Half-day in Amsterdam....
 

Arriving at 6AM on Sunday next week.

I was planning on using the shower at the KLM lounge and then heading into Amsterdam, dropping off my luggage, and then spending the day in Amsterdam before heading to another city for business meetings. I will be meeting a colleague around 1PM at the train station.

I'm looking for simple brunch/lunch/dinner ideas and maybe a canal tour or some other easy way to spend a half-day.

I've been to many of Amsterdam's museums.

It will be next week, so I'm next expecting warm weather.

Suggestions?

Hmmm.

I love Amsterdam at 7:00 am on Sunday mornings since I'm the only one on the streets and I feel like I own one of the greatest cities in the world!

Unfortunately, pretty much everything is closed on Sunday mornings.

Dutch pancakes are great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, dinner, late meals, etc.!

Personally, I would have brunch at The Pancake Bakery (Prinsengracht 191) which opens at 11:00. It's located about 3 blocks North of the Anne Frank House and is about 1 km from Centraal (where you meet up at 1:00).

www.pancake.nl/indexeng.php

While the food is great there, the service is slow and indifferent. So getting there at 11:00 ensures a timely departure for the 1:00....

Thanks...looks like the Anne Frank House opens at 9AM, which I didn't get to on my last trip.

I love pancakes!

Well .... as your love of pancakes has already been declared my suggestion is a non-starter ...... and unless your up for an early lunch would be difficult to give it full and adequate attention - and Sunday makes it NO easier - but everything is possible .... people still eat on Sundays!

I couldn't contemplate a visit to AMS without including a rijstaffel ! Although my favourite - Puri Mas - doesn't open for lunch (although I did get them to open once for me and my family ....) - many others do and a bit of research will turn up one.

So please ..... don't discard the rijstaffel!!!

If you are a fan of American sports, they usually show replays of the previous nights games, Sunday morning at the Sports Corner on the Leidseplein. And yes they serve pancakes, waffles, etc.

On any Sunday afternoon, even if the weather is cool, when the sun comes out people start filling the chairs outside the cafes. Just side outside with a pilsje and people watch. :)

And I can verify that their bacon and cheese pancakes are quite good there, too. Mine demanded stroop and a couple of drafts to fully enjoy! :)

This option is about 3x farther than the Pancake Bakery, however. Either a 40 minute walk back to Centraal or trams 1, 2, or 5 will take you back in about 10 minutes. These trams stop in front of the sports bar.

I think I may have gone to a rijstaffel after some 'coffee' many years ago. Sounds like I now have my dinner solved.

I am very jealous. A long time ago BMI use to auction tickets including to AMS. So desperate was I for a rijstaffel I took my whole extended family to AMS for the day largely just for lunch - and the C tickets were so cheap. They still talk about it.

The best Rijstaffel in central Amsterdam is also near the Leidseplein at Sama Sebo. Or at least it used to be for many many years. I'm not up to date on Amstedam Rijstaffel. :)

Stop it! AMS is only a couple of hours away ... I'm bored ... it's been bad weather for what seems an age .... itchy feet ..... I'm vulnerable to doing something silly. Particularly as I've just looked at Sama Sebo's menu:

They're open for lunch!

Thanks.
I don't often get to enjoy a day away when travelling on business, but I have to admit I'm looking forward to my upgraded business seat, then a quick shower in the KLM lounge and a speedy train ride to AMS for the day.

my favourite AMS
 

Drop by the Dampkring for a quick "coffee". Even if you don't "drink" it's got a fantastic decor and the menu worth looking at.
Eat at Wok to Walk on Kolksteeg 8, just off the DamRak close to centraal station. This one is run by a Thai family. Very good and low cost. Have the Noodles+prawn+bangkok sauce and Fanta Cassis from the fridge.
You're reborn from the previous experience.
Go to Sheeba have a cake. Internet and TV's playing sports usually.
Go get lost in the red light just behind.
If you're walking in the right direction you should get to the Albert Heijn of Nieuwmarkt 18. Go in get a vanilla vla and a mango passion fruit smoothie.
You're reborn from the previous experience.
Go to the Green House Centrum. Have a capuccino.
Go to the hemp museum.

Crawl back to Centraal to meet your friend :D

GBM

"Go to the hemp museum."

I suggest a better visit would be the Cannabis College just down or up the street.

A great grow room in the basement.

Or so I have been told :-)

GBM:
Walked that walk. In fact, if you head toward Leidseplein, there is a Wok to Walk nearby.

I've eaten at least 20 kilos of pork noodles at that place. :)