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Terrace hopping in Amsterdam

19. June 2018/in /by David

When the sun is shining it is really popular among the Dutch to pick up their cycle and go to the parks or go to have a drink on Amsterdam’s many terraces; rooftop, canal, waterside, historical or just a terrace by a restaurant who put some chairs outside for the summer. So when traveling to Amsterdam, between all the activities and attractions, to get a little extra piece of the lifestyle in the city, you definitely need to stop by a terrace – that’s what I did!

1.Pllek – an amazing place to end a tour around the Noord

This popular restaurant really ticks off quite a few boxes on my list of what makes a good place to spend a sunny summer day: spacious (seats by the beach, terrace, two floors inside!), great service (the waiter recommended me a beer and I must say it actually might be my favorite beer of all time now) and views (what could be better than having a drink by the water and watching the sunset). There are tons of things I could tell about this place but last but definitely not least the overall atmosphere was extraordinary; groups having drinks, couples eating dinner and also people alone just enjoying the day.

Address: Tt. Neveritaweg 59

Opening times: Sun – Thu; 9.30am – 01am, Fri – Sat; 9.30am – 3am

Busiest times: 7pm – 9.30pm

2. Hannekes Boom – just around the corner from central station

Like Pllek, Hannekes Boom also has a pretty nice view over the water. You can arrive easily from central station by bike or walking or alternatively with your boat! When arriving to the place, it felt kind of a brief getaway from the packed streets of Amsterdam. Instead of the rushing people, you would be spotting the slowly passing boats. Even though there wasn’t any place to sit at the tables when I was there, you could just find your seat by the water and enjoy the view while having a taste of beer for example from the local brewery Brouwerij ‘t IJ.

Address: Dijksgeracht 4

Opening times: Mon – Thu; 10am – 01am, Fri – Sun; 10am – 3am

Busiest times: 5pm – 9pm

3. Café Zurich – exploring the West

By cycling only 13 minutes from Teleport, you’ll find Café Zurich! The terrace looks really inviting from outside – like a secret garden in the middle of Mercatoplein. While the terrace isn’t the biggest on this list, it didn’t seem as busy as some of the other bars in centrum. The stylish and fresh decoration of the place gives a cozy touch to it and at the same time the atmosphere is less touristic than some other places. Either having lunch, dinner, a draft beer or a gin tonic, you will definitely get enough sunshine here!

Address: Mercatoplein 2b

Opening times: Mon – Thu; 9am – 01am, Fri – Sun; 9am – 3am

Busiest times: 6pm – 8pm

4. Haven van Texel – canal view with the taste of an island

I was walking in the city and came across this spot. What could be better than having a drink or lunch and enjoying the Amsterdam’s architecture and the canals? The view is stunning from this place and even better, they offer a taste of beers from the island Texel, which is located 100km to the north from Amsterdam. Various of these beers from Texel have actually won national prizes! Overall Haven van Texel is a pleasant and convenient place to stop by between all the hectic sightseeing in Amsterdam.

Address: Sint Olofssteeg 11

Opening times: Mon – Thu; 4pm – 00, Fri – Sun; 2pm – 01pm

Busiest times: 7pm – 9pm

5. Schreierstoren – “From here women waved goodbye for the husbands who went overseas”

A friend of mine recommended this hidden gem in the heart of Amsterdam. It can’t be found on the most popular “best terraces in Amsterdam” – lists, what makes it interesting place to visit. Schreierstoren has a significant role in Amsterdam’s history – it is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam and was once part of a medieval wall around Amsterdam. You can certainly feel the medieval atmosphere throughout the premises and you can have a beer at the same spot where the women waved to their husbands when they were going to the war.

Address: Prins Hendrikkade

Opening times: Mon-Thu; 10am – 01am, Fri-Sun; 10am – 03am

Busiest times: 6pm – 9pm

So where are they located?

To make your life a little easier I made a small map for you of Amsterdam with the terraces of this article. Just look up the number of your favorite terrace and you know how to get there!

So in conclusion Amsterdam has something to offer for everyone: good beer by the water at Pllek, boat spotting in Hannekes Boom, relaxed atmosphere away from the busy centrum in Café Zurich, canal views with special beers at Haven van Texel and a bit of Dutch history in Schreierstoren.

Besides these examples, there a lot of other places to choose from as well like: Nemo, A’dam Tower, Lion Noir… When walking on the streets of Amsterdam, you’ll see that almost every restaurant has built a terrace for the summer – just pick the one you like and have a taste of Dutch summer![:]

Amsterdam’s Best in 1 Day by Our Team

25. May 2016/in /by David

Every day we keep recommending you the best places in Amsterdam for having a coffee or drink, lunch or dinner, Dutch cheese or chocolates, good time and fun. We carefully select our favorite spots before sharing them with you. This time we went even further and explored Amsterdam and its finest with the whole team of Amsterdam Teleport Hotel. We hopped on the bikes and discovered the numerous food and beverage opportunities this marvelous city has to offer. Now we’re proud to share our impressions of the best day out in Amsterdam!

Westerpark and its heap of hip spots

It’s not a secret that the easiest way to get around the city is by bike, so don’t hesitate to rent one from us and follow our exciting bike route. We started with cycling through peaceful Westerpark with its more creative places like the Westergasfabriek with a great terrace and the Espressofabriek with freshly brewed coffee. In addition to drinks and snacks, there are lots of special events at the Westergasfabriek, like music and food festivals, local produce and flea markets, concerts, DJs and more.

Haarlemmerstraat and its choices

We couldn’t visit all the places that were worth it due to the time limit, but we will still mention them as they are deserve a special recommendation. In general, Haarlemmerstraat is full of cozy vibe coffee places, bars, coffeeshops and nice stores. Make sure to check out Two for Joy and Screaming Beans for a cup of good sustainable coffee, where baristas will tell you all about where their beans come from. Both of these places roast the beans themselves, which allows for extraordinary freshness of each cup you drink.

Stout!

Instead of stopping by for coffee, our team grabbed a drink at Stout! That’s a great café restaurant that serves delicious lunches and dinners with a beautiful food presentation. They also offer amazing plateaus with 10 different small dishes, ideal for trying by a larger group. Stout’s nice terrace is the best spot to hang out on a sunny day.

Cheese tasting

After the drinks Teleporters felt like having a bite, and what can be a better idea than having some cheese in such a case? Due to the central location of most of the places we recommend, it’s easier to visit them all in one day by bike or on foot. As we were cycling, we ran into our super talented artist Frankie, who created the hotel’s joyful chalkboard with all the must-dos! And when we finally reached one of the best cheese stores in town Reypenaer, the cheese food feast began. It’s not one of those typical touristy Dutch cheese stores, but it’s one and only that sells the finest cheeses with a long history of 110 years. They have mastered the craftsmanship here for you to be able to taste old traditional cheese like no others. Needless to say that it’s a heaven for your taste buds, and we enjoyed the variety and high quality of cheese there.

Sweet tooth’s paradise

After all the savory flavors it was time for something sweet, and we continued to our favorite chocolaterie and patisserie tearoom Pompadour. Each chocolate that you choose has an unforgettable deliciousness and mouth melting charm at this magical place. So we got a perfect selection of hand-made chocolates and were delighted with unique flavors.

The last good drink

Even though it was the best day out for our team, it had to finish at some point. So we celebrated this mini trip around Amsterdam with cheerful drinks at ‘t Loosje. It is a wonderful local bar that’s perfect for a beer with some international snacks, lunch or coffee on the terrace. A great place to mingle with true local Amsterdam people too.

If you wish to learn more about the finest places in town or follow our experience and visit them all in one day, don’t hesitate to ask any of our Teleport team members. We will be happy to help and make sure that you have the best time in Amsterdam!

[:]

Sun Catching at the Best Amsterdam Terraces

14. March 2016/in /by David

Sun Catching at the Best Amsterdam Terraces

These days higher temperatures create an even better image of Amsterdam: warmer, fresher, brighter and more appealing. When the sun is shining you get to see Dutch people popping up at bars and cafés terraces as beautiful spring flowers-fast and everywhere around the city. So why not follow their example and enjoy the long-awaited sunshine sipping your drink, trying local bites and admiring a gorgeous view.

In the park

You might be surprised with the amount of Dutchies already laying on the grass around all 30 parks of Amsterdam. Even if it’s still cold, but the sun is out, locals are ready to take their jackets off and catch some rays in the green spots of the city. Let’s share these fun places with them, herrons, ducks and large green parrots (yes, they are permanent residents of Amsterdam too!).

Pacific Parc

Located in Westerpark, this lively bar/restaurant is a part of Westergasfabriek complex that attracts alternative people coming here for cultural events and nice time at the huge terrace. Westergasfabriek is quite a unique venue worth seeing, as it’s a former gasworks that are recognized as monumental buildings now. Lots of creativity, recycled materials, lush green park and young folks bring in a very special easygoing atmosphere at Pacific Parc. Be ready for some rock n roll here in the evening!

Westergasfabriek, Westerpark

The Blauwe Teehuis

This Blue Teahouse serves way more than just tea on its ground floor garden terrace and a panoramic balcony patio in the heart of Vondelpark. The building itself is quite modern for Amsterdam, but the green park and blooming flowers add lots of charm to it. Keep your eyes open for the nests of those parrots right next to the terrace, and allow yourself some time to explore the park too. Vondelpark hides an original sculpture by Pablo Picasso, romantic spots by the water and even small fairytale like bridges.

Vondelpark, Amsterdam Oud-Zuid

Amazing waterside terraces

Who ordered an incredible view? It is almost impossible to choose the best waterside terrace in Amsterdam, as its 165 canals create a picturesque city landscape in all the directions. A week won’t be enough to enjoy yourself on all the attractive patios by canalside, but let’s start with a few.

Café de Jaren

One of the most central cafés with a nice terrace, Café de Jaren offers a stunning view of the Amstel River and passing by boats. Their quite large deck and buzzing vibe makes it into a nice lunch spot on a sunny day. The menu is casual and international here with highly ranked soups. If the weather is not suitable for the terrace, Café de Jaren has two storeys of light inside space too.

Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20

Amsterdam Roest

Amsterdam Roest is that cool industrial hangout spot with a more alternative crowd, hip concerts and authentic markets by the canalside city beach. Explore this sandy, groovy and fun bar/café terrace perfect for trying local beers. Maybe Roest looks a bit rusty for some people, but it definitely got the spirit!

Czaar Peterstraat 213

Waterkant

Colorful and arty, Waterkant has a tropical ambiance inspired by Suriname and enormous waterside terrace. If you stay long enough while trying their specialties, you might get lucky with a nice evening event and a DJ playing. There is a lot of Surinamese influence in Amsterdam adding more intercultural character to the city, because Suriname used to be one of the Dutch colonies.

Marnixstraat 246

EYE Bar

Make an exciting adventure out of your afternoon drink in the sun by taking a free ferry to Amsterdam North to find yourself at the terrace of the EYE Bar and Restaurant. Look at Amsterdam from another side of the IJ, explore the urban northern part of the city full of hipsters and maybe even decide to check out the Film Museum there. One of the trendiest places in the city, EYE is a masterpiece of modern architecture.

IJpromenade 1, Amsterdam Noord

Historical terraces of Amsterdam

Café de Sluyswacht

A bit crooked yet delightful, this former cottage of a lockkeeper serves as a nice café with a wonderful canalside terrace. Built in 1695, it gives you a wrapping historical feel combined with a great opportunity for some relaxed people watching.

Jodenbreestraat 1

Restaurant-Café In de Waag

Even older (built in 1488!) In de Waag shares its historical secrets accompanied by nice drinks and snacks (and even better deserts!) at its charming terrace. Enjoy the view of this monumental architecture and always alive Nieuwmarkt square while trying Mediterranean cuisine or just sipping your coffee. A remarkable fact is that de Waag is the oldest building among non-religious ones in Amsterdam, and it can be seen on one of Rembrandt’s paintings!

Nieuwmarkt 4

Do You Fancy A Good Beer In Amsterdam?

1. February 2016/in /by David

Do You Fancy a Good Beer in Amsterdam?

Whether you like ale, I.P.A., stout, pilsner, wheat beer, lager or any other type, Amsterdam has them all in all possible variations. Moreover, this city offers them produced by small independent breweries that have their own styles, flavors and spirit. It is understandable that most of the tourists want to try Heineken in Amsterdam, but we advise you to go further and deeper and discover the world of unique Dutch micro breweries and their tasteful draught beers.

Bits of history

The history of beer in the Netherlands goes back to the Middle Ages, when the Dutch were drinking it like water. As clean drinking water was limited at those times people would drink low alcohol beer instead, which was produced in their homes or monasteries. The number of breweries was immense then, but it was way before Heineken was established in Amsterdam. The Dutch beer scene has never been the same after that giant entered the market in 1864 and bought numerous small competitors. Since then Heineken has been thriving all over the world, owning half of the beer market in the Netherlands. It even merged with famous beer brand Amstel- so now you know where the similarity in taste of Heineken and Amstel comes from.

If you want to know more about it or learn about the Heineken kidnapping case (when the owner of this company got kidnapped and around 60 million euro had to be paid for him!), then it will be a great idea to get Heineken Experience in the former Heineken Brewery.

Stadhouderskade 78

So how come have all those local micro breweries revived in Amsterdam? Believe it or not, but it happened thankfully to punk and squat subculture in the 80’s. They were so much against the capitalism of Heineken, that they started their own alternative beer scene. Later it grew into lots of independent breweries all over the city that offer good beer and different vibe that the mainstream beer pubs.

Oedipus Brewing

Oedipus Brewing offers colorful and diverse flavored beers with super original names. This startup has a fascinating story, hip style, lots of festival experience and most importantly beer that breaks the stereotype “all beer tastes the same.” Their brand new taproom (only half a year old) with 12 rotating taps serves as an artsy space, where beer, music and culture come together every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Oedipus Brewing also features all-inclusive tasting with a tour around the brewery and degustation of their specials.

Gedempt Hamerkanaal 85

Butcher’s Tears

Butcher’s Tears is a vintage and industrial microbrewery that is proud to present hand-crafted beers available to order at their tasting room. They try to do something different from other breweries in Amsterdam and revive nearly forgotten traditions of brewing combining it with lots of experimenting. The proeflokaal is located next wall to Butcher’s Tear brewery, where tasty unfiltered and unpasteurized beers can be tried sometimes accompanied by special events there.

Karperweg 45

Brouwerij De Vriendschap

Innovative and modern, Brouwerij De Vriendschap create new beers at their lab almost every week. Their craft beers can be tried in a few local bars in Amsterdam or purchased in one of the beer specialty shops. Although they have a nice spot in the north of the city, there is no tasting room or their own bar where you can enjoy their nice beers.

Meteorenweg 270

Brouwerij ’t IJ

Often mistakenly referred to as the windmill brewery, Brouwerij ’t IJ is one of the oldest small breweries in Amsterdam and located in the building of a former bath house. The truth is that De Gooyer windmill next door is not related to the brewery in any way. It only serves as a memorable landmark and is depicted on Brouwerij ’t IJ logo. When it comes to beer, this brewery has a good reputation and lots of loyal fans. Their 8 standard beers have organic certification, while their seasonal and limited edition beers are very different from the regular types. If you are curious about the scenes behind the bar and brewing process as such, then you can come for a 20 minute brewery tour at Brouwerij ’t IJ on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Funenkade 7

Two Chefs Brewing

Two chefs from Two Chefs Brewing create interesting beers that are far from regular lagers, but full of taste and character instead. From time to time the founders of this small brewery can host popup dinners, but the best way to spot them is to look for pairing events in various restaurants in Amsterdam. Two Chefs Brewing beer can often be found at the special beer festivals around the Netherlands. The best way to follow their schedule is to check their website or facebook group.

http://twochefsbrewing.com/

‘t Arendsnest

There is a great solution called ‘t Arendsnest for those who don’t want to hop from one local brewery to another, but want to try all sorts of the golden grain juice produced in the Netherlands at one place. This pub features more than 30 types of draught beer and around 100 types of bottled beer from all over the country with beer tasting available at their basement proeflokaal.

Herengracht 90

De Bierkoning

And in case you don’t want to go out for a beer in Amsterdam and practice your “Mag ik een biertje alstublieft?” then there is an exciting unique beer shop for you. It has more than 1500 special beers from all over as well as original beer glasses and books. It is hard to image what beer you won’t be able to find there, as even the rarest ones are available there. So don’t limit yourself to the typical beer types that you’ve already tried!

Paleisstraat 125