Seger Abels Guide to the North: Part 2 – The Centre
By Seger Abels
Welcome to Part II of my ‘Guide to the North,’ the middle section of my trilogy and the literal centre of Amsterdam-North. Please don’t hold it against me if I miss a small fraction or overlook your favourite restaurant in Amsterdam-North; I’ve done my best. The middle part, for me, roughly spans from the Buikslotermeerpont (Hi Polly) to Order Sichuan on the east side, Pleura on the west side, and Pompet on the North side. It’s a slightly more extensive area than what we discussed in Part I, so this time, we have 15 must-visit spots instead of just 10.
So, put on your waterproof Chelsea boots and vintage wax raincoat, and let’s head north!
01. POLLY GOUDVISCH
As soon as you exit the ferry, you’ll encounter Polly Goudvisch, and that’s a good thing. It’s like a Brown Cafe 2.0, serving classics the right way, such as shrimp cocktail, steak tartare, and poussin. But what keeps us coming back is the smash burger, not to mention the always friendly staff!
02. HET MANDELAHUISJE
No, you don’t come here for the best food. You come here to experience a special, unique spot in Amsterdam. With a view of the IJ and Central Station, you’ll feel like you’re escaping the watchful eyes of the entire city
03. ORDER SICHUAN
ORDER Sichuan is a collaboration between the Amsterdam-based collective ORDER and the iconic Sichuan restaurant in the red-light district. The vibe at ORDER Sichuan goes beyond food; it’s all about community. Their small menu offers classics and creative new dishes, all inspired by the addictive, mouth-numbing Sichuan cuisine.
04. CAFE MODERN
This place is stunning! Housed in an old bank building, Cafe Modern has been impressing since 2012 and is still going strong with their ever-changing menu. A fun fact: the old vault is now their private event space, and they even have three hotel rooms on the top floor!
05. IL PECORINO
Pecora means sheep, and Pecorino sheep cheese is what they’re known for. It’s a logical name for an Italian shop selling Italian specialities. Nowadays, you can visit Il Pecorino five days a week for authentic Neapolitan pizza from a wood-fired oven, traditional Italian dishes, and exclusively Italian drinks.
06. CAFE KEPPLER
Your go-to neighbourhood cafe for artisanal delights. They always have a lot of homemade, heartwarming dishes at fair prices. The star of the show is their coffee, roasted in-house. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks, Cafe Keppler is always reliable.
07. PROEFLOKAAL KEF
Many might say this is the best cheese shop in Amsterdam, and now they have a tasting room and lunch/borrel space. It’s the perfect spot to taste as many cheeses as you want and improve your knowledge about this beautiful product.
08. CAFE RESTAURANT METRO
Open 7/7! They’re open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their bakery and kitchen operate around the clock to provide perfect, no-nonsense dishes. You can either make a booking for a table or simply walk in and take a seat at the big concrete bar (and we all know that bar seats are the best seats).
09. BACALAR
Believe the hype, because these are the best tacos in Amsterdam. And sometimes, you have to put in the effort for the best. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and they’re always full. There are no windows here, so all eyes are on the open kitchen.
10. PELUSA
Fairly new on the scene is gastropub Pelusa. They offer great snacks to go with their even greater beer selection. The eye-catcher is the Parilla, an Argentinian open-fire grill. Prunings from organic apple trees set the tone for the food. A fun fact: Pelusa means “Pluisje,” an ode to Maradonna!
11. CORNERSTONE
If you like Binnenvisser, you’ll love Cornerstore! This unassuming building has been transformed into a foodie’s heaven, especially for those not afraid of their veggies. The crowd is hip, the pet-nat cold, and the music is just right.
12. DE CEUVEL
De Ceuvel has been around since 2012, and it’s an oh-so-gorgeous waterside hotspot. Even though it seems like everyone knows about it, we always manage to find a spot on sunny days. This makes it our best-kept secret, but we’re willing to share it with all you Unbookabellers.
13. KOMETEN BROOD
A cliffhanger for you! When we started working on our list, Kometen Brood was located between Cornerstore and De Ceuvel, but they’re moving to the NDSM. They’ll reopen on the 1st of December, so we’ll have to include them in Part III of our ‘Guide to the North.’
14. POMPET
A walk in Noorderpark always leads to a visit to Pompet. Whether it’s hot chocolate or a glass of Beaujolais, paired with a nice cheese fondue, it’s the perfect way to top off beautiful, crisp fall and winter days. We can already imagine ourselves sitting on the terrace with a blanket.
To read more on what the left of the North has on offer, read Part 1 of Seger’s Guide to the North here.
Seger Abels Guide to the North 2
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