When I first start planning out where I wanted to go in Amsterdam, Bam Boa was on the top of my list. I’d been dreaming about this rattan dreamland for weeks, and so we made a reservation for our last night in town. It was the most perfect way to end the trip! We had the best cocktails, tapas style food, and enjoyed the gorgeous interior while we sat with a view right on the river. If you’re headed to Amsterdam this place is a must-do. Rattan mirrors, rattan chairs, rattan lighting. I can’t handle how much I love it. I’m forever taking this interior inspo with me, and basically felt like I needed to redo my entire apartment after being here. Did I take a photo of every single corner of this place? Yet bet I did. What a beaut!

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I just wrapped up my trip to Amsterdam with A Whimsy Wonderland and Splendid Rags, and had such a great time. This trip was my second time in Amsterdam, and I was so excited to revisit!

What To Do

Besides my favorite things to do while traveling–eat and drink, these are a few of the things I did in Amsterdam that you can’t miss…

Ride Bikes

Amsterdam is a completely flat city, so bikes are the prime way to get around. Everywhere you look you will see bikes. Honestly I would be terrified to drive in the city considering the HUGE number of bikers there are everywhere. Biking it really fun, but be careful because the locals bike fast!

Check out the Shops

There are so many gorgeous shops in Amsterdam. Good design is everywhere in Amsterdam, and vintage shopping is abundant too. Wandering around the Jordaan is my favorite way to find shops. Here are a few favorites:

• Sukha: My fave shop in Amsterdam. It’s all neutral and white, with the most gorgeous art.
• Laura Dolls: A cute, retro shop. I wanted all of the swim caps!
• Fabienne Chapot: Fell in love with this stores colorful clothes! Palm trees and shells were on everything, so I obvi approve.
• Bij Ons Vintage: Another cute vintage shop!
• Julian: We stopped in this pretty flower shop, and I loved all of their arrangements.

Visit MOCO Museum

I’m always on the hunt for modern museums that feature more unique art, and when I saw this museum while doing research for the trip, I knew I had to visit. They had a Banksy exhibit that was incredible, and I finally got to see the Le Refuge piece by Marc Ange. Definitely a must visit.

Where to Eat + Drink

There is so much good food in Amsterdam. We pretty much ate, biked, and walked our way through Amsterdam the entire trip. You won’t want to miss these amazing spots.

Bam Boa

Where do I even start? This place was love at first sight. The entire interior is a dream, and it’s right on the water. This was our last dinner of the trip, and we were so happy to end on such a high note.

The Hoxton

I’m a big fan of The Hoxton Hotels, and if I’m not staying there I still always love to pop into them when I’m in the area because they have great interiors, food, and cocktails. We grabbed drinks at the bar, and snapped some photos in the photobooth.

Bar Botanique

When we arrived it was cloudy and raining, but as soon as we stepped into Bar Botanique it felt like we were in a tropical paradise. We sipped on some yummy cocktails, and had the perfect first night dinner there.

MaMa Kelly

This cute pink cafe is straight out of my Barbie’s pink dreams. We got brunch on our first day in Amsterdam, and we were having such a good time that before we knew it 2 hours flew by. I had the fried chicken + waffles and ate every last bit, and I tried Jenna’s pancakes and just about drooled with how delicious they were. Definitely make a reservation for this gem next time you’re headed to Amsterdam!

CT Coffee + Coconuts

We started our morning with the best lattes here. It was packed on a Thursday morning with the line almost out the door, so I’m guessing their breakfast was just as good as the coffee.

Stroopwafels

We got stroopwafels at van Wonderen Stroopwafels, and they were so decadent and fun. Dutch stroopwafels are a must in Amsterdam, and they’re a yummy cookie-like dessert that would be perfect with a coffee. We walked around the river, and snacked on them before biking back to our hotel. P.S. you can find them at almost every market too!

Pluk

We popped into this spot while we walked around the Jordaan, and I wish we had time to sit down and eat. Everything looked so tasty! If you’re looking for a brunch spot I’d definitely try this place.

Polaberry

Strawberries in chocolate? Yes, please! We walked around the shops of the Jordaan neighborhood and then grabbed these ever-so-pretty desserts at Polaberry, and they were the perfect treat.

Hope this helps you find some gems on your next trip to Amsterdam! Happy travels, friends. xoxo Erika

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