The Seafood Bar - Amsterdam

Maybe the most important research you can do when planning a trip is deciding where are you going to eat. Accommodations are secondary since who spends time in their room? But food is key and my research said we should run not walk to The Seafood Bar as soon as we hit the ground running.

Fortunately there is a new second branch (2 weeks old) of The Seafood Bar right in the center (Centrum) of Amsterdam at Spui 15, easy walking 15 minutes from our B and B.

Solli, my traveling companion, prefers to eat organic, pasture-fed and bio. I was thrilled when I checked the website.

The Seafood Bar uses exclusively day-fresh products of the highest quality. Our products are 100% natural with no additives.

When possible we use biological and Fair Trade products that have a transparent and responsible origin.

Wherever we can the fish we serve is line caught, MSC certified, selected and prepared with great care.
All music to Sollie's ears.

You're looking at the seafood display in the back. The owner was formerly a fish monger so freshness is key. Three years ago he opened the first TSB at Van Baerlestraat 5.

The glistening seafood reminds of classic 17th century Dutch paintings.

There are elegant displays where ever the eye lands.

I asked the owner who designed the restaurant. You can almost hear the waves crashing. He said he'd done it.

Because we were the first guests to arrive and a photographer was shooting at the bar, they asked if we'd mind waiting before sitting down. Then they gave us 'consolation' Zeeland oysters. Delicious.

We knew exactly what we wanted. The menu is on the website.

First, the out-of-this-world lobster soup (9,50) made from pulverized lobster shells!

Was it good you ask?

We'd set our hearts on the 'Fruits de Mer' plate (22,50).

Sitting up front at the marble bar, we didn't miss a trick and asked endless questions. The staff were adorable.

Ta Da!

Pretty incredible if you love seafood.

No wonder Dutch paintings are full of abundance.

The owner asked us to try his new chilled ceviche soups - salmon with coriander, cod with mango, scallops with blood orange.
Beautiful artistic plates.
Then we ordered a large canal boat to cart us away.
We didn't eat till breakfast next day and even then it was not easy.
A big dank u wel to The Seafood Bar for treating us like princesses!
And thank you to Pam and Ted for sending photos of their framed Paris Sketch letters.

Amsterdam

Both Solli and I are preternaturally late. Bear never. He got us to our 7:25 am Thalys train at Gare du Nord on time thank goodness. Always at track 8 or 9 by the way.

3 hours later. Voila! AMSTERDAM!

Off to our AirBnB in the Red Light district to dump our stuff and then explore and EAT LUNCH!

Amsterdam has not changed so much physically from the old days.

Yet it is a vibrant, energetic city with a town feeling and endlessly, breathtakingly beautiful.

I immediately fell in love with all reflections

In the canals.

Even on fabulously shiny doorways.

We never got to ride in a canal boat, though I'd love to paddleboat next trip.

We never got to the tulip fields, Keukehof. Too early. We heard everything blooming was inside the green houses.

We did get to the small, informative Tulip museum on Prinsengracht 220 right next to

The Cheese museum, more of a shop with plenty of tastes and fun.

We never got to eat waffles or pancakes!

Or sit in all the beautiful canal-side cafes. Next time.

How come everyone looks like

They stepped out of a Vermeer painting?

Everyone was delightful, helpful and friendly!

We did eat applecake on at least 3 occasions in 2 days. That big puff is whipped cream on top not meringue. These are from Patisserie Holtkamp, the best in Amsterdam we were told by the customers and I don't doubt it for an instant.

We did get to eat the BEST lunch of our lives at The Seafood Bar - a whole post to come.

We did visit the canal house museums (a must-do) like the Museum Van Loon - an exquisite look inside life of wealthy Amsterdamers of 300 years ago.

Back in the Red Light District the swans don't mind a bit and neither did we. Did we like Amsterdam? We LOVED it!

What to do in Amsterdam? 

THANK YOU PBers for all of your terrific suggestions in the comments. You made it so easy. Basically you can be happy just wandering. Amsterdam is a lot like Venice, but alive, bustling and in some residential areas like Jordaan quiet, contemplative. 

More Amsterdam posts to come!

More Amsterdam pictures on Flickr.

Enjoy!

April in Paris

I never knew the charm of spring

I never met it face to face

I never knew my heart could sing

I never missed a warm embrace

Till April in Paris,

chestnuts in blossom

Holiday tables under the trees

April in Paris,  

This is a feeling

That no one can ever reprise

I never knew the charm of spring

I never met it face to face

I never knew my heart could sing

I never missed a warm embrace

Till April in Paris

Whom can I run to?

What have you done to my heart?
Thank you E.Y.Hargrave, Ella, Frank and Monk.
Thank you Paris for being so beautiful!
*A little Eiffel Tower April in Paris watercolor in your mailbox if you renew/subscribe to the Sketch letters PBers