Amsterdam is so chill, you can throw a juice box in the air and it’ll fall down as a popsicle stick. Har. No, seriously. It’s really one of the most laidback cities in the world, and those special hemp brownies ain’t got nothing to do with it. The collective vibe from its inhabitants and visitors exudes a certain type of ‘pretty awesome’. It’s a place where you let your hair down without the fear of judgment, a city where you can just go with the flow. Because whatever you do, there’s a lotta hashtags you can get from the city, cooler than the cool and hotter than the hash.
And you know what’s hotter than the hash in Amsterdam? Their wonderful cafés.
Let me tell you about this pretty awesome café/bar/chill out spot in the De Pijp area called CT Coffee & Coconuts.
Housed inside what used to be an art deco cinema, the place has been converted into an open-plan super cool hangout. It’s bright and airy, with stripped wooden floors, swing benches, tiki bars, and an overall multi-tiered chill out spot.
As the name suggests, it’s a cafe cum beach shack, serving space for those who need to pause shopping for caffeine and those who are in dire need of inspiration. Creatives, locals, and tourists alike are welcome and believe you me, you’d love to stay longer than your stopover.
I like the loft area, with low tables and bean bag couches, and a good view of the whole building. As it’s quite high up, I thought service may be slightly on the slow go here as servers would’ve gone up and down the stairs to accommodate punters. However, I was pretty chuffed to note that service was friendly, impressive and fast. We came on a busy day, but did not have to wait to long for orders, food and the bill.
Food is quite funky, actually. Described as wholesome, happy (and hippie?) food, ingredients are locally sourced and organic.
Standard surf food includes CT’s Beef Burger ‘Royale With Cheese’ . It’s a cute patty weighing at 160 grams, but grass-fed cow makes an enormous flavour profile. Served on a whole wheat burger bun, it comes with sweet and sour cucumber, spicy jalapeno and rocket with cream & chive sauce. Best burger in the world it isn’t, but it’s enough for the pretty hungry and the pretty safe eaters.
I love me a good fish / shrimp taco, so I didn’t let slip their healthy variant. Two flour tortillas are topped with a mixed leaf salad with some sweet, hot & sour sauce, sautéed prawns and my superfood arch-enemy, tempeh. I have a love-hate relationship with tempeh simply because I personally think it’s the absolute incarnation of edible cardboard. No matter how well you cook it nor season it, there’s something about its texture I don’t like.
I ordered the tacos to give tempeh another go, but I suppose it ruined the whole bite for me. Nonetheless, I’m all up for healthy eating but I’m sticking to traditional beer battered shrimp tacos next time.
They have a range of salads that sound so good on paper. I tried this Indonesian inspired mackerel salad with a peanut sauce, coconut milk, lots of cucumber and a bunch of crunchy veg. I loved it. Now, I don’t like cucumber at all but I ate everything - because it was just delicious.
We finished the meal with vino, coffee and of course, coconuts. I loved being able to drink a full coconut in the city. And though it may be quite kitschy, it’s a novelty that won’t ever wear off for beach babies like me.
Verdict for CT Coffee & Coconuts
CT Coffee & Coconuts is surely a place for all. Creatives who need a bright space for inspiration; tourists who need to park and refuel in between sights; groups of friends who need to catch up; dates who need a cool enough place to ease nerves. Service is very good, despite the multi-levels, and servers will give you a free smile if you had to wait.
Admittedly, the vibe and ambience pulls much weight on this one. I think the drinks list is great and is a crowd pleaser, but I reckon the all-day surf food isn’t as strong. I mean, there is something for everyone open-minded enough to eat tempeh. Lol.
On a serious note, go. It’s really cool.
CT Coffee & Coconuts
Ceintuurbaan 282-284, 1072 GK Amsterdam
Ave spend pp: €25pp
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This place looks awesome! I would love to go work and eat there for hours. Who would have thought you can drink a coconut somewhere that’s not the beach?
Author
Haha it does have beach vibees 🙂
The cafe does look bright and beautiful, and the food looks incredible! I’d love to try this cafe out some day!
Author
Hope you get to!
What a beautiful building - and it seems they have a lot to offer besides coffee and cronuts.
…oops - I meant coconuts!
Author
Haha i wouldn’t mind the cronuts either.
Oh my goodness! The food and the ambiance, amazing! I’ve actually seen a rustic wedding held at a place that looked just like this but this food looks much more delicious! By the way, LOVE the blog name!
Author
Awww, thanks Tiffany!
Your photography is beautiful! Keep up the amazing work. It looks and sounds like you’ve had a very good day!
Author
Thanks Cianie
Wow this place looks awesome and the food looks so delicious! I’ll have to stop by if I am ever in the area!
Author
The place is definitely cute!
We’ve been here too though we only had drinks as we’d already eaten - love the decor. Don’t think I’ve ever tried tempeh, what is it?
Author
Tempeh is like a soy product! It’s usually in a block like tofu… but has a slightly slimier texture! =)
I want to try the CT’s Beef Burger ‘Royale With Cheese, looks awesome!
Author
It’s been on the menu for quite a while, but not the best burger I’ve had
I love Amsterdam, especially in the spring! This place looks like it needs to be on my go-to list next time I visit! The food looks good and the atmosphere totally chilled! Coconuts in the city sounds so cool!
Author
I do like Amsterdam in the Spring, too!
This place looks amazing! I’ve never been to Amsterdam, but I have heard so many good things about the city. It’s definitely a place we want to go whenever we make it over to Europe.
Author
Ahhh, hope you get to go! But if you’re going to Amsterdam, it’s more of a ‘passing through’ city than a proper holiday one.
WOW everything looks so good and the place looks amazing! I hope to travel there some day!!
Author
Hope you get to!
This looks amazing!! Looks like a place I would love to go!!
Author
It’s definitely a nice chill out place.
Ooh that really does look amazing, that burger looks soooo good! You can’t beat a good cheese burger!
Author
Sadly the burger was slightly dry!
I agree aside from food and drinks this place is a perfect venue to hang out and chill, the ambiance for me is superb. I like all the pictures you shared!
Author
Thank you Eliza!
I loved the full coconut drink presented the most since I love coconut water. i’m sure this is a perfect place for foodies to relish some amazing lip smacking delicacies
Author
It’s definitely just coconut water.
good place, calm and has the right set designs for one to relax over a meal. nice pictures to follow too. a stay here is worth all it takes.
Author
Definitely!
It’s a fun looking place for sure. The food in Amsterdam looks to have improved a lot since I last visited. And as cafes go, that one looks a lot posher and more upmarket than the ones I remember from fifteen years ago!
Author
Oh it’s definitely improved since, but I still think there’s much room for improvement. 🙂
It’s funny. Every vacation I plan is always centered around where (and what) I’m going to eat. So now I got a new place to travel… and eat! Thanks 🙂
Author
My vacations are also planned around where i want to eat! 🙂