This post has been a long time coming seeing as I went to Amsterdam two months ago but it’s always useful information that never really becomes irrelevant to you travellers out there. Vintage shopping in Amsterdam is excellent – it almost rivals Paris, which I have already cited as the best city for vintage clothes – check out my Paris vintage shopping guide here. Anyway, back to Amsterdam. Most of the vintage shops are located in the Nine Streets District, along with lots of other boutiques and amazing looking cafés so here are my picks.
Ça fait longtemps que je voulais écrire cette poste vu que je suis allée à Amsterdam il y a deux mois. Bref, c’est pas grave parce que l’info est toujours utile pour les voyageurs. Le shopping vintage à Amsterdam est génial – il pourrait être un rival de Paris qui j’ai déjà dit est la meilleur ville pour acheter les fringues vintage – regardes ma guide du shopping vintage à Paris ici. Bref, on reviens à Amsterdam. La plupart des friperies sont dans le quartier des ‘Neuf Rues’, comme beaucoup d’autres boutiques et des cafés, alors voici mes préférés.
Episode is certainly the most well known vintage shop in Amsterdam, thanks to their various other European locations, such as Paris and Copenhagen. Their selection is extensive, covering two large floors at their shop in the Nine Streets district. You can find pretty much anything you have been looking for here, from Burberry trench coats to retro Adidas trainers and cropped Lacoste polo shirts. The prices are good too – pick up a much sought after pair of Levis jeans for 25€, t-shirts and custom tops for just 12€ or sunglasses for 10€. Highly recommended.
C’est sûr qu’Episode est la friperie la plus connue à Amsterdam, grâce à leurs autres boutiques en Europe, genre à Paris et à Copenhague. La sélection est considérable – la boutique dans le quartier des neuf rues est sur deux grandes étages. Tu peux trouver presque tous que tu cherchais, comme des trenchs Burberry, des baskets rétro d’Adidas et des polos crops de Lacoste. Les prix sont géniaux aussi – trouves le jean Levis de tes rêves à 25€, des tee-shirts et des hauts personnalisés pour 12€ et des lunettes de soleil à 10€. Bien conseillé.
A cute little vintage shop with just an amazingly decorated ceiling and chandelier! There’s a great selection of velvet, modern dresses as well as seventies flared trousers and vintage skirts for 25€. Accessories are cheap – just 5€ for a woollen scarf or beanie. Downstairs, amongst the vintage flannel shirts, sequins and army jackets, you’ll find a good choice of brand new Weekday and Cheap Monday jeans, including some velvet ones, which I was lusting after!
Une friperie mignon avec un plafond incroyable et un chandelier! Il y a une bonne sélection des robes modernes en velours ainsi que des pantalons pattes d’eph des années 70s et des jupes vintages touts à 25€. Les accessoires sont des belles affaires – juste 5€ pour une echarpe en laine ou un bonnet. Au sous-sol, parmi des chemises en flanelle, des paillettes et des vestes militaires, tu trouves une bonne choix de jeans neufs des marques Weekday et Cheap Monday, inclus ceux en velours que j’ai trop kiffé!
We stumbled across Marbles Vintage quite by accident after a lovely brunch in De Pijp and I’m so glad we did! The selection is great – you can find some more individual, different items that I didn’t see in other vintage shops, such as velvet bodies and hippy, boho tops. The prices are pretty good too – great leather jackets for 50€ and Levi denim shorts for 20€. The shoe selection is also a treat.
On a trouvé Marbles Vintage par hasard après un bon brunch dans le quartier du De Pijp et je suis trop contente qu’on l’avait découvert! La sélection est géniale – tu peux trouver des pièces différentes que dans les autres friperies, genre des bodies en velours et des tops hippy. Les prix sont bons aussi – des perfectos magnifiques à 50€ et des shorts en jean Levis à 20€. La sélection de chaussures est juste top.
A much more up market vintage shop, well boutique. It definitely has that boutique feel – everything is beautifully presented and there are some really unique pieces. There is even a fancy dress floor downstairs where there are big Moulin Rouge style petticoats, ball gowns and sparkly bustiers. Expensive, but worth a look just for the pure pleasure.
Une friperie plus haute gamme, plutôt une boutique qu’une friperie en fait – tous est bien présenté et il y a des pièces vraiment uniques. En plus, il y a même une étage au sous-sol pour le déguisement où tu peux trouver des jupes du style du Moulin Rouge, des robes de soirées magnifiques et des bustiers qui brilles. Cher mais il vaut le coup de regarder, juste pour le plaisir.
Chilango – 82 rue de la Folie-Mericourt, 75011 Paris
Last night, Lewis and I went to Chilango for a lovely mexican meal with some friends. It was a very relaxed atmosphere with a ‘order when you like and share with your friends’ attitude, which is one of my favourite ways to dine. We started off with some homemade tortilla chips and guacamole, which was delicious. Love a good guac. And I had a (couple of) Jamaicón cocktail, which had a great original taste being made from hibiscus flower, ginger, lime and tequiiiiillaaaaa!
Then came the tacos, which were really yummy. Again we shared and tried different ones, well as much as three vegetarians and three meat eaters can try and share food. I tasted three different kinds – grilled cheese and mushrooms; refried beans and soft cheese; and tuna and lime. I can’t say which was my favourite as they were all delicious! I’m looking forward to going back to Chilango to try their quesadillas…and probably more tacos!
—
Hier soir, Lewis et moi sommes allés dîner avec des potes chez Chilango, un restaurant mexicain. Il y avait une ambiance très détendue avec une attitude de ‘commander quand vous voulez et partager des des amis’, ce que j’aime bien. On a commencé en partageant des chips et du guacamole, qui étaient délicieux. Et j’ai bu un (ou deux!) du cocktail Jamaicón qui a un goût très original vue qu’il est fait du fleur d’hibiscus, du citron vert, du gingembre et du tequiiiilllaaa!
Puis, on a mangé des tacos – miam! Bien sûr, on a partagé et on a essayé des tacos différents, bah autant que trois végétariens et trois non-vegetariens peuvent partager et essayer de la bouffe. J’ai goûté trois tacos différents – du fromage grillé et des champignons; des haricots frits et du fromage; et du thon au citron vert. Je ne peux pas choisir mon préféré parce qu’ils étaient tous délicieux! J’ai hâte d’y aller encore pour essayer leurs quesadillas…et probablement encore de tacos!
For the May bank holiday weekend we took a spontaneous trip down (a bit more) South to Lyon. Even though it did rain quite a bit, we were still able to enjoy exploring the cute hilly streets, taking in the bright and pastel house colours that made Lyon so different to Paris.
#iamdrunk – a city after my own heart.
The Fourvière Basilica looks over Lyon from the top of its biggest hill – the view from the top is amazing but it’s quite a climb! There is also an old Roman amphitheatre and ruins nearby, which is quite unique and great to sit and rest tired tourist legs.
The view of the Fourvière Basilica, the fake Eiffel Tower radio tower, courthouse and cathedral all lit up at night was magical. It was hard to capture it in a photo but the Basilica looked like a Disney castle! I couldn’t stop looking at it!
On Sunday morning, we just had time for a quick stroll around the Tête d’Or park, which is just a delight. I hope I’ll be back to Lyon sometime soon to enjoy this haven sprawled out in the sun.
—
Pour ce weekend de trois jours, on a décidé au dernier minute de passer le weekend à Lyon. Même s’il pleuvait assez beaucoup, c’était super de se balader dans les rues mignons et sur les collines, en regardant les bâtiments colorés et pastels qui sont très différents à ceux dans Paris.
J’espère que vous aimez des photos – on a adoré la vue de Lyon de la Fourvière et l’amphithéâtre romaine qui est très unique. La vue de la Fourvière en lumière à la nuit était magique – comme un château de Disney! Difficile à vous montrer dans une photo.
Dimanche matin, on s’est baladé brièvement dans le parc de la Tête d’Or qui est trop beau. J’espère que je peux revenir à Lyon en plein été pour profiter de ce parc tranquille en soleil.
Yesterday afternoon, I met my best babe Anna for a tea and cake at a cute little place tucked away in the middle of Paris. This is Anti Café, a space for working, studying, sharing, playing and creating where you pay for the time that you spend there, not what you consume.
You can just help yourself to as many hot and cold drinks, snacks and cakes to your heart’s desire. There’s wifi, board games and books as well as printers and scanners that you can use too. It costs just 4€ for an hour in the space, 16€ for the day. This gem is very popular and we were lucky to get a seat among the young crowd tapping away on their computers and scribbling ideas into notebooks.
A great concept and collective space that is worth checking out if you’re ever near the Centre Pompidou or the Louvre, check out their website here.
—
Hier après-midi, j’ai pris un thé avec ma copine Anna dans un lieu très mignon, caché dans le centre de Paris. C’est Anti Café, une espace pour travailler, étudier, partager, jouer et créer où vous payez pour le montant de temps que vous y passez, pas ce que vous consumez.
Il y a des boissons chaudes et froides, des snacks et des gateaux qui sont illimités ainsi que du wifi, des jeux de société, des livres et des imprimantes. Il coût juste 4€ pour une heure, 16€ pour un jour. Cette perle caché est tellement populaire et on a eu de la chance de trouver deux chaises parmi des jeunes qui tapent sur leurs ordinateurs et gribouillent dans des cahiers.
C’est un concept et espace collective géniaux qu’il faut y aller si vous êtes près du Centre Pompidou ou le Louvre, découvrez leur site ici.
Last weekend, Lewis and I took a three hour train ride to the beautiful city of Amsterdam. We stayed in a great Airbnb apartment just south of the famous Prinsengracht canal, which was the perfect location. We were able to walk everywhere, which is the main thing we love to do on holiday, to explore. Here’s a bit about our weekend and some tips.
We spent most of Friday strolling around, soaking up the city and getting our bearings. It was the only sunny day we had and even though it was cold, Amsterdam is just magical in the sun. Always a lover for rummaging and bargains, I insisted that we checked out the flea market at Waterlooplein where there are piles and piles of clothes for just 1€ sometimes!
We had a late lunch at a cute place opposite the flower market called Toastable, which does amazing three tier toasties! My roasted vegetables and goats cheese one was yummy.
From there we wandered through the lovely Vondelpark, through southern Amsterdam and back to the apartment, but not without stopping to cuddle the most adorable cat on a street close to ours. I was delighted. FYI cats lovers, Amsterdam is full of them *emoji thumbs up*.
Saturday morning consisted of me dragging Lewis around the shopping area, known as the 9 streets district. These are in fact 3 streets crossing 3 canals in between Prinsengracht and Singel, thus creating 9 streets. The vintage shopping in Amsterdam is fantastic, albeit slightly more expensive than Paris but the choice is great. Look out for my detailed post on Amsterdam vintage shops coming soon!
After a quick bite to eat we headed to the Anne Frank House, which was just incredible. We did have to queue in the freezing cold for about an hour but it was so worth it. The museum takes you on a tour of the very house where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War Two, with reconstruction photos and genuine artefacts. Having always wanted to read her diary, I finally bought it at the gift shop and I’m really enjoying it so far.
For dinner we went to The Pancake Bakery, which I remember going to last time I went to Amsterdam and loving it. The choice of pancakes is amazing and we both went for something on the ‘international’ section of the menu. I had the ‘French’, which was goats cheese, honey and pine nuts and Lewis’ looked so much like a pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto. The pancakes were delicious and thick – that sounds really weird, but you know, substantial.
On Sunday we strolled down to De Pijp, an up and coming area in Amsterdam where there are no canals to be seen. Not many shops were open so after doing a lap in Sarphatipark we headed for brunch.
We stumbled across a great place called Coffee and Coconuts, which is obviously the place to be on a Sunday with its buzzing but relaxed atmosphere and cool rock star photos on the walls. Don’t be put off by the queue going up the stairs, we didn’t have to wait long as there is three floors and it was worth it. I had scrambled egg on sourdough bread topped with avocado, feta cheese and black olives, a strange but winning combination. For dessert we shared a chocolate ganache on a crunchy cornflake base, which was heavenly.
We had such a great time in Amsterdam with its beautiful canals, amazing food and chilled atmosphere. I definitely want to go back again when it’s slightly warmer though!
