Cafes, Tea Shops & Coffee Shops

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 pies, 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).

A crowded Saturday-morning spot is Kwekkeboom, Reguliersbreestraat 36 (tel. 020/623-1205; www.kwekkeboombanket.nl; 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 fruit pies, bonbons, and butter cookies to "fantasy cakes." Two other Kwekkeboom outlets in the city are at Ferdinand Bolstraat 119 (tel. 020/673-7114; tram: 3, 12, or 25), and Linnaeusstraat 80 (tel. 020/665-0443; tram: 9).

You may have to push your way to the back and wait for a table at Greenwoods, Singel 103 (tel. 020/623-7071; tram: 1, 2, 5, 13, or 17), which brings English flavor to its tea, homemade scones with jam and clotted cream, and lemon meringue pie.

Notable ice cream is created at 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.