Amsterdam

Netherlands

Things to do in Amsterdam:

View the Gallery House on the Canal

Amsterdam Restaurants

Cheap (63)

Stock

So-called because of its proximity to the city's stock exchange, this airy and funky new canteen is a welcome addition to a street that most Amsterdammers try to avoid for its junk-food chains.... read more
Affordable (59)

Cafe Wildschut

With its floor-to-ceiling windows, roadside terrace and marble-topped bars, Wildschut typifies the kind of grand caf� that has thrived in the wealthy Museum Quarter for the best part of two... read more
Good quality (58)

Mamouche

This modern Moroccan restaurant has won prizes for its interior design, but the food is just as beautifully conceived and good looking. Think filo dough filled with chicken, sweet onion, raisins,... read more

Amsterdam Nightlife

Chilled (60)

Hiding In Plain Sight

The newest addition to the east reaches of the Old�Centre, Hiding In Plain Sight is, as the name implies, a speak-easy type gin joint. The cocktails are brilliantly imaginative, with the more... read more
Live Music (43)

Paradiso

Nowadays, this former church is packed every night of the week, playing host to music legends in its main hall and to up-and-coming artists in the upstairs lounge. Drinks and ticket prices are... read more
Clubbing (53)

Tunes

Its may sound like a corny karaoke bar, but Tunes is one of the most sophisticated - not to mention glamorous - sipping spots in town. Part of the impressive five-star Conservatorium Hotel, it... read more

This Month in Amsterdam:

By Mark Smith

Shopping: Harlemmerdijk, west of Centraal Station, is one of Amsterdam's hottest style spots at the moment, with fashionably quirky boutiques doing a roaring trade. Latest to the fold is Louis Maximilian (lmamsterdam.com), whose mix of designer men's and women's clothing plus gadgets has been likened to Colette in Paris.

Sightseeing: The Begijnhof, adjacent to the city centre book market, is a secluded hidden courtyard that's open to the public. Built for a community of poor but devoutly religious women, it features one of the Amsterdam's prettiest churches.

Key areas: Weather permitting, it's the perfect time of year to enjoy the city's park life. 17-20 May sees the arrival of the "rolling kitchens" festival in the Westerpark. For this weekend, ice-cream vans and other mobile kitchens convene to serve up an array of tasty treats.

Day trips: Just a 20-minute bike ride from Amsterdam, Amtstelveen has a modern city centre with calmer versions of the high-street shops and a world-class modern art institution, the Cobra Museum (cobra-museum.nl).

Amsterdam News & Gossip

The (Body) Art Gallery

In a city well known for its major museums, such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, the latest addition to grace Amsterdam's cultural scene is somewhat more alternative. The Amsterdam Tattoo Museum, brainchild of tattoo legend Henk "Hanky Panky" Schiff macher, is believed to be the largest in the world and home to around 40,000 exhibits relating to all things ink.

The 'Tatican', as it's known, includes tattoos from all cultures, historic periods and walks of life; tattoo machines and even human flesh (tattooed, of course). And for those who want a permanent souvenir, there's even an on-site tattoo studio. amsterdamtattoomuseum.com

Amsterdam Trivia

May: Amsterdam claims the world's first Bicycle Hotel. You don't get to sleep on your saddle, but the staff will advise on the best cycle trip (bicyclehotel.com).
April: Missing your moggy? Amsterdam has its very own feline art museum, the KattenKabinet (www.kattenkabinet.nl).
March: The PC Hooftstraat - Amsterdam's most exclusive shopping strip, where you'll find the likes of Gucci and Chanel - has recently been declared the third best retail destination on the planet, by agency Presence Mystery Shopping.