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Old Nickel Hotel Café and Restaurant

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Perfect for the backpacking traveler who wants a little style and comfort while being right in the heart of all the fun in Amsterdam. The Old Nickel is just two minutes walk from Centraal Station, behind the imposing St. Nicklaas Cathedral, at

The style is unique, and the bar/lounge area is resplendent with ornate wood-carvings and paneling from the captain’s quarters of the 17th century sailing ship of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. It was here that we chose to have a quiet beer one evening, after hammering our eardrums with a Grateful Dead cover band down an alley nearby. The smiling Dutch lady behind the counter served us beers quite cheerfully and bubbled with all sorts of advice. We retreated to a corner table and relaxed over a long conversation, and really enjoyed the place.

The guests arriving and departing seemed happy, and from pictures the rooms look a bit small, but offer a table and chairs in addition to beds. The room price includes a ham and eggs breakfast. The staff speak many languages, and seem to enjoy offering lots of help finding your way about town.

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Address:
Nieuwe Brugsteeg 11
Amsterdam 1012
Phone: 020 624-1912

De Engelbewaarder

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de Engelbewarder (The Guardian Angel) Jazz Club and Bar

The name of this bar/cafe means “Guardian Angel”. Popular with the literati since the 70s it now serves up food and cool jazz music (on Sunday) to compliment the booze. The menu offers a good choice of items including appetizers like deep-fried calamari (recommended) and cheese fondue.

The canalside seating in nice weather is very popular, although you can’t really hear the music well from outside. Inside it’s usually very crowded, standing room only, and very smoky, especially on Sundays.
Good mix of people, Dutch regulars, expats, and some tourists. Sunday is the most popular day when jazz musicians jam from around 4pm to 7pm.

d’Vijff Vlieghen

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This famous Dutch restaurant on the Spui, certainly oozes Old World charm.

A note from their website says: “I am Nicolaas the Fifth, born in 1627 and forgot to die. I am the King of the Five Flies’ Empire in Amsterdam, Holland. If you come to my Kingdom I will give you an experience you will never forget.” Promoted as founder Nicholas Kroese late 40s his Amsterdam Restaurant Five Flies in the United States, as he walked with a brass cage with five bronze flying in his hand on the street and with his charisma and impressive prevent the Americans made enthusiastic visiting his restaurant. Five Flies Restaurant exists today officially 75 years and has long been known worldwide as a must-do in Amsterdam. Especially in the United States has the restaurant a large group of fans. Enjoy good food with a good glass of wine in a unique and beautiful setting, which is where this restaurant is all about. A culinary museum is: Based in five pooled 17th century little houses, decorated in Old Dutch style with four original etchings by Rembrandt on the wall and walls lined with beautiful gold leather wallpaper from the 17th century.

We are ready for another 75 years, and hope we can welcome you soon to create a unique experience together with us!

On behalf of Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen, Albert Veerman, King of the Five Flies anno 2014

Info:
Open every day from 5:30 pm. Across the street from the Amsterdam Historical Museum. Reservations probably a good idea.

Pathé Arena Theater

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I recently visited the Pathe Arena theaters to see a new movie (Goldmember) on the day of its release in the Netherlands. As usual, I went during a weekday afternoon. Why? Because not only did I get a nice discount, but the theater was almost empty (like about 8 people in the biggest theater!). I like that!

The seats are ever so comfy here. The red ones in the largest theater are well-padded and wide, with wide arm rests and lots of legroom. No more cramming your legs against the seat in front!

The sound system was awesome, but didn’t seem to work 100% with the movie I came to see, perhaps because it wasn’t filmed in a compatible mode. I counted at least 30 speakers that I could see.

I really like coming here for the reasons I’ve mentioned, and I would come here more often, if they didn’t only show the latest Hollywood-hyped, factory-made movies. What’s wrong with screening something alternative once in awhile? Well there’s certainly no shortage of theaters in Amsterdam showing non-mainstream films.

The only other gripe I have is that the popcorn we got in the afternoon was stale (and encrusted with salt) from the night before. Someone should be shot for doing this. Stale, overly salty popcorn is inexcusable. Let your employees take it home at the end of the night instead, please!

I’ve seen movies in the smaller theaters at the Arena, and they’re all top quality, and airconditioned. Plus there’s no smoking, and usually no pause in the middle of the feature.

New Season

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The New Season Chinese Oriental Restaurant on the Warmoesstraat at #39 offers a good meal for a good price. Spicy food is the offering here, with many Malaysian meals that are quite spicy indeed. The functional and clean interior offers tables at the window with a great view of the busy passers-by out on the street.

For a starter I had a bowl of Tom Yam Kai soup, which had a rich dark broth (beef?) and the required few lumps of chicken, sliced fresh mushrooms and chopped fresh herbs making this a delightful treat for only 2.80 euros. My friend had the Chicken Satay, which featured four skewers loaded with chicken chunks and lots of spicy peanut sauce. This was 3.50 euros.

The main courses were also spicy and delicious. Ling Hsiang Ha was a prawn dish with sweet chili sauce and oriental vegetables that was stir-fried to perfection and served with a bowl of steamed rice. Fried Noodle Chicken was our other choice, with fresh noodles stir-fried in a rich and spicy conglomeration of vegeatables and chicken chunks. The portions were nicely sized, filling us completely. The chattering waiter was very polite and quite nice, insisting that we would return many times after sampling their fine food.

All-in-all this place is a great bargain, quiet and cozy. A nice place for a relaxing meal while downtown in Amsterdam. The Warmoesstraat can be reached from the Dam Square or Central Station very easily, and is in the heart of the Red Light District of Amsterdam.

Mazzo

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You start feeling welcome already at the door, no high cover to enter the club, beautiful ambiance, great sofa, very very very good sound system, and gorgeous bartenders 😉 The first time I was there was when Jeff Mills was playing which was absolutely fabulous. Just like all the others nights I visited Mazzo after that night. They have a good line-up, changing regularly, so you can enjoy different nights in different moods. Good doorpolicy, relaxed atmosphere, and absolutely rockin’! Not to be compared to the dark weird nightclub for men that the Mazzo used to be………… Finally beautiful people inside who know how to party! I have been living in Amsterdam for 5 years now, and Mazzo absolutely is the most trendy nightclub in Amsterdam!

Editor’s Note: The Mazzo is also known for fine Italian dining.

Het Karbeel

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Groovy fondue place in the redlight district has fine steaks, fish and roasted chicken as well.

Het Karbeel has become a favorite, because the portions are large, prices reasonable, and the service friendly.

Het Karbeel, we hear, is the name of the huge beams that support the many-storied building above the restaurant. This group of buildings is one of the oldest in Amsterdam, on the oldest street in the city.

Info:
Breakfast lunch and dinner served daily.