Centrum

One of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and my coworker Nina's favorite place to go when the city feels too loud. It has been here since 1638 and the greenhouse is like walking into another planet.

My roommate furnished half her apartment from this flea market. Vintage clothes, old records, random Dutch curiosities — you never know what you will find. Bring cash and your bargaining face.

A brewery tour inside a windmill. My friend Daan is a beer nerd and says this tour taught him things he did not know after ten years of drinking their beers. Runs Friday through Sunday, book online.

Forget the tourist boats. My roommate rents a little electric boat, loads it with cheese and wine, and cruises the canals herself. No license needed. Best afternoon in Amsterdam.

My coworker did this for his birthday and it was the most fun group activity we have done in Amsterdam. Throwing axes, drinking beer, and pretending to be a Viking for an hour.

My friend who is a photographer says this is her favorite museum in Amsterdam. World-class photography exhibitions in a gorgeous canal house. Smaller and less crowded than the big museums.

Traveling with kids under 6? This place is your lifesaver. Two hours here and they will sleep the entire afternoon while you finally get that terrace beer.

One of the most beautiful cinemas in the world. Book a seat in the main auditorium and watch a normal movie in an Art Deco palace. My buddy's jaw literally dropped the first time.

City to countryside in 30 minutes flat. Follow the Amstel river south past mansions and cows to a charming village. My favorite run in Amsterdam, hands down.

My coworker Lotte eats here three times a week and her Instagram looks like a food magazine because of it. Healthy bowls, great coffee, and the kind of interior that makes you want to redecorate your apartment.

An oyster bar inside Centraal Station. My coworker Thomas stops here before every train trip and calls it his pre-departure ritual. Fresh oysters, a glass of white wine, and you still catch your train.

My coworker goes here for every date night and his success rate is suspiciously high. Beautiful sharing plates, great cocktails, and the kind of interior that makes everyone look good.

My neighbor took me here on my birthday and I genuinely did not want to leave. It feels like drinking cocktails in a 19th-century living room.

A brewery in a windmill. Yes, really. My friend Sara brings every single visitor here and it never disappoints. Try the IJwit and sit outside if the weather is decent.

A concert venue in a former church. My roommate saw her favorite band here and said the acoustics gave her goosebumps. Check what is on — the lineup is always solid.

Rooftop bar on top of the DoubleTree. My coworker had her birthday drinks here and the sunset view over Amsterdam is genuinely spectacular. Go before 8 PM to avoid the wait.

There is no sign outside. You walk through what looks like a closed door and suddenly you are in the best cocktail bar in Amsterdam. My friend Sara took me here on my birthday and the bartender made me something off-menu that I still think about.

Right on the water behind Centraal Station. My roommate comes here every sunny afternoon and acts like she is on vacation. Cheap beers, mismatched furniture, and the best free view in the city.

My neighbor calls this the most welcoming club in Amsterdam. Three floors, different music on each one, and a crowd that genuinely does not care who you are or who you love. Go after midnight.

My roommate calls this her summer living room. Right on the water near Centraal, with cocktails that actually taste like summer. When the sun is out, every seat fills up in about ten minutes. Get there early.

This crooked 17th-century building next to Rembrandt's house has the best waterside terrace in Amsterdam. Summer evenings here with a beer and bitterballen — pure magic.

My friend Lisa stayed here for a work trip and ended up booking a personal weekend the next month. Right on the Nes, walking distance to literally everything.

This is the hotel I tell people about when they say money is not an issue. My coworker's parents stayed here for their anniversary and called it the best hotel they have ever been to.

A former emigrant hotel turned design icon. Rooms range from one to five stars — in the same building. My coworker stayed in a one-star room and said it was the most Amsterdam thing she has ever done.

Flashy, fun, and right on Dam Square. My coworker went to the rooftop bar for after-work drinks and now acts like she discovered it. The views are genuinely insane.