a beautiful mess: pop-up lunchrestaurant in the bijlmerbajes
Eating in the laundry room of the former Bijlmerbajes might not be on your bucket list, but it is very cool and especially unique as well. And guess what, that’s something you can do from now on! A new pop-up lunchrestaurant has opened: A Beautiful Mess Amsterdam. 4 days a week you can go here for a lunch and on Friday for mezze and BBQ as well. Think of shared dining with dishes made with fresh ingredients and flavours from the Middle East and Africa. Doesn’t that sound great?!
a beautiful mess amsterdam is for more than just good food
A Beautiful Mess Amsterdam isn’t only here so we can enjoy great dishes and flavours from the Middle East and Africa. The pop-up restaurant is also here to offer newcomers that live in the asylum center a job. A Beautiful Mess Amsterdam is founded by Refugee Company to help newcomers with the search for a job and to stimulate them to keep on improving their qualities. Every week, Refugee Company invites a company/restaurant which is looking for new staff, to prepare a good lunch together with refugees. So this is extra work experience for the refugees and who knows, maybe a new job too. Thumbs up!
We already know a few names of the companies and entrepreneurs that are helping with this projects. Think of Casper Reinders, Samuel Levie, but also the Stedelijk Museum, the Student Hotel and Pakhuis de Zwijger. Everyone helps in their own way. By offering training, but also by giving art or products. Such a good initiative. We’re excited!
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>