An insider's guide to Jordaan, Amsterdam – the trendy neighbourhood worth knowing about right now

Amsterdam is one of the best cities in Europe to roam around for a weekend or more. Its small size allows visitors to see most of its tourist attractions in a few days while still leaving time to wander around its lovely canals. But it's also a victim of its own success – the Dutch capital can feel like a giant fun fair, with noisy tourists taking over the centre and the most popular districts.

There is one place, however, that still feels like it belongs to Amsterdammers, and that’s Jordaan. Once a district built to house the working class, Jordaan is now a lively and trendy neighbourhood full of restaurants, bars and art galleries.

Where to stay in Jordaan

From fashionable canal-side hideouts to design-led city retreats complete with a swimming pool, these are the hotel addresses to know about in Jordaan, Amsterdam, right now.

The Hoxton

Located in Negen Straatjes, on the Herengracht canal, The Hoxton is in the perfect spot to explore Jordaan while also being close to the city centre. The hotel is as hip and cosy as The Hoxton’s properties usually are. Don't be surprised to find a queue at the hotel entrance, often formed due to the popularity of a vintage photo booth located at the top of the stairs, next to the lobby door. On the bottom floor, their restaurant, Lotti’s, attracts tourists and locals alike for boozy brunches and decadent dinners. Try to book a room overlooking the canal to reach peak Amsterdam bliss.

Soho House Amsterdam

Soho House Amsterdam ticks all the boxes. The hotel is perfectly located on Spuistraat – walking distance to Amsterdam’s main attractions and only ten minutes walk away from the heart of Jorndaan – in a 1930s Art Deco building that used to be part of the University of Amsterdam. Hotel guests can make the most of everything that the House has to offer for the duration of their stay, including the gym with a glorious view of the canal, the relaxed club restaurant, the spa and the working spaces. The rooftop is the icing on the cake, offering a unique 360-degree view over the Dutch capital, which makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a drink while taking in the beautiful cityscape.

Rates: From £143 per night, excluding breakfast

Hotel Mercier

Most of the notable hotels in Amsterdam are found on the edges of Jordaan, within Centrum and Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets), but if you want to wake up in the heart of Jordaan, Hotel Mercier is the best choice. A lovely boutique hotel located in the former community centre Ons Huis (Our house), co-founded by Dutch feminist social reformer and writer Hélène Mercier whom the hotel is named after. As well as being design-focused and very Instagram-friendly, the hotel hosts Bonboon, a lovely vegan restaurant that offers a great alternative to the traditional meat-heavy Dutch cuisine.

The Dylan

Formerly home to a theatre, this 17th-century hotel is located on the dreamy Keizersgracht canal in the heart of the Nine Streets shopping area. The hotel design perfectly blends the old and the new. The entrance features the original stone archway, while its 40 rooms and suites are sleek and modern. The food offered at The Dylan is just as remarkable as their cosy rooms. The brasserie, OCCO, offers a chic yet relaxed atmosphere while their two Michelin-starred Restaurant, Vinkeles, promises a refined gastronomic journey rooted in French culinary tradition. Finally, their newest addition, até, is an intimate Chef's Table concept, headed up by Bocuse-trained Chef Filip Hanlo and hidden in a secret location within the hotel to make the experience even more special.

Where to go for breakfast, brunch and lunch in Jordaan

Saint-Jean Bakery

Saint-Jean is hardly a secret anymore, but it’s still one of the best cafés in the city. Even if it’s not made obvious, the bakery is fully plant-based, so all products sold are vegan. During the weekend, it can get very busy, and the seating is limited – with only three small tables available – but they have just opened a deli on the other side of the road that makes the same delicious coffee, paired with mostly savoury treats. A little trick I always use is to pick up some sweet goodies from the Saint-Jean bakery, and then head on over to the deli to sit down and have a coffee.

Address: Saint-Jean Bakery, Lindengracht 158h, 1015 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: saintjean.nl

New Dutch

A very nice spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch facing the beautiful canal. The New Dutch menu is a peculiar mix of brunch favourites like avocado toast and pancakes, mixed with traditional Asian dishes such as Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) or Soto Ayam (Indonesian soup) and a sprinkle of Dutch tradition. Here, customers won’t be able to order a side of Bitterbollen or a pea soup, but they will find Gouda, green bean mash, Poffertjes (Dutch pancakes) and, of course, apple pie. If you’d like a Dutch culinary tour, go for their New Dutch Experience, which includes some classics with a twist.

Address: New Dutch, Prinsengracht 60-62, 1015 DX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: newdutchamsterdam.nl

Kessens

A modern eatery that offers an eclectic choice of food and some Dutch snacks. In the morning, you’ll find classic breakfast dishes like scrambled eggs, croissants, omelettes and Greek yoghurt, while the lunch is a mix of Italian, French and Dutch favourites. You might want to start with a French onion soup, followed by an aubergine Parmigiana-filled sandwich, but for a taste of tradition, don’t forget to try their Dutch croquettes, served with bread and butter.

Address: Kessens, Rozengracht 24, 1016 NC Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: kessensamsterdam.nl

Piqniq

A lovely little restaurant located on Lindengracht, Piqniq is a great spot for breakfast, lunch and a cosy afternoon tea. For lunch, they offer a ‘lunchplatter’, which consists of a choice of two, three or four items from the menu that customers can mix and match choosing from an array of sandwiches, salads, soups and quiches. For tea, choose from chocolate brownies, flapjacks, soft cakes and any special dessert of the day.

Address: Piqniq, Lindengracht 59HS, 1015 KC Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: piqniq.nl

Where to go for dinner and drinks in Jordaan

Moeders

Modern Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam love to combine various cuisines and finding a place that only serves traditional food can be tricky. So, if you are on the hunt for real Dutch food, you should book a table at Moeders. The culinary experience won’t be mindblowing, and it might feel a bit touristy at times, but you will be able to try some Dutch classics like Stamppot (mashed potatoes served with vegetables, meat and gravy), Suddervlees (beef stew served with boiled potatoes and cabbage) and apple pie.

Address: Moeders, Rozengracht 251, 1016 SX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: moeders.com

Café Twee Prinsen

A lovely wine bar open seven days a week that offers an incredible selection of wines, mouth-watering small bites to share and a chic and cosy atmosphere that makes it one of the nicest spots in Jordaan to get a drink when you are tired of beer. Twee Prinsen is the perfect bar to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine after a day of exploring, or a great first place to kickstart your night before heading to dinner.

Address: Café Twee Prinsen, Prinsenstraat 27, 1015 DB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: tweeprinsen.nl

The Papeneiland Café

Bruin (Brown) cafés are the Dutch equivalent of a cosy, traditional British pub. The Papeneiland Café is a true Jornaan institution, loved by locals and almost always free of tourists. The atmosphere is familiar and warm, with lit candles, soft lights and the comforting sound of chatter and laughter. The beer and the food are reasonably priced for an expensive – often overpriced – city like Amsterdam. For a complete Dutch supper, order the bitterballen with an Amstel to start, followed by traditional pea soup and apple pie. One of the downsides of the Bruin cafés is that they are not very vegan- or vegetarian-friendly so be careful when ordering. Some of them will have vegan bitterballen, but the traditional pea soup includes pieces of sausage and comes with a slice of brown bread and bacon.

Address: The Papeneiland Café, Prinsengracht 2, 1015 DV Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: papeneiland.nl

Bar Oldenhof

A moody cocktail bar with dark green walls, low lights and wood accents that serves delicious cocktails in a speakeasy-like environment. The menu is a mix of their own creations and classics, but the staff is attentive and open to crafting something based on your tastes. Thanks to its comfy chairs and relaxing atmosphere, Bar Oldenhof is a great place to wrap up the evening.

Address: Bar Oldenhof, Elandsgracht 84-H, 1016 TZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: bar-oldenhof.com

What to do in Jordaan

Boom Chicago

If you are looking for an alternative and entertaining way to spend an evening in Amsterdam, nothing beats a show at Jordaan’s English-speaking comedy club, Boom Chicago. Opened in 1993, Boom Chicago has some famous alumni, such as Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele and Jason Sudeikis. Many great comedians take the stage every month, but their improv nights are always the most fun. And if you love it, you can also try one of their improv classes that take place almost every Saturday from 12pm to 2pm.

Address: Boom Chicago, Rozengracht 117, 1016 LV Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: boomchicago.nl

The Movies

You might not want to sit through a film in Dutch, but if you are a film buff, you should pay a visit to one of the oldest cinemas in the city, The Movies. Located on the buzzing shopping street Haarlemmerdijk, the cinema has a lovely bar open all day where you can stop by for a coffee or for a pint. The cinema also organises ‘Expat Nights’ once a week on either a Tuesday or Wednesday. The team chooses a film, either a premiere, a classic or a film that they think deserves some extra attention and screens it with English subtitles.

Address: The Movies, Haarlemmerdijk 159 - 163, 1013 KH Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: themovies.nl

Noordermarkt

Every Saturday Jordaan hosts two of the best markets in the city, Noordermarkt and Lindengracht food market. From 9am to 4pm you’ll be able to try some Dutch delicacies like pickled herrings, Kibbeling with tartar sauce (deep-fried battered fish bites, not dissimilar in taste to British fish and chips), Poffertjes (Dutch pancakes) and warm Stroopwafel filled with caramel and made before your eyes. At Noordermarkt, you’ll also find antiques, vintage and modern clothes, jewellery, prints and more. The market does get busy with tourists wanting a taste of Jordaan’s authentic life, but it’s also a local favourite making it a great place to spend a few hours.

Website: noordermarkt-amsterdam.nl

Anne Frank House

A must-visit when in Amsterdam, Anne Frank House sits in the heart of Jordaan, on the Prinsengracht canal. The museum, built within Anne and her family’s hiding place during WWII, is an emotional homage to the diarist and a commemorative monument to a terrible time in Europe’s history. The museum is fairly small, and the visits are done in restricted groups, so it’s imperative to book in advance.

Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: annefrank.org

Galerie Ron Mandos

Jordaan is full of gorgeous art galleries and small museums, but if you only have time for one, make it Ron Mandos Gallery. A cutting-edge art gallery that beautifully displays contemporary artists from around the world. The peculiarity of the gallery – aside from the wonderfully curated space – is the commitment to support young artists through their ‘Best of Graduates’ exhibition that every year showcases the most talented new artists based in the Netherdands.

Address: Galerie Ron Mandos, Prinsengracht 282, 1016 HJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: ronmandos.nl