If you’ve been to Amsterdam before but never been to Noord (the area North of the River Ij opposite Central Station) trust me, you don’t know what you’re missing – and Helling 7 isn’t the only surprise.
But let’s start at the beginning, I don’t review a huge number of restaurants in North Amsterdam. Understandably most visitors to the city tend to stick to places within easy reach of the canal belt and though Noord is increasingly accessible it does still take a little more effort to get there.
But those who do make the effort are rewarded with a very different Amsterdam. Forget the classic canal houses, small cosy eateries, and hoards of tourists – what you get in Noord tends to be vast industrial warehouse spaces, an ultra-hip clientele and not a stag-do in sight.
Our favourite hotspots here include the awesome NDSM Wharf with its ever popular all day dining spot Pllek; STRAAT street art museum and the lovely IJver industrial-style restaurant.
Nearby you’ll find one of our longtime faves with kids the IJ-kantine or stroll ten minute further along the dock to reach a buzzing branch of steak favourite Loetje where you can pull your boat right up to the pier and leap off into the intriguing flying saucer style structure.
Head in the other direction however, and you’ll be at the Eye Filmmuseum where you can make your own flipbook and whilst you’re there drop in to achingly cool hipster hangout Public Space for lunch.
Other favourites include the eye-popping restaurant Hotel de Goudfazant (location of one of Marc’s most memorable birthday dinners); Oedipus Brewery for beer and burgers or ask my kids and they’d point you to WONDR an Instagram playground complete with pink roller disco.
The journey to get to these fabulous spots often involves a bit of planning depending which part of Noord you need to get to. If it’s NDSM you’re after take the free ferry over the river Ij (a hugely fun experience in itself). If that’s just your jumping off point then expect a bit of a walk or if you’re brought your bike on the ferry then life just got easier and you’ll be at your destination in no time. Alternatively, for locations a little deeper north, catch the super-quick Noord Zuid metro line – the only problem being that the two stops this side of the river don’t take you to the heart of the action. if neither work for you then chances are you’ll need a taxi/Uber. But trust me when I say its worth it, and to give you a taste let me introduce you to the staggering Helling 7.
For starters leave your stilettos at home. This is true of just about everywhere in Amsterdam anyway but nowhere more so than here because to get to the restaurant you need to climb an external metal staircase to a platform overlooking the wharf.
And its here, on the corner of a ship repair-yard, between steel cranes and vast rusty ships, you’ll find the breathtaking Helling 7 with a view you might never have expected when you said you were heading out for dinner in Amsterdam. Don’t believe me? Click through to their website for the mesmerising drone imagery that does more justice to the location than my pictures can ever hope to do.
The spectacular restaurant really will take your breath away. An incredible industrial location well off the beaten track and right over the river. Marc took me here for a surprise dinner on a blustery April night and whilst it definitely wasn’t warm enough to sit on the large terrace, let me assure you that the view from inside is no less extraordinary.
There was a real buzz about the place, with private events, large groups and tables for two. People often ask me for details of ‘hip’ or ‘trendy’ restaurants in Amsterdam (to be honest anyone using the word trendy almost certainly isn’t!) – and this is where the real scene is taking place right now. Locations like this, out of the centre, places for locals and expats in the know, far away from the tourist traps in the Rembrandtplein which feel like they are on another planet when you’re sitting up here by an open kitchen with a charcoal fire in a former dockworkers cantina constructed from reclaimed materials.
But what of the food? Well the open fire is the star of the show and I can assure you everything cooked on it more than lived up to the breathtaking setting.
It was a fabulous evening, and I’m planning to come back.
If I’ve inspired you to do the same, come here on a hot sticky night and sit on the terrace to find a breeze; come here at sunset when the glitter ball catches the setting sun and sends shards of light around the room; come here in Winter when its blowing a gale outside … just come here…
This is Amsterdam.
