Paleis van de Weemoed

Situated in the heart of Amsterdam’s red-light district, Het Paleis van de Weemoed, is an old style theatre restaurant full of charm, nostalgia and romance A full evening’s entertainment includes a top quality 4-course meal intersperced with a parade of cabaret stars and wonderful musicians. “The Palace” can be compared to a “30’s Spiegel Tent Dance Salon, the Cotton Club or a small version of the Moulin Rouge. It presents an international programme but remains intimate. Come and enjoy an evening of fine dining and imaginative entertainment.

The Palace is situated in the historical Old Town of Amsterdam. Our 17th century canal district (“Grachtengordel”) is even on the Unesco World Heritage List.

From April 1st our terrace is open on sunny afternoons. Please come and enjoy Amsterdam life with a diner, or dinershow and a drink.

Tjin’s Toko

I discovered this little market by chance one day while shopping at the Albert Cuypmarkt. It didn’t look like a grocery store because the front is a take-away Asian place. But once you enter into the main shop (there’s two doors, one for the take-away), you’ll discover a treasure trove of hard-to-find grocery items from countries around the world.

The three very narrow aisles stock a wide range of products that will remind you of home. Or perhaps some exotic place you wish you could be. Like a good selection of Patak’s curry pastes and condiments, soy sauces including light and mushroom flavored, canned hummous and tahini, real hot jalapeño peppers from Mexico (not the mild Old El Paso ones, which they also carry), Betty Crocker cake mixes and frostings, Mrs. Dash salt-free seasonings, Phad Thai noodles, a good selection of beans, chocolate chips (very difficult to find in Holland, despite so much chocolate everywhere), and too much more to mention. You really need to see this place to believe it.

The manager is very good about locating and stocking items that you can’t find. My request for hummous was filled by my next visit!

The biggest drawback to this place is how cramped it is. You can barely work your way down these short aisles before someone tries to squeeze by. And the lack of space doesn’t leave much room for fresh produce, and the selection in the one cooler isn’t much.

Perhaps success will enable them to expand and increase their selection further. While the prices on some items are very reasonable, others like the cake mixes are expensive (7.50 euros is a lot for a mix that’s around $2.50 or less in the states). But if you’re jonesin’ for that special treat to remind you of home, you just might find it here!

I haven’t yet ventured into the take-away yet, but judging by how busy it is, I’d say it’s a good value.

Update: You might want to check the expiration dates on items before you purchase them, as I’ve noticed certain things that don’t sell remaining on the shelves for a very long time.

Phone: 020-671-7708

De Engelbewaarder

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.

Old Nickel Hotel Café and Restaurant

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

d’Vijff Vlieghen

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.

New Season

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.

Het Karbeel

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.