Amsterdam/Jordaan

• 🌍 Brouwersgracht. This canal is sometimes cited as the "most beautiful street of Amsterdam". The name, "Brewer's Canal", refers to the many beer breweries along the canal in the 16th and 17th centuries. Nowadays, there's just one distillery left, De Ooievaar, that has been located here since 1782 and specializes in Dutch jenever and liquors. The warehouses here used to store goods such as coffee, spices and leather, but now serve a residential purpose. Traditional warehouses with the row of spout gables can be found at Brouwersgracht 196–188, and at 204, 206, 208 and 210. Also check out the wide-open red shutters at Groene Valk (192) and Grouwe Valk (194). Geloof, Brouwersgracht 218, shows the typical "neck" gable designed by Philips Vingboons. 
• 🌍 Noorderkerk, Noordermarkt 48, ☏ +31 20 626-6436. M 10:30-12:30, Sa 11:00-13:00, Apr-Oct Su 13:30-17:30. 
• 🌍 Pianola Museum, Westerstraat 106 (tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein), ☏ +31 20 627-9624, info@pianola.nl. Su 14:00-17:00. A museum about Pianolas from the early 1900s. About a dozen are displayed at any one time, and every month a piano concert is held. €5. 

The Jordaan is a great place to just stroll through taking in the beautiful architecture. The canal houses are always a pleasure, but also don't miss out on the backstreets.

• 🌍 Boom Chicago, Rozengracht 117, ☏ +31 20 530 7300. The Amsterdam comedy institution since 1993. English language sketch and improv comedy show with extensive use of video, music and the internet. The troupe is sharp and skewers current events, trends and life and local events in Amsterdam. Perhaps the best comedy show in any city. Good food is served before the show and drink service continues all night. 
• 🌍 Ken Tui Massage, Rozengracht 234, ☏ +31-6-15053174. Offers a quality massage. 

The main three shopping streets in the Jordaan are, from north to south, Westerstraat, Rozengracht and Elandsgracht. These offer a mix of clothing stores, design, art galleries, bars and restaurants. In the side-streets (Tweede Anjeliersdwarsstraat/Tweede Tuindwarsstraat/Tweede Egelantiersdwarsstraat), you'll find more nice restaurants. And in another side-street, Hazenstraat, there's a lot of galleries and quirky stores. On Saturday there is a (pricey) biological market on Noordermarkt and a (cheaper) normal market around the corner on Lindengracht. It's great to stroll around on both these markets. On Monday there is a (second hand) clothing market on Noordermarkt and Westerstraat.

• 🌍 Lapjesmarkt, Westerstraat (tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein). M 09:00-13:00. A specialist market concentrating on selling cloth and material for making clothes, curtains etc. Mondays only. 
• 🌍 Lindengracht (tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein, and a short walk along the Lijnbaansgracht). Sa 09:00-16:00. Selling a wide range of goods, fruit and vegetables, fish and various household items. Saturday only. 
• 🌍 Noordermarkt (tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein, and a short walk down the Westerstraat). M 09:00-13:00, Sa 09:00-16:00. On Monday morning the Noordermarkt is a flea market selling fabrics, records, second-hand clothing etc., and forms part of the Lapjesmarkt mentioned above. On Saturday, the Noordermarkt is a biological food market, selling a wide range of ecological products like organic fruits and vegetables, herbs, cheese, mushrooms etc. There is also a small flea market. 

• 🌍 Kinnaree, 1e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 14, ☏ +31 20 627 71 53. Amazing Thai food. Good atmosphere, good service despite being quite busy, but the food is why you would come here. Highly recommended. 
• Mazzo, Rozengracht 114, ☏ +31 20-344 64 02. 09:00-01:00. This used to be a famous techno club but they turned it into an Italian restaurant with a nice modern look. You can have breakfast, lunch or dinner here. On the weekends it's smart to make a reservation as it can get pretty busy 
• Long Pura, Rozengracht 46-48, ☏ +31 20 6238950. 18:00-23:00. Indonesian food, try the rice table. 
• Burgermeester, Elandsgracht 130, ☏ +31 900-BURGERS (2874377). 12:00-23:00. Yes, they serve burgers here. But don't expect a McDonalds wannabe. They are quality meat, fish or vegetarian burgers. The place is so popular that they opened 2 more branches in the city. Great if you want to have a quick and inexpensive bite. Order the 'mini trio' so you can taste three different small sized burgers. 
• Barney's, Haarlemerstraat 98. A gorgeous brasserie owned by the well known coffeeshop with outside seating which has the best breakfasts in Amsterdam for very reasonable prices. Their strawberry milkshakes are to die for. 
• De Korte Prins, Haarlemmerdijk 8. M-F 08:00-16:00, Sa 08:00-18:00, closed on Sundays. De Korte Prins is a lunchroom café on the Haarlemmerdijk 8, in the heart of the Jordaan area in Amsterdam. The friendly staff serves great bagels, rolls and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. In the afternoon the café is filled with coffee lovers who enjoy a rich coffee with a delicious brownie or cheesecake. Regulars often drop by for cookies and muffins takeaway as well. 
• Proust, Noordermarkt 4, ☏ +31 20 623 91 45. Proust is a little off the beaten path, near the intersection of Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht, but it's worth a visit for the inexpensive and satisfying meals as well as the company: it's a favourite with locals. 
• 🌍 STOUT!, Haarlemmerstraat 73, ☏ +31 20 616 36 64. Nice and modern bar/cafe/restaurant with young people as customers and mattresses on the terrace. 
• Vliegende Schotel, Nieuwe Leliestraat 162. Since Green Planet is closing, you better look for alternative vegetarian hang-outs. Believe it or not, but Vliegende Schotel is even better than its Australia-moving competitor. It has big portions of unbelievably good vegetarian food, in an unpretentious but authentic atmosphere. Minimalistic service and a little walk from the centre, but seriously worth it. Small selection of organic and fair trade wines and a non-smoking room. Mains €9-15, daily special €8. Bottle of wine €13. 

Unlike the mainstream bars and clubs in the Canal District, the Jordaan offers a different atmosphere with obscure rock, metal and alternative music. But there's also plenty of old fashioned neighbourhood bars and 'hip' places.