2_2_DiscoverBenelux_23_Nov_2015_Scan Magazine 1 30/10/2015 13:02 Page 50
Discover Benelux | Amsterdam | Eat, Drink & Sleep in De Pijp
Restaurant Neighbours is the go-to place in De Pijp for dinner, drinks or a ‘high wine’. In a warm and cosy atmosphere you can enjoy local and organic foods, combined with a taste bud tingling glass of wine.
Your favourite new neighbour TEXT: JANINE STERENBORG | PHOTOS: NEIGHBOURS
Restaurant Neighbours in Amsterdam’s quarter De Pijp is a new favourite hotspot of both locals and returning international guests. The recently opened restaurant, with cosy corners and alcoves in a warm and relaxed atmosphere, is founded on excellent service, high-quality food and corporate social responsibility. Neighbours is a compilation of owner Roy Mooiman’s experiences from the ten years he worked in hospitality and during his travels. “For me it’s crucial to create real connections with our guests. To listen to their stories, introduce them to Dutch culture and recommend food and beverages based on their preferences.” Open from the late afternoon until early night, Neighbours is an excellent place for afternoon snacks, drinks and dinner. Their weekly changing ‘next door menu’ is based on world cuisine, while the à la carte menu
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offers a surprising mixture of national and international specialties. “Of course you can combine courses from both menus if you like. Nothing is impossible, but if you have very specific wishes, we should know about them at least three days ahead.” An especially luxurious experience is the exclusive ‘high wine’, bookable from Friday to Sunday. “You can taste white, rosé and red wine, combined with exclusive flavour-enhancing foods like oysters, cheese plates and fish and meat dishes.”
the stories behind your products and to ‘pay it forward’.”
Due to Mooiman’s choice to work with mostly organic and local ingredients, the quality of the food is exquisite. “Our coffee for instance is from Amsterdam-based coffee brand Moyee. They teach the Ethiopian coffee farmers how to roast their beans and they’re given a fair price. We also serve organic Gulpener beer from the south of the Netherlands and we get local cheese from the Albert Cuyp market, which is only a few blocks away. It’s important to know
www.neighbours-amsterdam.nl
The Frans Halsstraat, the street in which the restaurant is located, offers many characteristic buildings where you can find galleries, pubs and lunchrooms. The perfect way to get to know local Amsterdam. Mooiman: “We collaborate extensively with our neighbours, to keep the street lively and to maintain the typical Amsterdam vibe that characterises De Pijp.”