Stephanie van Rappard

Between the burgundy shelves at Traveller's Tales, linger, leaf, and let staff turn pages into plans. It's a tightly curated mix of travel writing, photography monographs, cookery collectables and genuinely rare editions. The team are as fluent in itineraries as they are in titles, able to move you from browsing a novel to sketching out an Arctic expedition or a food-led city break. Book an appointment to peruse more than the impeccable print selection.

Alongside a Friday mash-up of 70s hits and Italian disco beats, Beef Chief serves seriously good comfort food in Noord’s groovy warehouse complex and skatepark. It’s not their first rodeo: from a festival staple to a residency at Oedipus brewery, the burger house expands with its adjoining bar, Transit. 

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.  

Specialising in vermouth, wine, and charcuterie, Bar Copa is the latest venture from the family behind the neighbouring Cafe Cenc. Mounds of salted butter are served alongside crunchy baguettes, as salted fish and meat cuts are served on a plate filled with gherkins, cheeses, and olives. Funky interiors, complete with a vintage, marble bar and chessboard-tiled floor, add to the easy-going, vibrant feel of this vibrant wine bar. 

German cuisine is given a modern twist in chef Luke de Jong’s latest venture, Weinlokal Stern. Oysters from the Wadden Islands are served before hearty mains of revamped classics and wines are dug out from the German vineyards. Naturally, chilled Schnapps is a strong feature on the menu.

From the team behind Troef, comes Toet, a laid-back restaurant dedicated to serving Mediterranean food with an Italian twist. With a space large enough for groups – there’s plenty of circular tables to go around – and a bush-surrounded terrace for when the sun is out. 

Housed within the infamous childhood home of Elizabeth II, Lilibet’s pays homage to British royalty in the Russell Sage Studio-revamped interiors of 17 Bruton Street. Marquetry tables are adorned with built-in antique panels, sofa seating is upholstered with woven horsehair panels, and Richard Taylor-made lamps fill the space with a golden glow. The food also doesn’t miss; British classics are fused with Mediterranean flavours in experimental seafood-led dishes.   

Spread across two Georgian spaces on Duke Street, this contemporary gallery has a habit of showing the kind of exhibitions people end up talking about for weeks later. The programme pairs heavyweight names like Cecily Brown, Steve McQueen and Lynda Benglis with modern voices and tightly curated shows. Recent displays have ranged from Paul Thek paintings curated by Jonathan Anderson to Luigi Ghirri's striking travel photographs.