Seen & Been in Amsterdam: A Chic Weekend Guide

Amsterdam is one of those cities that always feels like a good idea. Easy to navigate, endlessly stylish and full of cosy corners, canal side cafés and boutique hotels. As our very own Poppy discovered following a trip to the Dutch capital recently, it’s the perfect destination for a chic weekend away.
 
Following a quick 45 minute flight and a smooth pass through customs and Poppy checked into Soho House Amsterdam. Set inside the historic Bungehuis building on the Singel Canal, the hotel mixes classic Amsterdam architecture with Soho House’s signature interiors: velvet sofas, vintage touches, cosy corners and a rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline. The location is ideal too, within walking distance of the Nine Streets, Jordaan and the canal belt, it makes Soho House a fantastic base for exploring the city.

Explore the city

Amsterdam is best explored at a wandering pace, where the city reveals itself through its canals, neighbourhoods and café lined streets. The easiest way to get a feel for it is on foot or by bike, weaving along quiet waterways and crossing bridges as you move between areas.
 
A great place to start is Jordaan, where narrow streets, canal houses and independent boutiques make it perfect for getting pleasantly lost. From there, head over to De Pijp for a more energetic atmosphere, with vintage shops, lively cafés and some of the city’s best everyday food and drink spots.
 
 
Amsterdam’s café culture is a big part of the experience so it’s worth building in time for slow coffee breaks along the way. For expertly made espresso in a sleek, modern setting, Screaming Beans is a dependable stop while Coffee & Coconuts offers a more relaxed, spacious brunch feel inside a converted cinema that’s ideal for lingering a little longer.
 

One of the most memorable ways to see the city is from the water. A canal cruise in the morning gives you a different perspective on Amsterdam’s leaning gabled houses, quiet bridges and reflections shifting in the early light.

 

Travel Seen tip: It’s usually best to go with the flow and book once you’re there so you can choose a clear, bright morning and make the most of the experience when the weather is on your side.

De Pjip

Soho House Amsterdam

Where to shop

Amsterdam is full of effortlessly cool shopping. Spend time in De Negen Straatjes (The 9 Streets), where independent boutiques and concept stores line the picturesque canal streets.
 

One standout is Rika Studios, a quietly stylish with the feel of a lived-in canal house. Founded by former stylist Ulrika Lundgren, it pairs a thoughtfully designed guest apartment with a boutique filled with elevated wardrobe staples, independent jewellery brands and unique fragrance labels.

 
In De Pijp, the vibe is more local and eclectic, with small designer studios, vintage finds and easy neighbourhood browsing. There are also constantly rotating pop-ups and creative retail spaces across the city, when Poppy was there, Never Fully Dressed had a popup. 

Rika Studios

Tables worth booking

Start the afternoon at Little Bonfire for a relaxed aperitif then make your way to The Dylan. It feels less like a hotel and more like staying at your rich aunt and uncle’s impossibly chic canal house. Even if you’re not staying there, the bar is a destination in itself. Their house Riesling, made exclusively for the hotel, is crisp, fresh and dangerously easy to linger over.

 
For dinner, book Restaurant Breda for refined, seasonal dishes in a relaxed setting or opt for something more intimate and wine-led at Cafe de Klepel. De Tros is another great, contemporary neighbourhood restaurant known for its seasonal cooking and laid-back but confident atmosphere.

 

 

Vondelpark

Little Bonfire

Culture fix

Getting cultural in Amsterdam is easy to fold into a slow day. Start around Museumplein, where the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum sit side by side, offering everything from Dutch masters to vivid, emotional portraits.
 

Travel Seen tip: head to the nearby Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium Hotel for lunch at Ottolenghi, where a delicious produce-led menu makes for an easy and elegant break from exploring.

For something more sobering, the Anne Frank House gives a powerful glimpse into the city’s wartime history. Best booked in advance.

The Travel Seen take

 

GET IN TOUCH
 

Amsterdam has a way of making you settle into the moment. Mornings stretch a little slower along the canals, afternoons disappear down quiet side streets and long lunches, and evenings often end with a glass of wine by the water. Relaxed yet effortlessly stylish, it’s the kind of city that feels easy to return to, even before you’ve left.

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