Whether there for business or pleasure, there’s a reason so many people are entranced by the city of Amsterdam. With the plethora of curated vintage boutiques, corner cafes, museums and galleries—all with those coveted canal views—Amsterdam can feel like you just walked into a storybook. Here, discerning locals and frequent flyers share some of their favorite hidden gems. From vintage denim shops to some of the best dining in the city, you’ll want to add all of these to your itinerary during your next buying trip to Amsterdam.
Denim Dudes’ Shannon Reddy shares what insiders love most about Europe’s denim capital.
Harmony Hendrickx, Proprietor, CKX Studio
Photoautomat Amsterdam
“They have vintage analog photo booths all over town. I love taking photos in there with my vintage garments on. Makes them look so good in black & white. Check their Instagram for all the current locations.”
Sam (Clothilde) Cruden, Founder C.CRUDEN and the S.A.MPLE label
Bar Parry
“The younger sister/brother of Balthazar’s Keuken, this family bar makes me feel like home. They put love, creativity, simplicity, authenticity and care into what they’re doing, same as how I like to create my designs. La Vie est Bar Parry.”
Mohsin Sajid, Owner, Endrime Studios
AMK Studio
“The owner Anna Maria is amazing! She focuses on high quality garment creation and sustainable, waste-free designs all made by hand and offers online and IRL workshops. AMK Studio is also located right down the street from a great Moroccan restaurant, Biladi.”
Amy Leverton, Owner, Denim Dudes
Hay House
“If I have enough time between denim stores, I always love to stop by Hay House to get my fix of Danish product and furniture design inspiration. The clean lines, the color choices, the function… plus there are no HAY stores in L.A. so I gotta go while I can!”
Cafe-Restaurant Amsterdam
“Confusingly, this restaurant is called Cafe-Restaurant Amsterdam but it’s a beautiful, industrial space with great food that’s well worth the long, annoying google search. It used to be a water distributor, and the old tiles, industrial pumps and fixtures take center stage in the engine room restaurant.”
Menno Van Meurs, Owner, Tenue De Nimes brand
Mood Indigo
“This is the best denim-related vintage store in Amsterdam. Mood Indigo is the go-to spot for authentic vintage denim, where I can always find relatable and inspirational pieces.”
Domenica
“My favorite spot for lunch or dinner for a while. I’ve always loved Italian food and Domenica gives its own creative twist on Italian classics.”
Toki
“Behind the always busy Haarlemmerstraat, there is Toki. They serve some of the best coffee and it’s an amazing place to chill during the weekends.”
