Amsterdam Ambiance

I couldn’t believe my eyes when we walked into a cafe in Amsterdam which looked tiny from the outside but opened up into a beautiful breakfast bar area complete with every type of natural and organic drink you could ever imagine. It was comparable to the Panera restaurant chain in the United States, but with a refreshing twist. There were four girls in their twenties who walked around taking orders and serving all different types of fruit drinks. The breads, bagels, and pastries had all just been baked and sat on the counter piping hot. The smells were fresh and clean and we knew we had to sit down and try their “everything” bagels. Since it is near impossible to find these delightful circular snacks in Rome, we were all eager to dig in. I also ordered an iced coffee and did not expect much since I was not sure how it would be prepared. It came in a large glass, blended to perfection with the right amount of coffee and ice. It wasn’t watery or bitter, and it gave me the boost that I needed after a morning of exploring centre city.

Our bagels arrived promptly and went beyond any pre-conceived expectations that we had formed. They were warm and lightly toasted with the onion on the outside curled into brown half-moons. The sesame and poppy seeds added a subtle background kick, and the natural cream cheese on top united the flavors and completed the bite. Afterward, a hot mint tea was served with fresh sprigs of mint leaves seeping as you sipped. Our bagel obsession had finally been satiated (for a little bit anyways), and we departed the chic café ready to dodge local bike riders on our way to Anne Frank’s annex. Tot ziens!