Date: July 6, 2023

Amsterdam Noord derives its name from its location north of the river IJ. In the 19the and 20e century, industrial activities were located here and the workers who made Amsterdam's industrial growth possible lived here. Today, Noord has emerged as a creative, hip part of Amsterdam. In Noord, urbanity alternates with greenery and there are plenty of quiet, hidden spots to be found. Besides the famous NDSM, you will find no fewer than nine "Garden Villages. These are urban neighborhoods from the twentieth century that exude a village feel.

On the outside grounds of the NDSM wharf or inside the NDSM Loods, the IJ-hallen takes place once every three weeks, this is the largest flea market in Europe. There are more than 700 stalls with vintage clothing, but also antiques, for example. 

THE COZIEST HOTSPOTS EATING & DRINKING PLACES IN NORTH

CAFE RESTAURANT METRO 

At Metro, the Nxt Museum's restaurant, you are welcome from as early as 10:00 am. Chef Rients de Jong, known from Restaurant As, cooks with products from the season and emphasizes good produce and vegetables.

Seven days a week you can go for breakfast and from Wednesday to Sunday for dinner as well. For breakfast you can choose between hangop with granola and poached pear or sourdough toast with Remeker Ryp. For both lunch and breakfast you can order the richly filled baciata sandwich. For lunch you can also choose, for example, from roasted white asparagus and risotto beet. By the way, you can also go for a three or four-course lunch. Dinner consists of a three-course menu with a choice of roasted white asparagus or raw corvina as a starter. As a main course, you can choose from puffed yellow beet or roast guinea fowl. Finally, there are four delicious dessert options to finish with, including polenta cake with orange and vanilla ice cream.

Upon entering, one immediately notices the large concrete bar where there is almost always room for a drink. Xander Waller, also known from Entrepot, then provides an exciting matching (natural) wine. There are delicious snacks to go with it such as: shrimp croquettes, finocchiona salami and sourdough bread from their own bakery! 

CORNER STORE

Corner Store sits on a corner but is not a store. At Corner Store, music, natural wines and a menu of local ingredients but with Asian flavors come together. The restobar is inspired by music bars like you see a lot in Japan.

A variety of dishes from the grill are available to order, including: veal tongue, squid and cod head. Other dishes include: red bream with lime and chili, nashi pear with daikon and tofu and confit duck leg with plum. In addition, many kinds of side dishes can be ordered, including broad bean tempura and pointed cabbage with chili flakes. Ending can be done with uncommon but delicious desserts: malt ice cream or rhubarb sorbet. 

The restaurant is bright and spacious and has a small bar, equipped with a handmade cabinet full of giant speakers and special LPs. Corner Store, with its unusual food and bar, is definitely worth a visit!

EUROPIZZA

Europizza's menu consists of a small number of fresh, sourdough pizzas and a variety of snacks and dishes with a focus on local produce. From pizzas, oysters, charcuterie and grilled vegetables to clams. Europizza has it all. They also serve a carefully chosen selection of lemonades, wines and beers. 

At Europizza today, while the lockdown has long since been lifted, there is still a large freezer case full of frozen pizzas. The frozen pizzas were an emergency during the lockdown, but still sell very well. If you don't feel like cooking, but also don't fancy a frozen pizza from the supermarket then Europizza offers the solution with their frozen pizzas. Original Europizza frozen pizzas can also be picked up at Stach, Crisp, Gorillas, Thull's Deli, The Dylan Hotel and Lindenhoff.

Rather eat out; Europizza has a nice terrace in front of the door where you can enjoy your pizza in the sun. You can also eat inside at one of the tables or at the bar overlooking the wood-burning oven. 

PLLEK, THE NICEST TERRACE AND BEACH IN AMSTERDAM NORTH

Pllek has been around for a while, but it certainly can't be ignored as a hot spot. Pllek is a café-restaurant located on the NDSM wharf where you can enjoy the sun on the lovely terrace or private beach on the IJ while enjoying a snack and drink. Conscious living and sustainability are key. The food is mostly organic and responsible, prepared with seasonal vegetables and stitch products with world-class flavors by chef Dimitry Mulder. 

From 09:30 you can come to Pllek for breakfast. You have several traditional breakfast choices, including: croissant with butter and jam, yogurt with seasonal fruit and toast with scrambled eggs. For lunch, you have a choice of four salads, five sandwiches and a soup of the week. Dinner consists of a variety of appetizers and main courses. A starter might include carpaccio of sea bass or grilled green asparagus and artichoke. As a main course you can order, among other things: the Indian curry, fried fillet of plaice or stuffed zucchini flower. There is also an extensive dessert and snack menu. You have desserts like chocolate cake with orange, vanilla lemon hangover with strawberries and crème brûlée. As snacks, you can order croquettes of forest mushrooms or venison, samosas with sweet chili sauce or cheese platter. 

Pllek is built from old shipping containers and the interior consists of recycled materials and maritime objects. Pllek also has a stage "Pllek Live Stage." This can be found next to the restaurant with a beautiful view over the IJ. At events, non-Western unique bands perform here supported by a DJ.