Spiegelkwartier
On a picturesque corner of Weteringstraat you’ll find Back to Black, an elegant living-room style coffee bar selling yummy baked goods. Walk up the road peeking in the windows of the lavish antique shops that line the streets of the Spiegelkwartier towards Soup en Zo. Each soup is made fresh daily with seasonal ingredients and lots of veggie and vegan options. Find a stretch of the Prinsengracht or Keizersgracht that you haven’t explored yet for a quick canal loop before heading back to work.
De Wallen
It’s almost impossible to leave with just one item on a visit to De Laatste Kruimel where the displays dazzle with bubbling cheesy quiches, sandwiches made with fresh daily bread, scones, tarts and cakes. From there, take a stroll up the canal where you’ll find plenty of spots to sit and admire the architecture or judge everybody else’s lunch choices. When you reach the Oude Kerk, tucked away in the cloister garden De Koffieschenkerij serves chai lattes, loose-leaf teas and coffee to perk you up en route back.
Honorable mention:Once you've finished your baguette from French bakery Gebroeders Niemeijer, you'll want to turn back around and get another one immediately - they are that good. The creamy goats cheese, pumpkin, roasted almonds and wild garlic oil sandwich tastes exactly as delicious as it sounds.
Jordaan
Bring some colour to your day with a visit to Raïnaraï, a little deli with big mediterranean flavours. Choose from a selection of hearty vegan or meaty tagines served with couscous or pick up a lentil soup and a slice of Algerian pizza. Just across the Prinsengracht, Koffiehuis de Hoek serves takeaway hot drinks to warm up your canal stroll towards the Karthuizerhofje - a hidden 17th century courtyard which is unusually open to the public and has plenty of benches to make use of.
Honorable mentions:If you have a sweet tooth or are just having one of those days, pick up a take-away hot chocolate from Chocolátl for an afternoon treat. Chez Lorraine has a range of quiches, sandwiches and energy bowls to choose from or the changing weekly hot dish is available Wednesday - Friday.
Westelijke Eilanden
Trendy coffee spot Toki also has a selection of gorgeous loose-leaf teas. If it's already been a really long day, why not head over to Coffee & Such and treat yourself to another cappuccino, a smoothie and a grilled panino. For a quiet place to de-stress, cross over the Sloterdijk Brug and see if you can find the Palmentuin at Prinseneiland 40. This public garden is a hidden tropical oasis in the heart of the city which will transport your mind to sandy beaches and pina coladas.
