in short…

• eating with the locals

• from breakfast to dinner

• our favourite – shiitake bitterballen with Amsterdam IPA

We could hardly feel more at home in Amsterdam than when we step into Café Wilhelmina.

In the Helmersbuurt neighbourhood in Amsterdam's Oud-West district, you rarely encounter excited tourists.

There are wide streets with large old trees and 19th-century townhouses just north of the beautiful Vondelpark.

Wilhelmina itself is an unpretentious place with a friendly team that remains calm and composed even when the few seats are in high demand.

The changing menu is small but spot on.

Actually, we can have breakfast, lunch, a small snack with an aperitif or a delicious dinner here.

in short…

• a little gem in De Pijp

• Amy and  Julius - the loveliest hosts

• what we love - every plate is a work of art

Being cooked for by friends, in a familiar atmosphere, with that extra touch of love that only dear ones can infuse into their food, is always a rare delight to find outside one's home.

At Amy and Julius's restaurant JA such a cozy feeling washes over you the moment you step into the charming space with its open kitchen.

It is here that we learn fine dining can indeed be incredibly familial.

in short...

• a Dutch family business

• Fish and seafood from sustainable sources

• what we like best - the location in Spui

Indulging in fresh fish and seafood can be a delightful luxury.

When, as in this case, the highest standards of sustainability are also prioritized, the enjoyment becomes even more profound.

For Amsterdam locals, The Seafood Bar, which boasts three locations throughout the city, is likely no secret. 

It's akin to recommending Dallmayr to a Münchner or Das Schwarze Kamel to a Viennese.

However, if you love the freshest seafood, prioritize sustainable fishing and appreciate bright spaces that evoke the charm of a bustling fish market, this is the place for you.

in short…

• when we feel like going out in Oud West

• a super friendly team

• our favourite cocktail here – Broken Negroni

Slow-roasted tomatoes, candied walnuts, fermented chili, confit Medjool dates, Jerusalem artichoke chips, homemade ricotta dumplings, boozy coffee biscuits, pistachio crème Anglaise… just reading the ingredients on the menu at Night Kitchen is enough to lure us there.

But there’s even more to it than that!

They describe their wonderful concept as “Dinner with Friends.”

This idea hails from Tel Aviv and has been successfully exported not only to Amsterdam but also to Berlin.