!