While cozy brown cafes seem to be the places to visit in Amsterdam, somehow we never made it to one, opting instead for the newer, brighter, airier grand cafes. The grand cafes of Amsterdam are usually spacious and beautiful and well worth a visit for a bite or just to rest one’s feet.
We spent our last morning in Amsterdam at Cafe de Jaren, a beautiful cafe in the university district of the old city. There was plenty of space for us and our bags and suitcase and we spent a calm couple of hours here snacking and poring over their reading material.
Something we discovered absolutely everywhere in Amsterdam is the existence of verse munt thee on the menu. Fresh mint tea. This is fresh mint leaves steeped in water and strictly isn’t actually tea but a tisane. Honey is always offered with it though I think I prefer it as is. It’s something we became addicted to over there and that we’ve brought back to our home in London.
We took this opportunity to try their version of the Dutch apple tart too. While it was delicious, studded with raisins and topped with flaked almonds, it was served disappointingly cold and would have been about a billion times better warm.
If the weather had been more cooperative, we would have been able to sit in their terrace leading directly onto a canal. This would have been the view!
After killing some time in the shops and having more frites, we headed to train station to wait for our Thalys train to Brussels, where we’d connect to the Eurostar. Our first destination within the station though was the 1er Klas Grand Cafe, where we went in search of some light refreshment prior to our train journeys. The room was originally the first class passenger lounge in the station which explains how luxurious it looks!
The bitterballen at this cafe are sourced from the famed patisserie Holtkamp (we tried to visit the day before but they had an extra long queue thanks to it being Easter). Their bitterballen are considered to be some of the best in Amsterdam and they are indeed fantastic. Crisp crumbed on the outside, creamy meaty bechamel on the inside – our order of six were served with mustard and pickles. They’re fantastic bar snacks.
An apple pancake was accompanied by butter, powdered sugar and stroop (syrup) – everything you might want with a pancake. I’ve definitely developed a thing for the eggy Dutch pancakes.
And perhaps the best part of the cafe? There’s a house (cafe?) parrot – say hello to Elvis! The white cockatoo loves grooming and shredding bar coasters and the regulars love to have him on their shoulders!
Café de Jaren
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20 – 22
1012 Amsterdam
1e Klas Grand Cafe
2b (platform), Centraal Station
Amsterdam
Mon, 15 Apr, 2013 at 07:20
I did wonder what’s going to happen to the ‘brown café’ now that you aren’t allowed to smoke in there? I owe them bigtime; I took one look at the walls, and gave it up!
Mon, 22 Apr, 2013 at 11:21
I wonder if smoking is illegal now – I suspect it is. They’re still pretty dark in there though!
Mon, 15 Apr, 2013 at 08:47
Love the idea of a house parrot!
Mint “tea” or mint infusion is one of my favourite drinks as it’s so good for indigestion / digestive discomfort – far better than dried mint teabags. For most of the year we can just pick the mint from the garden but in winter I do resort to buying it from the supermarket… I too prefer it unsweetened.
A nice combo is fresh mint tea mixed with regular black tea, which always reminds me of Istanbul…
Mon, 22 Apr, 2013 at 11:22
Yes, the Middle Eastern/Northern African variant does include black tea, no? I like it without for the evening!
Mon, 15 Apr, 2013 at 10:49
I love fresh mint tea – it’s wonderful chilled in summer too!
Mon, 22 Apr, 2013 at 11:23
That’s a great idea – thanks, Alicia!
Mon, 15 Apr, 2013 at 13:33
I love bitterballen, they remind me of the Japanese cream korokke. The cafes look lovely!
Mon, 22 Apr, 2013 at 11:28
Yes, and like Spanish croquetas too. Brilliant stuff.
Tue, 16 Apr, 2013 at 13:14
mint tisane sounds lovely! and I think it is good for digestion
Mon, 22 Apr, 2013 at 11:33
I think so too! But the best part is that it’s yummy. :)
Wed, 17 Apr, 2013 at 23:24
Dear Su-lin,
The bitterballen looks awesome with the mustard and pickles. I’m thinking of an icy cold beer now
Mon, 22 Apr, 2013 at 11:36
Oh yes! Bitterballen is classic snack food to accompany drinks!