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Eat, Sleep, Play - Eurail

« Return to Eat, Sleep, Play    « Return to Amsterdam and Berlin

A week long party in Amsterdam and Berlin. No time to figure things out myself, so I counted on the advice of locals to find the goods. As always, this is no guide book, just my personal experience. Here’s what I found.

EAT

Berlin

Freischwimmer - Right on the canal in the funky Schlesischen Tor district, a good place to grab a bite fore heading over to the beach bars, or just to chill along the canal bars. Vor dem Sclesischen Tor 2a. T: 30 61074309. W: www.freischwimmer-berlin.de
Anna Blume Cafe - Breakfasts come layered three plates high at this corner cafe with a sweet patio to watch all the young mom’s stroll by. Yummy all the way. They also sell flowers. Kollwitzstr.83. T: 30.4404 8749. W: www.cafe-anna-blume.de
Unsicht-Bar - I didn’t actually get a chance to eat at the Darkness Restaurant, where you eat in complete darkness served by blind waiters. Matt Damon! Natalie Portman! John Malkovich! The flyer screams the rich and famous, but unless you have a reservation, forget about it. W: www.unsicht-bar-berlin.de
De Imbiss W - Started by a Canadian, this small eatery serves delicious “vertical” pizzas, heavy on the sundried tomatoes, with fresh organic, vegetarian ingredients. Good value, popular with locals and students, pity the guy working that night was such a dick. Kastanienallee 49. W: www.myspace.com/derimbiss
Wilheim and Mende Bio Bistro - Bio means organic here, and organic is everywhere. If you’re going to the Jewish Museum, walk a little further down the road for an organic kitsch and salad to eat yourself healthy. Hedemannstrause 14. W:www.wilhelmundmedne.de

Amsterdam

Vertigo (in the Vondelpark) - Cafe in the park with great sandwiches, and view of the Vondel. W: www.vertigo.nl
Keuken van 1870 - They served up meat balls and mash, hey hey hey! Besides that, doesn’t hold in the memory too much, but that might had something to do with the lack of sleep. Spuistraat 4 W: www.keukenvan1870.nl.
Puri Mas - Sensational Indonesian cuisine, try the spicy beef or satay sticks drenched in peanut sauce. Ooh, this is making me hungry. Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 37-41 W: www.purimas.nl
Cafe de Jaren- Now this is a salad bar! Great olives, antipasta, drown me in eggplant. Trendy, new cafe, keep your eyes on your food and not on your server’s breasts! Niewe Poelenstraat 20.

SLEEP

Berlin

Ellington Hotel - The kind of stylish hotel you’d expect to pay ALOT more for, with all the minimalist boutique fixins! Spotless white lobby, spotless white rooms, just watch out for the late wake up calls! Great location, historical building, you’ll pay less here than you would for a crappy budget hotel elsewhere in western Europe. Unless you’re staying in a hostel, do it! Nurnberger Strause 50-55. T: 30.683150 W: www.ellington-hotel.com
Eastern Comfort - Alternatively, you can chill out at this boat hostel, right on the Spree River, close to funky beach bars and neighbourhood, alongside the best art on the Berlin Wall. Mulenstr 73. W. www.eastern-comfort.com

Amsterdam

Ibis Amsterdam City Stopera - I stayed at this hotel, part of the French-owned Ibis chain. Great breakfast, friendly staff, but let me as you, Ibis, what’s with the outrageously high internet charges? 15 euros for a day! Whoa! Valkenburgerstraat 68 T: +31 (0)20 5319135 www.ibishotel.com

PLAY

Berlin

Badeschiff - Everyone who sees the picture of this beach bar with it’s long blue pool sitting atop the Spree River goes gaga. Dj’s, open air cinema, cheap cover (3 Euro), a perfect place to chill on a warm summer night. Eichenstr.4. T: 01789500 163 W. www.badeschiff.de
Strandgut Berlin - Another ace beach bar with big comfy bean bags, pillows, chill beats, beds to lounge on, and right on the best part of the Wall. Muhlenst 61, Ostbahnof. W. www.strandgut-berlin.com
Clarchens Ballhais - One of only 3 remaining ballrooms in a city that once held hundreds, every night might be different, but great place to dance with the ladies. It ain’t mean a thing, if it’s don’t got that swing. W. www.ballhaus.de
Bike the Berlin Wall - Ride 7 miles along the former Berlin Wall with a guide, learning about life under the GDR, and death. As always, the best way to see any city is by bicycle. That’s why half of Berlin’s household’s don’t own a car! Located in the Kulturbraurei in Prenzlauer Berg. W. www.berlinbike.de
Tresor - The massive sprawling undeground-ish legendary techno club, known as The Vault. Full in the wee hours, fist pumping beats, where the strobe stays on. Bring your glowstick.
Karaoke in Berlin - Should you find yourself looking for karaoke in Berlin, late at night, like I did, just because, and you type into Google, and an amazing assortment of crap comes up, rest assured, head over to Karaoke Cheers, because chances are you’ll be the only guys there, and it’s perfectly cheesy, with a 3 Euro cover, and the song selection is small but adequate. Come together! Wilmersdorfer St 76. T.030.318.03225 W. www.karaokecheers.de
Trabi Safari - Get thee behind the wheel of a Trabant, the legendary East German car that operates, much like the former GDR, according to its own reality. As you figure out the gearshift, you’ll drive past all the icons of Berlin with a guide explaining everything over a radio. Drive lasts around 90 minutes, and leave every day. A super fun way to see the city, don’t forget to use the horn! W: www.trabi-safari.com/

Amsterdam

LIke a Local - Here’s a neat idea. A service that allows you to meet real locals, eat or even stay in their homes, hang out, even go for a cruise on their boat. It’s an inexpensive way to break through the guidebooks and the tourists and keep it real. W. www.like-a-local.com
Macbike - In a city where everyone bikes around, you need to get on the saddle. Various locations around the city. W. www.macbike.nl
Green House Seed Co - One of the busier Amsterdam Coffee Houses, where one would go for many things, but coffee isn’t want of them. Creators of champions! Oudezijds Voorburgwal 191. W.www.greenhouseseeds.nl
Melkweg - Live music venue where they often hold parties and concerts. I was there for a pretty cool World Music and Roots festival. Lijnbaansgracht 234a www.melkweg.nl
Staalstraat - Unpretentious little local bar with pretty blonde girls manning the taps, good music, and mixed local crowd. Kloveniersburgwol 127. W. www.staalstraat.com



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