How to Spend 48 Hours in Amsterdam: What to See, Eat and Do in the City - The Gloss Magazine

How to Spend 48 Hours in Amsterdam: What to See, Eat and Do in the City

IN THIS NEW SERIES OF TRAVEL GUIDES, WE OFFER UP WAYS TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN THESE EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS. Nexu up, Amsterdam …

Read the Biarritz travel guide through this link.

What to do

Award-winning restaurants, opulent architecture, excellent vintage shops and an abundance of blooms, a weekend in Amsterdam is a glorious occurrence. In a city that celebrates the quirky and embraces the unique, soaking up the atmosphere in canal side eateries has never been more appealing. You might even fit in a museum or two – the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum all stand out.

When To Visit

The Amsterdam climate is quite similar to Irish weather meaning winters are cold, summers less so. The city can be busy in the summer making April, May and September good times to visit but winter in Amsterdam can also be magical with the canals and bridges festooned with fairy lights and the banks awash with cosy eateries. There are flights to Amsterdam daily from Dublin with Ryanair and Aer Lingus, while Aer Lingus also fly from Cork.

Where To Stay

Conscious Hotel, Westerpark

The eco-conscious among us will appreciate this magnificent building which has been transformed into a beautiful, 89-room eco-hotel. The hotel is fully powered by wind energy and also boasts a bar and a café with a 100 per cent organic ethos. The location is excellent too, with the greenery of Westerpark on one side and lively Westergas on the other. Rooms from €76. www.conscioushotels.com

Sir Adam Hotel, Noord Amsterdam

In the vibrant Noord district, the A’dam Tower stands majestically overlooking the city. The first eight floors are home to the Sir Adam Hotel, while elsewhere in the building you will find the A’dam Lookout with its 100 meter tall swing ‘Over the Edge’ that daredevils can ride back and forth over the edge of the tower. For the less adventurous, there is also a revolving rooftop restaurant and the highest dancefloor in the city. Rooms from €130 per night. www.sirhotels.com

Pulitzer Amsterdam

Located in 25 restored canal houses that date from the 17th and 18th centuries, Pulitzer Amsterdam is very special indeed. Once home to many notable Dutch aristocrats, you too can live like a noble if only for a night or two, enjoying cocktails in the stunning Pulitzer Bar, or dinner in the highly recommended Jansz restaurant. The location, in the upscale Jordaan area, only adds to the appeal. Rooms from €454 per night. www.pulitzeramsterdam.com 

Where To Eat

Bakers and Roasters

Banana nut bread French toast with banana marmalade and crispy bacon is reason enough to visit this popular central Amsterdam spot for brunch. Those who prefer a plant based start to their day will appreciate the vast selection of options and the DIY mimosa is a fine way to start your holiday. www.bakersandroasters.com

Fromagerie Abraham Kef

Cheese lovers will be in heaven with an afternoon spent cheese tasting at Fromagerie Abraham Kef in their tasting rooms situated in the city’s Noord district. €28.50 will buy you a tasting menu of nine cheeses, with matching wine, building up in intensity from mild to strong and ranging from runny to hard. www.abrahamkef.nl 

corner store

Another gem to be found in the Noord district, corner store is worth seeking out for those who enjoy excellent food without the hefty price tag. Barbequed brioche with goat butter and samphire salt, and mushroom karaage are two must tries but those in the know opt for the tasting menu which is outstanding value at €39pp for vegetarian options or €46 for the carnivores. The ambiance is relaxed and informal which only adds to the appeal. Go, before word gets out. www.csnoord.com

Foodhallen

For more casual dining, head to Foodhallen and more specifically, De Ballenbar for a twist on a Dutch classic, bitterballen. Michelin star chef Peter Gast and his sous chef Jeroen Elijzen began making their own bitterballen with fillings like Dutch shrimp, calf, bouillabaisse, and truffle in 2014 and became an instant success. Foodhallen is perfect for casual bites and drinks with friends and with such an array of food options, there is bound to be something for everyone. www.foodhallen.nl/amsterdam

Boat Boys Private Dinner Cruise

If the weather permits, an intimate dinner cruise along the canal is an idyllic way to spend a couple of hours on a warm Amsterdam evening. Boat Boys offer private dinner cruises on a luxury 1920’s classic canal boat, complete with floating dining table, and meals delivered to you on the boat from a selection of Amsterdam’s finest restaurants. Prices start at €400. www.amsterdamprivateboat.com 

Rons Gastrobar Oriental Downtown

Chef Ron Blaauw is something of a culinary superstar in Amsterdam, most notably for closing his Michelin star restaurant in 2013 and embracing the more relaxed ‘gastrobar’ model. And what fun it is. There is a selection of small plates, perfect for sharing and the wagyu siu mai doesn’t disappoint. Whole duck is served two ways with the crispy, glistening breast sliced and the remainder stir fried to be crammed into bao buns or pancakes. The atmosphere is exactly as you would hope for on a Saturday night with live jazz that adds to the ambiance, rather than detract which can so often be the case. It’s not cheap but it’s oh so worth it. www.rongastrobar.nl

Restaurant Stork

Seafood lovers will happily fall in love at Restaurant Stork with its industrial chic décor and mammoth seafood platters. Feasting on buttery North Sea sole or pristine snow crab legs while taking in the vista on the huge south-facing terrace which overlooks the water is a thoroughly pleasant way to spend an afternoon indeed. www.restaurantstork.nl 

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