STIL ŽIVOTA / LIFESTYLE
Legend of a city, retold Get acquainted with Amsterdam, a city that lives leisurely, luxuriously and completely according to its own rules T here are cities that win you over with their bright lights, while there are those that simply breathe. Amster- dam does both — quiet- ly and with ease. Its magic doesn’t lurk in its great attractions, but rather in the way the light cuts across the canal hous- es at four in the afternoon, in the sound of bicycle bells that form part of the mu- sic of the city or in the way baristas greet you like an old friend, despite the fact that you’ve only just arrived. This is a city that teaches you to slow down – not out of idleness, but out of pure gratitude for life. Amsterdam doesn’t speak the language of luxury, but that of comfort. You will feel it in the quiet dignity of its 17 th -cen- tury canals, in its discreet designer hotels and the casual combining of high style and human measurements. Here “luxu- ry” doesn’t scream; it whispers through textures, tones and impeccable taste.
PILUTZER BAR
Nothing is “done” in Amsterdam – it is all lived. Give in to it. And when you de- part the city — slower, more leisure- ly, and perhaps a little closer to your true self — you’ll realise its secret: that hap- piness isn’t something that’s chased. It’s something that finds you, quietly and el- egantly. Start your journey at the luxury hotel An- daz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, where de- signer Marcel Wanders has transformed Dutch playfulness into modern ele- gance. With chandeliers in the shape of white tulips, blue-and-white walls resem- bling Delft ceramics, and views of the ca- nal framed like artworks – It’s as though every corner has been made for travel- lers who collect moments, and not souve- nirs. For those seeking grander but quiet- er luxury, the Hotel Okura Amsterdam is proud of its Japanese precision. And for more romantic souls, The Dylan Amster- dam remains a classic — with its ivy-cov- ered courtyard, the flickering light of a traditional fireplace and discreet service giving you the feeling that you’ve discov- ered a secret known only to a select few. Amsterdam’s culinary scene is also expe- riencing a renaissance — through a fu- sion of the deep-rooted and the refined. Dining at Ciel Bleu, located 23 floors above the city, feels like enjoying a meal in the clouds: With two Michelin stars and an impressive wine list, its plates combine art and restraint. The ground floor of the same Okura Hotel is occu- pied by Vinkeles, a veritable quiet cathe- dral of French culinary perfection – with mature cheeses and candlelight flickering on polished glasses... But this city’s soul
also resides beyond its fine dining spac- es. In the De Pijp neighbourhood, chefs experiment with local Dutch produce, In- donesian spices and global influences. In- formal gems with Bib Gourmand awards offer cuisine made from the heart, with- out pretentiousness — serving to prove that “top” doesn't have to mean “rigid”. When night falls, the scene is taken over by the city’s bars. The Pulitzer Bar is Am- sterdam’s living room – with dimmed lights, velvet chairs and whispers of jazz. Then there’s the bar Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, which is hidden in a restored theatre and serves to remind you why the Dutch are known as masters of subtlety: every drink tells a story, every detail has meaning. For those on the hunt for high energy and a view, A'DAM Tower’s Mad- am offers both – with a rooftop bar that pulsates to the rhythm while the lights of the city twinkle below like a vintage jew- ellery box. Forget shopping centres and retail chains. Shopping here is transformed in- to a leisurely stroll through De Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets), where inde- pendent designers, vintage curators and concept stores create a labyrinth of temp- tations. This story continues on Haarlem- merstraat and Haarlemmerdijk – with of- fers of handmade ceramics, artisanal perfumes and bags made of the soft- est leather that are handcrafted in hid- den studios. And for a unique experience of sophistication, the symbol of the city that is de Bijenkorf department store of- fers carefully selected collections that look more like something out of an art gallery than a shop.
90 | Amsterdam » Amsterdam
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