Joost Albronda

Sure, Amsterdam has no shortage of great parks that are perfect for whiling away an afternoon in the sun, but we couldn’t possibly leave out the Westerpark. In addition to its expanses of leafy green space, the Westerpark also has a lively creative and nightlife scene. Pop into the Westergasfabriek to check out indie shops, a cinema, and cool restaurants.

When you hear the word Rijks, your mind likely automatically heads to stunning still lifes & Dutch genre paintings. These days, though, there’s even more to it. Rijks is a wonderful fine dining restaurant at the base of the museum with bright young chef Joris Bijdendijk at the helm. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients & makes heavy use of vegetables from their own garden.

The Lebanese Saj is a beautiful tool (think: dome-shaped griddle) on which some of Lebanon’s most iconic foods with fresh bread are created. The Lebanese Sajeria is an ode to this tool, showcasing it to Amsterdammers by selling their delicious flatbreads with a wide array of toppings. 

Whether you're checking in for the weekend or popping into the vibey restaurant downstairs for a weekday lunch (the food is solid but not mind-blowing), Morgan & Mees never disappoints. It's chic and subdued with friendly staff all around.

This gorgeous park in Oost meanders gently over 7 acres of beautiful land. Back in the 1700s, the park was actually part of a wealthy estate, with gardens designed by landscape architect J.T.P. Bijhouwer, in the middle of Watergraafsmeer. Known as the art and culture garden, Park Frankendael is a real draw because of its cultural-historical, ecological & botanical elements. De Pure Markt!

Zero Zero has earned its beloved reputation in a city as jammed with food-worthy addresses. With an Italian chef at its helm, Zero Zero stuffs homemade schiacciata (a flatbread similar to focaccia) with combinations of mortadella and straciatella, oregano-marinated aubergine and chunks of grated parmigiana. The queue during the lunch rush can get lengthy, but thankfully there's two more locations in the city to claim your sandwich fix. 

Raymond Plat (you may remember him from 212), Niels Leijssenaar, Roderick Kunst and Willem Alberts have teamed up to create what will surely become an Amsterdam institution on par with Rijsel, De Kas or Buffet van Odette. The menu is a la carte – a bit of a rarity with the city’s best restaurants these days – and focusses on French-ish dishes with a meander into Mediterranean flavours every now and again.