New York in Amsterdam; here you will find it!
You've probably heard it before: the explorer Henry Hudson discovered the east coast of what is now the United States in 1609 and founded the colony here New-The Netherlands. The settlement was established here in 1624 New-Amsterdam founded in present-day Manhattan, New York. If you want to know the ins and outs of this, please let us know Wikipedia guesses. Because here we are going to talk about those unique addresses where you experience the feeling of New York, but in Amsterdam.
This article was made possible by JOARZ, born in New York.
Anyone who says that Amsterdam has no skyline can check in at hotel INNSiDE by Meliá, a hotel that screams BEAUTIFUL and REST and HOLIDAY (or actually it is more exhale than scream, because it is fantastically zen) and that in the most businesslike, most busy part of Amsterdam. A must for both tourists and business people. If possible, try to book a room with a view of the Zuidas; then when the first rays of sun peak through the curtains in the morning, you have that unmatchable cosmopolitan New York feeling, promised.
This also applies during breakfast (and lunch and dinner) at the rooftop bar Cielo on the nineteenth floor. At. Crazy. Just read: 'on top of Amsterdam at rooftop bar Cielo'
If you say have lunch in New York like the New Yorkers, then you say take-a-way and take a moment for yourself with a book or laptop on one of the many public terraces in the city. In Amsterdam this has been more than successful in one place and that is the (Greek) Ikaria Food, on the square adjacent to the Bilderdijkstraat. That's where Amsterdammers get theirs quick fix, meet up and hang out alone or in groups in the neighborhood, just like the New Yorkers do on the Flatiron Public Plaza, adjacent to Madison Square Park. Highly recommended in all respects in Amsterdam and New York.
It is only natural in New York that the best bars are found in hotels. Not just for guests, no, also for locals. Dutch people often still find this a bit complicated, although things are getting better in Amsterdam (better, yes, because we love hanging out at a hotel bar before heading further afield). Hotel American is a good option in the center of Amsterdam, and of course Heaven with the great view of the Zuidas.
But we still have a few breed favorites that evoke just that big-city feel we love, like the Pulitzer Bar at the Pulitzer Hotel, the couple's favorite because of the looks (oh those looks...) and the excellent cocktails and wines (also by the glass, thank you very much).
More Dutch then Freddy's Bar in Hotel de l'Europe of course you're not going to get it. The bar is named after our own Freddy Heineken, but thanks to the old-school brown bar perfection and the beautiful, very international design of the entire hotel, it is also the metropolitan hotel bar of our dreams.
(text continues below image of the Pulitzer Bar)
"Born in New York“, that was the first thing we read – or at least saved – when we first heard of what turned out to be very Dutch bedding label JOARZ heard. With JOARZ we share our great (!) love for hotels; if possible, a nice luxurious hotel in the city that never sleeps.
Where, funnily enough, we always sleep great since 1) New York brings out the best in us and because 2) the best hotels have the finest bed linen. The founder of JOARZ also noticed the bed linen and we now thank her for that, a few years later. The fact is that at JOARZ they found the Egyptian cotton, the cause of those wonderful night(s), far too pricey for home use. However, they did want that same luxury. Also at home. Fast forward to 2019, the year in which JOARZ was born: a label with fantastic luxury bedding at affordable prices! Tried, tested & in love. The (super super super soft) bedding from JOARZ is really your best investment for ultimate luxury in your own nest. Read more about JOARZ
Yes, of course we can't help but compare Amsterdam Noord to Brooklyn. Does the creative Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York (that it is equally clear) remind us of the 9 streets in Amsterdam; both the zip code with the coolest niche shops and supreme coffee to go business of the city. And the graffiti from the Amsterdam NDSM shipyard also makes us long for the same streets of Williamsburg. But if we have to choose one address, we'll call it City Winery Chateau Amsterdam. An Amsterdam company that is pioneering its own wines in Amsterdam North, in a somewhat forgotten place and therefore the coolest of the bunch, and is slowly but surely conquering the entire city (and the whole of the Netherlands) with their excellent wines. Reminds us of Roberta's who single-handedly put the Bushwick neighborhood on the map thanks to the best pizzas in the city. The same applies to the brewers of Oedipus, the near-neighbors of Chateau Amsterdam in Amsterdam North.
As far as iconic hotels in Amsterdam go, we of course have to mention the Amstel Hotel, but we don't get that one New York vibes as we get them at – what's in a name Hotel American. That doesn't even have anything to do with the name; much more with the looks, the fountain in front of the door and the location between the Vondelpark on one side, the Leidseplein and the Stadsschouwburg on the other. Always reminds us very much of the iconic The Plaza hotel in New York, next to Central Park and around the corner from shopping epicenter Fifth Avenue. You can't get more in the heart of New York, which also applies to Hotel American. The hotel (the one in Amsterdam) was recently completely renovated and the hotel bar is a very good place to spend an evening in-town to usher in. As for The Plaza NYC, we recommend the breakfast buffet: for about 35 euros you can have the best of what the hotel has to offer (including champagne) under the historic chandeliers (without a very expensive overnight stay).
The Vondelpark, that is of course one no brainer. No Amsterdam park feels more metropolitan and like Central Park than this one.
The dogs everywhere, the joggers, the children playing in the various playgrounds, the water features and the people picnicking. Now just a nanny and we are complete justasinNewYork.
Although it must be said that we are even more fond of it Bryant Park in New York. Our own Amsterdam Pancake House, between Leidseplein and Vondelpark, on the waterfront, is a favorite base when we are in the city with the mini-people. And the kiosk is always reminiscent of the carousel in Bryant Park.
We are also delighted with the Westergas where the industrial looks on one side, and the people on the grass on the other side, also at Bryant Park (or any other park) reminiscent of New York. Just check this article for all our favorite parks in New York, is fun!
Also very New York like New Yorkers are the small, often hidden ones community gardens as Elizabeth Street Garden. You probably didn't know it, but we also have those hidden gardens in the center of Amsterdam. You will even find two on Prinseneiland! The Zen garden is the first, on the water, but we think it is the most special the Palm Garden. Search carefully and you will experience one community garden just like they can suck it up in New York.
When you reach From Kas When you sit on the terrace, you are surrounded by greenery in Amsterdam Park Frankendael, also such a nice city park. But what makes De Kas so Big Applely? That is your view, namely the skyline on the Amstel. Good food (with a lot of focus on vegetables), an extensive wine list and with a NY skyline in the background as if you were really there.
Lord knows that we are not at Grand Banks on a beautiful summer day in New York. Since 2015, it has been the seasonal place where you can slurp your oysters on the water of the Hudson, on a classic boat, and start your New York style weekend. among New Yorkers that is. And now Amsterdam recently also has such an address! Sammy Sangria is the name and the people of Sammie Sangria took over BOTEL in Amsterdam North. There, on the roof, they created a fantastic Spanish-Mexican drink & bites restaurant where you hang out until the sun sets in the water. Just like in New York.
Not only in New York did many people find themselves without work during the Corona lockdowns, whether by choice or not, but in Amsterdam too, many people with a creative profession decided to change course. That rudder became the baker's rudder more than once and suddenly the artisan bakers in Amsterdam can no longer be counted on one hand. Add to that the fondness for it to go's, the flash delivery people crossing the city and the creative, often rugged look & feel of the bakers and you imagine yourself in New York when you order your sourdough bread (usually in English, because hello expats everywhere). For example at City bakery As in Amsterdam North, on the side of the (very nice!) industrial building that recently also housed restaurant VRR. Great tip for your weekend tour.
Traditionally, the Reguliersdwarsstraat best known as the gay nightlife street of Amsterdam. It still does that and because of that (usually) very nice 'everyone welcome' mentality, we find it very nice and wonderfully metropolitan, especially on weekdays.
The photo on the left is in SoHo where the same energy hangs as soon as the sky turns royal blue and where, thanks to the cobblestones on the streets, bistro Dutch nearby and the bicycles everywhere, it always reminds us of Amsterdam.
