Amsterdam's 7 sunniest terraces
It happens every year, sure, but somehow it never gets old. April 27th. King's Day. In our opinion, one of the best days of the year.
Known as Koningsdag in Dutch, King's Day celebrates the birth of King Willem-Alexander. A raucous, revelrous day where Dutchies and wannabe Nederlanders take to the street in their finest orange. Or tangerine. Or russet. You get the gist...
Celebrated back in 1885 as Princess's Day for the first time, this holiday remains a moment for joy and national pride to this day.
And now, for the good stuff. Where to celebrate. If we're lucky and the sun is shining (knock on wood!), a few hours on a terrace on King's Night or King's Day are an absolute must. Here are our favourite spots in the city for een drankje or two.
Cantine de Caron
Hanging out in West and keen to find a spot for drinks or lunch? Cantine de Caron is a good bet. Their terrace is pretty ideal for bottle after bottle of crisp white wine come King's Night. Once hunger has inevitably crept up and the sun crept below the horizon, move inside for warming French bistro classics.
Bar Basquiat
There's generally more space in Oost than in many other parts of the city, so it shouldn't be too tough to find a little corner of sun. But if you want one of the BEST corners? Well, grab some friends and scoot on over to Bar Basquiat.
café Marcella
This charming, red-awninged café on the Prinsengracht is a lovely spot for a long, languorous breakfast before the chaos begins as it is for a buoyant, booze-filled afternoon King's weekend kick-off. They’ve scored serious bonus points for their elevated borrelhapjes.
Carter
And, last but not least, Oud-Zuid folks have got it made with corner spot CARTER. Solid food and endlessly flowing cocktails make this place pretty perfect for a King's Night sesh.
Kikkie van de Prinsensluis
Sure to be heaving but equally sure to be a hoot, Kikkie van de Prinsensluis is a sunny day must-hit. If you can't wrangle a chair out front (or across the canal, when they're feeling bold), café twee prinsen's terrace has your name written all over it.
Apollonia
Truly unpretentious, Apollonia is one of the dreamiest spots for a King's Day lunch. We adore settling in on their sun-drenched terrace on Marineterrein and tucking into creative sandwiches, natural wines and delicious small bites.
Hotel de Goudfazant
What was once a bare bones car garage has been miraculously transformed into an elegant, industrial gourmet restaurant. Though we’d never say no to a cosy, intimate dinner at Hotel de Goudfazant, it’s one of the best places in town to head with a big group—especially if you want to catch a lil fresh air. When it's nice out roll up the garage doors, turning the whole restaurant into a makeshift terrace.
Hayley Daen
South Carolina bred, UK educated and Netherlands enthused, Hayley has an insatiable hunger for travel and, of course, all things delicious. A traveller as seasoned as her cast iron skillet, Hayley always knows the best spots for a tasty bite or a cheeky glass. When she's not digging up killer hole-in-the-wall falafel spots in Beirut or trying (sometimes vainly!) to find inspiring exhibitions across the globe, she's busy writing & reading.
