De Jaren
De Jaren
De Jaren (Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22, Amsterdam) — This cafe-restaurant with picturesque surroundings is fashionable without being pretentious. It occupies a solid-looking former bank; ceilings are unusually high and flooring is multicolored tiled mosaic. Students from the nearby University of Amsterdam lunch here, and it’s popular with the media crowd.
De Jaren’s unique selling point is its two marvelous open-air patios beside the Amstel River, sunny spots that, in fine weather, are much in demand. Occupants of those prime seats settle into them with a firmness of purpose, but it’s worth checking out the outdoor decks, in case one of these permanent-seeming patrons might have fallen — or been pushed — into the river. Enjoy ham and eggs for breakfast, a salad from the extensive salad bar for lunch, or spaghetti Bolognese, couscous, or rib-eye steak for dinner. Sip on coffee, beer, or jenever (gin) while perusing the English-language newspapers.