Lotti’s Amsterdam

Amsterdam is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but it’s also becoming a serious foodie destination. The picture perfect Nine Streets neighbourhood and leafy Amsterdam Oud-West are full of stylish cafes, buzzing brunch spots and restaurants that you won’t want to miss.

For a true taste of Holland, you can indulge in local specialities like pancakes, stroopwafels and bitterballen and discover the local street food scene. Just be sure to Google the difference between a coffee shop and a koffiehuis before parking up for an afternoon brew.

Here are a few cool places that I discovered on my recent weekend city break in Amsterdam…

Moak Pancakes

Pancakes are a Dutch tradition and should be part of your food itinerary when visiting Amsterdam. However, Moak Pancakes (formerly named Mook Pancakes) does things a little differently to the old guard. This hip hop pancake house is a fun hang-out with concrete interiors, plenty of plants, a cool soundtrack and most importantly, insanely good pancakes.

I took my mum there for her birthday breakfast and we were looked after so well by the super friendly staff. The menu features healthy sweet and savoury pancakes, avocado dishes, salads and fresh market fruit juices.

We both kept it simple and went for The Blue Magic with fresh blueberries, shaved coconut and unlimited Canadian maple syrup. The pancakes were fluffy, light and substantial, plus is there anything better than having your own jug of maple syrup to drench them in?

Cafe Winkel 43

The best apple pie in Amsterdam (and possibly the world) can be found at Cafe Winkel 43 at Noordermarkt. Established in 1983, this charming corner cafe is renowned for its homely, deep-dish apple pie and has been serving up over 1000 slices from early mornings to 1am every night (3am on Fridays and Saturdays).

It’s essential to make a pilgrimage there, however it gets extremely busy on weekends and we were very lucky to score a seat on the terrace under the heaters.

We ordered hot chocolates to warm up and a slice of apple pie with cream each, because frankly it’s too good to share. The enormous wedge of pie had a crispy, golden crust and a thick layer of buttery, cake-like pastry with lots of slow-cooked apples infused with lots of cinnamon and finished with really yummy sweet cream. It was absolutely heavenly and the most memorable apple pie I’ve ever tasted – be sure not to miss it!

Chocolaterie Pompadour

For teatime with a touch of refinement, head to Chocolaterie Pompadour in the Nine Streets neighbourhood. This charming French patisserie and tea room has a dazzling array of cakes, tarts and freshly-made Valrhona chocolates that make excellent gifts.

I loved the traditional, thick and velvety hot chocolate served with a pot of cream and cute little financier on the side.

Pluk

Pluk has become a big Instagram sensation and handily there are two cafes just moments apart in the Nine Streets district. Unfortunately the service was painfully slow and inefficient at both and all of the waiting really cut into our afternoon.

It might not hit the mark on busy weekends, but it’s worth trying if you simply go for tea and cake, take-out or have plenty of time to wait for those pretty pastel unicorn cupcakes.

Cafe George

This New York-style French brasserie, overlooking Leidsegracht in Jordaan, is a stylish but casual spot for a bite at any time of the day. Cafe George is extremely popular for its sparkling atmosphere and romantic design, but most of all its affordable menu, from classic brunch dishes to the more luxurious oysters, lobster linguine and josper-grilled entrecote.

We popped by for a light lunch and really enjoyed the buttery, comforting Croque Madame with hot, crispy frites with mayo to share. There are a few different George eateries across town, so you’ll never be too far away from a good meal.

Foodhallen

Every cosmopolitan city has street food market now, but Foodhallen in Amsterdam Oud-West does it better than most. It’s a major part of De Hallen, a multi-purpose centre for culture, media, fashion, food and crafts, housed in a former tram depot. The space is pretty impressive and has a local, indie spirit with a cinema, library, art galleries, shops, restaurants and a stylish design hotel.

But, what really draws the crowds is Foodhallen, where you can grab a bite from stars of the Amsterdam street food scene and enjoy live music and DJs. Whatever you’re craving you can find it there, with dishes such as bao buns, tacos, ramen, falafel pita, crab cake burgers, grilled meats and dim sum.

We were drawn to L’Entrecôte Mobile, which specialises in French steak sandwiches made with organic beef, freshly cooked to order. The toasted sesame bun was generously filled with tender, smoky medium-cooked steak, fresh lettuce and a mouth-watering sauce made with tarragon, garlic and parsley butter.

I was keen to try bitterballen – a traditional Dutch snack – and where better than DeBallenbar, created by a Michelin-starred chef? Peter Gast, who earned his first star aged just 25 for his restaurant ‘t Schulten Hues in Zutphen, teamed up with his sous chef Jeroen Elijzen to open DeBallenbar at Foodhallen in 2014.

The bitterballen come in a mix of classic and creative flavours such as Dutch shrimp, bouillabaisse or truffle and are served with a choice of sauces. I went for the original meat bitterballen with mustard sauce and liked the crunchy breadcrumb coating and smooth bechamel centre.

In the mood for something sweet, we picked up some heavenly Earl Grey and chocolate tarts from local French pâtisserie Petit Gateau to graze on back in our room.

Lotti’s

The Hoxton Amsterdam is the coolest place to stay in the city and its all-day brasserie Lotti’s is popular among locals and guests alike. It has a cosy, relaxed vibe and the menu is a mix of classic bistro dishes and Dutch specialities.

I went for a classic Hoxton beef burger with bacon, baby gem, vine tomato, burger sauce, homemade pickles and fries – the perfect comfort food on a chilly night. My mum enjoyed a rich and indulgent Butler’s steak – slow and slow braised beef with liquorice, artichoke and carrots. Dessert was simple and luxurious home-made vanilla and peanut butter ice cream – a delightful end to the meal.

Are you inspired to take a foodie trip to the Dutch capital? Where are your favourite restaurants and cafes in Amsterdam?

All photos by Chérie City

Amsterdam is having a bit of a moment as a shopping and dining destination and there’s nowhere hotter to stay than The Hoxton Amsterdam. Opened in 2015, it was the first Hoxton Hotel outside of London and now the trend-setting group has outposts in Paris, Williamsburg and Portland with more openings in the works.

The Hoxton Amsterdam overlooks the Herengracht canal in the heart of the chic Nine Streets shopping district, one of the city’s most charming and vibrant neighbourhoods. It’s also within walking distance of Anne Frank House, the Floating Flower Market and Dam Square.

The hotel is set across five grand canal houses that once made up the Mayor’s residence in the 17th century. The first thing you’ll see on arrival is a retro photo booth before descending into the buzzing open house area. This warm and cosy space includes the bar with comfy velvet armchairs, a mezzanine lounge at the top of a spiral staircase, Lotti’s restaurant, an art gallery and the long reception desk with a glass cabinet full of Amsterdam trinkets.

Check-In

Our check-in was swift and friendly and within moments we were wandering through the warren-like corridors with jazzy monochrome carpets to our room. The hotel is bigger than most of the city’s canal-side heritage properties with 111 rooms and four different room categories – Shoebox, Cosy, Roomy and Concept (Fruity and Floral are the two grandest rooms).

The Room

Our Roomy room was an absolute dream – spacious and inviting with lots of character. We walked in to hear the Roberts digital radio playing old rock ‘n’ roll (a Hoxton signature) and were also kindly welcomed with a hand-written note and a bar of delicious chocolate by local gourmet brand Stach.

This room has the feel of a modern-retro apartment contrasted with the historic features of the building, with inky blue and white walls, chevron parquet floors, wood-panelled wall, brass lamps and striking hexagonal mirror. It features a very plush king-size bed with a quilted throw, comfy seating area with a brass coffee table, large flatscreen TV, a study desk with a cheeky ‘crap drawer’ of essentials, kettle for making tea and coffee and a mini fridge with complimentary mineral water and bottle of milk.

Other thoughtful amenities include free wifi, an hour of free international landline phone calls and a minibar at reception with regular shop prices. It’s all about the quirky small details at The Hoxton, so there are plenty of surprises around the room to discover and delight.

What’s most interesting about this room, however, is that the bathroom is at the top of a small staircase. It’s a quirky design feature that we rather liked for its privacy, but most of the bathrooms are ground-level, if accessibility is a priority. The monochrome bathroom features white tiles and a curvy brass heated towel rail with a powerful walk-in shower, big fluffy towels and a full set of bathroom products by Pen & Ink designed exclusively for The Hoxton.

Dinner at Lotti’s

That evening, we had dinner at Lotti’s, the hotel’s all-day dining brasserie. There’s nothing more indulgent than just popping downstairs for a great meal and Lotti’s is a hot destination restaurant in its own right. We sat at a cosy sofa table close to the open kitchen and were well looked after by the friendly staff.

I enjoyed a classic Hoxton beef burger with bacon, baby gem, vine tomato, burger sauce, homemade pickles and fries, which was juicy and satisfying – a proper high-end burger. My mum was more adventurous and went for the Butler’s steak – slow and slow braised beef with liquorice, artichoke and carrots. The top quality meat had a rich, mature flavour and went perfectly with the velvety artichoke, sticky molasses sauce and pickled carrots. Dessert was simple and luxurious home-made vanilla and peanut butter ice cream.

Breakfast

After a great night’s sleep, it was time to eat again. Our famous Hoxton Breakfast Bag was delivered at our preferred time in the morning packed with a healthy granola yoghurt pot, banana and really good freshly-squeezed orange juice. Lotti’s also does a mean breakfast if you’re in the mood for something substantial, however we had our eye on Moak Pancakes, an all-day pancake house with a hip hop vibe that the hotel recommended in its handy map guide.

If you want a little extra from your trip to Amsterdam, check out The Hoxton Amsterdam’s programme of cool hosted events and workshops, rent a bicycle to see the city or book a canal boat tour with their suggested operator. For those fortunate to be visiting on a work trip, there’s also The Apartment with its own larder and atrium garden for meetings and private dining.

The Hoxton Amsterdam has everything you need for a fabulous city break – an enviable location, stylish design and lots of atmosphere. With the new Eurostar direct route and speedy one-hour flights from London, it’s easier than ever to hop over to Amsterdam and discover what makes this city so special.

Discover more of the Dutch capital’s top addresses in my guide to Where to Eat Out in Amsterdam.

For more information and booking, visit: www.thehoxton.com

Chérie City was a guest of The Hoxton Amsterdam