Image by Gisela Clarke

The menu here isn’t big. And it doesn’t need to be. The only thing you need to order is cheese fondue, entrecote, salad, and finally chocolatemousse as a dessert. I’m a great lover of cheese so this place is really one of my favorites.

The cheese fondue is great and you get plenty of bread to go with it. Any of the different salads will do great for a bit of a fresh taste ’cause the fondue is quite heavy and obviously cheesy!

The entrecôte comes on a plate which is on a flame where you can further fry the meat in a very tasty sauce. Maybe this is not the place for a romantic first date though. All of the cheese and garlic doesn’t leave your mouth smelling very fresh…

It is important to know that a reservation is required if you don’t want to eat too late. As soon as your there you will find it easy to spend the rest of the evening there with your cheese fondue and a nice bottle of wine. I can’t wait till the next time! and the next! and the next!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bern | Bars, Restaurants | Main meal € 15.00
Nieuwmarkt 9 | Center | +31206220034
15:00 – 01:00 daily

Image by Gisela Clarke

De Kring is normally a members club but for a while now they have opened up their club on weekend nights for different kinds of usually very good parties. Club Up is attached to De Kring and is an actual club. It has a separate entrance on the Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 26 but. Parties are usually at the side of Club Up and sometimes if they’re bigger the parties are on both sides of the club with the entrance at De Kring.

The club is becoming more and more popular which means that you will often have to queue op for a while unless you come really early or really late. But as soon as you get in line you will easily get in as they don’t have a strict door policy and inside you will always find an eclectic mix of different kinds of people having a good time.

I always have a good time here, the music and the atmosphere are good, its almost always busy, I can almost certainly guarantee you some wild nights!

Friday and Saturday nights are almost always busy and good, but just to be sure check the websites for the program.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
De Kring / Club Up | Bars, Music | Entrance fee € 10.00
Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 7-9 | Center | +31206236985
23:00 – 04:00 daily

Image by Sanne van Poll

Pacific Parc is a great place on the ‘Westergasfabriekterrein’. Its open during the day for drinks and lunch as well as in the evening for dinner, drinking and/or dancing.

In the summertime the great attraction is the terrace outside which is very big and has sunshine all day long, but in the wintertime there is an even better attraction: a great looking fireplace in the middle of the room. It looks and smells great and warms you up when you need it!

Pacific Parc is open day and night and at night they sometimes have some really busy parties, although they aren’t really my cup of tea.

For lunch/breakfast/snack you should definetely try the “tosti” (croque monsieur / toasted ham/cheese sandwich). It’s delicious with lots of cheese and ham, pineapple or tomato. The great thing is that you get 1,5 tosti, which is exactly the right amount!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pacific Parc | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Main meal € 15.00
polonceaukade 23 | West | +31204887778
11:00 – 02:00 daily (kitchen open till 22:00)

Image by Gisela Clarke

I don’t have lots of spectacular things to say about this spot so I’ll just keep it simple. It is simply a really good spot.

The good things are to begin with the location, right on the Nieuwmarkt with views of De Waag. Secondly the reading chairs by the window, very nice! Check out the lunch menu during the day which is tasty and affordable. And last but not least the different kinds of Belgian beers and the nice housewine are worth a try.

Don’t forget to order some bitterballen to go with your drinks and just enjoy!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cafe Stevens | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | lunch € 5.00
Geldersekade 123 | Center
10:00 – 01:00 daily

Image by Gisela Clarke

Cafe the Tuin is a really relaxed place in the Jordaan in the centre of Amterdam. In this area there are lots of good places. (Check the La Perla Pizza article) Cafe de Tuin is just laid back and no nonsense. They play really good music and serve a wide collection of Belgian beers.

Its nice to sit outside but there isn’t a lot of space. I love the way they’ve made little tables out of the ‘Amsterdammertjes‘ by the side of the road.

In the weekends the place gets really busy with people inside and outside and sometimes a DJ playing music. This makes it the excellent place to start or finish your evening. Or just stay here, you don’t need to go anywhere else!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cafe de Tuin | Bars | Bbeer € 2.20
2e Tuindwarsstraat 13 | Center | +31206244559
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 03:00