brunch Archives - Wander-Lust

04 feb 2020

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Guide, LUST, Tasty Hotspots With 2 Comments Permalink

Our top 10 favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On februari 4, 2020 With 2 Comments

To be fair, there are too many great lunch and brunch possibilities in Amsterdam, but a few standout!

We’ve handpicked our favourite 10 lunch spots in Amsterdam because they have that extra little thing. More importantly, we have also selected our choices by these important pillars:

They serve topnotch food
Provide excellent and friendly service
Good quality at reasonable prices
Great vibe
Inspirational or unique design

1. COTTONCAKE, 1e van der Helstraat 76-hs

This Concept store in the Pijp has it all! No need to travel to Paris, Berlin, Melbourne or New York – Cottoncake brings all influences together in their store and café. They put all their love in fine organic food & smoothies. Besides food & drinks you will find a mix of fashion, design & lifestyle. From lovely handmade jewelries of Mimi et Toi & Monocraft, organic creams of La Bruket, to lovely basic shirts of Samsoe & Samoe and beautiful knits of Sita Murt.. I really fell in love with this concept store; you can sit down and relax, enjoy their organic healthy food and find that special item that you have to try on and you will keep for ever. cottoncake.nl

source: www.cottoncake.nl

2. BAKERS & ROASTERS, Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54

Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland are known for their great coffee shops and these two friendly owners of New Zealand & Brasil brought the caffé culture to Amsterdam. This New Zealand style café is a very nice place where they serve fresh fruit salads, healthy juices, hot pies fresh from the oven, eggs, granola and is packed every day and we totally understand why! They do not except reservations, but it’s worth to wait.
Don’t forget to take a coffee, since their crafted coffee is a selection of Roasts from Ozone Coffee. They establish relationships with all their growers, batch roast & dispatch daily to ensure maximum taste & freshness. http://bakersandroasters.com

3. VINNIES DELI, Haarlemmerstraat 46 | Nieuwezijds Kolk 33

Are you looking for tasty & healthy lunch where they use organic, fair-trade and sustainable products? Then Vinnies Deli is definitely the place to be for you! It’s no surprise this is one of our favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam. It’s a small cozy lunch/coffee room where you can eat your hart out! I have two favorites on the menu: eggplant with buttermilk sauce and pomegranate, and smoked mackerel with grapefruit chutney. But they also serve delicious cakes & coffees. Vinnies Deli is open from 7.30m in the morning and does take a killer take away and delivery. Do you like what you see inside? All the designer furniture is for sale! vinnieshomepage.com

4. GARTINE, Taksteeg 7

In the hectic city you will find this ‘secret’ place in Amsterdam, Gartine, a cute, cozy and lovely restaurant that is known for it’s high tea! From the garden to your plate: The special thing about Gartine is that they produce vegetables, fruits and herbs from its own garden. Almost all products are produced locally and everything is organic. They serve high quality breakfast, lunch & high tea dishes on flower-printed china plates. You need to make a reservation upfront since they only have 7 tables in total. gartine.nl

source: www.gartine.nl

5. CANTINA, Joris van Den Berghweg 107

In case you were looking to escape the city, Café Cantina is one of our favourite all time spots in Amsterdam. It’s not close to the city center and you can only reach it by car and bicycle. Therefore it’s never crowded and popular with locals. The organic café is also part of “Het Rijk van de Keizer” which is a location that can be used for weddings, parties and special dinners. You chill in the sundeck on a fatboy, hammock or even sit in an old car wreck. Find a spot in the shade under umbrella’s tucked away in between the trees. Don’t be surprised if you see chickens walking around, this is normal! Read more about this amazing spot.

6. SLA

If you want to eat something healthy and nutritious and organic, SLA is the place to do it. Currently, they own x locations in Amsterdam and they are still growing. Our favourite location is the one on the Amstelveenseweg because it’s large and next to the famous Vondelpark in Amsterdam. Every season they change their salad options, so you won’t get bored and they have more than 12 choices! It’s also one of our favourite workspots in Amsterdam, and furthermore, they offer free tea refills! ilovesla.com

Source: SLA

7. KARAVAAN, Kwakersplein 2h

To begin with, this place is brand new. It’s large, warm and the staff is extremely friendly which can be rare these days. In terms of people, you will find it all here. Couples, friends, freelancers, you name it. Find out more about this favourite lunch spot in Amsterdam.

8. BENJI’S

One of us has Indonesian roots, so we especially love Benji’s Toko. That being said, all of their locations are magnificent! Best of all, all locations are full of plants and greenery, making you feel like you are in a tropical location.

9. DROVERS DOG, Heemstedestraat 25 | Eerste Atjehstraat 62

This Australian café/restaurant has been around for many years now, but is still popular with locals and visitors till this day. To be fair, their service is excellent and the kitchen produces delicious comfort Aussi style food. In fact, two Australians and a Dutchman set up this great spot. In addition to the fact that a Drover is a well-known dog breed, the name has more to do with what these dogs do. They bring large herds of cattle together in Australia and bringing them together is what is important at Drovers Dog. It is always cozy and full of friends, couples and families. Everyone who works there speaks English fluently and often with a strong Australian accent. (Oh, how we love it).

10. BAR LELY, Cornelis Lelyplein 4

It’s one of Elke’s favorite workspots in Amsterdam at the moment, and situated at a brilliant location in Amsterdam West. Bar Restaurant Lely is so much more than just a restaurant next to Lelylaan train station. The restaurant opens at 8am, so early birds can drink a quick coffee and have some simple breakfast such as granola & yoghurt or a croissant. For lunch they serve simple but very tasty options and I must say that the avo on toast with a poached egg.

Happy eating!

Wander-Lust

13 apr 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Guide Permalink

10 x Easter in Amsterdam 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On april 13, 2019

With Easter coming up, comes the egg hunting for young and old(er)! It’s more popular than ever and some are quite special with great prizes to win! Besides the hunting, there are Easter brunches, and special Easter coffees! Here is a full list of Easter in Amsterdam this weekend.

Easter Brunch at Bar Kantoor
When? 21/22 April, 11am Westerpark
What? Easterbrunch with livemusic
Bar Kantoor belongs to Conscious Hotels so this brunch is vegetarian. There will be live music, cocktails and food is also served out on the large terrace of Bar Kantoor. Facebook

Egg Hunt X Pulitzer Amsterdam
When? 1st of April 2019, 11am – 12.30pm Pulitzer Amsterdam
What? Chocolate Bunny search for adults & kids
A ‘Chocolate Easter Bunny’ escaped from the Pulitzer gardens but left a trace of chocolate Easter eggs. A shout-out to our youngest fans; come and help us find the Easter Bunny and its lost eggs! All children 10 years of age and younger are invited to participate in the Egg Hunt. Before the hunt kicks off, children will have the chance to festively decorate their egg collecting bag, while feasting on some lemonade & cookies. The lucky finder of the Easter Bunny wins a voucher for lunch at Jansz, a Toddler Push Banwood Bike or a Chocolate Easter Bunny for the entire family! Pre-register before the 12th of April by sending an email to marketing@pulitzeramsterdam.com Facebook

Easter Disco at Chin Chin Club
When? 21st of April 2019, 11pm Rozengracht
What? Dancing on Sunday
Enjoy Disco, Hits & Classics, Extravagante live-acts and Confetti all night long. We can’t wait for this one! Facebook.

Easter Egg Hunt at Vondeltuin
When? 21st of April 2019 from 10am – 11am at Vondeltuin
What? Traditional egg hunt for kids
Bring your kids to this traditional Easter egg hunt at the Vondeltuin, located in The Vondelpark. Be on time because the hunt is only on for 1 hour. Dress up your little one and bring your own basket. There is a play garden next door for playtime afterwards, plus kids can get their face painted. Facebook

Easter Brunch at Het Rijk van de Keizer
When? 22nd of April 2019 from 11:30am
One of our favorite spots out of the city! Tucked away in Amsterdam West you will find Het Rijk van de Keizer, a place where food meets art and art meets events. From 12pm adults can feast on a delicious Easter brunch with live music. There will be a special kids lunch with children songs and stories, face painting, egg hunt, crafts and a DJ workshop for the older kids. €37,50 for the adults Easter brunch (including bubbles, fresh juices, barista coffee) and €24,50 for kids including the kids program. Reserve your spot via email or phone. More info on the Facebook Event Page.

Vegan Easter Brunch
When? 21st & 22nd of April 2019 at Mr. & Mrs. Watson
On Sunday the 21st of March and Monday 22nd of April this Vegan Hotspot will serve a completely vegan sharing buffet! A brunch with scrambled tofu, breadrolls, homemade vegan cheese and enough for those with a sweet tooth! This bunny brunch in Amsterdam will cost you €21,50 p.p. Reserve via www.watson.bar and they will save you a spot!

Bottomless Easter Brunch at INK
When? 21st & 22nd of April 2019 (yes, on Monday) at INK Hotel
It’s time for INK’s Hotel monthly Bottomless Brunch! This edition will be entirely dedicated to Easter and has 2 days to choose from. What better way to enjoy these days than a delicious brunch with your friends and family? The Bottomless Brunch package (€ 37 p.p) consists of a combination of one savoury and one sweet dish, including a cocktail and unlimited bubbles! Book your table via http://pressroom.amsterdam/reservations/.

Easter Mimosa Brunch
When? 21st & 22nd of April 2019 at Hoed & Krelis
Mimosa’s, Mimosa’s and more Mimosa’s. For those not familiar with Mimosa’s; a Mimosa cocktail is composed of one part champagne and one part chilled citrus juice, usually orange juice unless otherwise specified. Thanks Wikipedia! What else do you need for the weekend?

Eggs and Beer at Ceuvel
When? 21st of April 2019 at Café Ceuvel
For young and old! After the egg hunting there is an Easter beer hunt for adults! Spread out at Ceuvel you can search for the hidden beer bottles from Brouwerij het IJ. If you find one, you can drink it, for free! Now, this is something you can sign us up for!

Thuishaven Easter Weekend
When? 20th & 21st of April 2019, Contactweg 68
If you are not into brunches or you want to dance those extra calories off, you can do it at Thuishaven. Tech-house and more in and outside. The weather is going to be sunny, so get your tickets.

Good luck with finding the eggs and enjoy your Easter in Amsterdam together!

Love,

Wander-Lust

12 feb 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Tasty Hotspots With No Comments Permalink

Brickwood Coffee & Bread in London » Brunch at it’s best

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On februari 12, 2019 With No Comments

As any brunch aficionado knows, there’s no place not worth going to if it doesn’t have at least a ten-minute queue outside. And one such place is Brickwood Coffee & Bread.

Weekend culture in London is accepting that you’ll need to queue for your brunch – but see it as a positive that you’re building up an appetite. But as you wait outside, the red tin-sheeting exterior is a bright beacon on a gloomy day for those in need of a pick me up. Situated on a bustling, pedestrianised street in the heart of Balham in south London, Brickwood’s popularity attracts a Saturday and Sunday morning crowd. Mostly made up of twenty-somethings including a mix of hipsters (although, not the devastatingly cool kind that resound in East London); yoga and gym bunnies and buffs (who are looking to stockpile on pre- or post- workout protein); and occasionally (if you’re lucky) there’ll be the local resident who brings their dog for you to ogle at, too.

A Coffee Lovers Idyll
Brickwood was founded by Australians and prides itself of bringing a taste of Australia to its four locations in the capital (aside from Balham, there are also spots in Clapham, Tooting and Streatham) so you can expect Tim-Tams on the shelves but what keeps punters coming back is the coffee. While not exclusively from the land down under, their Brickwood Blend expresso fuses beans from Tanzania, Rwanda and Brazil for a sweet aftertaste.

Famed as much for their brunch as their coffee, the menu offers a run-down of everything you’d want to kickstart your day with. My go-to is the Kamara: sourdough toast, topped with kale pesto, pumpkin seeds and diced sweet-potato – feta cheese and a poached egg come as standard on top too if you have dietary requirements. The Breakfast Burrito is also favourable with its pulled pork, scrambled eggs, potato hash, avocado, and sour cream tightly wrapped up in foil. Grilled sourdough toasties also sit on the counter as you walk in and hit the spot if you’re feeling fragile.

Banana Bread 2.0
If there’s room left, Brickwood’s instagrammable showstopper is their Banana Bread 2.0. Their original Freshly baked banana bread was a must-have in its own right: grilled and served with a creamy expresso butter, but some genius rethought the concept and added a fresh-berry compote as well as mascarpone to create the updated version.

Source

The décor has a low-key charm made up of wooden clad walls and coffee sack ceilings which makes for a relaxed setting. Tables are either high-level with wooden tops and metal bar stools. If there’s a group of you, you may be able to bag yourself a booth in their extension which opened last year. And the end result? As fairly priced as you’d expect for zone three within the capital, a brunch for two will hover around the £25 mark.
The area boasts a handful of eateries serving similar menus including rival brunch mecca Milk, Brother Marcus and Gails.

Brickwood Coffee & Bread
11 Hildrith Street, London
Website / Instagram

Love,

Stephanie

*Stephanie is our guest editor from London. She works for a large fashion brand and loves to explore new eateries and pretty corners whenever she has the chance. Follow her on Instagram!

16 mei 2018

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Off the Beaten Track Permalink

Roootin » The Healthy Middle Eastern Hotspot in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On mei 16, 2018

Hello hello newbie, warm welcome to Roootin. For weeks or maybe even months they were renovating their place…and the result doesn’t lie. Don’t expect the usual hotspot with eggs Benedict’s, croque madams and juicy burgers, nops. Time for something new, let’s introduce you to the Middle Eastern cuisine! I think I never had something Iranian or Kurdish before, so let’s zoom in on what they’ve in store for you!

Interior Roootin Amsterdam

The story behind Roootin Amsterdam
Roootin is an idea of one Iranian brother, his two sis and their mom. How cool a family have teamed up. During reading the intro you might have thought: Roootin with 3x ‘o’? Yes, and I tell you why. Roootin is a combi of roots and origin. It doesn’t only has to do with their Iranian roots, but also with their interest in the essence of humans, nature, healing power of products…let’s say the roots of things. Mix that with origin and Roootin is born, a place where you can meet the healthy Middle Eastern food.

Amsterdam meets Middle Eastern food
When it’s bedtime I can become such a happy kid by thinking of how my next morning will start: yaaasss breakfast is callin’! Recently my day started even better with a brunch at Roootin. I had no idea what to expect from a Middle Eastern inspired kitchen, I couldn’t mention one typical Iranian, Kurdish or Lebanese dish. A totally new food world opened for this girl with dishes like orange blossom pancakes, labneh, avocado toast the Iranian way and a Kurdish dish called Sawar. Choosing didn’t last long, pancakes for me. Defenitely one of the best I’ve had in Amsterdam, and I can know as probably one of the biggest pancake lovers in town (wink wink). Dropping by at Roootin means experiencing lots of new flavours, unknown homemade dishes and…a bright colour overload! Even when sometimes the sun is hard to find, you can find her here on your plate. Oh and I don’t discuss their complete menu in detail, because it has so much more charm to discover it by yourself.

Pancakes Iranian style, love them!

Vegan avo toast, worth tryin’

Roootin, place to charge yourself
Besides I really liked the pancakes and juices, for me the whole atmosphere stood out. No hustle or bustle, just relaxed vibes, laidback music in a modern and above all warm place. East has some places where it is ‘see and be seen’, luckily they’re not that kind of a food spot. In terms of hospitality, they also score super high. In case you’ve a food allergy, nothing is too much to ask. They’re really supportive and focus on specific solutions for every vegan, lactose-intolerant or other special wish.

One last thing: Roootin hopes to further deepen the concept by initiating all kinds of projects that are in line with their philosophy. Think about workshops and yoga classes, you name it. I’ll try more of their brunch food and healthy guilty pleasures as soon as possible, and book a yoga class. Who wants join this beginner yogi?

Love,

Sharmaine

Roootin
Linnaeusstraat 16, Amsterdam
Opening hours: Tuesday till Sunday 09:00 till 17:00, Mondays closed
No reservations
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More foodie spots from Sharmaine? Check out Tasty Hotspots section!