Night out with the Locals : Dutch on the Pull

So you want to go out with the some of random locals on a Saturday night… this is the place… around 2am!

If you wind up sitting at a restaurant until midnight, then go into a bar for a quick drink, realise you’re drunk and want to go and dance… Bar Italia is the place to go.



Technically it is a great restaurant in itself, but I have never managed to get there that early! So I wouldn’t know. What I know is that it is one of the few places in Amsterdam where you can find “pop” music (i.e. not house or electronic). What is clear in this place is that the dutch on the pull! In a really big way. Fortunately I’m single. So happy days!

Don’t get me wrong, it is still a dutch place so it is not the normal meat markets… they are a little reserved, but there is definitely enough tall, handsome dutch boys to keep your eyes occupied for at least a couple of hours. Oh and the girls are equally beautiful. So it’s just a great place to hang out in general in the wee hours of a Friday/Saturday morning without going to a full on club.

Oh and did I mention it’s free to get in? So score… in more ways than one! ;)

http://www.bar-italia.nl/

The French Cafe : Amsterdam

So your hanging out in Amsterdam wondering where to go for a fantastic romantic (even with the girls) dinner?

It might give it away from the name of the restaurant, but the French Cafe serves French food! Fantastic French food!

We went to the restaurant and not the brasserie (they are next to each other), but I had heard good things from both. Considering we were looking for a table outside the restaurant was our only option as the (cheaper) brasserie had already booked up! No matter. Let’s go up market Dutch style! 

So for circa 50euro excluding drinks you can go for the full 3 course menu. Considering the temperature and our figures, we stuck to just a main dish. Duck thigh, with vegetables, potatoes and sauce… is all I could get from the Dutch/French menu. But what I got from the plate when it was served in front of me was something to rival most high end restaurants in London. Seriously! Add in a fantastic glass of Rose and sitting in the lovely sun. Hands down couldn’t beat it!

Located in the Pijp: Gerard Doustraat 98

http://www.thefrenchcafe.nl/1-e8cf/home/restaurant-the-french-cafe-home.aspx

Although, dinner was amazing. We thought to top it off with an ice-cream sundae at the ice cream store on Van der Helststraat (next to Chocolate Bar). 

A perfect summer evening.

DGTL! Well that was fun!

Well you may not know Amsterdam, but hey living here for 12 months. I have worked out one thing. 

They know how to party! If you are in the mood to kill a few braincells, then come festival season. 

Pure and simple. Amsterdamers live for day festivals. 

DGTL is the first outside one of the season. You would be surprised that even with 2 degrees outside and the party being on a wharf, it was sold out and full! SERIOUSLY. 

If you like feeling in your hands and feet, just keep moving. 

2013's line up consisted the likes of:

EINMUSIK

https://soundcloud.com/einmusik

AME

https://soundcloud.com/ame

MONKEY SAFARI

https://soundcloud.com/monkey-safari

DGTL.NL

Just a brilliant start to the year!!!

Cafe Loetje

If you’re a vegetarian I wouldn’t suggest that you read on. So, last night we were celebrating a 100% carnivore’s birthday, so it was natural that we went to Cafe Loetje. It was one of the first restaurants I went when I first landed in Amsterdam, and I LOVE it.

Situated near the Pijp/Oud Zuid. The decor is as it was when it first opened, why change a good thing? or why change something when it is always full of people? Either way, it really doesn’t matter, as it has a great outside on the street area, glassed off area which opens up in summer and inside with nice authentic wooden detail. So perfect for all the seasons that Amsterdam can throw at it.

If you don’t go early, expect to wait, people line up for hours to get in as the smart owners have worked out that it is far less hassle and you get more money from drinks if you don’t take reservations under 6… suggestion book a table of 6 and if you don’t have enough people, I’m sure you can find some willing members of the queue to have dinner with… I would go for the hot cute Dutch guys, but hey that’s just me.

Menu selection is easy, you have (the most fantastic tasting) steak cooked in butter and served on a small plate. You can choose the sauce (selection of 3…), chips are a must (that goes anywhere and with anything in Holland) and a side salad kind of balances the meal out a bit.

Oh and if you can possibly fit in dessert after the XL steak that you will inevitably choose, go for the sticky toffee (or two). AMAZING!! Jagermeister as a digestive maybe you can skip… although trying to drink a double shot from a near overflowing glass is always a laugh. :) 

TIP: If you ever want to take an hour bike ride south of Amsterdam one sunny Sunday afternoon, ride to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel where they have another Loetje but on the beautiful Amstel canal. Just perfect!

http://www.loetje.com/

Learn to appreciate the Dutchies

Dutch people have their own take on things. To say the least.

There is absolutely no way around it, you just have to accept certain things.

I came across this when I first moved to Amsterdam....

All of it is absolutely true. Enjoy.

http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com/

THE DAY OF THE YEAR: Queen's Day

Let's start at the start. Queen's Day... soon to be King's Day is like what carnival is like to Rio. Purely awesome albeit only one day.

Understandably, Dutchies are partriotic. Who wouldn't be with a city as wonderful as this!? 

If you are lucky enough to get a precious space on someones couch. You are in for a treat.

It seriously is THE day of the year.

It begins the night before, with the Jordaan area spilling over with people. Out and about drinking dancing and all together having a good time.

Be warned Queen's night is just the beginning so take it easy, you need your strength for Queen's day.

Starting at the crack of dawn (vitally important not to miss a second), the Dutchies are on the street selling anything they possibly can. Take a stroll in Vondelpark just to see the youngsters trying to boost their pocket money.

Every square in the city has a band/DJ or just a big ass stereo system playing... so bring your beer in a bag and just walk.

Just remember to wear Orange!

Lesson 101: Know where you want to hangout

Ok people, this city has 800 thousand lovely people that live in it so it’s not that hard to work out that it is quiet a small compact. Good thing is you can get to know the areas pretty quickly. I think it took me best part of a day. London took me best part of 6 years… 
So here’s the low down:

If you didn’t already know, Amsterdam is made up of canals, lots and lots of canals (or maybe just one… depending on how you look at it!).



Imagine three U’s inside one another. Imagine these are not U’s these are canals. And you are imagining Amsterdam. 
Everywhere you go, you will no doubt will have to cross, make your way around or navigate through these canals so careful. The same one can go on and on and on.
They are what makes Amsterdam sooo beautiful and when the sun’s out all you want to do it is sit next to one, be on one or at the very least able to see one for a second!
Geography lesson done, let’s talk areas.

CENTRAL STATION:
Every tourist and their dog ends up at Central station, while this is a lovely place to get all means of transport. It isn’t Amsterdam’s finest. Get in and get out!

CENTER:
This is where everyone will visit, look around, see all the other tourists and wonder if there are in fact any Dutch people living in Amsterdam…
The center is better known for it’s Red and Green lights. Go there is a MUST but let me tell you exactly where so you can get and out as soon as humanly possible!

JORDAAN
Jordaan/nine streets/the most beautiful place in Amsterdam, doesn’t matter what you call it, it is just simply amazing. Where you should go for markets, vintage shops, cafes, cool shopping, late afternoon lunches, and just to chill out!

LEIDSEPLEIN
Think of a dutch Piccadilly/Times square, and you’re close. The Bulldog (better known for it’s weed) and Burger King take pride of place in the middle, surrounded but extremely “dutch” bars, tourist restaurants, every tourist is bound to end up here at one point. Take a photo and move into the back street away from the english bachelor parties.

DE PIJP
My FAVOURITE! The best place for bars, food and just meeting the locals. :) Welcome to the Dutch mecca. If your finding it hard to work out where to go any night of the week… think Pijp.

OUD ZUID
In a nutshell: Lovely Vondelpark, chic restaurants and expensive shopping.

WEST
Good Clubs

EAST
Better Clubs