Canal City: Amsterdam

Amsterdam lived up to my expectations. The dazzling lights bouncing off the canals met by the constant drizzle gave us the perfect change of scenery and weather from Barcelona. After this incredible trip, I realized how much of Barcelona I'd grown accustomed to subconsciously. After spending time in Spain, the Netherlands came as more of a shock than it would have if I'd come straight from the US. Since coming off a month in Barcelona, I felt cued into identifying all the new parts of a culture you can learn from being in a new city, even just for the weekend.

Let's talk style.

The Dutch have weather like this Californian has never seen. The styles in Amsterdam cater to their rain, wind, and cold-proof necessities. The muted pastels and earth tones reign supreme in the boutique world here. You’ll see many statement pieces standing out on mostly capsule wardrobe fits, rounded eyeglasses, layers, bold bobs, plaid patterns, corduroy, and quality leather boots to push bike pedals and tackle the cobblestones.

What's on the plate?

In Amsterdam, traditional tourist favs (CHEESE AND CHOCOLATE) stand out alongside the modern wave of cafe "health" fanatics. The city has an obvious demand for vegan, vegetarian, photo-worthy spots fueling brunch, juice shops, and açaí houses but it balances it well with all your desires. You get the vibes from the excess of plants, pastel-colored menus, high prices, the inclusion of avocado and arugula… While Amsterdam participates in the trendy scene with well-known spots like the “Avocado Show," there’s no lack of traditional street foods like fries + mayo, doughnut holes, stroopwafels, or something fried, cheese-related, or both like Bitterballen! During our stay, we definitely dabbled. To give Bitterballen a true test we tried a flight of 6 (truffle, bacon, spinach, curry- surprising favorite, original, and pork) at Foodhallen, a warehouse converted into stalls with various food/drink options just outside the city center. Foodhallen hosted a local vibe and made us feel part of the party with its long communal tables and lively buzz.

Cafe vs Coffeeshop

Don‘t get 'em twisted! The cafes in Amsterdam all provided a cozy and warm hideout from the rainy skies. Each one we stopped in had a unique vibe - yet all boasted trendy color schemes, menus, and incredibly warm staff. CoffeeSHOPS are code for dispensaries and create a legal space for marijuana in the city. They each have established vibes of clientele and themes like upscale modern, grunge, emo, regal, or pub-like. Pick your poison.