Misc Eatdrinksleep Hotel in Amsterdam

Offering a very homey vibe, this small boutique hotel by the canal offers six cozy and comfortable rooms that have been carefully decorated and come with a good complimentary breakfast.

A hearty complimentary breakfast (9am-noon) includes local cold cuts and cheeses, muesli, granola, jams, fruit, country-style breads, tea, and coffee.

In the evenings, the intimate lobby bar, Rosalia’s Menagerie, serves a large selection of jenevers and jenever-based cocktails to a mix of guests and locals until midnight.

During the day, the lobby doubles as a guest lounge; in the evenings, it moonlights as part of Rosalia’s Menagerie bar.

Each of the rooms is individually styled. Of the slightly more compact garden view doubles, Wonders is all crimson accent and Moroccan lanterns.

Bathrooms are on the snug side, but come with rain showers.

Of the garden view rooms, the Baroque is particularly striking, with a canopy bed, gilded mirrors, and chandelier.

The 3 canal view rooms are more spacious than garden view rooms, but get more street noise, so garden view rooms can be a better bet for light sleepers.

Just north of the hotel is Nieuwmarkt square, surrounded by bars. On Saturdays, the square hosts a farmers’ market; on Sundays, an antique market.

Facing the Kloveniersburgwal canal near the square is a row of bars and cafes. De Bekeerde Suster is a particularly atmospheric place for a beer. A 16th century cloister turned brewery, it has 4 of its own brews on tap, plus many bottled ones.

Nearby, Lokaal ‘t Loosje is a classic brown café, and a good place to mingle with locals over beer.

Tucked away along a tiny side street, the Rutger Brandt Gallery is a good place to search for pieces by up-and-coming artists as well as established international names.

Half a block south along the canal is Anna + Nina, one of the few fashion boutiques in a neighborhood that’s a little rough around the edges. It stocks women’s apparel and accessories by the Amsterdam-based designers.

Across the canal, The Headshop is one of the better smart shops in the neighborhood, with knowledgeable staff on hand to assist with anything marijuana-related.

2 blocks south, tiny Staalstraat runs east towards Amsterdam’s opera house. It’s dotted with a few good shops and eateries. These include BIEC, where you can pick up funky household gadgets, ceramics, women’s accessories, and other cool gifts.

To reach the Stopera, you cross small and picturesque canals such as the Groenburgwal.

Nearby, the neighborhood branch of the Amsterdam Duck Store sells novelty rubber ducks in every disguise imaginable: as Batman, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones characters, and more.

A few doors down, the local branch of Puccini Bomboni sells some of the best handmade chocolates in the city.

Just west of the bridge over Zwanenburgwal canal, bustling Frenzi is popular with its imaginative Mediterranean tapas, dozens of types of grappa, and occasional live music.

A short walk east is Stopera, Amsterdam’s opera and ballet venue that hosts performances by renowned ballet companies and orchestras from around the world.

Just north of Stopera, the Waterlooplein hosts a busy flea market (Monday to Saturday), selling everything from clothes to bric-a-brac. There are some food stalls as well.

Behind the market is the Rembrandt House, where the painter lived for much of his working life before going bankrupt. His rooms have been recreated as they once were, and you can see his original sketches. The audioguide is worthwhile.

Across the street from the Rembrandt House, and overlooking the confluence of 3 canals, De Sluyswacht is a former lock-keeper’s house turned into an adorable pub with an excellent waterside terrace.

North from Rembrandt House, along Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat, and overlooking Waalseilandsgracht canal is Gebr Hartering. It’s one of Amsterdam’s standard-bearers for modern Dutch cuisine, with daily changing menus composed of local ingredients, and a romantic ambience. Reserve ahead.

2 blocks east of Rembrandt House and down a narrow lane is the superb Jewish Historical Museum, with exhibits about the Jewish community in the Netherlands from 1600 to the present day, spread across 4 beautiful synagogues. The ticket gives you access to the Portuguese Israelite synagogue across the busy main thoroughfare.

Leading back to Nieuwmarkt square from the Rembrandt House, St Antoniesbreestraat features a number of quirky independent stores. These include Knuffels, a great place to pick up optical illusion toys, stuffed animals, and other fun things for kids.

Further north up the street, you can rummage through the basement vinyl collection at RecordFriend for pretty much any genre.

From Nieuwmarkt square, the largely pedestrian Zeedijk street curves north in the direction of Centraal Station. This is Amsterdam’s colorful Chinatown. Nam Kee is one of the standout restaurants here; oysters with black bean sauce a specialty.

The north end of Zeedijk is part of the Medieval Center’s nightlife scene, with scores of bars, pubs, and largely mediocre eateries. Exceptions include Dabka, a longstanding local favorite for Lebanese mezze, and a great canal-side terrace to boot.

Down the narrow Oudezijds Armstraat, Brouwerij de Prael is a real treat for beer lovers. The tasting room of the eponymous craft brewery has numerous brews on tap.

Tiny Nieuwebrugsteeg lane hides the central branch of Omelegg. Like the original in De Pijp, it’s all about the egg here: a couple of dozen different omelettes, shakshuka, and other eggy creations served all day.

Around the corner, Kam Yin is a cheap and cheerful place favored by local students, with heaped portions of Chinese and Surinamese dishes, and a canteen-style ambience.

The street culminates in the Damrak docks, where most canal cruise boat companies depart from. Have a look at a few, since some offer open-boat and small group tours that can explore the narrow, less well-trodden canals, while others have large boats that may only navigate the main canals.

The Damrak is the main thoroughfare and tramway that connects Centraal Station and Dam, Central Amsterdam’s busiest square, filled with visitors and buskers, and home to the Nationaal Monument, dedicated to WWII’s fallen.

The big attraction here is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of the Netherlands. When the king’s away, you can check out the sumptuous rooms.

Just north of the Royal Palace, the 15th century Nieuwe Kerk is well worth a look for its beautiful oak chancel, and excellent temporary art and photography exhibitions.

Inside the Hotel Krasnapolsky on the east side of the square, the White Room is the place to blow your budget or celebrate a special occasion. Multi-course Michelin-starred menus in the evenings, and a surprisingly affordable lunchtime menu. Dinner reservations essential.

Just south of Dam, along the narrow Nes street where you’ll find most of the city’s alternative theaters, Bubbles & Wines surpasses most Amsterdam bars when it comes to sheer class: it’s a stylish place with dozens of wines and champagnes by the glass, and superb bar snacks to match.

Behind Hotel Krasnapolsky, Damstraat runs east towards the Red Light District. Just before Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal, TER Steakhouse has a solid reputation for its expertly-grilled cuts of meat.

Around the corner from TER Steakhouse, Proeflokaal ‘t Kelkje is a venerable tasting room for a distillery responsible for numerous jenevers. There are also a few Bavarian and Czech beers on offer, if gin isn’t your thing.

A little way north and down a tiny lane, Wynand Fockink is a tiny 17th century tasting house: another great place to acquaint yourself with jenevers and other local liqueurs.

Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal that bisects the Red Light District is arguably the most picturesque in the Medieval Center.

A block east of TER Steakhouse, you’re in the heart of the Red Light District, one of the most tourist-heavy parts of the city. Museums here cater squarely to tourists interested in marijuana and the prostitution industry, but that doesn’t make them any less worthwhile. The Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Gallery has entertaining exhibits on hemp art, marijuana cultivation, and the use of the ‘holy herb’ in religion.

A couple of blocks further north, amidst the live sex show venues, the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution lets you check out a replica Red Light room, play dress-up in the dominatrix room, and learn about the inner workings of Amsterdam’s prostitution industry.

Nearby, the Erotic Museum offers a quirky look at eroticism through the ages, with nude photo and bondage equipment exhibits. Pricier than Amsterdam’s other sex museums, so you’re better off going to the Sex Museum along Damrak in the Medieval Center.

In spite of the somewhat seedy reputation, the Red Light District is perfectly safe, and it’s fun to wander the tiny lanes. Just don’t try to take photos of the ladies of negotiable affection displaying themselves in the windows; they have bouncers for a reason.