We’re leaving next Wednesday and I would love love love your suggestions and recommendations if you live in or have traveled to one of these cities…
Restaurants, markets, cafes, shops, galleries… some “not-to-miss” sights… some that are off the beaten path and a little less touristy. We’re also open to meeting up with some fellow bloggers if time allows.
I’ve been to London a few times before and I’m excited to go back for more curry, and of course a stop at one of the Ottolenghi restaurants.
Amsterdam & Berlin… I’m not so sure what to expect (especially for veggie food finds)… um… help?
I see you live in Austin! We are in Houston but my daughter is now going to U.T. so we are discovering your wonderful city on visits to see her. I don’t know if you left for your trip yet….but we thoroughly enjoyed the “Burrough’s Market” in London. It is huge, tucked away south of the river. It weaves partly underground and is a food bloggers paradise!! Bon Voyage! Glad I discovered another Texan blog.
In Amsterdam, you should definitely check out the Albert Cuypmarket to the east of the canals. It’s the longest street market in the Netherlands and where the locals shop for fresh and local food as well as household items and clothes. There is an amazing spice shop (which also has other very cool things) at number 150 on the left side as you go up the street. It’s a real shop, not a stall. I always stock up when I’m there. It’s closed on Sundays. Also visit the Noordermarkt in the Jordan district if you have time.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city is the Kantjil & de Tijger, http://kantjil.nl/en/ on the Spuistraat. Their specialty is the Indonesian rijkstafel (rice table) dinner. I believe they have a vegetarian version. There are fancier and cheaper versions but this is my personal favorite.
I’m going to Berlin in March so look forward to reading about your discoveries and recommendations once you’ve been there. Safe travels.
Please tell us all about your experience eating at Ottolenghi!
I don’t have any particular recommendations for your travels, but I wanted to wish you a safe and wonderful trip. Enjoy! Say hello to London for me. I cannot wait to go back one day 🙂
My favorite veggie restaurant in Amsterdam is: De Waaghals (http://www.waaghals.nl). Another interesting, but a bit more out of the way place is Betty’s: (www.bettys.nl). For coffee try Two For Joy on the Haarlemmerdijk, across the street from my favorite cinema The Movies (www.themovies.nl). Another nice area is the Westergasterrein, with a cinema, a park, some nice cafe’s, a coffee place and a lunch place (http://www.debakkerswinkel.nl/amsterdam-west) Enjoy!
Sounds like a fantastic trip! I adored Berlin, had a wonderful time in Amsterdam, and have yet to do London.
Berlin recommendations:
I’m not a vegetarian, and was also a broke student when I travelled, so I mostly dined al fresco in parks. But the Saturday farmer’s market in Winterfeldtplatz in the Schöneberg neighbourhood is amazing! Plus, there is a great park with the most fantastic climbing structure I have ever seen nearby.
In terms of nightlife, two very interesting bars we went to were in Mitte, one called Silberfish, which was very hip, and Cafe Zapata, for which I have no words to describe.
Also, I really can’t recommend Museum Berggruen in Charlottenburg enough. It’s a fairly small museum, but has a wonderful collection of Picassso and other modernists like Klee and Matisse.
Amsterdam:
To be honest I didn’t eat very well here, but it looks as though you’ve received a lot of good restaurant recommendations.
Defintely rent bikes, and visit Vondelpark, it’s wonderful and we met many interesting people claiming the public space in many ways.
Two neighbourhoods that are faily off the beaten track are Westerpark And Oud-West, there are a ton of artists and young people so there are lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries to choose from. I particularly enjoyed the Museum Het Schip, which has a free tour and focuses on architecture and the building’s interesting history as a model of social housing. Plus the “culture park” Westergasfabriek was awesome.
Have a great time!
I highly recommend going to the top of the Reichstag (the German parliament) – it is a bit of a touristy activity but it offers beautiful views of the city and has a very architecturally interesting glass dome – I’ve attached the wiki link so you can see a few pictures, although they don’t really do it justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_(building)). I went in the evening and the lights across Berlin were fantastic.
I also think taking some time to stroll down Unter den Linden with a finish at the Brandenburger Gate is a must see/do.
I haven’t been personally but I’ve been told that the Jewish Museum is an amazing place to visit. It also offers up some interesting architecture as well.
I liked visiting the Berlin wall as well – it’s an interesting remnant of the Eastern era. The graffiti art was neat too.
If you like visiting castles Sansouci is impressive but I seem to recall that it was a bit out of the way. Schloss Charlottenburg is also right in the city which makes it accessible but given the choice I would see Sansouci.
Last time I was in Berlin I was a poor student so I can’t offer up great suggestions for places to eat unfortunately. In general however, Germans tend to serve great breakfasts at hotels with yoghurt and muesli, fresh rolls with cheese and meats and assorted jams. I’m looking forward to seeing the places you visit – Berlin is a beautiful city with lots of wonderful culture and history to explore.
I was in London earlier this summer and went to Prufrock Coffee – great place for good coffee off the beaten path. http://www.prufrockcoffee.com/
In Amsterdam, you must visit the Rijks Museum, definitely a must-see for any creative soul. – http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/
I Studied in Amsterdam a few years ago. The places I recommend to friends, and brought all my visitors to, is the Winkel located at Noordermarkt 43 http://www.winkel43.nl/ Be sure to get the Apple Pie with Slagroom they make fresh whipped cream for each piece. The Dutch Apple Pie is nothing like American apple pie.
There are great markets in the Noordermarkt, and throughout the city, during week as well.
I agree with renting bikes, I would have visitors rent from Frederic because they don’t look like tourist bikes, and are less likely to be stolen-although all bikes are fair game… https://www.frederic.nl/en/
Success to you on your travels!
I love Berlin! You might like to try Little Otik while you’re there. Very (very!) cute inside, nice and cozy with plenty of vegetarian options too. My friend’s boyfriend is a vegetarian and we all left the restaurant happy…and a little tipsy (aka great wine and cocktail list too!).
http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/travel/restaurant-report-little-otik-in-berlin.html
Have an amazing time!!
ps. this site pretty much planned my trip for me:
http://unlike.net/berlin/
Hi Julia,
Ooh, sounds great. And thanks for sharing the link to unlike, what a great site!
Dear Jeanine,
check my blog pages for London… and enjoy your trip :)))
http://g2food.blogspot.com/search/label/London
Living in London and eating mainly vegetarian foods, I can say there are tons of options! Borough is great but the other farmers’ markets in Marylebone and Wimbledon are pretty awesome, too. And if you are desperate for healthy food, Whole Foods is always a good option. Also, the area of Brixton for food is pretty great, and so is Brick Lane/Spitafield.
As for Berlin, I loved Kreuzberg –there too, tons of veg options from the Middle East.
It’s great that you’re going to all these wonderful cities, I will ask my boyfriend, since I’ve been to London and Amsterdam a long long time ago, he probably knows better than me !
I also recommend Neal’s Yard in London. It’s a gorgeous, colourful place with lovely cafes, little shops. Neal’s Yard Dairy (http://bit.ly/RkUHmC) has an amazing cheese selection!
i definitely recommend Anne Frank House in Amsterdam – very moving and amazing!
What an incredible trip! In London you must go to Borough Market and Eat Street in Kings Cross to sample street food and some of the most amazing market stalls. Other than that, I don’t really know where to start – so many amazing places! Do go to Ottolenghi’s Nopi for brunch – the courgette and manouri fritters are heavenly!
One more thing… Borough market (http://bit.ly/obV1bW, http://bit.ly/r7S2u1) in London is a must visit place!
thanks – we’ll be sure not to miss it!
NOPI (Ottolenghi) is very pretty, posh and expensive. Next time I’d try the other Ottolenghi’s places.
Hello,
I am currently living in the Netherlands and I can assure you that Amsterdam is a lovely place to visit. Renting a bike is always fun, but take an umbrella or a poncho with yourself, you can easily get soaked to the skin otherwise.
For veggies I always recommend De Bolhoed ( Prinsengracht 60-62, Amsterdam). Have fun!
Thanks – oh the rain… I’m packing a couple of umbrellas, hope to not get too wet 🙂