Elsa's Cafe

Middenweg 73, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Elsa's Cafe has been a staple in Amsterdam Oost for decades, and honestly, it's easy to see why. It's the kind of place where you can roll in for lunch, stay for dinner, or just park yourself on the sunny terrace with a coffee and call it a day. No pressure, no fuss, just a solid neighborhood spot that actually feels like a neighborhood spot. The beer list is the real deal. Ten taps, over twenty bottled options, and they rotate in seasonal stuff like summer and winter bocks or autumn beers. If you're into beer, you won't be bored here. And if you're not, the food menus cover lunch, dinner, and borreltijd, so there's always a reason to sit down. Tuesdays are jazz nights, led by Frans Ronday with a rotating cast of guest performers. It's been going on for years and it's still the move. They also do arrangements for Ajax home games and concerts at the Amsterdam Arena, so you can eat beforehand and they'll sort the transport and tickets. For bigger things, birthdays, work drinks, whatever,…