Amsterdam - Citibank
Transcription
Amsterdam - Citibank
Citi Prestige ® Amsterdam P1 The cult pocket city guides and mobile apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler CITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES www.luxecityguides.com FLAT, COMPACT, AND EASILY WALKABLE, THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL CITY OF AMSTERDAM AMAZES WITH ITS METROPOLIS HEAD AND VILLAGE HEART. but find yourself beyond the city centre and you will be rewarded with lush parks and true Dutch hospitality. So saddle up and pedal hard! / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro At once formal yet liberal, the city beckons with its vibrant but laidback Dam Square, dazzling Canal Ring, and arty, gentrified Jordaan. It’s easy to get lost along the labyrinthine canals, the cycleways with their steady stream of bikes and pedestrians, and the artisanal boutiques and markets, Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® Blah blah • W eather-wise, May-Sep is the best time to visit, the glorious outdoors is in full swing, though so are the hordes. • B uy a 1-4 day pass for unlimited tram, bus and metro rides. Check in and check out EVERY time you board/exit. • W inter can be chilly, grey and drizzly, but crowd-free. • M ost shops close Sun and Mon am, but open late Thu. • A MS Airport to city ≈ 20 mins / €40 by cab. Train = 20 mins / €4. • T hu/Fri best nights out, Sat can be vile, quiet other days. • J ust about everyone speaks English well, and often. • S ervice levels can be woeful and tipping is not required. Though 5-10%, left as cash, is nice when it’s good. • B est place to get a taxi is at stands but can be a lottery. Beware of scams, especially around Centraal Station. • T rams are easy, regular and cover most of the city. Buy tickets on-board or at ticket machines; trip planner at gvb.nl. P2 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro • A café is for coffee, a coffeeshop is for marijuana. • International code for Netherlands is +31; Amsterdam landlines begin with 020, most mobiles begin with 06. • In emergencies, call 112. • M ost restaurants offer value set menus on top of à la carte. • S everal establishments don’t accept credit cards, and some don’t even accept cash, though most take PIN/ATM cards. Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE INSIDER Esther Coppoolse / FASHION DIRECTOR Esther Coppoolse is fashion director at ELLE Netherlands. Over the past decade she has brought style to the casual view of the Dutch, and also introduced the ELLE Style Awards as a stylist platform to Holland. Esther was also the brain behind pop-up concept store ‘little black boutique’ and the founder of ‘CLUB 14 A’, a small but charming creative community/label in Amsterdam. www.elle.nl P3 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE INSIDER Esther Coppoolse 1) WHAT’S THE ONE THING EVERY VISITOR TO AMSTERDAM MUST DO AND WHY? / Pont 13 is a restaurant situated in an old ferry. The view over the water and old harbor is beautiful and romantic. If the weather is good you have to book a table outside. Their fish dishes are simple and good. Hire a bike or a boat. It is great to see the city from the canals, or to bike along like the locals. Amsterdam feels like a village. Le Restaurant is very charming and so perfect that it’s difficult what to say. Please book a table as soon as you can and be surprised by the talented French style kitchen and elegant but cool atmosphere. 2) WHERE CAN YOU BE FOUND ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY MORNING? In the Westerpark (Westergas fabriek). This is the best park in Amsterdam – full of nature, but also cultural events. Great coffee places like Bakker Baard and De Bakkerswinkel, and very nice restaurants like Proef and Rainarai, plus there is a lot of space to have a picnic and for children and dogs to run around. www.bakkerbaard.com www.debakkerswinkel.nl www.proefamsterdam.nl www.rainarai.nl 3) WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN AMSTERDAM AND WHY? WHAT DISHES DO YOU ORDER AT THESE PLACES? www.wildezwijnen.com www.pont13.nl www.lerestaurant.nl FASHION DIRECTOR 5) WHAT ARE YOUR THREE FAVORITE SHOPS IN AMSTERDAM? WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM? Lock, Stock and Barrel is a multi brand boutique, mid segment labels, with a Scandinavian/French authentic style. SPRMRKT for fashion, interior, books, music and art. This exciting concept store is a raw essential place in the Amsterdam scene. Azzuro Due is a deliciously decorated shop for fashion lovers and great for high-end labels www.lockstockbarrel.nl www.sprmrkt.nl www.facebook.com/azzurrofashiongroup 4) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD TO VISIT FOR A DAY OF SHOPPING? You should start at Haarlemmerstraat, a great street for all different boutiques and independent shops. Then you go to Noordermarkt, where there’s a market brocantes and biological food every Monday morning and Saturday. Then you walk over one of the canals to De Negen Straatjes, which is a very dynamic shopping area with a creative mix of people and places. Wilde Zwijnen is a relaxed restaurant in the east of Amsterdam. They serve great tasting dishes from local farmers (I love their steaks) in a raw and industrial but cozy atmosphere. P4 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loves DE KAS Dining Locavore lovers flock to this stunning nursery and glasshouse restaurant situated in the middle of Frankendael Park, which serves solely organic, locally sourced and homegrown fare. Leave the growing to the greenthumbed owner, and exchange that garden rake for a knife and fork. RON BLAAUW DE KAS DE BAKKERSWINKEL Dining Dining Dining Relocating closer to the heart of Amsterdam and winning his second Michelin star has placed Ron Blaauw at the very forefront of neo-Dutch cuisine. His molecular gastronomic delights are stylistically presented in a procession of bite-sized palate-pleasers. Locavore lovers flock to this stunning nursery and glasshouse restaurant situated in the middle of Frankendael Park, which serves solely organic, locally sourced and homegrown fare. Leave the growing to the green-thumbed owner, and exchange that garden rake for a knife and fork. Breads, cakes, flans, and tarts as far as the eye can see. De Bakkerswinkel is an unmissable treat of freshly baked goods and homemade preserves. Eat in or take out, but whatever you do, don’t miss the delectable homemade jam and scones. Sophialaan 55 / Old South +31 20 496 1943 www.ronblaauw.nl Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3 / East +31 20 462 4562 / lunch & dinner Mon-Fri, dinner Sat Warmoesstraat 69 / Centre + branches / +31 20 489 8000 www.debakkerswinkel.com www.restaurantdekas.nl P5 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loves P6 LION NOIR DOOR 74 FROZEN FOUNTAIN Dining Bar Shopping Movers and shakers flock to this kooky, low-lit, curio-filled hotspot featuring a delicious menu of French favorites. Can’t get a reservation? No matter. Console yourself at the bar, where the cocktails are classic and the small plates range includes oysters and goose rillettes. The mysterious location that’s only divulged upon reservation definitely ups the ante of this exclusive lounge for those in the know, but don’t worry, your concierge will get you in if you didn’t book ahead. The creative, seasonal cocktails are arguably the best in town. Contemporary furniture and décor jackpot with top designers from Netherlands’ art academies and beyond, featuring bespoke commissioned pieces and permanent collections from internationally renowned talents like Piet Hein Eek and Tom Dixon. Reguliersdwarsstraat 28 / Centre +31 20 627 6603 Reguliersdwarsstraat 74I Canal Ring / +31 6 3404 5122 www.lionnior.nl www.door-74.nl THE OTHERIST VAN RAVENSTEIN Shopping Shopping A wonderfully eclectic shop of curios, botanics, mounted insects, ceramics and artisanal knits, soaps, stationary, yarn and more. If you’ve ever yearned for a ‘vegan’ cardboard human skull, or a porcelain skunk cranium with 16k gold teeth, now is your chance to get your hands on it. The last word in ‘it’ Low Lands fashion designers, from Holland’s own Michael van der Ham to Belgium’s Walter Van Beirendonck, as well as international favorites like Bernhard Willhelme. Browse through the handy eCatalogue then pop in and model the designer garments yourself. Leliegracht 6 / Jordaan +31 20 320 0420 Keizersgracht 359 / Nine Streets +31 20 639 0067 www.otherist.com www.van-ravenstein.nl / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves Prinsengracht 645 / Canal Ring +31 20 622 9375 www.frozenfountain.nl LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loves RIJKSMUSEUM NOORDERMARKT HORTUS BOTANICUS Activities Activities Activities The country’s premier museum has recently reopened in its entirety after a decade long nip/tuck, and the neo-Gothic starlet has never looked better. With many of the building’s original C.19th details fully restored, as well as a brand spanking stone atrium, café, shop, not to mention more than 8,000 artworks on display, Rijks is unquestionably the finest art destination in town. Gourmands make a beeline for Noordermarkt every Monday for its organic farm fresh produce and welcoming vendors, and then again for the Saturday flea market that abounds in handicrafts, vintage wares, and artisanal draws. Westerstraat / Jordaan 9am-2pm Mon & 9am-5pm Sat Founded in 1682, this leafy inner-city oasis is today home to more than 4,000 plant species, picturesque outdoor gardens complete with whimsical winding paths, soaring butterfly-filled, climatespecific greenhouses, charming terrace café serving organic snacks and Holtkamp pastries, plus on-site store with neat lifestyle, fair trade and food products to take home. ART’OTEL Plantage Middenlaan 2a / East T: 9, 14 Mr. Visserplein +31 20 625 9021 / 10am-5pm daily Jan Luijkenstraat 1 / Museum Quarter +31 20 674 7000 www.rijksmuseum.nl/en Hotel THE DYLAN Hotel A range of contemporary room designs, perfect canal position, sophisticated lounge, comely courtyard, Michelin-starred neo-Dutch Vinkeles, and can-do concierge to orchestrate private airplane tours or culinary canal cruises make this a standout choice. Keizersgracht 384 / Canal Ring +31 20 530 2010 www.dylanamsterdam.com www.dehortus.nl/en Amsterdam’s reputation as an art hub is at an all time high with the reopening of Rijksmuseum, the revamped Stedelijk Museum, and the launch of art’otel, a 107-room contempo-chic pied-à-terre boasting cool white, grey and purple suites, Mediterranean resto-bar-gallery-library hybrid 5&33, plus the Royal Palace, Dam Square and happening Jordaan district just a skip away. 33 Prins Hendrikkade +31 20 719 7200 www.artotels.com ANDAZ Hotel Designed by local starchitect Marcel Wanders, avant-garde Andaz boasts the quirk-chic Dutch touch from top to toe, with its light-filled lobby-cumobservatory with soaring blue ceilings, 122 stylish, wired-up rooms, in-house restaurant and bar and charming outdoor estate garden. Prinsengracht 587 / Canal Ring +31 20 523 1234 www.andaz.hyatt.com P7 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loathes P8 TETCHY CYCLISTS RIP-OFF TAXI DRIVERS Cyclists rage along the pathways with daredevil temperaments. Jump out of the way before you’re driven into the canals. Fancy a delay, or a coerced scenic tour? Then hail these non-gezellig cabbies at your peril. If in doubt, choose a cab from a designated taxi rank. / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves MEDIOCRE WINE LISTS/ WINES BY THE GLASS Picky about your drink? Unluckily Amsterdam has a rather limited selection of wines, however jenever, the local spirit, is definitely worth a shot. LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® Drab vs. Fab CANAL TOURING MUSEUM QUEUES RENT A BIKE No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without a sail down the city’s famous waterways, but rather than floating with the masses on the Canal Hopper’s hop-on, hop-off service, why not charter your own private tour of the Venice of the North aboard a 100-year-old wooden saloon boat with Classic Boat Tours. Instead of queuing and then paying exorbitant entrance fees for the city’s myriad museums, skip the line and fare at 32 of the best by purchasing a Museum Pass or I amsterdam City Card, the latter of which also includes unlimited travel on public transportation. Being a pedestrian in Amsterdam means you’re at the mercy of cyclists, so if you can’t beat them, join them by hiring your own swish bike or tandem from MacBike. www.classicboattours.nl www.museumkaart.nl www.iamsterdamcard.com GUIDED TOURS COOKING CLASSES There’s no sense in taking a walk through the picturesque Old Town without fully appreciating its history and architecture, so get the most out of your visit by booking one of the various area-themed walking tours from I amsterdam, each of which comes with a full-color brochure with removable city map. While hearty Dutch classics brown bean soup and stamppot (hashed vegetables) make for a tasty lunch, discovering Dutch vegetarian molecular gastronomy with a De Culinaire Werkplaats cooking lesson makes for one memorable experience. www.macbike.nl www.deculinairewerkplaats.nl www.iamsterdamcard.com P9 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY Romance The water lapping along the canals of Amsterdam isn’t the only reason the Dutch capital is called the Venice of the North – from fragrant blooms to starlit meals, this city is awash in romance. Start the day with a leisurely walk in the foliage-fabulous garden of Hortus Botanicus (see LUXE Loves) and delectable breakfast pastries at the terrace café. Next stop the Westerkerk, this pretty C.17th church with its 85m landmark tower, the Westertoren, affords breathtaking vistas of Amsterdam, but you’ll need plenty of puff to make the ascent to the top! Come back down for a soup and salad lunch at canal-side Nel, followed by a spot of shopping in the antique, fashion, book and accessory- P10 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro filled Nine Streets area of the Old Town. Look out for lovely lingerie at Marlies Dekkers in Berenstraat, and glamorous retro and vintage furnishings at Roerende Zaken in Oude Spiegelstraat. What better way to rest those weary feet than with a chartered private canal tour via Classic Boat Tours (see Drab vs. Fab), which will have you floating blissfully along the waterways aboard a 100-yearold saloon boat. Once back on dry land, enjoy some gallery time at the amazing C. 17th Hermitage Amsterdam, but plan ahead as it closes at 5pm most days. When the clock strikes and the guards glare, grab yourself a taxi at a designated stand and head to your pre-booked dinner table at Ron Blaauw (see LUXE Loves) for 2 Michelin-starred, avant-garde taste Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves sensations. The outdoor terrace here is the perfect place for a starlit or moondrenched supper. Round off your night at Suzy Wong, a gorgeous and sultry mix of Chinoiserie, excellent cocktails and beautiful people, or stop for a fireside nightcap at The Dylan (see LUXE Loves), before retiring to your suite upstairs. LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY Style Neighboring style-centric Belgium may have one fashion-forward foot slightly ahead of Amsterdam, but the Dutch have many reasons to catwalk along the canals too. Get runway-ready by beginning your day with a glorious pamper session at the beautiful 1920’s Sauna Deco, where you’ll be massaged, moisturised, and freed of toxins courtesy of their fab Turkish steambath. Feeling refreshed? Then pop over to all-day industrial-chic diner Mazzo for a quick pre-spree fuel up – you’re going to need it! Post lunch, double back the way you came for quirky curios at standout store The Otherist (see LUXE Loves), and men’s and women’s threads at Black Sheep Road, including labels like Denmark’s Norse Projects and P11 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Storm & Marie, and local name Ontour. Don’t miss WRKSHP 13 for beautiful jewelry, clutches, bags and clothing by Johnny Ramli, plus alpaca and merino wool ponchos from Marie Y. Levi. Channel your inner interior designer and pick up glam lifestyle objects for the home at nearby Antennae Interiors, then if you’re feeling shopped out, recharge with a sinfully sweet handmade bonbon at Puccini Bomboni. Next, make a beeline to the fabulous Tassenmuseum, also known as the Museum of Bags and Purses. With a staggering collection of 4000 bags, purses, trunks, pouches, cases and accessories on show, you’ll suddenly feel like your own stash is seriously lacking! Fret not, palate-pleasing consolation is Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves at hand with a pre-booked negroni and dinner stop at eclectic Lion Noir (see LUXE Loves). Head straight to the terrace for stargazing of both the celestial and celebrity kind, then stop for a nightcap at Door 74 (see LUXE Loves), home to the best and most creative seasonal cocktail list in the city. Finally, amble towards Canal House and enjoy a wonderfully deep beauty sleep in your luxurious suite. Zoete dromen! LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY Culture Amsterdam is a treasure trove of modern and masterful art, from contemporary Falke Pisano to legendary Van Gogh. Have your Museum Pass (see Drab vs Fab) at the ready, but first, fuel up with some scrumptious appelgebak (apple pie) at Villa Zeezicht, and don’t skimp on the cinnamon scoop. Now that you’re energized and ready for the big one, head over to Rijksmuseum (see LUXE Loves) to browse the works of Dutch perennials Rembrandt and Vermeer. Gaze upon the ‘Night Watch’ along with the more than 8,000 objects on display in the fabulously restored and renovated C.19th building. Recover from the art analysis with a light bite at Brasserie Van Baerle, and if the mood strikes and weather permits, enjoy a glass of wine from one of the P12 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro few decent lists in the city in the lovely garden. Post-lunch, browse the shops and galleries of the antiquarian’s favorite Spiegel Quarter. Antiquariaat Hoogkamp is heaven for cartography enthusiasts, so equip yourself with a map of C.16th Amsterdam and make your way to Delaive for collections of both up-and-coming and established contemporary artists ranging from Sam Francis to Picasso to Warhol. Shutterbugs will wish to continue to Huis Marseille for snaps by Amsterdam’s hotshot photographers, before pushing on to Parisian-chic patisserie Pompadour in Nine Streets for a delicious and equally artistic treat. Now backtrack to the Museum Quarter and the Van Gogh Museum to spy ‘Sunflowers’ and other works Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves from the maestro, or if you’re feeling peckish, you’re a stone’s throw from Chang-i, with the best Chinese fusion outside of Chinatown. If serendipity strikes, catch a concert by the famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at Concergebouw, and be aurally astounded by the acoustics of one of the finest concert halls in the world. Finally, head home to The College Hotel for nightcaps at the cozy open fire of the Bar Lounge, before slipping off to sleep in your suite. LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY The Essentials ROMANTIC ITINERARY STYLISH ITINERARY • H ortus Botanicus (see LUXE Loves) • S auna Deco Herengracht 115 / Canal Ring T: 1, 2, 5, 13, 17 Nieuwezijdse Kolk +31 20 623 8215 / daily www.saunadeco.nl • T assenmuseum Herengracht 573 / Canal Ring T: 9, 14 Rembrandtplein +31 20 524 6452 / 10am-5pm daily www.tassenmuseum.nl • M azzo Rozengracht 114 / Jordaan T: 10, 13, 14, 17 Rozengracht +31 20 344 6402 / 9am - 1am daily www.mazzoamsterdam.nl/en • Lion Noir (see LUXE Loves) • W esterkerk Prinsengracht 281 / Jordaan T: 13, 14, 17 Westermarkt +31 20 624 7766 / 11am-3pm Mon-Sat + Westertoren / Mon-Sat Apr-Oct www.westerkerk.nl • N el Amstelveld 12 / Canal Ring +31 20 626 1199 www.nelamstelveld.nl • The Otherist (see LUXE Loves) • Door 74 (see LUXE Loves) • C anal House Keizersgracht 148 Canal Ring / +31 20 622 5182 www.canalhouse.nl • B lack Sheep Road Herenstraat 6 / Jordaan +31 61 499 7752 www.blacksheeproad.com • R oerende Zaken Oude Spiegelstraat 5 / Nine Streets +31 6 5513 3522 www.roerende-zaken.nl • W RKSHP 13 Prinsenstraat 13 / +31 20 423 6675 www.johnnyramli.com • Classic Boat Tours (see Drab vs Fab) • H ermitage Amsterdam Amstel 51 / Centre +31 20 530 7488 www.hermitage.nl • A ntennae Interiors Herenstraat 12 / +31 20 626 9222 • Ron Blaauw (see LUXE Loves) • S uzy Wong Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 45 Canal Ring / T: 1, 2, 5, 7, 10 Leidseplein 6pm-1am Wed-Thu, 6pm-3am Fri-Sun +31 20 626 6769 www.suzy-wong.nl • P uccini Bomboni Staalstraat 17 / Canal Ring T: 9, 14 Waterlooplein +31 20 626 5474 / till 6pm daily www.puccinibomboni.com • The Dylan (see LUXE Loves) P13 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY The Essentials CULTURE ITINERARY • Museum Pass (see LUXE Loves) • V illa Zeezicht Torensteeg 7 / Canal Ring T: 1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 17 Dam +31 20 626 7433 / 9am-9.30pm daily • R ijksmuseum (see LUXE loves) • B rasserie Van Baerle Van Baerlestraat 158 Museum Quarter T: 3, 5, 12, 24 Roelof Hartplein +31 20 679 1532 / lunch Tues-Fri, Sun, dinner daily www.brasserievanbaerle.nl • A ntiquariaat Hoogkamp Spiegelgracht 27 / +31 20 625 8852 www.prenten.net • D elaive Spiegelgracht 23 +31 20 625 9087 www.delaive.com P14 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro • H uis Marseille Keizersgracht 401 / Canal Ring T: 1, 2, 5 Keizersgracht +31 20 531 8989 / 11am-6pm Tues-Sun www.huismarseille.com • P ompadour Huidenstraat 12 / Nine Streets T: 1, 2, 5 Spui +31 20 623 9554 / daily www.patisseriepompadour.com • V an Gogh Museum Paulus Potterstraat 7 Museum Quarter T: 2, 3, 5, 12 Van Baerlestraat +31 20 570 5200 / 9am-5pm daily, till 6pm Fri www.vangoghmuseum.nl • C oncergebouw Concertgebouwplein 10 Museum Quarter T: 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 24 Museumplein +31 20 573 0573 www.concertgebouw.nl • T he College Hotel Roelof Hartstraat 1 / Old South +31 20 571 1511 www.thecollegehotel.com • B ar Lounge The College Hotel Roelof Hartstraat 1 / Old South www.thecollegehotel.com • C hang-i Jan Willem Brouwersstraat 7 Museum Quarter / T: 3, 5, 12, 16, 24, 25 Museumplein / +31 20 470 1700 dinner daily www.chang-i.nl Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® Your LUXE notes 2014.02.17 P15 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries