Hayley Daen

Feeling thirsty, perhaps a little peckish? Look no further than Lady of the Grapes. A wine bar importing the very best low intervention creations supporting female winemakers, pop by for a glass or two of pet-nat and some tasty French bistro to nibble on. 

With a chef from St. John and a multi-layered potato cake to rival The Quality Chop House, Saltine makes no secret about its inspiration. Founders Mat Appleton and Jess Blackstone are also behind north London mini coffee empire Fink’s. And while the exposed brick space is a little predictable, the genuine and charming staff maintain Saltine’s spot as a solid Highbury favourite.

The team behind Brat have thrown their hat in the central London ring with this Soho sequel. Like its Shoreditch sibling, it was quickly awarded a Michelin star for its barbecued British ingredients. The signature Welsh lobster caldereta is inspired by a braised Basque mountain-style dish with a nod to chef Tomos Parry’s hometown. Slightly moodier than Brat, with a menu full of comforting flavours, it’s a great choice on a winter evening when guests escape the cold for a Negroni in the basement ahead of supper.

Before every other restaurant was inviting guest chefs to mix up their menus, there was Carousel. Not quite a pop-up or a supper club, it’s a space with a constant string of short-term residencies from some of the world’s coolest chefs. Ahead of its time, the premise still holds – supper here is an opportunity to try Japanese flavours from Tokyo-based Seto Sousuke or flame-grilled favourites by Niklas Ekstedt. An insider ticket.

This stunning, serene space is like nowhere else we know in Amsterdam. Dedicated to true wellness, Renessence takes a holistic approach to health. Ice baths, floating, infrared sauna and cryotherapy are all on the menu for the bold. Want something a bit more relaxed? They also do fantastic massages and have a nice yoga programme.

These days, so many yoga studios are more about crunches and getting a sweat on than practicing true yoga. Thankfully not De Nieuwe Yogaschool! Grab a coffee in the garden and give the studio kitty, Isabella, a scratch behind the ears after class.

It’s relatively easy to feel relatively good in a city like Amsterdam. You’re on your bike (active, check!). You’ve got access to a boon of produce (healthy eating, check!). But sometimes, you still feel a little out of whack. Jennifer Sun, the powerhouse behind Sun for Soul, is here to change that. She couples Traditional Chinese Medicine practices with acupuncture, cupping and a modern ‘tude in order to help and heal Amsterdammers from tip to toe.

Named after a fabulous femme who used to pound the streets of Centrum for decades, enchanting everyone she passed, Trees is set to become the same kind of household name quite quickly. And not just in the neighbourhood. Flattering lighting, warm wood pannelling and a menu that feels simultaneously accessible and special, Geza Weisz’s latest outpost is just wonderful.

Wherever we are, wherever we go, we rarely miss an opportunity to check out charming local bookshops. There are many great ones in Amsterdam (Athenaeum, Van Rossum, Scheltema), but the most unique probably has to be Mevrouw Hamersma Kookboekenwinkel. Dedicated entirely to cookbooks, this charming shop is THE spot for budding cooks and master chefs alike.

There’s a buzz around whatever landlord Oisín Rogers does, but at Denman Street’s The Devonshire, it’s reached fever pitch. In the pub and in huge crowds outside, young things come to split the G – the Guinness drinker’s challenge. While upstairs, Ashley Palmer-Watts (a Heston Blumenthal alumnus) is dishing up prawn cocktails and steaks at a very reasonable lunchtime rate. Reservations (bookable three weeks ahead) disappear in minutes. Fingers at the ready for London’s hottest gastropub.