Feeling Like Something Sweet?
Near the Town Hall-Muziektheater complex, Puccini, Staalstraat 17 (tel. 020/626-5474; www.puccinibomboni.com; tram: 9 or 14), is renowned for its coffee and homemade fruit tarts, cakes, and pastries; there's a second outlet at Singel 184 (tel. 020/427-8341; tram: 1, 2, 5, 13, 14, or 17 to the Dam). Lovers of fresh-baked goodies will appreciate Paul Kaiser, Wijde Heisteeg 3-5 (tel. 020/638-6595; tram: 1, 2, or 5), between Singel and Herengracht, a bakery and coffeeshop where rolls come fresh from the oven. A tearoom annex (entrance at Singel 385) serves delicious pies and cakes.
A crowded Saturday-morning spot is Kwekkeboom, Reguliersbreestraat 36 (tel. 020/623-1205; tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, or 25), between Muntplein and Rembrandtplein. It's a coffeeshop/candy store/pastry shop/ice-cream stand, where everything's freshly made and management proudly displays awards won for everything from tarts, bonbons, and butter cookies to fantasy cakes (whatever they may be). You may have to push your way to the back and wait for a table. Greenwoods, Singel 103 (tel. 020/623-7071; tram: 1, 2, 5, 13, or 17), brings English flavor to its tea, homemade scones with jam and clotted cream, and lemon meringue pie.
The best ice cream in town (now there's a statement that could cause trouble) is at Gelateria Italiana Peppino, Eerste Sweelinckstraat 16 (tel. 020/676-4910; tram: 4), near the Albert Cuyp market. Run by second- and third-generation Italian immigrants, this parlor serves up almost 100 different flavors of homemade ice cream, and excellent cappuccino. It's open only from March to October. Also notable is Gelateria Jordino, Haarlemmerdijk 25 (tel. 020/420-3225; tram: 1, 2, 5, 13, or 17), where 30 flavors of Italian ice cream, plus chocolate cake and desserts, appeal to anyone with a sweet tooth.
See also La Ruche, in De Bijenkorf and Metz, in Metz & Co, and Patisserie Pompadour.
