Bloem (which translates as Flower) is located along the water in the Plantagebuurt, a green neighborhood of Amsterdam. Bloem’s food is 100 per cent organic, glutenfree, and vegan or vegetarian and its service is cheerful. During lockdown, it’s a great place to get take-out food: I’ve repeatedly gotten delicious sandwiches there for lunches on nearby benches.
bloem36.nlCafé Moer (which translates as Nut as well as a colloquial form of Mother) is located in a former Michelin garage on the Amstelveenseweg in Amsterdam. Moer offers delicious organic, local, and festive food.
cafemoer.nlAn eco-funky spot just off the Haarlemmerstraat whose name translates as The Bearded Lady. It serves a delicious, sustainable menu of “soul food from Brooklyn to Bali.”
Fun dinner, with to my right the friend who in my memoir is called Marlies
A golden oldie — whose name means The Daredevil — in the bohemian neighborhood of De Pijp, Amsterdam. De Waaghals offers organic vegetarian food.
waaghals.nlThis golden oldie with a spacious terrace along the Amstel is named after the icebreakers that were docked in front of the building from 1702 to 1860. De Ysbreeker serves organic olive oil and wine, sustainable fish, and pâtés with “mostly ‘obsolete parts’ of pigs brought up with old-fashioned decency.”
deysbreeker.nlA cool, spacious restaurant close to the fun square Kadijksplein. The outstanding staff serves sustainable, creative, and delicious food.
restaurantentrepot.nlA golden oldie along the Singel canal — with a second location along the Keizersgracht (Emperors’ Canal) — that has adapted to the times. Greenwoods offers local and seasonal dishes, among which tasty vegan and gluten-free options.
Lovely lunch with my godchild
A splendid spot to celebrate summer, on the historic
Marineterrein. Kanteen25 bases all its choices on three pillars: locality, sustainability, and social impact.
This restaurant is housed in a building that dates from 1628 with a nice terrace along the beautiful Bloemgracht (Flower Canal). The farm-to-table cuisine is creative and delectable.
linvite.nl
A vegan restaurant in Amsterdam whose name is a play on words in reference to New York’s Meatpacking District. When I ate at the Bilderdijkstraat location in 2017, I found the atmosphere cool and the seasonal organic food tasty.
meatlessdistrict.comA restaurant in the 17th century Huize Frankendael (Watergraafsmeer, Amsterdam) with a beautiful garden. Merkelbach serves set menus of superb slow food.
restaurantmerkelbach.nlA cool restaurant near the Rijksmuseum. Yerba, which describes itself as “a plant forward space offering root to seed sustainable eating,” has a seasonal menu with delicious dishes.
yerbabar.comThe name of this environmentally conscious apartment hotel on the Weesperstraat in Amsterdam means “family” in Japanese. When I’m in the Netherlands, I often and with great pleasure stay in one of Zoku’s “micro lofts.” I like to meet up with friends in the lounge and restaurant, which offer great views of the city from the sixth floor.
Leaving after a fabulous stay
