Tag Archives: Amsterdam

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Restaurants to Try in Amsterdam

Amsterdam restaurant

From Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants to trendy yet laid-back cafés, Amsterdam’s food scene is thriving, making it a true haven for any foodies that visit. From the first raw bar in the Netherlands to an eatery that only uses local, farm fresh produce, these are some of Amsterdam’s must-try restaurants.

De Kas
In English, De Kas means greenhouse, and the restaurant’s name is in honor of its location – in a massive greenhouse that used to belong to the Municipal Nursery of Amsterdam. The greenhouse is large enough that it has easily been divided into two parts; the first being a restaurant and the second reserved for growing produce that the kitchen can create exciting menus from. With a focus on contemporary European and rural Mediterranean cuisine, this is the restaurant to visit if you want to taste some of the best of Amsterdam’s local produce.

Bridges
With an emphasis on Dutch and French culinary traditions, Bridges has only recently opened its doors in Amsterdam, bringing with it the first raw bar that the Netherlands has seen. Alongside the fresh and succulent oysters, and the more-ish lobster sandwiches, Bridges also has a drinks list that boasts an extensive range of vintage wines and champagnes, as well as a quirky cocktail bar and cigar lounge.

Vinkeles
Voted by TripAdvisor as the best restaurant in Amsterdam, Vinkeles earned their first Michelin star in 2009 for their delicate French cuisine that strikes a beautiful balance between classic and contemporary. The restaurant’s sunken dining room is surrounded by 18th century ovens, reminiscent of an old French bakery, while the garden views provide the perfect backdrop to the elegant meals served up. While the a la carte menu at Vinkeles is always tempting, the tasting menu is usually the best option for those who are dining at the restaurant for the first time, as it gives you the opportunity to taste a wider range of their amazing creations.

Yamazato
In addition to having some of the finest European restaurants in the world, Amsterdam is also home to Yamazato, the only Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Europe. The restaurant is designed to mirror a 19th century Japanese tea house, with the menu focussing on haute cuisine. If you want to taste the best of the restaurant’s dishes, the traditional eight-course tasting menu is what you should order.

Restaurant Johannes
While Restaurant Johannes may not yet have a Michelin star, the food is most definitely worthy of one, as many of their regular patrons would agree. Situated on the ground floor of a canalside house along the Herengracht, considered to be one of the prettiest canals in the city, Restaurant Johannes makes use of classic Dutch ingredients, but in a quirky and innovative way. From the croquettes stuffed with mustard duxelles and ballotine of pheasant to the delicate sweetbreads served with wild spinach, truffles and a red wine sauce, Restaurant Johannes takes Dutch cuisine to a whole new level.

Dining at these Amsterdam restaurants will offer you more than a quick way to fill your stomach. Instead, these establishments all take strong pride in their food, providing guests with an unforgettable gastronomical experience rather than just a simple meal.

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Amsterdam’s Original Beer Bar

Server pouring beer from a tap

Amsterdam is home to some of the world’s biggest names in beer, from Heineken to Grolsch to Amstel, and it often seems as though there are an endless number of bars at which to enjoy an ice cold brew. While there may now be many different beer bars dotted around the city, there is one that has truly won the hearts of the locals. One of four Gollem pubs in Amsterdam, Café Gollem has been around since 1974, and was the very first beer café in Amsterdam to serve up Belgian and international beers.

Café Gollem
Situated in the bustling De Pijp neighborhood in the heart of Amsterdam, Café Gollem enjoys a prime location. Being so well-renowned, the bar can often get quite busy, but this is never too much of an issue as Café Gollem not only has a long bar that can serve many at a time, but also a vertical drinking area outside, as well as a mezzanine level for those who want some privacy.

The Beer
There are not many bars in Amsterdam that can boast a beer list as impressive as the one that you will find at Café Gollum. There are fourteen different taps to choose from, with seven regulars that have earned themselves a permanent place at a tap, to seven guest beers that are rotated on a regular basis. When it comes to their bottled beers, Café Gollum stocks over 150 different varieties, with a strong emphasis on local breweries in and around Amsterdam, craft breweries throughout the Netherlands, and both small and large breweries from neighboring Belgium.

Beers to Try
While official beer tastings are held at a different Gollum bar, guests of Café Gollum are still able to sample a few of the different beers available so that they can make a better-informed decision on which ones to order. Some of the beers worth sampling are Gregorius, which comes from one of the newest Trappist breweries in Austria, and the Chimay Red, which is quite a rare and exclusive beer in Belgium. The beer menu is written on the upper walls of the bar, but if you feel at all intimidated by the vast selection on offer, do not hesitate to speak to the knowledgeable bartenders, who will be able to advise you on the beers that you are likely to enjoy.

The Food
Many beer cafés around Amsterdam take a keen interest in the food that they serve, but Café Gollum has chosen to remain completely dedicated to their beer. While there may not be any freshly cooked hot dishes available, there are plenty of cold snacks that you can order to accompany your drinks. From Dutch cheese platters to traditional smoked sausage, Café Gollum’s beer snacks may not seem too impressive, but they manage to perfectly complement the beer.

For those of you who enjoy trying different beers, and for those of you that want to learn more about European beers, Café Gollum is a great beer bar to visit. While it may have much more competition now than it used to when it first opened its doors, it has managed to stand strong, attracting more loyal regulars year upon year.

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How to Live Luxe in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

It is sometimes all-too-easy to think of Amsterdam in terms of the clichés that surround it, but, when you take the time to look deeper, the city’s vibrant and dynamic heart shines through. From luxurious shops to extravagant restaurants, this is your guide to living luxe in Amsterdam.

P.C. Hooftstraat

lornet / Shutterstock.com

Luxury Shopping
For the most high end and luxurious shops in the city, head to P. C. Hooftstraat, which has frequently been rated in the top three in lists of the nicest places to shop in the world. This has been an exclusive shopping destination since the 1970’s, and boasts a wide range of international brands, from Hugo Boss to Ralph Lauren to Gucci. If you are searching for high-end local designers, then the Van Baerlestraat is the place to go, as it is here that you will find a fantastic selection of boutiques from Dutch designers. Willemsparkweg is also home to an exciting array of boutiques, and it is quite easy to spend the entire afternoon browsing through the accessory, fashion and homeware stores.

World-Class Fine Dining
When it comes to dining out, Amsterdam has some of the finest restaurants in the world, from classic Michelin-starred fine dining to casual but elegant cafés. La Rive is one of these Michelin-starred restaurants, and while it may not be easy to secure a table here, once you do, you will be amongst the company of dignitaries, royalty and rock stars. Ciel Bleu is the only restaurant in Amsterdam with two Michelin stars, guaranteeing you an unforgettable meal. If you decide to pay it a visit, try to request a table by the window on the northern side of the restaurant, because, with the restaurant being situated 23 floors above the city, these are the windows that offer a rare panoramic view down onto the busy streets of Amsterdam.

Bartender making a cocktail

Handcrafted Cocktails
Amsterdam may be packed with bars and clubs, but there are some that pride themselves on being a cut above the competition in terms of the quality of their drinks and the ambiance of their setting. Hiding in Plain Sight is one of these venues, and has been voted as the best cocktail bar in Amsterdam on more than one occasion. As elegant as this bar may be, there are always times when you want something more exclusive, and this is when you should pay a visit to Door 74, which is one of the city’s secret bars. A phone number needs to be called to secure a reservation, which can only be done each day itself, and the mysterious décor, coupled with the creative cocktails and custom concoctions, make it a bar that is a delight to spend time in.

Luxury living is synonymous with the heart and soul of Amsterdam, and, if you know where to go, it is easy to live luxe in the city. From dining at Michelin-starred eateries to sipping on one-of-a-kind cocktails, Amsterdam is a city that welcomes those who appreciate elegance and class.

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Beer Gardens Around the World

Friends having beer in a beer garden.

The concept of beer gardens originated in Germany, when brewers along the Isar River began selling their beer directly out of their cellars, setting up a couple of benches outside to ensure their success. Today, beer gardens can be found in so many different countries, each one putting their own spin on this German tradition.

Brouwerij ‘t IJ, Amsterdam, Holland
Brouwerij ‘t IJ first opened its doors in 1985, at a time when microbreweries were becoming more popular due to a general dissatisfaction with the bigger brands. Since all of their beers are not only brewed on site, but are also completely organic, Brouwerij ‘t IJ has become one of the top drinking spots in Amsterdam. Both the brewery and beer house have been created from an old bath house, with the brewery being available to tour before you sit down next to the giant windmill for a drink. While the beverage menu may be mind-bogglingly extensive, OROGOLD highly recommends that you give the organic Zatte a try, as this was the first beer that was brewed on site in 1985.

Luong Son, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
This buzzing beer garden in the heart of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is just as popular with tourists as it is with the locals. It is as casual as beer gardens get, with hundreds of plastic chairs and communal wooden benches. Here, classic Vietnamese beers are served up alongside barbecue dishes that are cooked on tabletop grills. The food is exquisite and the choices are great for those that want to try something different, as well as for those that want to stick with something known. Ranging from garlic beef skewers to deep fried scorpion to pig’s stomach, whatever you choose to order, OROGOLD highly recommends a pitcher of Saigon to wash it all down.

Hirschgarten, Munich, Germany
No list of beer gardens would be complete without a mention of one of the many in Germany. Hirschgarten in Munich is the largest in the country, seating over 8000 people. This is one of the country’s most historic beer gardens, with 200-year-old chestnut trees providing a canopy of shade, and the game reserve next to the beer garden, with their freely roaming deer, offering up some beautiful views. There are both self-service and tableside options, with the refreshing Augustiner beer being served straight from the cask. While drinking, OROGOLD recommends ordering some of their freshly made local snacks, such as the baked pretzels, roast pork, or homemade cakes and ice cream. This is also a beer garden that has stuck to one of their oldest traditions – customers are allowed to bring in their own food to eat, with only cold drinks and beer needing to be purchased from the venue itself.

Beer gardens are a great German tradition that have now spread all over the world. Whether you’re after a quick drink after work, or a leisurely lunch with a couple of pitchers on a Sunday afternoon, check out your local beer gardens the next time you are heading out for a brew.

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Safest European Cities

Often, a high crime rate can put many people off visiting a particular destination, especially for females who are travelling on their own. To help you better plan your next vacation, OROGOLD takes a look at some of the safest European cities.

Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Amsterdam
Although it may be best known for its hedonistic nightlife, Amsterdam is also one of the safest cities in the world. Thanks to its cycling culture really taking off in recent years, the amount of cars on the road has been reduced, thereby reducing the number of car-related accidents, as well as pollution. The intelligent design of the majority of the city’s urban centers has also led to a low crime rate, and violent crime is practically non-existent. With its high-quality Dutch healthcare system, Amsterdam is also able to rapidly respond to any emergencies that may occur. However, although the Red Light District may be extremely popular, especially in the evenings, OROGOLD advises you to take extra care when you are in the area, as the hordes of tourists and visitors at night can attract quite a few pickpockets, as well as those peddling illegal drugs.

Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona
This seaside Spanish city is one of the safest in Europe when it comes to personal health, as well as safety. Over the years, the city has developed a sophisticated policing strategy, drastically increasing the police presence both on the streets and in the subways. This has led to a 32% reduction in crime over three years. In addition to this, the increase in police presence all over the city has also made the residents, as well as any visitors, feel much safer, especially at night, as they can be sure that they will never be too far away from a patrolling police officer.

Zurich, Switzerland.

Zurich
Being one of the wealthiest cities in the world, Zurich has been able to invest large amounts in urban safety. A well-designed transport service covers the whole city, and all of the streets are well-lit at night. Unlike the majority of other cities, there are no areas that OROGOLD would advise you to avoid, even at night. Zurich also offers excellent universal health coverage, so you can be sure that you will be well taken care of if anything did happen.

Old Town, Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm
Ranked as the safest city in the whole of Europe, Stockholm is not only safe when it comes to personal safety, but also when it comes to digital security. Cyber crime is becoming increasingly common, and cities are having to adapt to keep its residents safe from this – something that Stockholm is doing extremely well. When it comes to urban safety, Stockholm utilizes some of the best technology to tackle crime, as well as to monitor their infrastructure and control the spreading of any diseases.

However safe these European cities would be, OROGOLD still urges you to travel with precaution, as there are no guarantees to your safety anywhere you are in the world. Tourists are especially targeted when it comes to petty crime, so no matter where you go, ensure you always keep your wits about you!