THE NETHERLANDS - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1354

To escape the crowds without too long a walk from Leidseplein, wander a few blocks
away from the hubbub to Lijnbaansgracht (via Kleine Gartmanplantsoen, the street to the
right of The Bulldog Café). At Restaurant Dubbel, for example, the steak, fish, and veggie
dishes are reasonably priced (€12-15), the bartenders are extra friendly, and you'll actually
hearcustomersspeakingDutch(daily17:00-24:00,Lijnbaansgracht256,tel.[phone]).
Beyond the Rijksmuseum
(See “Hotels & Restaurants in Southwest Amsterdam” map, here . )
Restaurant Bazar offers one of the most memorable and fun budget eating experiences in
town. Converted from a church, it has spacious seating and mod belly-dance music, and is
filled with young locals enjoying good, cheap Middle Eastern and North African cuisine.
Reservations are a good idea if you plan to eat after 20:00 (fill up with the €8.50 daily plate,
delicious €13 couscous, or €16 main dishes; Mon-Fri 11:00-late, Sat-Sun 9:00-late, Albert
Cuypstraat182,tel.[phone]).RestaurantBazarmarksthecenterofthethrivingAlbert
Cuypmarket,whichiswrappedupbyabout17:00,thoughtherestaurantstaysbusylateinto
the evening.
In Vondelpark
(See “Hotels & Restaurants in Southwest Amsterdam” map, here . )
Café Vertigo offers a fun selection of excellent soups, salads, and sandwiches, plus main
coursessuchassteak,fish,and satays .It'sasurprisinglylargecomplexofoutdoortables,an
indoorpub,andanelegant,candlelitback-roomrestaurantbeneaththegrand,ItalianRenais-
sance Vondel Pavilion. Inside, try to guess the names of the Hollywood icons on the walls.
The service can be slow, but if you grab an outdoor table, you can watch the world spin by
(daily 10:00-24:00 except opens at 11:00 on off-season weekdays, Vondelpark 3, tel. 020/
612-3021).
Southeast Amsterdam
Near the Dutch Resistance Museum
For locations of the following eateries, see the map on here .
Restaurant Plancius, adjacent to the Dutch Resistance Museum, is a handy, modern
spot for lunch. Its good indoor and outdoor seating make it popular with the museum staff
and broadcasters from the nearby local TV studios (creative breakfasts, hearty fresh sand-
wiches, light €6-9 lunches and €16-19 dinners, daily 10:00-22:00, Plantage Kerklaan 61a,
tel. [phone]).
Café Koosje, located halfway between the Dutch Resistance Museum and the Dutch
Theater, is a corner lunchtime pub/bar ringed with outdoor seating. Inside, casual wooden